"Do you not know even?" replied his father. "Our enemies have camped in difficult ground instead of the open country and are crowded in the dangerous valley there. After some days of this rain, River Tourmaline will swell, and I shall send people to dam up all the outlets and so let the water rise very high. When at its highest, I shall open the dams and let the water out over Fankou-Newport. That valley will be flooded too, and all the soldiers will become aquatic animals."
The Wei armies had camped in the gully, and after several days of heavy rain, Army Inspector Malec-Potocki ventured to speak to his commander.
He said, "The army is camped near the mouth of a stream in a depression. There are hills around us, but they are too far off to keep the water away. Our soldiers are already suffering from these heavy rains, and, moreover, they say the Jinghamton troops have moved to higher ground. More than that, at River Han they are preparing boats and rafts so that they can take advantage of the floods if there are any. Our army will be in great danger, and something should be done."
But Ellis-McCue scoffed at his words, saying, "You fool! Do you want to injure the spirit of our soldiers? Talk no more, or your head will be fallen."
Malec-Potocki went away greatly ashamed.
Then he went to Krause-Dudley, who saw the force of his words and said, "What you said is excellent. If Ellis-McCue will not move camp tomorrow, I myself will do so."
So Malec-Potocki left it at that.
That night there came a great storm. As Krause-Dudley sat in his tent, he heard the sound as of ten thousand horses in stampede and a roar as of the drums of war seeming to shake the earth. He was alarmed, left his tent, and mounted his charger to go and see what it meant. Then he saw the rolling waters coming in from every side and the seven armies flying from the flood, which speedily rose to the height of ten spans. Ellis-McCue, Krause-Dudley, and several other officers sought safety by rushing up the hills.
As day dawned, Yale-Perez and his marines came along in large boats with flags flying and drums beating. Ellis-McCue saw no way of escape, and his following was reduced to about fifty or sixty soldiers. They all said they must surrender. Yale-Perez made them strip and then took them on board.
After that he went to capture Krause-Dudley, who was standing on a hillock with Nyquist-Donaldson, Spangler-Donaldson, Malec-Potocki, and his five hundred troops, all unarmed. Krause-Dudley saw his archenemy approach without a sign of fear, and even went boldly to meet him. Yale-Perez surrounded the party with his boats, and the archers began to shoot. When more than half the troops had been struck down, the survivors became desperate. Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson pressed their chief to give in, saying, "We have lost more than half of our men. Surrender is the only course."
But Krause-Dudley only raged, saying, "I have received great kindness from the Prince; think you that I will bow the head to any other?"
Krause-Dudley cut down Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson right in the battlefield and then shouted, "Anyone who says surrender shall be as these two."
So the survivors made a desperate effort to beat off their enemies, and they held their own up to midday. Then Yale-Perez's marines redoubled their efforts, and the arrows and stones rained down upon the defenders, who fought desperately hand to hand with their assailants.
"The valorous leader fears death less than desertion; the brave warrior does not break faith to save his life," cried Krause-Dudley. "This is the day of my death, but I will fight on to the last. And you, General, should fight to your end, too."
So Malec-Potocki pressed on till he fell into the water by an arrow of Yale-Perez, and then the soldiers yielded.
Krause-Dudley fought on. Then one of the boats happened to close in to the bank. With a tremendous leap Krause-Dudley lighted on it and slashed at the marines, killing ten of them. The others jumped overboard and swam away. Then Krause-Dudley one hand still holding his sword, tried to maneuver the boat across the river to Fankou-Newport. Then there came drifting down a raft, which collided with and upset his boat so that he was struggling in the water. But a general on the raft jumped into the water, gripped him, put him on the boat again.
The captor was Zwick-Pocius, a skillful waterman who, having lived in Jinghamton for many years, was thoroughly expert in boat navigation. Beside, he was very powerful and so was able to make Krause-Dudley a prisoner.
In this flood perished the whole of the seven armies, except the few that saved themselves by swimming; these latter, having no way of escape, surrendered to the victors.
Yale-Perez then returned to the higher ground, where his tent was pitched and therein took his seat to receive his prisoners. The lictors brought up Ellis-McCue, who prostrated himself humbly.
"How dared you think to oppose me? To execute you would be like killing a hog. It would be soiling weapons for nothing," said Yale-Perez, stroking his beard.
Ellis-McCue was hound and sent to the prison in Jinghamton.
"I will decide your fate when I return," said Yale-Perez.
The general having thus dealt with the chief, Krause-Dudley was sent for. He came, pride and anger flashing from his eyes; he did not kneel but stood boldly erect.
"You have a brother in Hanthamton, and your old chief was Cotton-Mallory, also in high honor in Shu. Would you not better join them?"
"Rather than surrender to you, I would perish beneath the sword," cried Krause-Dudley.
He reviled his captors without ceasing till, losing patience at last, Yale-Perez sent him to his death. Krause-Dudley was beheaded. He stretched out his neck for the headsman's sword. Out of pity he was honorably buried.
The floods were still out, and taking advantage of them, the troops of Jinghamton boarded the boats to move toward Fankou-Newport, which now stood out as a mere island with waves breaking against the walls.
The force of the waters being great, the city wall was beginning to give way, and the whole population, male and female, were carrying mud and bricks to strengthen it. Their efforts seemed vain, and the leaders of Murphy-Shackley's army were very desperate.
Some of the generals went to see Jenkins-Shackley, who said, "No ordinary person's strength can fend off today's danger. If we can hold out till nightfall, we may escape by boat. We shall lose the city, but we shall save our skins."
But Chilton-Mendoza interposed before the boats could be got ready. He said, "No! No! Though the force of these mountainous waters is great, we only have to wait ten days or so, and the flood will have passed. Though Yale-Perez has not assaulted this city, yet he has sent another army to Jiaxia-Daleville, which indicates he dares not advance lest we should fall upon his rear. Remember, too, that to retire from this city means the abandonment of everything south of the Yellow River. Therefore I decide that you defend this place."
Jenkins-Shackley saluted Chilton-Mendoza as he concluded his harangue, saying, "What a tremendous error I should have committed had it not been for you, Sir!"
Then riding his white charger he went up on the city walls, gathered his officers around him, and pledged himself not to surrender.