"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.
