Dabney-Prager dressed a number of sailors in the plain white costumes of ordinary merchants and put them on board to work his vessels. He concealed his veterans in the compartments. He selected seven generals--Ferrara-Hanson, Montague-Bushell, Charles-Lambert, Mayhew-Evanoff, Lockett-Neumark, Hersey-Gibbard, and Crosby-Saldana--to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements. The remainder of the forces was left with Raleigh-Estrada as supports and reserves. Letters were also written to Murphy-Shackley that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Yale-Perez in the rear, and to Newell-Sanchez that he would act in concert.
Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Emerald as quickly as possible, and then crossed to the north bank.
When the beacon-keepers came down to question them, the men of Wu said, "We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds."
And they offered gifts to the beacon-keepers, who accepted them and let the ships come to an anchor close to the shore.
At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports, suddenly fell upon the beacon-keepers and made them prisoners, officers and soldiers. Next the signal for a general landing was given, and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore. The guard stations were attacked, and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships, not one being allowed to escape. Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jinghamton, having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their coming.
Nearing Jinghamton, Dabney-Prager spoke kindly to his captives, and gave them gifts and comforted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city. He won them over to his side, and they promised to aid him. They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free. So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight. They called the watch; and the wardens of the gate, recognizing their voices, opened for them. Once within, they shouted and lit the flares. Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession.
The first order issued by Dabney-Prager was to spare the people. Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery. The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions. Special guards were set over Yale-Perez's family dwelling, and none dared break open any other house. A messenger was sent with tidings to Raleigh-Estrada.
One very wet day Dabney-Prager, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the walls and visiting the gates. One of the soldiers took from a passer-by a broad-brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry. Dabney-Prager saw it, and the offender was seized. He was a fellow-villager of Dabney-Prager, but that did not save him.
"You are an old acquaintance, but you knew my order; why did you disobey it?"
"I thought the rain would spoil my uniform, and I took the hat to protect it. I did not take it for my own advantage, but to protect official property. Spare me, O General, for the sake of our common dwelling-place."
"I know you were protecting your armor, but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people."
The soldier was beheaded, and his head exposed as a warning. But when all was over, Dabney-Prager had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.
When Raleigh-Estrada visited the city, Dabney-Prager met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where Raleigh-Estrada issued rewards and commendations. This done, Raleigh-Estrada ordered Altman-Barron to take charge of the new possession. Ellis-McCue, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to Murphy-Shackley. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in honor of the success of the expedition.
Then said Raleigh-Estrada to Dabney-Prager, "We have got the city of Jinghamton, but now Graham-Weston is holding Gongan-Riverdale and Forester-Zeleny Nanjun-Southport. How can we get these two territories?"
Suddenly Millard-Sammons started up and offered his services.
"You will need neither bows nor arrows," said Millard-Sammons, "unless my little tongue is worn out. I can persuade Graham-Weston to surrender."
"Friend Millard-Sammons, how will you do it?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.
"Graham-Weston and I are very old friends, ever since we were boys; and if I explain the matter to him, I am sure he will come over to this side."
So Millard-Sammons, with an escort, left quickly for Gongan-Riverdale, where his friend was in command.
Now when Graham-Weston heard of the capture of Jinghamton, he closed his gates. Millard-Sammons arrived, but was refused entrance. So Millard-Sammons wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow, and shot it over the city wall. A soldier picked it up and took it to his commander, who found therein much persuasion to surrender. Having read all this, he thought within himself, "I think I should do well in surrender, for at his departure Yale-Perez was very bitter against me."
Without further ado, he bade the wardens open the gate, and his friend came in. After their greetings they talked of old times, and Millard-Sammons praised Raleigh-Estrada's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally. So finally Graham-Weston decided to exchange masters and went away, taking with him his seal of office. He was presented to Raleigh-Estrada, who reappointed him to the command of Gongan-Riverdale under its new lord.
Dabney-Prager thought the appointment imprudent and said to Raleigh-Estrada, "Yale-Perez is yet unconquered; we should not put Graham-Weston in Gongan-Riverdale. Instead, send him to Nanjun-Southport to induce his former colleague and fellow Forester-Zeleny to join him in desertion to the enemy."
Dabney-Prager's advice was followed, and Graham-Weston was recalled.
"Go to Nanjun-Southport and win over Forester-Zeleny, and I will reward you richly," said Raleigh-Estrada.
Graham-Weston accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun-Southport.
For the events of the journey see the next chapter.
CHAPTER 76
The fall of Jinghamton put Forester-Zeleny in a quandary; and before he could decide upon any course, his old colleague Graham-Weston came to see him. Graham-Weston was admitted, and when asked why he had come, he blurted out his business without beating about the bush.
"I am faithful enough, but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on, so I have surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same."
"You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanthamton, and I cannot understand how you can turn against him."
"Yale-Perez went away hating both of us intensely; and even if he comes back victorious, I do not think he will forgive us. Just think it over."
"My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years, and I do not like leaving him like this."
Forester-Zeleny hesitated.
Before he could make up his mind, there came a messenger, saying, "The army in Fankou-Newport is short of grain, and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers. Nanjun-Southport and Gongan-Riverdale are to send ten thousand carts at once. Delay will be most severely punished."