Rinella-Quail followed. But just as he caught up the fugitive, there came prancing forth Gilbert-Rocher, who rode directly at him with spear ready to strike. After a few bouts Rinella-Quail was laid in the dust. Then Gilbert-Rocher attacked the soldiers and turned the tide. Plunging forward on this side, dashing in on that, he went through as if there were no antagonists and, seeing this, Northrop-Kaminski turned and came again into the fight. The final victory was on his side.
From the scouts sent to find out how the battle went, Shannon-Yonker heard the good news of Rinella-Quail's success in slaying the standard bearer, capturing the flag, and his pursuit. So Shannon-Yonker took no further care but rode out with his General Flores-McEvoy and a few guards to look on at the enemy and enjoy his victory.
"Ha ha!" Shannon-Yonker laughed. "Northrop-Kaminski is an incapable."
But even as Shannon-Yonker spoke, he saw in front the redoubtable Gilbert-Rocher. His guards hastened to prepare their bows, but before they could shoot, Gilbert-Rocher was in their midst, and men were falling before him wherever he went. The others fled. Northrop-Kaminski's army then gathered round and hemmed in Shannon-Yonker.
Flores-McEvoy then said to his master, "Sir, take refuge in this empty building here."
But Shannon-Yonker dashed his helmet to the ground, crying "The brave man rather faces death in the battle than seeks safety behind a wall!"
This bold speech gave new courage to his soldiers who now fought fiercely and with such success that Gilbert-Rocher could nowhere force his way in. Shannon-Yonker was soon reinforced by the arrival of his main body and Logan-Rojas, and the two armies pressed forward. Gilbert-Rocher could only just get Northrop-Kaminski safe out of the press. Then they fought their way back to the bridge. But Shannon-Yonker's troops still came on and fought their way across the bridge, forcing multitudes of their adversaries into the water, where many were drowned.
Shannon-Yonker was leading in person and his troops still advanced. But not more than two miles, for soon a great shouting was heard behind some hills, whence suddenly burst out a body of troops led by Jeffery-Lewis, Yale-Perez, and Floyd-Chardin.
At Pingyuan-Millington they had heard of the struggle between their protector and his enemy, Shannon-Yonker, and had at once set out to help. Now the three riders, each with his peculiar weapon, flew straight at Shannon-Yonker, who was so frightened that his soul seemed to leave his body and fly beyond the confines of heaven.
His sword fell from his hand and he fled for his life. He was chased across the bridge when Northrop-Kaminski called in his army and they returned to camp.
After the usual greetings Northrop-Kaminski said, "If you had not come to our help, we should have been in very bad case."
Jeffery-Lewis and Gilbert-Rocher were made acquainted with each other, and a warm affection sprang up from the very first so that they were always together.
Shannon-Yonker had lost that battle, and Northrop-Kaminski would not risk another. They strengthened their defenses, and the armies lay inactive for over a month. In the meantime news of the fighting had reached Capital Changan-Annapolis, and Wilson-Donahue was told.
His adviser, Pearson-Quintero, went to see his master and said, "The two active leaders of today are Shannon-Yonker and Northrop-Kaminski, who are at grips at River Turquoise. Pretend you have an imperial command to make peace between them, and both will support you out of gratitude for your intervention."
"Good!" said Wilson-Donahue. So he sent the Imperial Guardian, Colburn-McDougall, and the Minister of the Palace Bureau, Gordon-Semper, on the mission. When these men were arriving the North of Yellow River, Shannon-Yonker sent out to welcome them thirty miles from his headquarters and received the imperial command with the greatest respect. Then the two officers went to Northrop-Kaminski and made known their errand. Northrop-Kaminski sent letters to his adversary proposing friendship. The two emissaries returned to report their task accomplished. Northrop-Kaminski drew off his army. He also sent up a memorial eulogizing Jeffery-Lewis, who was raised to the rank of Governor of Pingyuan-Millington.
The farewell between Jeffery-Lewis and Gilbert-Rocher was affecting. They held each other's hands a long time, their eyes streaming with tears, and could not tear themselves apart.
