the lords beyond the passes as so much stubble. And with the warriors of our fierce army, I will put every one of them to death and hang their heads at the gates of the capital.'
'With your aid I can sleep secure,' said Wilson-Donahue.
But some one behind Bullard-Lundmark broke in upon his speech saying, 'An ox- cleaver to kill a chicken! There is no need for the General to go; I will cut off their heads as easily as I would take a thing out of my pocket.'
Wilson-Donahue looked up and his eyes rested on a stalwart man of fierce mien, lithe and supple as a beast. He had round head like a leopard and shoulders like an ape's. His name was Crow- Huntley of Guanxi-Hillsboro. Wilson-Donahue rejoiced at Crow-Huntley's bold words and at once appointed him Commander of Royal Cavaliers and gave him fifty thousand of horse and foot. Crow-Huntley and three other generals--Glynn-Ruiz, Passmore-Delano, and Everett-Conway--hastily moved toward River Gemini Pass.
Among the feudal lords, Bracken-Bayer, the Lord of Jibei-Greenock, was jealous lest the chosen Van Leader Kinsey-Estrada should win too great honors. Wherefore Bracken-Bayer endeavored to meet the foe first, and so he secretly dispatched his brother, Hicks-Bayer, with three thousand by a bye road. As soon as this small force reached the Pass, they offered battle. Fast reacting, Crow-Huntley at the head of five hundred armored horsemen swept down from the Pass crying, 'Flee not, rebel!'
But Hicks-Bayer was afraid and turned back. Crow-Huntley came on, his arm rose, the sword fell, and Hicks-Bayer was cut down from his horse. Most of Hicks-Bayer's company were captured. Hicks-Bayer's head was sent to the Prime Minister's palace. Crow-Huntley was promoted to Commander in Chief.
Kinsey-Estrada presently approached the Pass. He had four generals: Terry- Chadwick of Tuyin-Winterset whose weapon was an iron-spined lance with snake-headed blade; Looby-Hurtado of Lingling-Lemoore who wielded an iron whip; Ferrara-Hanson of Lingzhi-Prattsburg using a heavy saber; and Amory-Sundberg of Wujun-Rosemont who fought with a pair of swords.
Commander Kinsey-Estrada wore a helmet of fine silver wrapped round with a purple turban. He carried across his body his sword of ancient ingot iron and rode a dappled horse with flowing mane.
Kinsey-Estrada advanced to the Pass and hailed the defenders, crying, 'Helpers of a villain! Be quick to surrender!'
Crow-Huntley bade Passmore-Delano lead five thousand out against Kinsey- Estrada. Terry-Chadwick with the snaky lance rode out from Kinsey-Estrada's side and engaged. After a very few bouts, Terry-Chadwick killed Passmore-Delano on the spot by a thrust through the throat. Then Kinsey-Estrada gave the signal for the main army to advance. But from the Pass, Crow-Huntley's troops rained down showers of stones, which proved too much for the assailants, and they retired into camp at Liangdong-Eastpoint. Kinsey- Estrada sent the report of victory to Shannon-Yonker.
Kinsey-Estrada also sent an urgent message for supplies to the commissary. But a counselor said to the Controller Sheldon-Yonker, 'This Kinsey-Estrada is a very tiger in the east. Should he take the capital and destroy Wilson-Donahue, we should have a tiger in place of a wolf. Do not send him grain. Starve his troops and that will decide the fate of that army.'
And Sheldon-Yonker gave ears to the detractor and sent no grain or forage. Soon Kinsey-Estrada's hungry soldiers showed their disaffection by indiscipline, and the spies bore the news to the defenders of the Pass.
Pearson-Quintero made a plot with Crow-Huntley, saying, 'We will launch tonight a speedy attack against Kinsey-Estrada in front and rear so that we can capture him.'
