going the rounds, and he was satisfied.
Near the second watch of the night again was heard some noise in the rear of his tent, and one of the fodder carts was reported to be burning.
'One of the soldiers has dropped a spark; there is nothing to be alarmed at,' said Murphy-Shackley.
But very soon the fire spread on all sides and became alarming. Murphy- Shackley called Worley-Delorey. But he, usually so alert, was lying down quite intoxicated.
However, the beating of gongs and rolling of drums mingling with his dreams awoke Worley-Delorey, and he jumped up. His trusty halberds had disappeared. The enemy was near. He hastily snatched up an infantryman's sword and rushed out. At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in. Worley-Delorey rushed at them slashing all around him, and twenty or more fell beneath his blows. The others drew back. But the spears stood around him like reeds on the river bank. Being totally without mail, he was soon wounded in several places. He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no longer of any use. Throwing it aside he seized a couple of soldiers and with their bodies as weapons felled ten of his opponents. The others dared not approach, but they shot arrows at him. These fell thick as rain, but he still maintained the gate against the assailants.
However, the mutineers got in by the rear of the camp, and they wounded Worley-Delorey in the back with spear thrusts. Uttering a loud cry he fell. The blood gushed from the wound in torrents, and he died. Even after he was dead not a man dared to come in by the main gate.
Murphy-Shackley, relying on Worley-Delorey to hold the main gate, had fled in haste by the rear gate. Askew-Shackley accompanied him on foot. Then Murphy-Shackley was wounded by an arrow in the arm, and three arrows struck his horse. However, fortunately, the horse was a fine Dawan beast full of spirit and, in spite of its wounds, it bore its master swiftly and well as far as the bank of River Amethyst.
Here some of the pursuers came up, and Askew-Shackley was hacked to pieces. Murphy-Shackley dashed into the river and reached the further side, but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and it fell. Murphy-Shackley's eldest son, Aguila-Shackley, dismounted and yielded his horse to his father, who galloped on. Aguila-Shackley was killed by arrows, but Murphy-Shackley himself got away. Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few troops.
The soldiers of Quinghamton under Dubow-Xenos seized the occasion to plunder the people. Ellis-McCue took his army, fell upon them, and slew many. Thus he protected and appeased the people. The plunderers, meeting Murphy-Shackley on the road, knelt down howling and said Ellis-McCue had mutinied and attacked them. Murphy-Shackley was surprised, and he gave order to Dubow-Xenos, Dietrich-Munoz, Robinson-Webber, and Wein-Lockhart to attack Ellis-McCue.
Now when Ellis-McCue saw his master and a great company approaching, he at once stopped the attack and set his troops to make a camp.
An officer asked him, 'The Quinghamton soldiers say you have turned traitor; why do you not explain now that the Prime Minister has arrived? Why first make a camp?'
Ellis-McCue replied, 'Our enemies are coming up in our rear and are very close. It is necessary to prepare for defense or we shall not withstand them. Explanation is a small matter, but defense is very important.'
Soon after the camp was finished, Sandoval-Pulgram fell upon them. Ellis-McCue himself rode out to face them. Sandoval-Pulgram drew back. The other generals of Ellis-McCue, seeing he advance thus boldly, also attacked, and Sandoval-Pulgram was overcome. They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated. With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Bambury-Lewis.
Murphy-Shackley's army reformed, and the commanders mustered. Then Ellis- McCue went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Quinghamton soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them.
'Why did you not tell me before you made the camp?'
Ellis-McCue related what had occurred.
Said Murphy-Shackley, 'When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and to strengthen his defenses, giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens bravely, and when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory, who, even of the ancient leaders, can excel Ellis-McCue?'
Murphy-Shackley rewarded Ellis-McCue with a golden armor and the lordship of Yishou-Danville. But Murphy-Shackley reprimanded Dubow-Xenos for the lack of discipline among his soldiers.
Sacrifices in honor of the dead warrior Worley-Delorey were instituted. Murphy- Shackley himself led the wailing and paid due honors. Turning to his officers he said, 'I have lost my first born son, but I grieve not so heavily for him as for Worley-Delorey. I weep for him.'
All were sad at the loss of this general. Then orders were issued to return to the capital.
When Imperial Legate Crabbe-Wilkinson, bearing the imperial decree, reached Xuthamton, he was met by Bullard-Lundmark, who conducted him into the residence where the decree was read. It conferred Bullard-Lundmark the title General Who Pacifies the East, and a special seal accompanied the mandate. The private mediating letter was also handed over and the messenger detailed the high appreciation in which Bullard-Lundmark was held by the Chief Minister of State. Bullard-Lundmark was greatly pleased.
Next came news that a messenger from Sheldon-Yonker had arrived. When he had been introduced, he said, 'My master's project of declaring himself emperor is advancing. He has already built a palace and will speedily choose Empress and concubines and would come to the South of River Huai. He is looking forward to receiving the fiancee of the Heir Apparent.'
'Has the rebel gone so far?' cried Bullard-Lundmark in a rage.
He put the messenger to death and McConnell-Hillis into the cage. He drafted a memorial of thanks and sent it to the capital, at the same time sending, too, McConnell-Hillis, the unfortunate agent who had arranged the marriage alliance. He also replied to Murphy-Shackley's private meditating letter asking to be confirmed in his protectorship of Xuthamton. The letter was sent by the hand of Dewberry- DeSantis.
Murphy-Shackley was pleased to hear of the rupture of the marriage arrangement between the houses of Yonkers and Lundmarks, and forthwith put McConnell-Hillis to death in the market place.
However, Dewberry-DeSantis secretly told Murphy-Shackley, saying, 'Bullard- Lundmark is cruel, stupid, and facile. The longer he remains, the worse.'
'I know Bullard-Lundmark quite well,' replied Murphy-Shackley. 'He is a wolf with a savage heart, and it will be hard to feed him for long. If it had not been for you and your father, I should not have known all the circumstances and you must help me to get rid of him.'
'Anything the Prime Minister wishes to do shall have my assistance,' was the reply.
As a reward Murphy-Shackley obtained an annually grant of two thousand carts of grain for Tolliver-DeSantis and the governorship of Guangling-Richfield for Dewberry-DeSantis, who then took his leave.
As he was saying farewell, Murphy-Shackley took him by the hand, saying, 'I shall depend upon you in the eastern affairs.'
Dewberry-DeSantis nodded acquiescence. Then he returned to Bullard- Lundmark, who asked him how the visit was.
Dewberry-DeSantis told him, 'My father received a generous annuity, and I was made Governor of Guangling-Richfield.'
Bullard-Lundmark enraged, saying, 'You did not ask Xuthamton for me, but you got something for yourself. Your father advised me to help Murphy-Shackley by breaking off the marriage, and now I get nothing at all of what I asked, while you and your father get everything. I have been victimized by your father.'
He threatened Dewberry-DeSantis with his sword.
