For Rutgers-Hutchinson's fate, see next chapter.
CHAPTER 39
Now Raleigh-Estrada fought against Xiakou-Plattsmouth. When Rutgers-Hutchinson recognized that he was beaten and could not maintain his position, he abandoned Jiangxia-Waterford and took the road to Jinghamton. Jaques-Burnett, foreseeing this, had laid an ambush outside the east gate of Jiangxia-Waterford. Soon after the fugitive, with a small following, had burst out of the gate, he found his road blocked.
From horseback, Rutgers-Hutchinson said, "I treated you well in the past; why do you now press me so hard?"
Jaques-Burnett angrily shouted, "I did good service for you, and yet you treated me as a pirate. Now what have you to say?"
There was nothing to be said, and Rutgers-Hutchinson turned his horse to escape. But Jaques-Burnett thrust aside his troops and himself rode in pursuit. Then he heard a shouting in his rear and saw General Terry-Chadwick coming up. Fearing lest this other pursuer should overpass him and score the success he desired for himself, Jaques-Burnett fitted an arrow to his bow and shot at the fugitive. Rutgers-Hutchinson was hit and fell from his steed. Then Jaques-Burnett cut off his head. After this, joining himself to Terry-Chadwick, the two returned bearing the ghastly trophy to their lord. Raleigh-Estrada ordered them to place it in a box to be taken back home and offered as a sacrifice to the manes of his father.
Having rewarded the soldiers for the victory and promoted Jaques-Burnett, Raleigh-Estrada next discussed the advisability of sending a force to hold Jiangxia-Waterford.
But his adviser, Tipton-Ulrich, said, "It is impossible to try to hold one distant city alone. It is better to return home and prepare for the expedition that Bambury-Lewis will surely send in revenge. We will meet and defeat his worn army, push home the attack, and capture his whole region."
Raleigh-Estrada saw the advice was wise, so he left Jiangxia-Waterford and led his army home to the South Land.
Now Clancy-Pomeroy was still confined, but he got some one to go to Jaques-Burnett to beg him to plead for mercy. Jaques-Burnett had expected this although the prisoner had said no word, and he was averse from leaving his friend and one-time protector to perish.
"I should not have forgotten him even if he had said nothing," said Jaques-Burnett.
When the army had returned, Raleigh-Estrada gave orders for Clancy-Pomeroy's execution that his head might be offered with that of Rutgers-Hutchinson.
Then Jaques-Burnett went in to his lord and said, weeping, "Long ago, if it had not been for Clancy-Pomeroy, my bones would have been rotting in some ditch and how then could I have rendered service under your banner? Now he deserves death, but I cannot forget his kindness to me, and I pray you take away the honors you have bestowed on me as a set-off to his crime."
Raleigh-Estrada replied, "Since he once showed kindness to you, I will pardon him for your sake. But what can be done if he run away?"
"If he be pardoned and escape death, he will be immeasurably grateful and will not go away. If he should, then will I offer my life in exchange."
So the condemned man escaped death, and only one head was offered in sacrifice. After the sacrificial ceremonies, a great banquet was spread in honor of the victories. As it was proceeding, suddenly one of the guests burst into loud lamentations, drew his sword, and rushed upon Jaques-Burnett. Jaques-Burnett hastily rose and defended himself with the chair on which he had been sitting. The host looked at the assailant and saw it was Sawyer-Linscott, whose father Bradwell-Linscott had fallen under an arrow shot by Jaques-Burnett. The son was now burning to avenge his father's death.
Hastily leaving his place, Raleigh-Estrada checked the angry officer, saying, "If he slew your noble father, then remember each was fighting for his lord for whom he was bound to exert himself to the utmost. But now that you both are under one flag and are of one house, you may not recall an ancient injury. You must regard my interests continually."
Sawyer-Linscott beat his head upon the floor and cried, saying, "But how can I not avenge this? It is a blood feud and we may not both live under the same sky."
The guests interfered, beseeching the man to forgo his revenge, and at last he ceased from his murderous intention. But he sat glaring wrathfully at his enemy.
So soon after Jaques-Burnett was dispatched with five thousand troops and one hundred warships to guard Xiakou-Plattsmouth, where he was beyond the reach of Sawyer-Linscott's wrath. Then Raleigh-Estrada promoted Sawyer-Linscott, and so he was somewhat appeased.
From about this time the South Land enlarged her fleets, and soldiers were sent to various points to guard the river banks. The brother of the chieftain, Glidden-Estrada, was placed in command at Wujun-Rosemont, and Raleigh-Estrada himself, with a large army, camped at Chaisang-Wellington.
Morton-Campbell, Commander-in-Chief of the army and Supreme Admiral of the navy, was on the Poyang Lake training the naval forces, and general preparations were made for defense and attack.
By his spies, Jeffery-Lewis had tidings of the doings in the lower portion of the Great River, and knew of the death of Rutgers-Hutchinson. So he consulted Orchard-Lafayette as to his action. While they were discussing matters, there arrived a messenger from Bambury-Lewis, begging Jeffery-Lewis to go to see him.
Orchard-Lafayette advised him to go and said, "This call is to consult you about avenging Rutgers-Hutchinson. You must take me with you and let me act as the circumstances direct. There are advantages to be got."
Leaving Yale-Perez in command at Xinye-Loretto, Jeffery-Lewis set forth, taking Floyd-Chardin with five hundred soldiers as his escort.
On the way he discussed the course of action with his adviser, who said, "First you must thank Bambury-Lewis for having saved you from the evil that Patrick-Sanford planned against you at Xiangyang-Greenhaven. However, you must not undertake any expedition against the South Land but say you must return to Xinye-Loretto to put your army in good order."
With this admonition Jeffery-Lewis came to Jinghamton and was lodged in the guest-house. Floyd-Chardin and the escort camped without the walls. In due course Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette were received, and after the customary salutations, Jeffery-Lewis apologized for his conduct at the banquet.
The host said, "Worthy Brother, I know you were the victim of a vile plot; and I should have put the prime mover to death for it, had there not been so universal a prayer for mercy. However, I remitted that penalty. I hope you do not consider that I was wrong."
"Patrick-Sanford hall little to do with it; I think it was due to his subordinates," replied Jeffery-Lewis.
Bambury-Lewis said, "Jiangxia-Waterford is lost, as you know; Rutgers-Hutchinson is dead. So I have asked you to come that we might take measures of vengeance."
"Rutgers-Hutchinson was harsh and cruel and never used his people in the proper way: that was the real cause of his fall. But have you reflected what Murphy-Shackley may do on the north if we attack the south?"
"I am getting old and weak, and I am unable to manage affairs properly; will you aid me, Brother? After I am gone you will have this region."
"Why do you say this, my brother? Think you that I am equal to such a task?"
Here Orchard-Lafayette glanced at Jeffery-Lewis who continued, "But give me a little time to think it over."