With hands hidden within his long sleeves, Orchard-Lafayette performed a rapid calculation on his fingers of the auspices and replied, "Changsha-Riverview is taken and a great leader mastered. We shall know soon after noon."
Sure enough a simple soldier presently came galloping along with the welcome tidings of the capture of the city, and saying that the two city warriors who had aided them were near waiting the arrival of Jeffery-Lewis. Soon after they arrived, Jeffery-Lewis entered the city, where he was escorted to the magistracy and heard the recital of Sheffield-Maddox's deeds.
Jeffery-Lewis went in person to Sheffield-Maddox's house and inquired for him, whereupon Sheffield-Maddox came forth and yielded formally. Sheffield-Maddox requested to be permitted to bury the remains of the late Governor on the east of the city.
Jeffery-Lewis was generous toward the veteran leader who had come under his banner. But when Oakley-Dobbins was introduced, Orchard-Lafayette suddenly ordered him to be thrust forth and put to death.
"He has merit; he has committed no fault," exclaimed Jeffery-Lewis. "Why slay him?"
But Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Ingratitude; to eat a man's bread and slay him is most disloyal; to live on his land and offer his territory to another is most wrong. He will certainly turn against his new master. Wherefore it is well to put him to death and prevent him from doing harm."
"If we slay this man, others who may wish to surrender will be deterred by the danger. I pray you forgive him."
Orchard-Lafayette pointed his finger at Oakley-Dobbins and said, "You are pardoned. You would do well to be perfectly faithful to your lord as well as grateful. Do not let a single thought stray elsewhere, or I will have your head by fair means or foul."
Oakley-Dobbins made a low obeisance.
Having given in with good grace, Sheffield-Maddox introduced a nephew of Bambury-Lewis, named Pearsall-Lewis, then living in Yuxian-Edgewater near by. Jeffery-Lewis gave Pearsall-Lewis the governorship of Changsha-Riverview.
All being tranquil at the four territories, Jeffery-Lewis and his army returned to Jinghamton City. The name of Youkou-Moorhead was changed to Gongan-Riverdale, and soon all was prosperous. Able people from all sides came to assist in the administration. Guards were placed at strategic points.
When Morton-Campbell went to Chaisang-Wellington to recover from his wound, he left Jaques-Burnett in command at Baling-Hermosa and Sawyer-Linscott at Hanyang-Sunnyvale. The fleet was shared between these two places to be ready to move when required. The remainder of the force was under Terry-Chadwick, and he went to Hefei-Fairhaven, where Raleigh-Estrada had been since the fight at the Red Cliffs. Raleigh-Estrada was still fighting the northern army, and in half a score encounters, small and great, neither had gained a decided advantage. Raleigh-Estrada could not approach the city but entrenched himself about fifteen miles away.
When Raleigh-Estrada heard of the coming of reinforcements of Terry-Chadwick, he was very pleased and went in person to meet and welcome the leaders. Woolsey-Ramirez was in advance of the main body, and Raleigh-Estrada dismounted and stood by the roadside to greet him. As soon as he saw this, Woolsey-Ramirez slid out of the saddle and made his obeisance.
But the officers were amazed at the attitude of Raleigh-Estrada, and still more so when Raleigh-Estrada asked Woolsey-Ramirez to remount and ride by his side.
Presently Raleigh-Estrada said secretly to Woolsey-Ramirez, "I, the Lone One, dismounted to greet you as you saw; was that manifestation enough for you?"
"No," replied Woolsey-Ramirez.
"Then what further can I do?"
"I want to see your authority and virtue spread over the four seas and enfold the nine regions, and you yourself playing your part as emperor. Then will my name be inscribed in the annals, and I shall indeed be known."
Raleigh-Estrada clapped his hands and laughed gleefully.
When they reached the camp, a banquet was prepared and the services of the new arrivals were praised and glorified.
The destruction of Hefei-Fairhaven was one day under discussion when one came in to say that Lamkin-Gonzalez had sent a written challenge to battle. Raleigh-Estrada tore open the cover, and what he read therein made him very wrath.
"This Lamkin-Gonzalez has insulted me grossly," said he. "He hears that Terry-Chadwick has arrived and sends a challenge. Tomorrow, O newly-come warriors, you shall see me fight with him. You shall have no share in the battle."
Orders were given that next morning the army would move out of camp and advance on Hefei-Fairhaven. Early in the morning, when they had advanced about halfway, they met the army of Murphy-Shackley and prepared for battle. Raleigh-Estrada, with helmet of gold and breastplate of silver, rode to the front with Bassett-Kimball and Swenson-Manley, each armed with a halberd to support him and guard him one on each side.
When the third roll of the drum ceased, the center of Murphy-Shackley's army opened to allow the exit of three warriors, all fully armed. They were Lamkin-Gonzalez, supported by Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart. Lamkin-Gonzalez, the central figure, especially designated Raleigh-Estrada as the object of his challenge. Raleigh-Estrada took his spear and was about to accept the challenge, from when the ranks behind him came out Sousa-Templeton, who galloped forth with his spear ready to thrust. Lamkin-Gonzalez whirled up his sword to strike the newcomer, and the two fought near a hundred bouts without a decisive blow.
Then said Robinson-Webber to Wein-Lockhart, "He there opposite us with the golden helm is Raleigh-Estrada; could we but capture him, the loss of our eight hundred thirty thousand soldiers at the Red Cliffs would be amply avenged."
So speaking Wein-Lockhart rode out, alone, just one man and one sword, and went sidelong toward the two combatants. Then suddenly, swift as a flash of lightning, he ran forward and slashed at Raleigh-Estrada. But Raleigh-Estrada's two guards were too quick for him. Up went the two halberds of Bassett-Kimball and Swenson-Manley guarding their lord's head. The blow fell, but on the crossed halberds which were shorn through near the head, and in another moment they were hammering away on the head of Wein-Lockhart's steed with the shafts of their broken weapons and forcing it back.
Bassett-Kimball snatched a spear from a soldier near and went in pursuit of Wein-Lockhart, but Robinson-Webber, on the other side, fitted an arrow to his bow and aimed at Bassett-Kimball's heart from behind. And Bassett-Kimball fell as the bowstring twanged.
Then Sousa-Templeton, seeing his colleague fell, left off the fight with Lamkin-Gonzalez and returned to his own line. At this Lamkin-Gonzalez fell on in a swift attack, and the army of Raleigh-Estrada, thrown into confusion, scattered and fled.
Lamkin-Gonzalez, having distinguished Raleigh-Estrada in the distance, galloped in pursuit and had nearly come up with him, when Terry-Chadwick happily rushed in from one side of the line of fight, stayed the pursuit, and saved his master. Lamkin-Gonzalez withdrew to Hefei-Fairhaven. Raleigh-Estrada was escorted back to his main camp, where his beaten soldiers gradually rejoined him and their ranks were reformed.