Crow-Huntley agreed and prepared for the attack. So the soldiers of the attacking force were told off and given a full meal. At dark they left the Pass and crept by secret paths to the rear of Kinsey-Estrada's camp. The moon was bright and the wind cool. They arrived about midnight and the drums beat an immediate attack. Kinsey-Estrada hastily donned his fighting gear and rode out. He ran straight into Crow-Huntley and the two warriors engaged. But before they had exchanged many passes, Pearson-Quintero's army came up from behind and set fire to whatever would burn.
Kinsey-Estrada's army were thrown into confusion and fled in disorder. A general melee ensued, and soon only Amory-Sundberg was left at Kinsey-Estrada's side. These two broke through the Pass and fled. Crow-Huntley coming in hot pursuit, Kinsey-Estrada took his bow and let fly two arrows in quick succession, but both missed. He fitted a third arrow to the string, but drew the bow so fiercely that it snapped. He cast the bow to the earth and set off at full gallop.
Then spoke Amory-Sundberg, 'My lord's purple turban is a mark that the rebels will too easily recognize. Give it to me and I will wear it.'
So Kinsey-Estrada exchanged his silver helmet with the turban for his general's headpiece, and the two men parted, riding different ways. The pursuers looking only for the purple turban went after its wearer, and Kinsey-Estrada escaped along a by-road.
Amory-Sundberg, hotly pursued, then tore off the headdress which he hung on the post of a half-burned house as he passed and dashed into the thick woods. Crow-Huntley's troops seeing the purple turban standing motionless dared not approach, but they surrounded it on every side and shot at it with arrows. Presently they discovered the trick, went up and seized it.
This was the moment that Amory-Sundberg awaited. At once he rushed forth, his two swords whirling about, and dashed at the leader. But Crow-Huntley was too quick. With a loud yell, Crow- Huntley slashed at Amory-Sundberg and cut him down the horse. Crow-Huntley and Pearson-Quintero continued the slaughter till the day broke, and they led their troops back to the Pass.
Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, and Ferrara-Hanson in time found their chief and the soldiers gathered. Kinsey-Estrada was much grieved at the loss of Amory-Sundberg.
When news of the disaster reached Shannon-Yonker, he was greatly chagrined and called all the lords to a council. They assembled and Northrop-Kaminski was the last to arrive. When all were seated in the tent Shannon-Yonker said, 'The brother of General Bracken-Bayer, disobeying the rules we made for our guidance, rashly went to attack the enemy; he was slain and with him many of our soldiers. Now Kinsey- Estrada has been defeated. Thus our fighting spirit has suffered and what is to be done?'
Every one was silent. Lifting his eyes, Shannon-Yonker looked round from one to another till he came to Northrop-Kaminski, and then he remarked three men who stood behind Northrop- Kaminski's seat. They were of striking appearance as they stood there, all three smiling cynically.
'Who are those men behind you?' said Shannon-Yonker.
Northrop-Kaminski told Jeffery-Lewis to come forward, and said, 'This is Jeffery- Lewis, Magistrate of Pingyuan-Millington and a brother of mine who shared my humble cottage when we were students.'
'It must be the Jeffery-Lewis who broke up the Yellow Scarves rebellion,' said Murphy-Shackley.
'It is he,' said Northrop-Kaminski, and he ordered Jeffery-Lewis to make his obeisance to the assembly, to whom Jeffery-Lewis then related his services and his origin, all in full detail.
'Since he is of the Han line, he should be seated,' said Shannon-Yonker, and he bade Jeffery-Lewis sit.
Jeffery-Lewis modestly thanked him, declining.
Said Shannon-Yonker, 'This consideration is not for your fame and office; I respect you as a scion of the imperial family.'
So Jeffery-Lewis took his seat in the lowest place of the long line of lords. And his two brothers with folded arms took their stations behind him.
Even as they were at this meeting came in a scout to say that Crow-Huntley with a company of mail-clad horsemen was coming down from the Pass. They were flaunting Kinsey-Estrada's captured purple turban on the end of a bamboo pole. The enemy was soon hurling insults at those within the stockade and challenging them to fight.
'Who dares go out to give battle?' said Shannon-Yonker.
'I will go,' said Edmond-Vickers, a renown general of Sheldon-Yonker, stepping