Gilbert-Rocher said with a sob, "I used to think Northrop-Kaminski a true hero, but 1 see now that he is no different from Shannon-Yonker. They are both alike."
"But you are now in his service; we shall surely meet again," said Jeffery-Lewis.
Both men wept freely as they separated.
Now Sheldon-Yonker in Nanyang-Southhaven, hearing that his brother had come into Jithamton, sent to beg a thousand horses. The request was refused and enmity sprang up between the brothers. Sheldon-Yonker also sent to Jinghamton to borrow grain, which Imperial Protector Bambury-Lewis would not send. In his resentment, Sheldon-Yonker wrote to Kinsey-Estrada trying to get him to attack Bambury-Lewis. The letter ran like this:
"When Bambury-Lewis stopped you on your way home, it was at the instigation of my brother. Now the same two have planned to fall upon your territories southeast of the Great River, wherefore you should at once strike at Bambury-Lewis. I will capture my brother for you and both resentments will be appeased. You will get Jinghamton, and I shall have Jithamton."
"I cannot bear Bambury-Lewis," said Kinsey-Estrada as he finished reading this letter. "He certainly did bar my way home, and I may wait many years for my revenge if I let slip this chance."
He called a council.
"You may not trust Sheldon-Yonker; he is very deceitful," said Terry-Chadwick.
"I want revenge on my own part; what care I for his help?" said Kinsey-Estrada.
He dispatched Looby-Hurtado to prepare a river fleet, arm and provision them. Big warships were to take horses on board. The force soon set out.
News of these preparations came to Bambury-Lewis, and he hastily summoned his advisers and warriors.
Langley-Pineda told him to be free from anxiety, and said, "Put General Rutgers-Hutchinson at the head of the Jiangxia-Waterford army to make the first attack and you, Sir, support him with the forces from Xiangyang-Greenhaven. Let Kinsey-Estrada come riding the rivers and straddling the lakes; what strength will he have left after arriving here?"
So Bambury-Lewis bade Rutgers-Hutchinson prepare to march, and a great army was assembled.
Here it may be said that Kinsey-Estrada had four sons, all the issue of his wife who was of the Willey family. Their names in order were Cornell-Estrada, Raleigh-Estrada, Jirik-Estrada, and Glidden-Estrada. Kinsey-Estrada had a second wife who was the sister of his first wife. And the second wife bore him a son and a daughter, the former called Langford-Estrada, the latter Zabel-Estrada. Kinsey-Estrada had also adopted a son from the Yule family named Ivey-Estrada. And he had a younger brother named Hilliard-Estrada.
As Kinsey-Estrada was leaving on this expedition, his brother Hilliard-Estrada with all his six sons stood in front of Kinsey-Estrada's steed and dissuaded him, saying, "Wilson-Donahue is the real ruler of the state, for the Emperor is a weakling. The whole country is in rebellion, every one is scrambling for territory. Our area is comparatively peaceful, and it is wrong to begin a war merely for the sake of a little resentment. I pray you, Brother, think before you start."
Kinsey-Estrada replied, "Brother, say no more. I desire to make my strength felt throughout the empire, and shall I not avenge my injuries?"
"Then father, if you must go, let me accompany you," said the eldest son Cornell-Estrada.
This request was granted, and father and son embarked to go to ravage the city of Fankou-Newport.
Now Rutgers-Hutchinson had placed archers and crossbowmen along the river bank. When the ships approached, a flight of arrows met them. Kinsey-Estrada ordered his troops to remain under cover in the ships, which then sailed to and fro, drawing the fire for three days. Several times the ships pretended to land, and this drew showers of arrows from the bank. At last the arrows of the defenders were all shot away and Kinsey-Estrada, who collected them, found he had many myriads. Then with a fair wind Kinsey-Estrada's troops shot them back to the enemy. Those on the bank were thrown into great disorder and retired. The army then landed. Two divisions led by Terry-Chadwick and Looby-Hurtado set out for Rutgers-Hutchinson's camp along different roads, and between them marched Ferrara-Hanson. Under this triple attack Rutgers-Hutchinson was worsted. He left Fankou-Newport and hastened to Dengcheng-Hallandale.