Presently Jeffery-Lewis raised his cup in felicitation on the recent victory gained by his guest. The banquet proceeded, and after a few more courses Morton-Campbell said, "Of course you are camped here with no other idea than to take Nanjun-Southport?"
Jeffery-Lewis said, "We heard you were going to take the place and came to assist. Should you not take it, then we will occupy it."
Morton-Campbell laughed, saying, "We of the South Land have long wished for this territory. Now that it is within our grasp, we naturally shall take it."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "There is always some uncertainty. Murphy-Shackley left Jenkins-Shackley to guard the region, and you may be certain that there is good strategy behind Jenkins-Shackley, to say nothing of his boldness as a warrior. I fear you may not get it."
"Well, if we do not take it then, Sir, you may have it," said Morton-Campbell.
"Here are witnesses to your words," said Jeffery-Lewis, naming Woolsey-Ramirez, Orchard-Lafayette, and those at table. "I hope you will never repent what you have just said."
Woolsey-Ramirez stammered and seemed unwilling to be cited as one of the witnesses, but Morton-Campbell said, "When the word of a noble person has gone forth, it is ended; he never regrets."
"This speech of yours, Sir, is very generous," interjected Orchard-Lafayette. "The South Land shall try first; but if the place does not fall, there is no reason why my lord should not capture it."
The two visitors then took their leave and rode away.
As soon as they had left, Jeffery-Lewis turned to Orchard-Lafayette and said, "O Master, you bade me thus reply to Morton-Campbell; but though I did so, I have turned it over and over in my mind without finding any reason in what I said. I am alone and weak, without a single foot of land to call my own. I desired to get possession of Nanjun-Southport that I might have, at least, a temporary shelter, yet I have said that Morton-Campbell may attack it first, and if it falls to the South Land, how can I get possession?"
Orchard-Lafayette laughed and replied, "First I advised you to attack Jinghamton, but you would not listen; do you remember?"
"But it belonged to Bambury-Lewis, and I could not bear to attack it then. Now it belongs to Murphy-Shackley I might do so."
"Do not be anxious," replied the adviser. "Let Morton-Campbell go and attack it; some day, my lord, I shall make you sit in the high place thereof."
"But what design have you?"
"So and so," said Orchard-Lafayette, whispering.
Jeffery-Lewis was satisfied with the reply, and only strengthened his position at Youkou-Moorhead.
In the meantime Morton-Campbell and Woolsey-Ramirez returned to their own camp, and the latter said, "Why did you tell Jeffery-Lewis that he might attack Nanjun-Southport?"
"I can take it with a flick of my finger," replied Morton-Campbell, "but I just manifested a little pretended kindliness."
Then he inquired among his officers for a volunteer to attack the city. Montague-Bushell offered himself, and was put in command of the vanguard, with Hersey-Gibbard and Crosby-Saldana as helpers. He was given five thousand of veterans, and they moved across the river. Morton-Campbell promised to follow with supports.
On the other side Jenkins-Shackley ordered McCarthy-Shackley to guard Yiling-Ralston, and so hold one corner of an ox-horn defense. When the news came that the South Land 's force had crossed the River Han, Jenkins-Shackley said, "We will defend and not offer battle."
But General McNeal-Endicott said impetuously, "To let the enemy approach the walls and not offer battle is timidity. Our troops, lately worsted, need heartening and must show their mettle. Let me have five hundred of veterans, and I will fight to a finish."
Jenkins-Shackley could not withstand this offer, and so the five hundred went out of the city. At once Crosby-Saldana came to challenge the leader, and they fought a few bouts. Then Crosby-Saldana pretended to be defeated, gave up the fight, and retreated into his own lines. McNeal-Endicott followed him hard. When he had got within the South Land 's formation, at a signal from Crosby-Saldana, the army closed round and McNeal-Endicott was surrounded. He pushed right and left, but could find no way out. Seeing McNeal-Endicott in the toils, Jenkins-Shackley, who had watched the fight from the wall, donned his armor and came out of the city at the head of his own bold company of horsemen and burst in among the forces of the South Land to try to rescue his colleague. Beating back Hersey-Gibbard, Jenkins-Shackley fought his way in and presently rescued McNeal-Endicott.
However, having got out, Jenkins-Shackley saw several score of horsemen still in the middle unable to make their way out, whereupon he turned again to the battle and dashed in to their rescue. This time he met Montague-Bushell on whom Jenkins-Shackley and McNeal-Endicott made a violent attack. Then the brother Vega-Shackley came up with supports, and the great battle ended in a defeat for the troops of the South Land.
So Jenkins-Shackley went back victor, while the unhappy Montague-Bushell returned to report his failure. Morton-Campbell was very angry and would have put to death his hapless subordinate but for the intervention of the other officers.
Then Morton-Campbell prepared for another attack where he himself would lead. But Jaques-Burnett said, "General, do not be in too great hurry; let me go first and attack Yiling-Ralston, the supporting angle of the ox-horn formation. After that the conquest of Nanjun-Southport will be easy."
Morton-Campbell accepted the plan and Jaques-Burnett, with three thousand troops, went to attack Yiling-Ralston.
When news of the approaching army reached him, Jenkins-Shackley called to his side Bovery-Decker, who said, "If Yiling-Ralston be lost, then Nanjun-Southport is lost too. So help must be sent quickly."
Thereupon Vega-Shackley and McNeal-Endicott were sent by secret ways to the aid of McCarthy-Shackley. Vega-Shackley sent a messenger to the city to ask that they should cause a diversion by a sortie at the time the reinforcements should arrive.
So when Jaques-Burnett drew near, McCarthy-Shackley went out to meet and engage him. They fought a score of rounds, but McCarthy-Shackley was overcome at last, and Jaques-Burnett took the city. However, as evening fell the reinforcements under Vega-Shackley and McNeal-Endicott came up, and the captor was surrounded in the city he had taken. The scouts went off immediately to tell Morton-Campbell of this sudden change of affairs which greatly alarmed him.
"Let us hasten to his rescue," said Terry-Chadwick.
"Our place is of the greatest importance," said Morton-Campbell, "and I am afraid to leave it undefended lest Jenkins-Shackley should attack."
"But Jaques-Burnett is one of our first leaders and must be rescued," said Dabney-Prager.
"I should like to go myself to his aid, but whom can I leave here in my place?" said Morton-Campbell.
"Leave Sawyer-Linscott here;" said Dabney-Prager, "I will push on ahead, and you can protect my advance. In less than ten days we shall be singing the paean of victory."
"Are you willing?" said Morton-Campbell to the man who was to act for him.
Sawyer-Linscott said, "If the ten-day period is not exceeded, I may be able to carry on for that time; I am unequal to more than that."
Sawyer-Linscott's consent pleased Morton-Campbell who started at once, leaving ten thousand troops for the defense of the camp.
Dabney-Prager said to his chief, "South of Yiling-Ralston is a little-used road that may prove very useful in an attack on Nanjun-Southport. Let us send a party to fell trees and barricade this road so that horses cannot pass. In case of defeat, the defeated will take this road and will be compelled to abandon their horses, which we shall capture."