"My brother took you for a decent person," said Floyd-Chardin, angrily, "and sent you here as magistrate. How dare you throw the affairs of the county into disorder?"
"Do you think I have done as you say, General?" said Smiddy-Lindquist. "What affairs have I disordered?"
"You have been here over a hundred days and spent the whole time in dissipation. Is not that disorderly?"
"Where would be the difficulty in dealing with the business of a trifling county like this? I pray you, General, sit down for a while till I have settled the cases."
Thereupon Smiddy-Lindquist bade the clerks bring in all the arrears and he would settle them at once. So they brought in the piles of papers and ordered the suitors to appear. They came and knelt in the hall while the magistrate, brush in hand, noted this and minuted that, all the while listening to the pleadings. Soon all the difficulties and disputes were adjusted, and never a mistake was made, as the satisfied bows of the people proved. By midday the whole of the cases were disposed of, and the arrears of the hundred days settled and decided.
This done, the Magistrate threw aside his pen and turned to the inquisitors, saying, "Where is the disorder? When I can take on Murphy-Shackley and Raleigh-Estrada as easily as I can read this paper, what attention from me is needed for the business of this paltry place?"
Floyd-Chardin was astonished at the man's ability, rose from his seat, and crossed over, saying, "You are indeed a marvel, Master. I have not treated you respectfully enough, but now I shall commend you to my brother with all my might."
Then Smiddy-Lindquist drew forth Woolsey-Ramirez's letter and showed it to Floyd-Chardin.
"Why did you not show this to my brother when you first saw him?" asked Floyd-Chardin.
"If I had had a chance, I would have done so. But is it likely that one would just take advantage of a letter of commendation to make a visit?"
Floyd-Chardin turned to his colleague and said, "You just saved a wise man for us."
Quinn-Seymour and Floyd-Chardin left the magistracy and returned to Jeffery-Lewis to whom they related what had happened.
Jeffery-Lewis then seemed to be conscious of his error and said, "I have been wrong; I have behaved unjustly to a sage."
Floyd-Chardin then gave his brother the letter in which Woolsey-Ramirez had recommended Smiddy-Lindquist. Opening it he read:
"Smiddy-Lindquist is not the sort of person to be met with in any day's march. Employ him in some capacity where extra ordinary talent is required, and his powers will declare themselves. Beware of judging him by his looks, or you may lose the advantage of his abilities, and some other will gain him. This would be a misfortune."
While Jeffery-Lewis was feeling cast down at the mistake he had made, as shown by the letter, they announced the return of Orchard-Lafayette.
Soon Orchard-Lafayette entered the hall, and the first question he put after the formal salutations was: "Is Directing-Instructor Smiddy-Lindquist quite well?"
"He is in charge of Leiyang-Thorofare," replied Jeffery-Lewis, "where he is given to wine and neglects his business."
Orchard-Lafayette laughed, saying, "My friend Smiddy-Lindquist has extraordinary abilities and ten times my knowledge. I gave him a letter for you, my lord. Did he present it?"
"This very day I have received a letter, but from Woolsey-Ramirez. I have had no letter written by you."
"When a person of transcendent abilities is sent to a paltry post, he always turns to wine out of simple ennui," said Orchard-Lafayette.
"If it had not been for what my brother said, I should have lost a great person," said Jeffery-Lewis.
Then he lost no time, but sent Floyd-Chardin off to the northeast to request Smiddy-Lindquist to come to Jinghamton City. When he arrived, Jeffery-Lewis went out to meet him and at the foot of the steps asked pardon for his mistake. Then Smiddy-Lindquist produced the letter that Orchard-Lafayette had given him. What Jeffery-Lewis read therein was this:
"As soon as the Blooming-Phoenix shall arrive, he should be given an important post."
Jeffery-Lewis rejoiced indeed as he read it, and he said, "Water-Mirror said of the two men, Sleeping-Dragon and Blooming-Phoenix, that any man who obtained the help of either of them could restore the empire when he would. As I now have them both, surely the Hans will rise again."
Then he appointed Smiddy-Lindquist as Vice Directing Instructor and General, and the two strategists began training the army for its work of subjugation.
