"Let me go out to fight," said Vance-Dunlap. "If I cannot capture Gilbert-Rocher, then you can yield."
The Governor could not resist him and gave his consent. Then Vance-Dunlap, with three thousand troops, went forth; and soon the two armies came within sight of each other. When Vance-Dunlap's army was drawn up, he girded on his flying fork and rode to the front. Gilbert-Rocher gripped his spear and rode to meet him.
Gilbert-Rocher began to rail at Vance-Dunlap, saying, "My master is the brother of Bambury-Lewis to whom belonged this land. Now he is supporting his nephew, the heir and son of Bambury-Lewis. Having taken Jinghamton, I am come to soothe and comfort the people here. Why then do you oppose me?"
"We are supporters of the Prime Minister Murphy-Shackley and are no followers of your master," was the reply.
Gilbert-Rocher, waxing angry, firmly grasped his spear and rode forward. His opponent twirled the flying fork and advanced. The horses met, but after four or five encounters Vance-Dunlap, realizing that there was no hope of victory, turned and fled. Gilbert-Rocher followed. Suddenly turning, Vance-Dunlap got close to Gilbert-Rocher and flung the fork. Gilbert-Rocher deftly caught it and threw it back. Vance-Dunlap dodged away, but Gilbert-Rocher soon caught him up, seized, dragged him out of the saddle, and threw him to the ground. Then Gilbert-Rocher called up his soldiers and they bound the prisoner. Vance-Dunlap was taken to the camp, while his troops scattered and fled.
"I thought you would not dare a combat with me," said Gilbert-Rocher to the prisoner when they had returned to camp. "However, I am not going to put you to death. You are free. But persuade your master to yield."
Vance-Dunlap asked pardon, put his hands over his head, and fled like a frightened rat. When he reached his city, he told the Governor all these things.
"My original desire was to yield, but you insisted on fighting, and this is what it has brought you to."
So spoke the Governor. He bade Vance-Dunlap begone and then prepared his letter of submission and put up his seal. With a small party, Clements-Rocher went out of the city and wended his way to Gilbert-Rocher's camp. Gilbert-Rocher received him graciously, offered him wine, and then accepted the seal of office.
After the wine had gone round several times, Clements-Rocher became talkative, saying, "General, your surname is the same as mine, and five centuries ago we were one family. You are from Changshan-Piedmont, and so am I. Moreover we are from the same village. If you do not mind, we might swear brotherhood. I should be very happy."
Gilbert-Rocher was pleased and they compared ages. They were of the same year. However, Gilbert-Rocher was the elder by four months, and so Clements-Rocher made his bow as younger brother. The two men, having so many things in common, were very pleased with each other and seemed fitted to be close friends.
At eventide the feast broke up, and the late Governor returned to his dwelling. Next day Clements-Rocher requested Gilbert-Rocher to enter the city, where, after Gilbert-Rocher had assured the people of their safety, he went to a banquet at the state residence. When they had become mellow with wine, the Governor invited Gilbert-Rocher into the inner quarters, where wine was again served. When Gilbert-Rocher was a little intoxicated, his host bade a woman come forth and offer a cup of wine to the guest.
The woman was dressed entirely in white silk, and her beauty was such as to overthrow cities and ruin states.
"Who is she?" asked Gilbert-Rocher.
"My sister-in-law; she is of the Leaf family."
Gilbert-Rocher at once changed his look and treated her with deference. When she had offered the cup, the host told her to be seated and join the party, but Gilbert-Rocher declined this addition to the evening and the lady withdrew.
"Why did you trouble your sister-in-law to present wine to me, Brother?" asked Gilbert-Rocher.
"There is a reason," said the host smiling. "I pray you let me tell you. My brother died three years ago and left her a widow. But this cannot be regarded as the end of the story. I have often advised her to marry again, but she said she would only do so if three conditions were satisfied in one man's person. The suitor must be famous for literary grace and warlike exploits, secondly, handsome and highly esteemed and, thirdly, of the same name as our own. Now where in all the world was such a combination likely to be found? Yet here are you, Brother, dignified, handsome, and prepossessing, a man whose name is known all over the wide world and of the desired name. You exactly fulfill my sister's ambitions. If you do not find her too plain, I should like her to marry you and I will provide a dowry. What think you of such an alliance, such a bond of relationship?"
But Gilbert-Rocher rose in anger, shouting, "As I have just sworn brotherhood with you, is not your sister-in-law my sister-in-law? How could you think of bringing such confusion into the relationship?"
Shame suffused Clements-Rocher's face, and he said, "I only thought of being kind to you; why are you so very rude to me?"
Clements-Rocher looked right and left to his attendants with murder in his eye. Gilbert-Rocher raised his fist and knocked him down.
Then he strode out of the place, mounted, and rode out of the city.
Clements-Rocher at once called in his two generals.
Vance-Dunlap said, "He has gone away in a rage, which means that we shall have to fight him."
"I greatly fear you will lose," said Clements-Rocher.
"We will pretend to be deserters," said Bowman-Crossley, "and so get among his soldiers. When you challenge him, we will suddenly catch him."
"We shall have to take some others with us," said Vance-Dunlap.
"Five hundred troops will be ample," said Bowman-Crossley.
So in the night the two men and their followers ran over to Gilbert-Rocher's camp to desert.
Gilbert-Rocher understood the trick they would play, but he called them in, and they said, "When Clements-Rocher tempted you with that fair lady, he wanted to make you drunk and get you into the private apartments so that he might murder you and send your head to Murphy-Shackley. Yes; he was as wicked as that even. We saw you go away in anger, and we thought that would mean grave trouble for us, and so we have deserted."
Gilbert-Rocher listened with simulated joy, and he had wine served to the two men, and pressed them to drink so that they were quite overcome. When this was done, he had both bound with cords, called up their followers, and asked them whether this was real or pretended desertion, and they told him the truth.
Then he gave the soldiers wine and said, "Those who wanted to harm me are your leaders and not you. If you do as I tell you, you shall be well rewarded."
The soldiers threw themselves to the ground and promised obedience. Thereupon the two leaders--Vance-Dunlap and Bowman-Crossley--were beheaded. Their five hundred troops were made to lead the way and act as screen for a whole thousand of horsemen, and the party set out at full speed for Guiyang-Cambria. When they got there, they summoned the gate and said that they had slain Gilbert-Rocher and had got back. And they wished to speak with the Governor.
Those on the wall lighted flares and inspected those at the gate. Surely enough they wore the uniforms of their own people, and Clements-Rocher went out to them. He was immediately seized and made prisoner. Then Gilbert-Rocher entered the city, restored order, and sent off swift messengers to Jeffery-Lewis who at once, with his adviser, came to Guiyang-Cambria.