and the blue right to confuse the enemy so that they shall be afraid to advance further. Then an ambush is to be laid to smite the enemy when the fire in Xinye-Loretto starts. After that Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis are to go to the river to meet us.
'After the battle, all generals shall gather at Fankou-Newport.'
All the orders given, the various leaders went their way to take up their positions and await the burning of the city. Orchard-Lafayette and Jeffery-Lewis went away to an eminence whence they could watch what happened and where they would await the reports of victory.
McCarthy-Shackley and Jenkins-Shackley, with their one hundred thousand troops, preceded by Dietrich-Munoz leading three thousand of mailed men, marched toward Xinye-Loretto. They formed a mighty host and reached Magpie Tail Slope about noon. Looking ahead, they saw what seemed a goodly army with many blue and red flags. Dietrich-Munoz pressed forward. As he neared, the flags moved from side to side, and he hesitated. He began to think, 'It could be an ambush; it is unwise to advance.'
Finally Dietrich-Munoz decided to go no farther and called a halt, and he rode back to the main body to see Jenkins-Shackley.
'Those troops are only make-believe,' said Jenkins-Shackley. 'Advance, there is no ambush. I will hasten up the supports.'
So Dietrich-Munoz rode to his own command again and advanced. When he reached the wood where he had seen the flags, he saw no one at all. It was then late in the afternoon but he decided to move on. Then he heard from the hills the sound of musical instruments and, looking up, saw on the hill top two umbrellas surrounded by many banners. There sat Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette quietly drinking.
Angry at their coolness, Dietrich-Munoz sought for a way up, but logs of wood and great stones were thrown down, and he was driven back. Further, from the rear of the hills came a confused roar. He could find no way to attack and the sun began to set.
Then Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley arrived and ordered an attack on Xinye-Loretto that he might have a place to rest in. They marched to the walls and found the gates wide open. They entered and found a deserted city. No one was visible.
'This shows they are done,' said McCarthy-Shackley. 'They have all run away, people and all. We may as well occupy the city and rest our soldiers ready for tomorrow.'
The soldiers were fatigued with marching and hungry as well, so they lost no time in scattering among the houses and setting about preparing food in the deserted kitchens. The leaders took up their quarters in the state residence to rest.
After the first watch the wind began to blow. Soon after the gate guards reported that a fire had started.
'The careless men have let sparks fly about,' said Jenkins-Shackley.
He thought no more about it just then, but along came other reports of like nature, and soon he realized that fires breaking out in all quarters were not due to accident. So he gave orders to evacuate the city. Soon the whole city seemed on fire and a red glow hung in the sky. The army was beset with fire fiercer than what Dubow-Xenos had experienced at Bowang Slope.
Officers and troops dashing through the smoke and fire in utter confusion sought some way of escape, and hearing that the east gate was free, they made for that quarter. Out they rushed pell- mell, many being trodden down and trampled to death. Those who got through took the road to the east.
But presently there was a shouting behind them, and Gilbert-Rocher's company came up and attacked. Then Murphy-Shackley's troops scattered, each fleeing for his life. No stand was made. A little later Forester-Zeleny and Deegan-Lewis came to take another toll. The fleeing Jenkins-Shackley then had very few followers, and those left him were scorched and burned.
They directed their way to the White River, joyfully remembering that the river was shallow and fordable. And they went down into the stream and drank their fill, humans shouting and horses neighing.
Meantime Yale-Perez, higher up its course, had dammed the river with sandbags so that its waters were collected in a lake. Toward evening he had seen the red glow of the burning city and began to look out for his signal. About the fourth watch, he heard down stream the sounds of soldiers and horse and at once ordered the breaking of the dam. The water rushed down in a torrent and overwhelmed the men just then in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned. Those who escaped made their way to where the stream ran gently and got away.
Presently Jenkins-Shackley and his troops reached the Boling Ferry in Boling- Sugarcreek. Here, where they thought there would be safety, they found the road barred.
'You Murphy-Shackley brigands!' shouted Floyd-Chardin. 'Come and receive your fate!'
What happened will appear in later chapters.
[1] The first emperor of Qin was the first of the rulers who built the Great Wall in large scale.
[2] Regent Marshal was the highest military official. Imperial Guardian was the highest civil official.
