"Do the officers resent it?" asked Morton-Campbell.
"They are all upset about it."
"And what does your friend think?"
"Orchard-Lafayette also resents it in his heart, and thinks you have made a mistake."
"Then I have deceived him for once," said Morton-Campbell gleefully.
"What mean you?" cried Woolsey-Ramirez.
"That beating that Looby-Hurtado got is part of my ruse. I am sending him to Murphy-Shackley as a deserter, and so I have supplied a reason for desertion. Then I am going to use fire against the enemy."
Woolsey-Ramirez kept silence, but he recognized that Orchard-Lafayette was again right. Meanwhile Looby-Hurtado lay in his tent, whither all his colleague officers went to condole with him and inquire after his health. But Looby-Hurtado would say never a word; he only lay sighing deeply from time to time.
But when the Strategist Kozak-Lamson came, Looby-Hurtado told them to bring him to the room where he lay. Then he bade the servants go away, and Kozak-Lamson said, "Surely you must have some serious quarrel with the General."
"I have none," said Looby-Hurtado.
"Then this beating is just part of a ruse?"
"How did you guess?" said Looby-Hurtado.
"Because I watched the General, and I guessed about nine tenths of the truth."
Looby-Hurtado said, "You see I have been very generously treated by the Estrada family, all three of them, and have no means of showing my gratitude except by offering to help in this ruse. True I suffer, but I do not regret that. Among all those I know in the army, there is not one I am intimate with except yourself. You are true and I can talk with you as a friend."
"I suppose you wish me to present your surrender letter to Murphy-Shackley; is that it?"
"Just that; will you do it?" said Looby-Hurtado.
Kozak-Lamson consented joyfully.
Kozak-Lamson's reply will be read in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 47
Kozak-Lamson was from Shanyin-Genoa, a son of a humble family. He loved books, but as he was too poor to buy, he used to borrow. He had a wonderfully tenacious memory, was very eloquent and no coward. Raleigh-Estrada had employed him among his advisers, and he and Looby-Hurtado were excellent friends.
Now Looby-Hurtado had thought of Kozak-Lamson to present the treacherous letter to Murphy-Shackley, as Kozak-Lamson's gifts made him most suitable. Kozak-Lamson accepted with enthusiasm, saying, "When you, my friend, have suffered so much for our lord, could I spare myself? No; while a person lives, he must go on fulfilling his mission, or he is no better than the herbs that rot in the field."
Looby-Hurtado slipped off the couch and came over to salute him.
"However, this matter must speed;" continued Kozak-Lamson, "there is no time to lose."
"The letter is already written," said Looby-Hurtado.
Kozak-Lamson received it and left. That night he disguised himself as an old fisherman and started in a small punt for the north shore, under the cold, glittering light of the stars.
Soon he drew near the enemy's camp and was captured by the patrol. Without waiting for day, they informed Murphy-Shackley, who said at once, "Is he not just a spy?"
"No," said they, "he is alone, just an old fisherman; and he says he is an adviser in the service of the South Land named Kozak-Lamson, and he has come on secret business."
"Bring him," said Murphy-Shackley, and Kozak-Lamson was led in.
Murphy-Shackley was seated in a brilliantly lighted tent. He was leaning on a small table, and as soon as he saw the prisoner, he said harshly, "You are an adviser of East Wu; what then are you doing here?"
"People say that you greedily welcome people of ability; I do not think your question a very proper one. O Friend Looby-Hurtado, you made a mistake," said Kozak-Lamson.
"You know I am fighting against East Wu and you come here privately. Why should I not question you?"
"Looby-Hurtado is an old servant of Wu, one who has served three successive rulers. Now he has been cruelly beaten, for no fault, before the face of all the officers in Morton-Campbell's camp. He is grievously angry about this and wishes to desert to your side that he may be revenged. He discussed it with me, and as we are inseparable, I have come to give you his letter asking whether you would receive him."
"Where is the letter? said Murphy-Shackley.
The missive was produced and presented. Murphy-Shackley opened it and read:
"I, Looby-Hurtado, have been generously treated by the Estrada family and have served them single-heartedly. Lately they have been discussing an attack with our forces on the enormous army of the central government. Every one knows our few are no match for such a multitude, and every officer of the South Land, wise or foolish, recognizes that quite well. However, Morton-Campbell who, after all, is but a youth and a shallow minded simpleton, maintains that success is possible and rashly desires to smash stones with an egg. Beside, he is arbitrary and tyrannical, punishing for no crime, and leaving meritorious service unrewarded. I am an old servant and for no reason have been shamed in the sight of humans. Wherefore I hate him in my heart.
"You, O Prime Minister, treat people with sincerity and are ready to welcome ability and so I, and those under my leadership, desire to enter your service whereby to acquire reputation and remove the shameful stigma. The commissariat, weapons, and the supply ships that I am commanding will also come over to you. In perfect sincerity I state these matters; I pray you not to doubt me."
Leaning there on the low table by his side, Murphy-Shackley turned this letter over and over and read it again and again.
Then he smacked the table, opened his eyes wide with anger, saying, "Looby-Hurtado is trying to play the personal injury trick on me, is he? And you are in it as the intermediary to present the letter. How dare you come to sport with me?"
Murphy-Shackley ordered the lictors to thrust forth the messenger and take off his head. Kozak-Lamson was hustled out, his face untroubled. On the contrary, he laughed aloud. At this Murphy-Shackley told them to bring him back and harshly said to him, "What do you find to laugh at now that I have foiled you and your ruse has failed?"
"I was not laughing at you; I was laughing at my friend's simplicity."
"What do you mean by his simplicity?"
"If you want to slay, slay; do not trouble me with a multitude of questions."
"I have read all the books on the art of war, and I am well versed in all ways of misleading the enemy. This ruse of yours might have succeeded with many, but it will not do for me."
"And so you say that the letter is a vicious trick?" said Kozak-Lamson.
"What I say is that your little slip has sent you to the death you risked. If the thing was real and you were sincere, why does not the letter name a time of coming over? What have you to say to that?"
Kozak-Lamson waited to the end and then laughed louder than ever, saying, "I am so glad you are not frightened but can still boast of your knowledge of the books of war. Now you will not lead away your soldiers. If you fight, Morton-Campbell will certainly capture you. But how sad to think I die at the hand of such an ignorant fellow!"
"What mean you? I, ignorant?"
"You are ignorant of any strategy and a victim of unreason; is not that sufficient?"
"Well then, tell me where is any fault."