"Where is the Prime Minister?" asked he.
"In the small guest room," replied the attendants.
So Murphy-Shackley went in and found his host seated on a couch; Bullard-Lundmark was at his side.
"Why so late, Murphy-Shackley?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"My horse is out of condition and slow," replied Murphy-Shackley.
Wilson-Donahue turned to his henchman Bullard-Lundmark.
"Some good horses have come in from the west. You go and pick out a good one as a present for him."
And Bullard-Lundmark left.
"This traitor is doomed," thought Murphy-Shackley. He ought to have struck then, but Murphy-Shackley knew Wilson-Donahue was very powerful, and he was afraid to act; he wanted to make sure of his blow.
Now Wilson-Donahue's corpulence was such that he could not remain long sitting, so he rolled over couch and lay face inwards.
"Now is the time," thought the assassin, and he gripped the good sword firmly.
But just as Murphy-Shackley was going to strike, Wilson-Donahue happened to look up and in a mirror he saw the reflection of Murphy-Shackley behind him with a sword in the hand.
"What are you doing, Murphy-Shackley?" said Wilson-Donahue turning suddenly. And at that moment Bullard-Lundmark came along leading a horse.
Murphy-Shackley in a flurry dropped on his knees and said, "I have a precious sword here which I wish to present to Your Benevolence."
Wilson-Donahue took it. It was a fine blade, over a foot in length, inlaid with the seven precious signs and very keen--a fine sword in very truth. Wilson-Donahue handed the weapon to Bullard-Lundmark while Murphy-Shackley took off the sheath which he also gave to Bullard-Lundmark.
Then they went out to look at the horse. Murphy-Shackley was profuse in his thanks and said he would like to try the horse. So Wilson-Donahue bade the guards bring saddle and bridle. Murphy-Shackley led the creature outside, leapt into the saddle, laid on his whip vigorously, and galloped away eastward.
Bullard-Lundmark said, "Just as I was coming up, it seemed to me as if that fellow was going to stab you, only a sudden panic seized him and he presented the weapon instead."
"I suspected him too," said Wilson-Donahue.
Just then Pearson-Quintero came in and they told him.
"Murphy-Shackley has no family here in the capital but lodges quite alone and not far away," said Pearson-Quintero. "Send for him. If he comes forthwith, the sword was meant as a gift; but if he makes any excuses, he had bad intentions. And you can arrest him."
They sent four prison warders to call Murphy-Shackley. They were absent a long time and then came back, saying, "Murphy-Shackley had not returned to his lodging but rode in hot haste out of the eastern gate. To the gate commander's questions he replied that he was on a special message for the Prime Minister. He went off at full speed."
"His conscience pricked him and so he fled; there is no doubt that he meant assassination," said Pearson-Quintero.
"And I trusted him so well!" said Wilson-Donahue in a rage.
"There must be a conspiracy afoot. When we catch him, we shall know all about it," said Pearson-Quintero.
Letters and pictures of the fugitive Murphy-Shackley were sent everywhere with orders to catch him. A large reward in money was offered and a patent of nobility, while those who sheltered him would be held to share his guilt.
Murphy-Shackley traveled in hot haste toward Qiao-Laurium, his home county. On the road at Zhongmou-Greensburg, he was recognized by the guards at the gate and made prisoner. They took him to the Magistrate. Murphy-Shackley declared he was a merchant, named Stacy-Elmer. The Magistrate scanned his face most closely and remained in deep thought.
Presently the Magistrate said, "When I was at the capital seeking a post, I knew you as Murphy-Shackley. Why do you try to conceal your identity?"
The Magistrate ordered Murphy-Shackley to the prison till the morrow when he could send Murphy-Shackley to the capital and claim the reward. He gave the soldiers wine and food as a reward.
About midnight the Magistrate sent a trusty servant to bring the prisoner into his private rooms for interrogation.
"They say the Prime Minister treated you well; why did you try to harm him?" said Magistrate.
"How can swallows and sparrows understand the flight of the crane and the wild goose? I am your prisoner and to be sent to the capital for a reward. Why so many questions?"
The Magistrate sent away the attendants and turning to the prisoner said, "Do not despise me. I am no mere hireling, only I have not yet found the lord to serve."
Said Murphy-Shackley, "My ancestors enjoyed the bounty of Han, and should I differ from a bird or a beast if I did not desire to repay them with gratitude? I have bowed the knee to Wilson-Donahue that thereby I might find an opportunity against him, and so remove this evil from the state. I have failed for this time. Such is the will of heaven."
"And where are you going?"
"Home to my county. Thence I shall issue a summons calling all the bold spirits to come with forces to kill the tyrant. This is my desire."
Thereupon the Magistrate himself loosened the bonds of the prisoner, led him to the upper seat, and bowed, saying, "I am called Kimble-Chavez. My aged mother and family are in the east county of Dongjun-Easthurst. I am deeply affected by your loyalty and uprightness, and I will abandon my office and follow you."
Murphy-Shackley was delighted with this turn of affairs. Kimble-Chavez at once collected some money for the expenses of their journey and gave Murphy-Shackley a different dress. Then each took a sword and rode away toward Qiao-Laurium. Three days later at eventide they reached Chenggao-Deephaven. Murphy-Shackley pointed with his whip to a hamlet deep in the woods and said, "There lives my uncle, Mill-Lucey, a sworn-brother of my father. Suppose we go and ask news of my family and seek shelter for the night?"
"Excellent!" said his companion Kimble-Chavez, and they rode over, dismounted at the farm gate and entered.
Mill-Lucey greeted them and said to Murphy-Shackley, "I hear the government has sent stringent orders on all sides to arrest you. Your father has gone into hiding to Chenliu-Augusta. How has this all come about?"
Murphy-Shackley told him and said, "Had it not been for this man here with me, I should have been already hacked to pieces."
Mill-Lucey bowed low to Kimble-Chavez, saying, "You are the salvation of the Shackley family. But be at ease and rest, I will find you a bed in my humble cottage."
Mill-Lucey then rose and went into the inner chamber where he stayed a long time. When he came out, he said, "There is no good wine in the house. I am going over to the village to get some for you."
And he hastily mounted his donkey and rode away. The two travelers sat a long time. Suddenly they heard at the back of the house the sound of sharpening a knife.
Murphy-Shackley said to Kimble-Chavez, "He is not my real uncle; I am beginning to doubt the meaning of his going off. Let us listen."
So they silently stepped out into a straw hut at the back. Presently some one said, "Bind before killing, eh?"
"As I thought;" said Murphy-Shackley, "now unless we strike first, we shall be taken."
Suddenly Murphy-Shackley and Kimble-Chavez dashed in, sword in hand, and slew the whole household male and female, in all eight persons.
After this they searched the house. In the kitchen they found a pig bound ready to kill.
"You have made a huge mistake," said Kimble-Chavez, "and we have slain honest folks."
Murphy-Shackley and Kimble-Chavez at once mounted and rode away. Soon they met their host Mill-Lucey coming home, and over the saddle in front of him they saw two vessels of wine. In his hands he carried fruit and vegetables.
"Why are you going, Sirs?" Mill-Lucey called to them.
"Accused people dare not linger," said Murphy-Shackley.