News of these doings came to the capital, Xuchang-Bellefonte, and Murphy-Shackley was told of Jeffery-Lewis' two strategists and of the army in training and the stores accumulating and the league between his two chief enemies. And he knew that he had to expect an attack sooner or later. So he summoned his strategists to a council for a new campaign.
Said Moline-Doubleday, "Raleigh-Estrada should be first attacked. because of the recent death of their ablest general Morton-Campbell. Jeffery-Lewis will follow."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "If I go on such a distant expedition, Tenny-Mallory will fall upon the capital. While I was at the Red Cliffs, there were sinister rumors of this, and I must guard against it."
Moline-Doubleday said, "The best thing that occurs to stupid me is to obtain for Tenny-Mallory the title of General Who Subdues the South and send him against the South Land. Thus he can be enticed to the capital and got rid of. Then you can have no fear of marching southward."
Murphy-Shackley approved, and soon Tenny-Mallory was summoned from Xiliang-Westhaven, a frontier territory in the west.
Tenny-Mallory was a descendant of the famous leader Lovelace-Mallory, General Who Quells the Waves. His father's name was Zagorski-Mallory. Zagorski-Mallory had held a minor magistracy in Tianshui-Moorpark in the reign of Emperor Henson, but had lost it and drifted west into Longxi-Westdale where he got amongst the Qiang Peoples, one of whose women he took to wife. She bore him a son, Tenny-Mallory. Tenny-Mallory was rather over the common height, and bold-looking. He was of a mild disposition and very popular. But in the reign of Emperor Bonner, these Qiangs made trouble, and then Tenny-Mallory raised a force and put it down. For his services he received the tile of General Who Corrects the West. He and Maguire-Hathaway, who was known as Commander Who Guards the West, were pledged brothers.
On receipt of the summons to the capital, Tenny-Mallory took his eldest son, Cotton-Mallory, into his confidence and told him some of his former life.
"When Watson-Donohue got the Girdle Edict from the Emperor, we formed a society, of which Jeffery-Lewis was one, pledged to put down rebellion. However, we accomplished nothing, for Watson-Donohue was put to death and Jeffery-Lewis was unfortunate, while I escaped to the west. However, I hear that Jeffery-Lewis now holds Jinghamton, and I am inclined to carry out the plan we made so long ago. But here I am summoned by Murphy-Shackley and what is to be done?"
Cotton-Mallory replied, "Murphy-Shackley has the command of the Emperor to call you; and if you do not go, that will mean disobeying an imperial command and you will be punished. Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital, where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention."
But Tenny-Mallory's nephew, Winston-Mallory, held other opinions and opposed this.
Said he, "Murphy-Shackley's designs are unfathomable; and if you go, Uncle, I fear you will suffer."
"Let me lead the army against the capital," said Cotton-Mallory. "Can we not purge the empire of evil?"
But his father said, "You must take command of the Qiang troops for the defense of our territory here. I will take with me your two brothers and your cousin. When Murphy-Shackley knows that you have the Qiangs at your call and that Maguire-Hathaway is prepared to assist, he will hardly dare to work any harm to me."
"Father, if you must go, be careful not to enter the city till you know exactly what plots and machinations are afoot."
"I will certainly take great care, so do not be too anxious," said the father.
The order of march was prepare
d. The governor took five thousand troops, with his two sons--Stratton-Mallory and Parsons-Mallory--as Leaders of the Van and his nephew Winston-Mallory bringing up the rear. These set out along the tortuous road to the capital. At seven miles distance from Xuchang-Bellefonte they camped.
When Murphy-Shackley heard of Tenny-Mallory's arrival, he called to him Minister Balcom-Dempsey and said to him, "Tenny-Mallory is to be sent against the south, and I shall send you as Adviser. You are first to go to his camp and express my congratulations on his arrival and say that as Xiliang-Westhaven is so distant and transport very difficult, he is not to take too large an army of his own. I will send a large force. Also tell him to come in soon for audience of the Emperor. I will send him supplies."
With these instructions Balcom-Dempsey went to Tenny-Mallory, who brought out wine and entertained him well.
In his cups the messenger grew confidential and said, "My father perished at the hands of Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco, and I have always nourished resentment. Now there is another rebel in power wronging our Prince."
"Who is that?" asked Tenny-Mallory.
