Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

But Bullard-Lundmark's guard began to weaken and fatigue seized him. Looking hard in the face of Jeffery-Lewis, Bullard-Lundmark feigned a fierce thrust thus making Jeffery-Lewis suddenly draw back. Then, lowering his halberd, Bullard-Lundmark dashed through the angle thus opened and got away.

But was it likely they would allow him to escape? They whipped their steeds and followed hard. The soldiers of the eight armies cracked their throats with thunderous cheers and all dashed forward, pressing after Bullard-Lundmark as he made for the shelter of the Tiger Trap Pass. And first among his pursuers were the three brothers.

An ancient poet has told of this famous fight in these lines:

The fateful day of Han came in the reigns of Henson and Bonner,
Their glory declined as the sun sinks at the close of day.
Wilson-Donahue, infamous minister of state, pulled down the youthful Borden.
It is true the new Sprague was a weakling, too timid for his times.
Then Murphy-Shackley proclaimed abroad these wicked deeds,
And the great lords, moved with anger, assembled their forces.
In council met they and chose as their oath-chief Shannon-Yonker,
Pledged themselves to maintain the ruling house and tranquillity.
Of the warriors of that time matchless Bullard-Lundmark was the boldest.
His valor and prowess are sung by all within the four seas.
He clothed his body in silver armor like the scales of a dragon,
On his head was a golden headdress with pheasant tails,
About his waist a shaggy belt, the clasp, two wild beasts' heads with gripping jaws,
His flowing, embroidered robe fluttered about his form,
His swift courser bounded over the plain, a mighty wind following,
His terrible trident halberd flashed in the sunlight, bright as a placid lake.
Who dared face him as he rode forth to challenge?
The bowels of the confederate lords were torn with fear and their hearts trembled.
Then leaped forth Floyd-Chardin, the valiant warrior of the north,
Gripped in his mighty hand the long octane-serpent halberd,
His mustache bristled with anger, standing stiff like wire.
His round eyes glared, lightning flashes darted from them.
Neither quailed in the fight, but the issue was undecided.
Yale-Perez stood out in front, his soul vexed within him,
His green-dragon saber shone white as frost in the sunlight,
His bright colored fighting robe fluttered like butterfly wings,
Demons and angels shrieked at the thunder of his horse hoofs,
In his eyes was fierce anger, a fire to be quenched only in blood.
Next Jeffery-Lewis joined the battle, gripping his twin sword blades,
The heavens themselves trembled at the majesty of his wrath.
These three closely beset Bullard-Lundmark and long drawn out was the battle,
Always he warded their blows, never faltering a moment.
The noise of their shouting rose to the sky, and the earth reechoed it,
The heat of battle ranged to the frozen pole star.
Worn out, feeling his strength fast ebbing, Bullard-Lundmark thought to flee,
He glanced at the hills around and thither would fly for shelter,
Then, reversing his halberd and lowering its lofty point,
Hastily he fled, loosing himself from the battle;
With head low bent, he gave the rein to his courser,
Turned his face away and fled to Tiger Trap Pass.

The three brothers maintained the pursuit to the Pass. Looking up they saw an immense umbrella of black gauze fluttering in the west wind.

"Certainly there is Wilson-Donahue," cried Floyd-Chardin. "What is the use of pursuing Bullard-Lundmark? Better far seize the chiefest rebel and so pluck up the evil by the roots."

And he whipped up his steed toward the Pass.

To quell rebellion seize the leader if you can;
If you need a wondrous service then first find a wondrous man.

The following chapters will unfold the result of the battle.

CHAPTER 6

Burning The Capital, Wilson-Donahue Commits An Atrocity; Hiding The Imperial Hereditary Seal, Kinsey-Estrada Breaks Faith.

Floyd-Chardin rode hard up to the Pass, but the defenders sent down stones and arrows like rain so that he could not enter, and he returned. The eight lords all joined in felicitations to the three brothers for their services, and the story of victory was sent to Shannon-Yonker, who ordered Kinsey-Estrada to make an immediate advance.

Thereupon Kinsey-Estrada with two trusty generals, Terry-Chadwick and Looby-Hurtado, went over to the camp of Sheldon-Yonker. Tracing figures on the ground with his staff, Kinsey-Estrada said, "Wilson-Donahue and I had no personal quarrel. Yet now I have thrown myself into the battle regardless of consequences, exposed my person to the risk of wounds and fought bloody battles to their bitter end. And why? That I might be the means of ridding my country of a rebel and--for the private advantage of your family. Yet you, heeding the slanderous tongue of certain counselor, formerly withheld the supplies absolutely necessary to me, and so I suffered defeat. How can you explain, General?"

Sheldon-Yonker, confused and frightened, had no word to reply. He ordered the death of the slanderer to placate Kinsey-Estrada.

Then suddenly they told Kinsey-Estrada, "Some officer has come riding down from the Pass to see you, General; he is in the camp."

Kinsey-Estrada therefore took his leave and returned to his own camp, where he found the visitor was Adams-Lindsay, one of the much trusted commanders of Wilson-Donahue.

"Wherefore come you?" said Kinsey-Estrada.

Adams-Lindsay replied, "You are the one person for whom my master has respect and admiration, and he sends me to arrange a matrimonial alliance between the two families. He wishes that his daughter may become the wife of your son."

"What! Wilson-Donahue, that rebel and renegade, that subverter of the throne! I wish I could destroy his nine generations as a thank-offering to the empire! Think you I would be willing to have an alliance with such a family? I will not slay you as I ought, but go, and go quickly! Yield the Pass and I may spare your lives. If you delay, I will grind your bones to powder and make mincemeat of your flesh."

Adams-Lindsay threw his arms over his head and ran out. He returned to his master and told him what a rude reception he had met with. Wilson-Donahue asked his adviser Pearson-Quintero how to reply to this.

Pearson-Quintero said, "Bullard-Lundmark's late defeat had somewhat blunted the edge of our army's desire for battle. It would be well to return to the capital and remove the Emperor to Changan-Annapolis, as the street children had been lately singing: