Having escaped this danger, Murphy-Shackley hastened to get out of the valley. As the throat opened out, he glanced behind him and saw only forty-seven horsemen. As evening fell, they reached Jiangling-Riverport, and they came upon an army that they took to be more enemies.
Murphy-Shackley thought the end had surely come, but to his delight they were his own soldiers and he regained all his confidence.
Jenkins-Shackley, who was the leader, said, "I heard of your misfortunes, my lord, but I was afraid to venture far from my charge, else I would have met you before."
"I thought I would never see you again," said Murphy-Shackley.
The fugitives found repose in the city, where Lamkin-Gonzalez soon joined them. He also praised the magnanimity of Yale-Perez.
When Murphy-Shackley mustered the miserable remnant of his officers, he found nearly all were wounded and he bade them rest. Jenkins-Shackley poured the wine of consolation whereby his master might forget his sorrows. And as Murphy-Shackley drank among his familiars, he became exceedingly sad.
Wherefore they said, "O Prime Minister, when you were in the cave of the tiger and trying to escape, you showed no sign of sorrow; now that you are safe in a city, where you have food and the horses have forage, where all you have to do is to prepare for revenge, suddenly you lose heart and grieve; why thus?"
Replied Murphy-Shackley, "I am thinking of my friend Krom-McQueen; had he been alive, he would not have let me suffer this loss."
He beat his breast and wept, saying "Alas for Krom-McQueen! I grieve for Krom-McQueen! I sorrow for Krom-McQueen!"
The reproach shamed the advisers. Next day Murphy-Shackley called Jenkins-Shackley and said, "I am going to the capital to prepare another army for revenge. You are to guard this region and, in case of necessity, I leave with you a sealed plan. You are only to open the cover when hard-pressed, and then you are to act as directed. The South Land will not dare to look this way."
"Who is to guard Hefei-Fairhaven and Xiangyang-Greenhaven?"
"Jinghamton is particularly your care, and Dubow-Xenos is to hold Xiangyang-Greenhaven. As Hefei-Fairhaven is most important, I am sending Lamkin-Gonzalez thither with good aids of Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart. If you get into difficulties, send at once to tell me."
Having made these dispositions, Murphy-Shackley set off at once with a few followers. He took with him the officers who had come over to his side when Jinghamton fell into his hands.
Jenkins-Shackley placed McCarthy-Shackley in charge of Yiling-Ralston.
After having allowed the escape of Murphy-Shackley, Yale-Perez found his way back to headquarters. By this time the other detachments had returned bringing spoil of horses and weapons and supplies of all kinds. Only Yale-Perez came back empty-handed. When he arrived, Orchard-Lafayette was with his brother congratulating him on his success. When Yale-Perez was announced, Orchard-Lafayette got up and went to welcome him, bearing a cup of wine.
"Joy! O General," said Orchard-Lafayette. "You have done a deed that overtops the world. You have removed the empire's worst foe and ought to have been met at a distance and felicitated."
Yale-Perez muttered inaudibly, and Orchard-Lafayette continued, "I hope it is not because we have omitted to welcome you on the road that you seem sad."
Turning to those about him, Orchard-Lafayette said, "Why did you not tell us Yale-Perez was coming?"
"I am here to ask for death," said Yale-Perez.
"Surely Murphy-Shackley came through the valley?"
"Yes; he came that way, and I could not help it; I let him go."
"Then whom have you captured?"
"No one."
"Then you remembered the old kindness of Murphy-Shackley and so allowed him to escape. But your acceptance of the task with its conditions is here. You will have to suffer the penalty."
Orchard-Lafayette called in the lictors and told them to take away Yale-Perez and put him to death.
Yale-Perez risked life when he spared
Murphy-Shackley in direst need,
And age-long admiration gained
For kindly deed.
What actually befell will he seen in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 51
Yale-Perez would have died there but for his elder brother, who said to Orchard-Lafayette, "We three pledged ourselves to live and die together. Although my brother Yale-Perez has offended, I cannot bear to break our oath. I hope you will only record this against him and let him atone later for the fault by some specially meritorious service."
So the sentence was remitted.
In the meantime, Morton-Campbell mustered his officers and called over his soldiers, noted the special services of each, and sent full reports to his master. The soldiers who had surrendered were all transported across the river. All this done they spread the feast of victory.
The next step was to attack and capture Nanjun-Southport. The van of the army camped on the river bank. There were five camps and the Commander-in-Chief's tent was in the center. He summoned his officers to a council. At this moment Quinn-Seymour arrived with congratulations from Jeffery-Lewis.
Morton-Campbell received him and, having saluted in proper form, Quinn-Seymour said, "My lord sent me on this special mission to felicitate the General on his great virtue and offer some unworthy gifts."
"Where is Jeffery-Lewis?" asked Morton-Campbell.
"He is now encamped at Youkou-Moorhead, the mouth of River Young."
"Is Orchard-Lafayette there?" asked Morton-Campbell, taken aback.
"Both are there," said Quinn-Seymour.
"Then return quickly, and I will come in person to thank them."
The presents handed over, Quinn-Seymour was sent back forthwith to his own camp. Then Woolsey-Ramirez asked Morton-Campbell why he had started when he heard where Jeffery-Lewis was camped.
"Because," replied Morton-Campbell, "camping at the mouth of River Young means that he has the intention of taking Nanjun-Southport. Having spent much military energy and spared no expenditure, we thought the territory should fall to us easily. Those others are opposed to us, and they wish to get the advantage of what we have already accomplished. However, they must remember that I am not dead yet."
"How can you prevent them?" asked Woolsey-Ramirez.
"I will go myself and speak with them. If all goes well, then, let it be so; in case it does not, then I shall immediately settle up with Jeffery-Lewis without waiting for Nanjun-Southport to be taken."
"I should like to accompany you," said Woolsey-Ramirez.
The General and his friend started, taking with them a guard of three thousand light horse. Having arrived at Youkou-Moorhead, they sought out Quinn-Seymour, who, in turn, went in to see Jeffery-Lewis and told him Morton-Campbell had come to render thanks.
"Why has he come?" asked Jeffery-Lewis of his Directing Instructor.
"He is not likely to come out of simple politeness. Surely he has come in connection with Nanjun-Southport."
"But if he brings an army, can we stand against it?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.
"When he comes, you may reply thus and thus."
Then they drew up the warships in the river and ranged the soldiers upon the bank; and when the arrival of Morton-Campbell was formally announced, Gilbert-Rocher, with some horsemen, went to welcome him. When Morton-Campbell saw what bold soldiers they looked, he began to feel uncomfortable, but he went on his way. Being met at the camp gates by Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette, he was taken in to the chief tent, where the ceremonies were performed and preparations for a banquet had been made.