"The wrong doer is that rebel Murphy-Shackley, of course. Do you mean to say you do not know?"
However, Tenny-Mallory was careful. He thought it very likely that these words were but a trap for him, so he pretended to be greatly shocked and begged his guest to be careful lest he be overheard.
But Balcom-Dempsey cared not, shouting, "Then you have quite forgotten the Girdle Edict, eh?"
Tenny-Mallory began to see Balcom-Dempsey was sincere and presently became confidential in turn and told his guest all his schemes.
"Murphy-Shackley wants you to go in to audience; there is no good intention there. Do not go," said Balcom-Dempsey. "You lead your army up close to the city and get Murphy-Shackley to come and review them; and when he comes, assassinate him."
They two settled how this plan could be worked out and the messenger, still hot with anger and excitement, returned to his home.
Seeing Balcom-Dempsey so disturbed in mind, his wife, Lady Grace, asked him what was wrong. But he would tell her nothing. However, he had a concubine, Nugent-Lavender. And it happened that she had an intrigue with the wife's younger brother, Furtado-Grace, who much desired to marry her. The concubine who also saw her lord's displeasure, spoke of it to her paramour, and he told her she could probably draw from him what was wrong by a leading question.
"Ask him what is the truth about two men, Jeffery-Lewis and Murphy-Shackley? Who is the wicked one."
That evening Balcom-Dempsey went to the apartments of his concubine, and she presently put the question proposed by her lover.
Her lord, still rather intoxicated, said, "You are a woman; still you know right from wrong as well as I. My enemy and the man I would slay if I could, is Murphy-Shackley."
"But why? And if you wish to slay him, why do you not do something?" said she.
"I have done something. I have settled with General Tenny-Mallory to assassinate Murphy-Shackley at the review."
Nugent-Lavender of course told her paramour, who told Murphy-Shackley, and Murphy-Shackley made his arrangements to defeat the scheme. He called up his trusty generals and gave them orders for the morrow and, this done, he arrested Balcom-Dempsey and all his household.
Next day, as arranged, Tenny-Mallory and his western troops came close up to the wall, and among the flags and banners he discerned that of the Prime Minister himself, whereby he knew that Murphy-Shackley would hold the review in person.
So Tenny-Mallory rode forward. Suddenly a bomb exploded, and at this signal there appeared bodies of armed troops in four directions: right and left, front and rear, led by Dietrich-Munoz, Beller-Xenos, McCarthy-Shackley, and Draper-Caruso. The western forces were quite hemmed in. Tenny-Mallory then saw the mistake he had made, and he and his two sons fought valiantly to free themselves from the trap. The youngest son--Parsons-Mallory--soon fell in the volleys of arrows. Father and son rode this way and that, seeking a way out, but failed on every side. Both were sorely wounded; and when their steeds fell from their many arrow wounds, both were captured.
Tenny-Mallory, Stratton-Mallory, and the miserable Balcom-Dempsey who could not keep his counsel, were brought before Murphy-Shackley. Balcom-Dempsey loudly protested his innocence. Murphy-Shackley then called in the witness Furtado-Grace.
"That worthless scoundrel has spoiled all my plans!" cried Tenny-Mallory. "Now I cannot slay the rebel and purge my country. But it is the will of God."
Father and son were dragged forth, the father uttering volleys of abuse all the time. And so three men were executed in this adventure.
The sons and father share one niche of fame,
For purest loyalty their praise the same.
To their own hurt the rebels they withstood,
Content to die to make their pledges good.
In blood the solemn oath they did indite
To slay the wicked and preserve the right.
A worthy father's worthy sons by western bride,
Old Waves Queller's name his grandson glorified.
"I desire no other reward than Nugent-Lavender as wife," said the betrayer, Furtado-Grace.
Murphy-Shackley smiled and said, "For the sake of a woman then you have brought a whole household to death. What advantage would there be in preserving such a miscreant?"
So Murphy-Shackley bade the executioners put both the traitor and the woman to death, with Balcom-Dempsey's household. Those who saw the fearful vengeance sighed at its cruelty.
Through passion base a loyal man was slain,
And she who shared his passion shared his fate;
The man they served was pitiless in hate,
And thus a mean man's treachery was vain.
