Morton-Campbell approved and the men set out. When the main army drew near Yiling-Ralston, Morton-Campbell asked who would try to break through the besiegers, and Lockett-Neumark offered himself. He girded on his sword, mounted his steed, and burst straight into the McCarthy-Shackley's army. He got through to the city wall.
From the city wall Jaques-Burnett saw the approach of his friend Lockett-Neumark and went out to welcome him. Lockett-Neumark told him the Commander-in-Chief was on the way to his relief, and Jaques-Burnett at once bade the defenders prepare from within to support the attack of the rescuers.
When the news of the approach of Morton-Campbell had reached Yiling-Ralston, McCarthy-Shackley, Vega-Shackley, and McNeal-Endicott had sent to tell Jenkins-Shackley, who was at Nanjun-Southport, and at the same time they prepared to repel the assailants.
When the army of the South Land came near, they at once attacked. Simultaneously Jaques-Burnett and Lockett-Neumark went out to attack on two sides, and the troops of McCarthy-Shackley were thrown into confusion. The soldiers of the South Land fell on lustily, and the three leaders all fled by a bye road, but, finding the way barred with felled trees and other obstacles, they had to abandon their horses and go afoot. In this way the troops of the South Land gained some five hundred steeds.
Morton-Campbell, pressing on as quickly as possible toward Nanjun-Southport, came upon Jenkins-Shackley and his army marching to save Yiling-Ralston. The two armies engaged and fought a battle which lasted till late in the evening. Then both drew off, and Jenkins-Shackley withdrew into the city.
During the night he called his officers to a council. Then said McCarthy-Shackley, "The loss of Yiling-Ralston has brought us to a dangerous pass; now it seems the time to open the guide-letter of the Prime Minister, and see what plans he arranged for our salvation in this peril."
"You but say what I think," replied Jenkins-Shackley.
Whereupon he tore open the guide-letter and read it. His face lighted up with joy, and he at once issued orders to have the morning meal prepared at the fifth watch. At daylight the whole army moved out of the city through three gates, but they left a semblance of occupation in the shape of banners on the walls.
Morton-Campbell went up to the tower of observation and looked over the city. He saw that the flags along the battlements had no guards behind them, and he noticed that all troops carried bundles at their waists behind so that they were ready for a long march.
Thought Morton-Campbell to himself, "Jenkins-Shackley must be prepared for a long march."
So Morton-Campbell went down from the tower of observation and sent out an order for two wings of the army to be ready. One of these was to attack and, in case of its success, the other was to pursue at full speed till the clanging of the gongs should call them to return. He took command of the leading force in person, and Terry-Chadwick commanded the other. Thus they advanced to attack the city.
The armies being arrayed facing each other, the drums rolled out across the plain. McCarthy-Shackley rode forth and challenged, and Morton-Campbell, from his place by the standard, bade Ferrara-Hanson respond. The two champions fought near two score bouts, and then McCarthy-Shackley fled. Thereupon Jenkins-Shackley came out to help him, and Lockett-Neumark rode out at full speed to meet him. These two exchanged a half score passes and then Jenkins-Shackley tied.
Jenkins-Shackley's army fell into confusion. Thereupon Morton-Campbell gave the signal for the advance of both his wings, and the forces of Jenkins-Shackley were sore smitten and defeated. Morton-Campbell pursued to the city wall, but Jenkins-Shackley's troops did not enter the city. Instead, they went away northwest. Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark pressed them hard.
Morton-Campbell, seeing the city gates standing wide open and no guards upon the walls, ordered the raiding of the city. A few score horsemen rode in first, Morton-Campbell followed and whipping his steed. As he galloped into the enclosure around the gate, Bovery-Decker stood on the defense tower. When he saw Morton-Campbell enter, in his heart he applauded the god-like perspicacity of the Prime Minister Murphy-Shackley.
Then was heard the clap-clap of a watchman's rattle. At this signal the archers and crossbowmen let fly, and the arrows and bolts flew forth in a sudden fierce shower, while those who had won their way to the van of the inrush went headlong into a deep trench. Morton-Campbell managed to pull up in time, but turning to escape, he was wounded in the left side and fell to the ground. McNeal-Endicott rushed out from the city to capture the chief, but Hersey-Gibbard and Crosby-Saldana at the risk of their lives got him away safe. Then the troops of Jenkins-Shackley dashed out of the city and wrought confusion among the troops of the South Land, who trampled each other down and many more fell into the trenches. Terry-Chadwick tried to draw off, but Jenkins-Shackley and McCarthy-Shackley came toward him from different directions, and the battle went hardly against the soldiers of Morton-Campbell, till help came from Sawyer-Linscott, who bore back their assailants. Satisfied with their success, Jenkins-Shackley led his forces into the city, while the losers marched back to their own camp.
Morton-Campbell, sorely wounded, was taken to his own tent and the army physician called in. With iron forceps, he extracted the sharp bolt and dressed the wound with a lotion designed to counteract the poison of the metal. But the pain was intense, and the patient rejected all nourishment.
The physician said, "The missile had been poisoned, and the wound will require a long time to heal. You, General, must be kept quiet and especially free from any irritation, which will cause the wound to reopen."
Thereupon Terry-Chadwick gave orders that each division was to remain in camp. Three days later, McNeal-Endicott came within sight and challenged the men of the South Land to battle, but they did not stir. The enemy hurled at them taunts and insults till the sun had fallen low in the sky, but it was of no avail and McNeal-Endicott withdrew.
Next day McNeal-Endicott returned and repeated his insulting abuse. Terry-Chadwick dared not tell the wounded general. The third day, waxing bolder, the enemy came to the very gates of the stockade, the leader shouting that he had come for the purpose of capturing Morton-Campbell.
Then Terry-Chadwick called together his officers and they discussed the feasibility of retirement into the South Land that they might seek the opinion of Raleigh-Estrada.
Ill as he was, Morton-Campbell still retained control of the expedition. He knew that the enemy came daily to the gates of his camp and reviled him, although none of his officers told him. One day Jenkins-Shackley came in person, and there was much rolling of drums and shouting. Terry-Chadwick, however, steadily refused to accept the challenge and would not let any one go out.
Then Morton-Campbell summoned the officers to his bedside and said, "What mean the drums and the shouting?"
"The soldiers are drilling," was the reply.
"Why do you deceive me?" said Morton-Campbell angrily. "Do I not know that our enemies come day by day to our gates and insult us? Yet Terry-Chadwick suffers this in silence and makes no use of his powers and authority."
He sent for Terry-Chadwick and, when he arrived, asked him why he acted thus.
"Because you are ill, and the physician said you were on no account to be provoked to anger. Wherefore, although the enemy challenged us to battle, I kept it from you."
"And if you do not fight, what think you should be done?" said Morton-Campbell.