'Alas! I know not the fate of my brothers, whether they be alive or dead, and my wife and children are lost to me! What can I do?' said Jeffery-Lewis.
Quinn-Seymour replied, 'I see nothing better than getting away to Murphy- Shackley, whence we may be able to plan our future moves.'
Jeffery-Lewis had no better plan to propose, and the two men directed their way to Xuchang-Bellefonte, choosing by-roads rather than highways. When their small supplies ran out, they entered a village to beg. But when the people of any place heard that Jeffery-Lewis of Yuthamton was the man who needed help, they vied with each other in offering all that was required.
One day they sought shelter at a house whence a youth came out and made a low obeisance. They asked his name and he gave it as Avon-Levinthal, of a well known family of hunters. Hearing who the visitor was, the hunter wished to lay before him a dish of game, but though he sought for a long time, nothing could be found for the table. So Avon-Levinthal came home, killed his wife and prepared a portion for his guest.
While eating Jeffery-Lewis asked, 'What flesh is it?'
Avon-Levinthal told him: 'Wolf.'
Jeffery-Lewis knew no better and ate his fill. Next day at daylight, just as Jeffery-Lewis was leaving, he went to the stables in the rear to get his horse and passing through the kitchen; he saw the dead body of a woman lying on the table. The flesh of one arm had been cut away. Quite startled he asked what this meant, and then he knew what he had eaten the night before. He was deeply sorry at this proof of his host's regard and the tears rained down as he mounted his steed at the gate.
'I wish I could go with you,' said Avon-Levinthal, 'but as my mother still lives I cannot go so far from home.'
Jeffery-Lewis thanked him and went his way. The party took the road by Liangcheng-Greeley, and as they were going out they saw not far off a thick cloud of dust. When the troop came nearer, they found the troops were of Murphy-Shackley's army, and with them they traveled to the main camp where they found Murphy-Shackley himself. Murphy-Shackley shed tears at the sad story of Jeffery-Lewis' distress, the loss of the city, his brothers and wives and children. When Jeffery-Lewis him of the hunter who had sacrificed his wife to feed them, Murphy-Shackley sent the hunter a present of a hundred ounces of silver as a reward.
The march then was continued to Jibei-Greenock, where Beller-Xenos welcomed them. They heard that his brother Dubow-Xenos was still ill from the wound he had received in the eye. Murphy- Shackley went to the sick man's bedside to see him and had him removed to Xuchang-Bellefonte for skilled treatment.
Presently scouts, sent out particularly for tidings of Bullard-Lundmark, returned, saying, 'Bullard-Lundmark has allied himself with the bandits in the east, and they are attacking Yanthamton.'
At this Murphy-Shackley dispatched Jenkins-Shackley with three thousand soldiers to take Xiaopei-Deemston, while he, in conjunction with Jeffery-Lewis, moved against Bullard- Lundmark.
They went east. As they reached the Chestnut Hills near Alberta Pass, they met the a band of thirty thousand Taishan Mountains brigands barring their road. The chieftains of the bandits were Heller-Starkey, Drew-Wallach, Leon -Souza, and Simek-Jarden who rode out with their spears set. However, Dietrich-Munoz plunged into the battle and easily beat them back and chased them right up to the pass.
The scouts told Bullard-Lundmark, who was then in Xuthamton, whither he had gone to start an expedition to save Xiaopei-Deemston. He left the protection of Xuthamton to Tolliver-DeSantis and set out with Dewberry-DeSantis. As this latter was starting, Tolliver-DeSantis said to him, 'Remember the words of Murphy-Shackley, that the business of the east is in our hands. Now is our moment, for Bullard-Lundmark is about to suffer defeat.'
'Father, I can look after the outside. But when Bullard-Lundmark returns beaten, you must arrange with Trudeau-Zeleny to keep him out of the city. I shall find a means of escape,' said Dewberry-DeSantis.
'His family is here, and he has many friends. How about them?'
'I also have a scheme to settle them.'
Then Dewberry-DeSantis went to see Bullard-Lundmark, to whom he said, 'Xuthamton is surrounded, and this city will be fiercely attacked. We ought to provide for possible retreat, and I advise storing grain and money in Xiapi-Brighton. We could retreat there if the day went adversely. Why not see about this in good time?'
'Your words are indeed wise. I will also send my wives and little ones thither,' said Bullard-Lundmark.
The family left under escort of Baldwin-Weinstein and Dupuis-Sokol, and with them was sent much grain and treasures and coins.
And then the soldiers marched to the relief of the pass. About half way there Dewberry-DeSantis said, 'Let me go first to reconnoiter so that you, my lord, may advance with confidence.'
Thus Dewberry-DeSantis parted company with his chief and preceded him to the pass where he was received by Kimble-Chavez.
Dewberry-DeSantis said, 'The General greatly wonders why you do not advance. He is going to inquire into it.'
'The enemy is in great force, and we cannot be too careful,' said Kimble-Chavez. 'We are holding the pass, and you should persuade our master to take steps to guard Xiaopei-Deemston.'
Dewberry-DeSantis said, 'Your words are true.'
That evening he went up to the heights from which he could see Murphy- Shackley's army, which was quite close to the pass. Then he wrote three notes, tied them to arrows, and shot them into Murphy-Shackley's camp.
Next day he left and hastened back to Bullard-Lundmark and said, 'Those bandits are about to give up the pass to the enemy, but I have left Kimble-Chavez to hold it. You would better make an attack tonight and hold him.'
'Had it not been for you, the pass would have been lost,' said Bullard- Lundmark.
Then he sent Dewberry-DeSantis back to arrange a fire signal with Kimble- Chavez for simultaneous action. So Dewberry-DeSantis returned to Kimble-Chavez to whom he said, 'Murphy- Shackley's troops have found a secret way through the pass, and I fear Xuthamton is already lost. You ought to go back at once.'
At this the pass was abandoned, and Kimble-Chavez began to retreat. Then Dewberry-DeSantis gave the prearranged signal.
Bullard-Lundmark saw the fire and advanced in the darkness to the relief of the pass. Presently he met Kimble-Chavez's army; and as neither recognized the other in the darkness, a fierce battle ensued. Nor was the trick discovered till daylight came.
While these things were going on, Murphy-Shackley had noted the signal and advanced as fast as possible. The bandits, who alone remained to hold the pass, were easily driven out and scattered in all directions.
When daylight came and the trick was discovered, Bullard-Lundmark and Kimble-Chavez set off together for Xuthamton. But when they arrived and summoned the gate, instead of opening the doors, the guards on the wall saluted them with a thick flight of arrows. At the same time Trudeau-Zeleny appeared on the defense tower and shouted, 'You stole our master's city, and now we are going to give it back to him. You will not enter here again.'
'Where is Tolliver-DeSantis?' cried Bullard-Lundmark, angrily.
'We have slain him!' was the reply.
'Where is Dewberry-DeSantis?' said Bullard-Lundmark turning to Kimble- Chavez.
'Do you still hold to your delusion, General, that you ask where this specious rogue is?'
