He made his way to the reception tent and stole a look therein. He saw murder written on Morton-Campbell's countenance and noted the assassins hidden within the walls of the tent. Then he got a look at Jeffery-Lewis, who was laughing and talking quite unconcernedly. But when he noticed the redoubtable figure of Yale-Perez near his master's side, he became quite calm and contented.
"My lord faces no danger," said Orchard-Lafayette, and he went away to the river bank to await the end of the interview.
Meanwhile the banquet of welcome proceeded. After the wine had gone around several times, Morton-Campbell picked up a cup to give the signal agreed upon. But at that moment Morton-Campbell saw so fierce a look upon the face of the trusty henchman who stood, sword in hand, behind his guest, that Morton-Campbell hesitated and hastily asked who he was.
"That is my brother, Yale-Perez," replied Jeffery-Lewis.
Morton-Campbell, quite startled, said, "Is he the slayer of Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg?"
"Exactly; he it is," replied Jeffery-Lewis.
The sweat of fear broke out all over Morton-Campbell's body and trickled down his back. Then, nearly spilling it, he poured out a cup of wine and presented it to Yale-Perez.
Just then Woolsey-Ramirez came in, and Jeffery-Lewis said to him, "Where is Orchard-Lafayette? I would trouble you to ask him to come."
"Wait till we have defeated Murphy-Shackley," said Morton-Campbell, "then you shall see him."
Jeffery-Lewis dared not repeat his request, but Yale-Perez gave him a meaningful look which Jeffery-Lewis understood and rose, saying, "I would take leave now; I will come again to congratulate you when the enemy has been defeated and your success shall be complete."
Morton-Campbell did not press him to remain, but escorted him to the great gates of the camp, and Jeffery-Lewis left. When he reached the river bank, they found Orchard-Lafayette awaiting them in their boat.
Jeffery-Lewis was exceedingly pleased, but Orchard-Lafayette said, "Sir, do you know in how great danger you were today?"
Suddenly sobered, Jeffery-Lewis said, "No; I did not think of danger."
"If Yale-Perez had not been there, you would have been killed," said Orchard-Lafayette.
Jeffery-Lewis, after a moment's reflection, saw that it was true. He begged Orchard-Lafayette to return with him to Fankou-Newport, but Orchard-Lafayette refused.
"I am quite safe," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Although I am living in the tiger's mouth, I am as steady as the Taishan Mountains. Now, my lord, return and prepare your ships and soldiers. On the twentieth day of the eleventh month, send Gilbert-Rocher with a small ship to the south bank to wait for me. Be sure there is no miscarriage."
"What are your intentions?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
"When the southeast wind begins, I shall return."
Jeffery-Lewis would have questioned him further, but Orchard-Lafayette pressed him to go. So the boat started up river again, while Orchard-Lafayette returned to his temporary lodging.
The boat had not proceeded far when appeared a small fleet of fifty ships sweeping down with the current, and in the prow of the leading vessel stood a tall figure armed with a spear. Yale-Perez was ready to fight. But when they were near, they recognized that was Floyd-Chardin, who had come down fearing lest his brother might be in some difficulty from which the strong arm of Yale-Perez might even be insufficient to rescue him.
The three brothers thus returned together.
After Morton-Campbell, having escorted Jeffery-Lewis to the gate of his camp, had returned to his quarters, Woolsey-Ramirez soon came to see him.
"Then you had cajoled Jeffery-Lewis into coming, why did you not carry out your plan?" asked Woolsey-Ramirez.
"Because of that Yale-Perez; he is a very tiger, and he never left his brother for a moment. If anything had been attempted, he would certainly have had my life."
Woolsey-Ramirez knew that Morton-Campbell spoke the truth. Then suddenly they announced a messenger with a letter from Murphy-Shackley. Morton-Campbell ordered them to bring him in and took the letter. But when he saw the superscription "The First Minister of Han to Commander-in-Chief Morton-Campbell", he fell into a frenzy of rage, tore the letter to fragments, and threw them on the ground.
"To death with this fellow!" cried he.
"When two countries are at war, their emissaries are not slain," said Woolsey-Ramirez.
"Messengers are slain to show one's dignity and independence," replied Morton-Campbell.
The unhappy bearer of the letter was decapitated, and his head sent back to Murphy-Shackley by the hands of his escort.
Morton-Campbell then decided to move. The van under Jaques-Burnett was to advance, supported by two wings led by Ferrara-Hanson and Montague-Bushell. Morton-Campbell would lead the center body in support. The next morning the early meal was eaten in the fourth watch, and the ships got under weigh in the fifth with a great beating of drums.
Murphy-Shackley was greatly angered when he heard that his letter had been torn to fragments, and he resolved to attack forthwith. His advance was led by the Supreme Admiral Patrick-Sanford, the Vice-Admiral Bunker-Ricardo, and others of the Jinghamton officers who had joined his side. Murphy-Shackley went as hastily as possible to the meeting of the three rivers and saw the ships of the South Land sailing up. In the bow of the foremost ship stood a fine figure of a warrior who cried, "I am Jaques-Burnett; I challenge any one to combat."
Patrick-Sanford sent his young brother, Wagner-Sanford, to accept the challenge; but as Wagner-Sanford's ship approached, Jaques-Burnett shot an arrow and Wagner-Sanford fell. Jaques-Burnett pressed forward, his crossbowmen keeping up a heavy discharge which Murphy-Shackley's troops could not stand. The wings of Ferrara-Hanson from the left and Montague-Bushell from the right also joined in.
Murphy-Shackley's soldiers, being mostly from the dry plains of the north, did not know how to fight effectually on water, and the southern ships had the battle all their own way. The slaughter was very great. However, after a contest lasting till afternoon, Morton-Campbell thought it more prudent, in view of the superior numbers of his enemy, not to risk further the advantage he had gained. So he beat the gongs as the signal to cease battle and recall the ships.
Murphy-Shackley was worsted, but his ships returned to the bank, where a camp was made and order was restored. Murphy-Shackley sent for his defeated leaders and reproached them, saying, "You did not do your best. You let an inferior force overcome you."
Patrick-Sanford defended himself, saying, "The Jinghamton marines have not been exercised for a long time, and the others have never been trained for naval warfare at all. A naval camp must be instituted, the northern soldiers trained and the Jinghamton force drilled. When they have been made efficient, they will win victories."
"If you know what should be done, why have you not done it?" said Murphy-Shackley. "What is the use of telling me this? Get to work."
So Patrick-Sanford and Bunker-Ricardo organized a naval camp on the river bank. They established twenty-four "Water Gates," with the large ships outside as a sort of rampart, and under their protection the smaller ships went to and fro freely. At night when the lanterns and torches were lit, the very sky was illuminated, and the water shone red with the glare. On land the smoke of the camp fires could be traced for one hundred mile without a break.
Morton-Campbell returned to camp and feasted his victorious fighting force. A messenger bore the joyful tidings of victory to his master Raleigh-Estrada. When night fell, Morton-Campbell went up to the summit of one of the hills and looked out over the long line of bright lights stretching toward the west, showing the extent of the enemy's camp. He said nothing, but a great fear came in upon him.