Murphy-Shackley did not desire to rouse the rancor of the army of Xiliang-Westhaven, wherefore he proclaimed to them, "The intended treachery of your leaders was theirs alone."
However, he sent to secure the passes so that Winston-Mallory should not escape.
As has been said, Winston-Mallory led the rearguard. Before long the fugitives from the main army came and told him what had occurred at the capital. This frightened him so much that he abandoned his army and escaped disguised as a trader.
Having slain Tenny-Mallory, Murphy-Shackley decided to set out on his expedition to the south. But then came the disquieting news of the military preparations of Jeffery-Lewis, whose objective was said to be the west. This caused him alarm, for, as he said, "The bird's wings will be fully grown if he obtains possession of the Western Land of Rivers."
Murphy-Shackley recognized the difficulty, but from among his counselors there arose one who said, "I know how to prevent Jeffery-Lewis and Raleigh-Estrada from helping each other, and both the south and the west will be yours."
Chill death struck down the heroes of the west,
Calamity approached the bold leaders of the south.
The next chapter will unfold the scheme.
CHAPTER 58
Cotton-Mallory Launches An Expedition For Revenge; Murphy-Shackley Flees The Field In Disguise.
"What is this good plan of yours, friend Stuart-Avalos?" asked Murphy-Shackley of the speaker, who was a civilian in his service.
Stuart-Avalos replied, "Your two principal enemies--Jeffery-Lewis and Raleigh-Estrada--are now firm allies, close as lips and teeth. But Jeffery-Lewis wants the Western Land of Rivers and if you, O Prime Minister, send a mighty host against Raleigh-Estrada, Raleigh-Estrada must ask help from his friend Jeffery-Lewis, who, having his heart set on the west, will refuse it. Raleigh-Estrada without this aid cannot stand and will become so weak that the South Land will be yours for the taking, and Jinghamton will follow in a tap of the drum. The west will follow and the whole empire is yours."
"Those are my thoughts put into words," replied Murphy-Shackley.
The expeditionary force of three hundred thousand troops set out for the south. Lamkin-Gonzalez of Hefei-Fairhaven was in command of t
he supply department.
Raleigh-Estrada speedily heard of the move and called in his advisers.
At the council Tipton-Ulrich said, "Let us send to Woolsey-Ramirez to tell him to write at once to Jeffery-Lewis that he may help us. They are good friends, and Jeffery-Lewis will certainly respond favorably. Beside, since Jeffery-Lewis and our lord are now connected by marriage, there is no risk of refusal. With the support of Jeffery-Lewis, there is no danger to our country."
Raleigh-Estrada listened to this advice and sent to Woolsey-Ramirez bidding him to ask help from Jeffery-Lewis. Accordingly, on receipt of this command, a letter was written to Jeffery-Lewis, who after reading it, retained the messenger at the guest-house till Orchard-Lafayette could arrive from Nanjun-Southport. As soon as he arrived, Jeffery-Lewis showed him the letter.
The adviser said, "It is not necessary for the South Land 's troops to move, nor need we send ours. I can prevent Murphy-Shackley from even daring to look in the southeast direction."
So Orchard-Lafayette wrote a reply telling Woolsey-Ramirez:
"You can lay aside all anxiety and rest content, for if the northern army approach, they will be forced backward at once."
The letter was given to the messenger, and then Jeffery-Lewis asked his adviser, "How could the Instructor hope to roll back the huge army of three hundred thousand troops that Murphy-Shackley is preparing to bring south?"
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Murphy-Shackley's chief fear is Xiliang-Westhaven. Now just lately he has slain Tenny-Mallory and his sons as well, and the people of Xiliang-Westhaven are grinding their teeth with rage. Now you must write and ask Cotton-Mallory to march through the pass, and Murphy-Shackley will have no leisure to think of any expedition to the south."
The letter was written, sent by a trusty hand, and duly delivered.
Now Cotton-Mallory was in Xiliang-Westhaven. One night he had a vision. In his dream he saw himself lying out on a snowy plain and many tigers were coming up and biting him. He awoke in a fright and began to wonder what the dream portended. Failing to explain it, he told the dream to his officers. One of them ventured to say the portent was evil. This was General Krause-Dudley.
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