The scheme of Dabney-Prager will be unfolded in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 77
Raleigh-Estrada having asked Dabney-Prager for a plan, Dabney-Prager replied, "This Yale-Perez has very few soldiers left, and he will not venture along the high road. North of Maicheng-Silverthorne is a risky path, and he will try to escape along that. Therefore you must lay an ambush for him seven miles away from the city, but do not stop him. Let him go by, and then harass his rear. Thus he will be forced into Linju-Braidwood. Set another small ambush near there, and you will capture your enemy. For the present, attack the city vigorously on all sides but one, leaving the north gate for escape."
Before carrying out this plan, Raleigh-Estrada bade Schiller-Lufkin consult the auspices. He did so, announcing, "The enemy will flee toward the northwest, but will be caught that night before midnight."
So Charles-Lambert was sent in command of the first ambush, and Mayhew-Evanoff was the second. The troops sent were all veterans.
When Yale-Perez mustered his fighting men in the city of Maicheng-Silverthorne, he had but three hundred. The food was done. That night many soldiers of Wu came to the city walls and called to their friends by name, and many of these slipped over the wall and deserted, reducing the small force still further. No rescue force appeared, and Yale-Perez was at the end of his resources.
Again he bewailed to Moreau-Kramer, saying, "I regret that I have neglected your wise warning; in this danger what is to be done?"
"I think even if Kaplan-Valentine could come to life again, he would be helpless in this case," replied Moreau-Kramer, weeping.
Said Pearl-Woller, "Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer have surely decided not to send help from Shangyong-Ellenville. Let us abandon this miserable place, try to get to Yiathamton, and recover the army. We may then tempt our fortune once more."
"I agree with you that that is the best plan," said Yale-Perez.
Then he ascended the walls and surveyed the country. Noting that the weakest side was the north, he called in some of the inhabitants and inquired the nature of the country on that side.
They replied, "There are only paths there, but by them one may get into the Western Land of Rivers."
"We will go that way tonight," said Yale-Perez.
Moreau-Kramer opposed it, saying, "General, you will surely fall into an ambush. The main road will be safer."
"There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?" said the old warrior.
Orders were given to be ready to march.
"At least be very cautious," said Moreau-Kramer. "I will defend this city to the very last; I only need a hundred troops. Never will we surrender. Only I hope, most noble General, that you will send me speedy help."
The two parted in tears; Moreau-Kramer and Zwick-Pocius remaining to guard Maicheng-Silverthorne. Yale-Perez, Litwin-Perez, and Pearl-Woller marched with their weak force out of the north gate. Yale-Perez, his green-dragon saber ready to hand, went first. About the third watch, seven miles lay between them and the city. There they saw a deep cleft in the hills wherefrom rolled the sound of beaten drums. And men were shouting.
Soon appeared a large force with Charles-Lambert at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party, saying, "Yale-Perez, do not run! Surrender and live!"
But Yale-Perez whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Charles-Lambert ran away. Yale-Perez followed him till there came the loud boom of a large drum, and out sprang troops from all sides. Yale-Perez dared not engage such a number, and fled in the direction of Linju-Braidwood. Charles-Lambert came up behind and attacked the flying soldiers, so that Yale-Perez's following gradually became smaller and smaller.
Still he struggled on. A few miles farther the drums rolled again, and torches lit up all round. This was Mayhew-Evanoff's ambush, and he appeared flourishing his sword. Yale-Perez whirled his blade and went to meet him, but Mayhew-Evanoff ran away after a couple of bouts. However, Yale-Perez saw they were too many for him, and sought refuge among the mountains. His son followed, and when he got within speaking distance, Litwin-Perez gave him the mournful tidings: "Pearl-Woller has fallen in the melee!"
Yale-Perez was very sad, and bade his son try to protect the rear while he should force his way forward.
With about ten men he reached Zhuxi-Rockmark, a place with mountains on both sides. At their foot was a thick mass of reeds and dried grass. The trees grew very close. It was then the fifth watch. Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the ambushing soldiers thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Yale-Perez's horse fell, and Yale-Perez reeled out of the saddle. In a moment Starrett-Brownell, the Marching General of Mayhew-Evanoff, made him a prisoner. Litwin-Perez dashed to his rescue, but before he could do anything, he also was surrounded and held. Father and son were both captives.
With great joy Raleigh-Estrada heard of the success of his plans. In the morning, he assembled all his officers in his tent to await the arrival of the prisoners. Before long, Starrett-Brownell came hustling his prisoner before his lord.
"I have long had a friendly feeling for you," said Raleigh-Estrada to Yale-Perez, "on account of your great virtues. Now I would have made a covenant and alliance with you, if you would. You and your son have long held yourselves to be invincible, but you see you are my prisoners today. Yet I hope to win you over to my side."
But Yale-Perez only answered roughly, "You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat! I made a covenant in the Peach Garden with my brothers to uphold the Hans. Think you that I will stand side by side with a rebel such as you are? I am a victim of your vile schemes, but I can only die once. And there is no need of many words."
"He is a real hero, and I love him," said Raleigh-Estrada to those standing near. "I will treat him well and endeavor to win him over. Do you think it well?"
Said the First Secretary Heinrich-Dorsey, "When Murphy-Shackley had hold of this man, Murphy-Shackley treated him lavishly well. Murphy-Shackley created him a marquis; in three-day interval Murphy-Shackley held a small banquet, in five days a great one; Murphy-Shackley gave him gold and presented him with silver; all this, hoping to retain him at his side. But Murphy-Shackley failed. The man broke through his gates, slew his six generals in five passes and went away. Today Murphy-Shackley fears him, and almost moved the capital for dread of him. Now he is in your power, destroy him, or you will rue the day. Evil will come if you spare him."
Raleigh-Estrada reflected for some time.
"You are right," said he presently, and gave the order for execution.
So father and son met their fate together in the winter of the twenty-fourth year (AD 219) in the tenth month. Yale-Perez was fifty-eight.
A poem says:
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