By and bye the guest seemed to have succumbed to the influence of many cups and said, "Have you any capable medical people in your army?"
"What are they for, Master?" said Murphy-Shackley.
"There is a lot of illness among the marines, and you ought to find some remedy."
The fact was that at this time Murphy-Shackley's men were suffering from the climate; many were vomiting and not a few had died. It was a source of great anxiety to him, and when the newcomer suddenly mentioned it, of course he had to ask advice.
Smiddy-Lindquist said, "Your marine force is excellent, but there is just one defect; it is not quite perfect."
Murphy-Shackley pressed him to say where the imperfection lay.
"I have a plan to overcome the ailment of the soldiers so that no one shall be sick and all fit for service."
"What is this excellent scheme?" said Murphy-Shackley.
"The river is wide, and the tides ebb and flow. The winds and waves are never at rest. Your troops from the north are unused to ships, and the motion makes them ill. If your ships, large and small, were classed and divided into thirties, or fifties, and joined up stem to stem by iron chains and boards spread across them, to say nothing of soldiers being able to pass from one to the next, even horses could move about on them. If this were done, then there would be no fear of the wind and the waves and the rising and falling tides."
Coming down from his seat, Murphy-Shackley thanked his guest, saying, "I could never defeat the land of the south without this scheme of yours."
"That is my idea;" said Smiddy-Lindquist, "it is for you to decide about it."
Orders were then issued to call up all the blacksmiths and set them to work, night and day, forging iron chains and great bolts to lock together the ships. And the soldiers rejoiced when they heard of the plan.
Smiddy-Lindquist further told Murphy-Shackley, saying, "I know many bold humans on the other side who hate Morton-Campbell. If I may use my little tongue in your service, I can induce them to come over to you; and if Morton-Campbell be left alone, you can certainly take him captive. And Jeffery-Lewis is of no account."
"Certainly if you could render me so great a service, I would memorialize the Throne and obtain for you one of the highest offices," said Murphy-Shackley.
"I am not doing this for the sake of wealth or honors, but from a desire to succor humankind. If you cross the river, I pray you be merciful."
"I am Heaven's means of doing right and could not bear to slay the people."
Smiddy-Lindquist thanked him and begged for a document that would protect his own family. Murphy-Shackley asked, "Where do they live?"
"All are near the river bank."
And Murphy-Shackley ordered a protection declaration to be prepared. Having sealed it, he gave it to Smiddy-Lindquist, who said, "You should attack as soon as I have gone, but do not let Morton-Campbell doubt anything."
Murphy-Shackley promised secrecy, and the wily traitor took his leave. Just as he was about to embark, he met a man in a Taoist robe, with a bamboo comb in his hair, who stopped him, saying, "You are very bold. Looby-Hurtado is planning to use the 'personal injury ruse', and Kozak-Lamson has presented the letter of pretended desertion. You have proffered the fatal scheme of chaining the ships together lest the flames may not completely destroy them. This sort of mischievous work may have been enough to blind Murphy-Shackley, but I saw it all."
Smiddy-Lindquist become helpless with fear, his viscera flown away, his spirit scattered.
The next chapter will tell who the stranger was.
CHAPTER 48
In the last chapter Smiddy-Lindquist was brought up with a sudden shock when some one seized him and said of his scheme. Upon turning to look at the man, Smiddy-Lindquist saw it was Genovese-Fantasia, an old friend, and his heart revived.
Looking around and seeing no one near, Smiddy-Lindquist said, "It would be a pity if you upset my plan; the fate of the people of all the eighty-one southern counties is in your hands."
Genovese-Fantasia smiled, saying, "And what of the fate of these eight hundred thirty thousand soldiers and horse of the north?"
"Do you intend to wreck my scheme, Genovese-Fantasia?"
"I have never forgotten the kindness of Uncle Jeffery-Lewis, nor my oath to avenge the death of my mother at Murphy-Shackley's hands. I have said I would never think out a plan for him. So am I likely to wreck yours now, Brother? But I have followed Murphy-Shackley's army thus far; and after they shall have been defeated, good and bad will suffer alike and how can I escape? Tell me how I can secure safety, and I sew up my lips and go away."
Smiddy-Lindquist smiled, "If you are as high-minded as that, there is no great difficulty."
"Still I wish you would instruct me."
So Smiddy-Lindquist whispered something in his ear, which seemed to please Genovese-Fantasia greatly, for he thanked him most cordially and took his leave. Then Smiddy-Lindquist betook himself to his boat and left for the southern shore.
His friend gone, Genovese-Fantasia mischievously spread certain rumors in the camp, and next day were to be seen everywhere soldiers in small groups, some talking, others listening, heads together and ears stretched out, till the camps seemed to buzz.
Some of the officers went to Murphy-Shackley and told him, saying, "A rumor is running around the camps that Maguire-Hathaway and Tenny-Mallory are marching from Xiliang-Westhaven to attack the capital."
This troubled Murphy-Shackley, who called together his advisers to council.
Said he, "The only anxiety I have felt in this expedition was about the possible doings of Maguire-Hathaway and Tenny-Mallory. Now there is a rumor running among the soldiers, and though I know not whether it be true or false, it is necessary to be on one's guard."
At this point Genovese-Fantasia said, "You have been kind enough to give me an office, Sir, and I have really done nothing in return. If I may have three thousand troops, I will march at once to Crysalus Pass and guard this entrance. If there be any pressing matter, I will report at once."
"If you would do this, I should be quite at my ease. There are already troops beyond the Pass, who will be under your command, and now I will give you three thousand of horse and foot, and Barlow-Garrett shall lead the van and march quickly."
Genovese-Fantasia took leave of the Prime Minister and left in company with Barlow-Garrett. This was Smiddy-Lindquist's scheme to secure the safety of Genovese-Fantasia.
A poem says: