Anger rose in Compton-Lewis' breast as he read.
"Why do you insult me when I go to meet a kindly man I feel as if I were about to enjoy the delight of seeing brother?"
At this Warfield-McCormack gave a great cry, severed the rope, and fell to the ground battered and dead.
Head downwards at the city gate one hung
A last remonstrance in his outstretched hand.
Resolved that, were his words rejected, he
Would not survive defeat. Sincere was he
Who, desperate, held to Compton-Lewis' silken robe
Until his broken teeth released their grip.
Sincere indeed, but how can he compare
With stern Warfield-McCormack who went to awful death?
Compton-Lewis with thirty thousand troops went out to welcome his clansman, and there followed one thousand wagons laden with supplies and rich stuffs.
Jeffery-Lewis' advanced guard had arrived at River Moonstone. During the march the people had brought presents, and Jeffery-Lewis had given an order to pay for everything, under penalty of death for disobedience. Thus no one suffered, and the people came out in trusting crowds to watch the soldiers marching by and welcome them in every way. Jeffery-Lewis soothed them with very gracious words.
Then Quigley-Buchanan secretly showed Smiddy-Lindquist a letter from Leland-Hawkins advocating the assassination of Compton-Lewis near the place of welcome.
Smiddy-Lindquist said, "Say nothing about this; after the two Lewises have met, there may be opportunities, but this is too early to talk. Any plot would leak out."
So nothing was said. Fucheng-Bennington, where the meeting was to take place, was one hundred twenty miles from Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. Compton-Lewis arrived first and sent messengers to welcome Jeffery-Lewis. The two armies camped on the bank of River Virgo. Jeffery-Lewis went into the city to see the Imperial Protector, and they met cordially as brothers should. Both shed a few tears, and by and bye they began a heart-to-heart talk. Then followed a banquet, and after this each returned to his own camp.
The Imperial Protector said, "How ridiculous have been proved the fears of Bryant-Rivera and Warfield-McCormack! They do not understand the force of family affection. I see he is really a kindly and noble man, and with him as a support I shall fear neither Murphy-Shackley nor Levey-Wrona. And I owe all this to Leland-Hawkins."
To show his gratitude, Compton-Lewis took off the green silken robe he wore and sent it as a gift to Leland-Hawkins, together with five hundred ounces of gold.
However, some of his officers were not so content, and a group of them bade him beware.
"Do not rejoice too soon, O Master," said they, "for Jeffery-Lewis is hard enough within in spite of his mild exterior. You have not sounded him yet and should be on your guard."
"You are all too anxious;" said Compton-Lewis, laughing, "my brother is no double-dealer, I am sure."
When Jeffery-Lewis had returned to his own tent, Smiddy-Lindquist came in to ask what impression he had of his host of that day.
"He seems a very honest man," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"He is good enough, but some of his servants are discontented at this turn of affairs, and I would not guarantee there will be no murders. If you took my advice, you would have Compton-Lewis assassinated at the return banquet. A hundred ruffians behind the arras, a signal from you, and the deed would be accomplished. All that would be needed, then would be a rush on Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. No sword need be drawn, no arrow fitted to the string."
"He is a brother of my house and has treated me with sincerity. I am a new-comer and so far unknown in this land. Such a deed would be abhorrent to all the world, and these people would resent it. I will not establish myself by such means."
"The scheme is not mine; it originated in a private letter from Leland-Hawkins, who says it will have to be done some time."
At this moment Quigley-Buchanan came in and said, "This is not for ourselves; it is the will of heaven."
"Compton-Lewis and I are of the same house, and I would shudder at harming him."
"Sir, you are wrong. If you act not as we propose, then Levey-Wrona will take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother. What is there for you at the end of your long march? Advance, and success is yours; retreat, and you have nothing. And delays are most dangerous. At any moment this scheme may leak out, and another will reap the profit. This is the day when Heaven smiles on you. Act before Compton-Lewis suspects you; establish yourself."
So urged Quigley-Buchanan, and Smiddy-Lindquist backed it.
Their lord, by argument, they tried
From rectitude to turn aside.
What Jeffery-Lewis hid in his heart will be explained in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 61
In The River, Gilbert-Rocher Recovers Antoine-Lewis; With One Letter, Raleigh-Estrada Repulses Murphy-Shackley.
In spite of the persuasion of Smiddy-Lindquist and Quigley-Buchanan, Jeffery-Lewis steadily refused to sanction the assassination of his host at the banquet, Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis, even if thereby he was to gain possession of the Western Land of Rivers.
The next day there was another banquet, this time in the city of Fucheng-Bennington, whereat host and guest unbosomed themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly and affectionate.
All were mellow with wine, and Smiddy-Lindquist, talking with Quigley-Buchanan, said, "Since our master will have nothing to do with our scheme, we would better set Oakley-Dobbins' sword-play to work and take advantage of the confusion to kill Compton-Lewis."
Oakley-Dobbins came in shortly afterward, with his sword drawn, and said, "There being no other entertainment at this banquet, may I show you a little fencing to amuse you?"
Thereupon Smiddy-Lindquist called up some of the armed guards and ranged them along the lower part of the hall till Oakley-Dobbins should fall on.
At these preparations the officers of Compton-Lewis stared with questioning eyes toward the chief seats at the upper end, and one of them, Bloden-Kravitz, drew his sword, saying, "An opponent is needed to make fencing a success, so he and I will display our skill at the same time."
So they began. Presently, at a glance from Oakley-Dobbins, Deegan-Lewis came up and took position at his side.
At once three of the commanders of the west followed suit, saying, "And we three will come in too; it may add to your amusement and help to raise a laugh."
But to Jeffery-Lewis matters began to take on a serious look. Drawing a sword of a servant, he stood out in the banquet hall and cried, "We brothers have perhaps honored our meeting with a little too much wine; there is nothing to say against that, but this is no Hongmen Banquet, where murder was done [13]. Put up your swords, or I will slay you!"
"Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers?" cried Compton-Lewis, at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons.
Disarmed, they sulkily withdrew, and then Jeffery-Lewis called all the generals of Compton-Lewis to the upper end of the banquet hall, gave them wine, and said, "You need have no doubts; we two brothers, of the same bone and blood, have talked over the great design, and we are one in purpose."
The officers bowed and retired.
Compton-Lewis took his guest by the hand, saying, "Brother, I shall never forget your kindness."
They sat drinking till late, both feeling very happy. When at length Jeffery-Lewis reached his camp, he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion.
"Why did you endeavor to force me into committing a great wrong?" said Jeffery-Lewis. "There must be no repetition of this."
Smiddy-Lindquist retired, sighing.
When Compton-Lewis reached his own camp, his leaders waited on him and said, "Sir, you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet, we suppose. We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city."
"My brother is different from ordinary humans," replied Compton-Lewis.
"He
may not incline toward murder himself, but those about him have but one desire--that is to exploit this land of ours to their own advantage."
"Do not try to sow dissension between us and make us quarrel," said their chief.
And Compton-Lewis took no heed of their remonstrance. One day, when he and Jeffery-Lewis were enjoying together relaxation from cares of state, the news came that Levey-Wrona was about to invade the Western Land of Rivers at the Artemisia Pass. Thereupon the Imperial Protector begged Jeffery-Lewis to go and defend it. Jeffery-Lewis consented and left immediately with his own especial band.
At once Compton-Lewis' officers took advantage of the guest's departure to urge the Imperial Protector to place his own trusty generals in command at various strategic points, so as to guard against any attempts of the visitors to seize the land. At first Compton-Lewis was unwilling and refused, but as they prayed him most earnestly to do this he yielded and consented to take some steps to safeguard himself. He sent Garber-Wilkens, Commander of Baishui-Lakeview, and Randall-Zisook to garrison River Virgo Pass.
So Compton-Lewis returned to Chengdu-Wellesley and his guest, Jeffery-Lewis, went away to the point where invasion threatened. Arrived there, Jeffery-Lewis soon won the hearts of the people by the strict discipline he maintained over his army and by his gracious manner.
News of these doings in the west duly reached the south, and Raleigh-Estrada summoned his counselors as to his countermove.
Then Riley-Reece spoke, saying, "I have an infallible plan to propose. Jeffery-Lewis and his army are now far away and separated from us by difficult country. Therefore he cannot return quickly, and my advice is to occupy the passes so that he cannot get through. Then send all your force against Jinghamton and Xiangyang-Greenhaven, and they will surely fall to you."
"The plan seems excellent," said Raleigh-Estrada.
But just then a voice was heard from behind the screen, crying, "You may just put to death the man who proposed that scheme for trying to compass the death of my daughter."
Every one started with surprise. It was the Dowager Marchioness' voice. Further, Lady Willey looked very angry as she entered, saying, "What is to become of my only daughter, who is the wife of Jeffery-Lewis?"
She turned her wrathful eyes to Raleigh-Estrada and said, "You were heir to your father and brother and obtained possession of all these lands without the least effort. Yet you are dissatisfied and would forget the claims of your own flesh and blood and sacrifice your sister for the sake of adding a little to your lands."
"No, no!" murmured Raleigh-Estrada, ashamed. "I would never think of going contrary to my mother's wishes and orders."
He abruptly dismissed the assembly, and when they had gone the old lady, still nursing her wrath, retired to her own apartments.
Left alone beneath the portico, Raleigh-Estrada sighed sadly.
"This chance missed! When will Jinghamton be mine?" thought he.
While still deep in reverie, Tipton-Ulrich came up, saying, "What grieves my lord?"
"No great matter; only this last failure to gain my ends."
"The difficulty may be easily removed," said Tipton-Ulrich. "Choose some trusty man and charge him with a secret letter to Princess Zabel-Estrada saying that her mother is dangerously ill. Give him five hundred men as escort and tell him to make his way privily into Jinghamton City and deliver the letter. Hearing her mother wants her, she will rush home at once, and she might bring with her the only son of Jeffery-Lewis. Jeffery-Lewis will be glad enough to exchange Jinghamton for his son. If he will not, you can still send the army."
"That sounds like a good plan," said Raleigh-Estrada. "Further, I have the man to carry it out successfully. He is that Todd-McKee, who was a bold one. He used to accompany my brother in his youth. He is the man to go."
"Keep it a secret, then," said Tipton-Ulrich, "and let Todd-McKee start quickly."
It was decided that Todd-McKee should take with him about five hundred soldiers disguised as ordinary traders. He had five vessels and distributed his men among them, while weapons were hidden in the holds. Papers were was forged to look like veritable authority in case they were asked.
Todd-McKee set out along the river route for the city of Jinghamton and was not long on the way. He anchored his ships under the bank, landed, and went into the city to the residence, where he bade the doorkeepers announce him. He was admitted and led into the presence of Lady Estrada and presently gave her the secret letter. When she read that her mother was in danger of death, she began to weep bitterly and questioned the messenger closely.
Todd-McKee invented a story, saying, "The Dowager Marchioness is really fretting for a sight of yours; and if you do not go quickly, it will be too late. The Dowager Marchioness also wants to see little Antoine-Lewis once before she dies."
Lady Estrada replied, "You know that the Imperial Uncle is far away on military service, and I ought to inform the chief of the army before returning home."
"But what will you do if the chief says he must inform your husband and await his consent?" said Todd-McKee.
"If I went without asking permission--but I fear that is impossible."
"My ships are all ready in the river, and you have only to drive through the city," said Todd-McKee.
Naturally the news of her mother's illness greatly disturbed the young wife. In a short time her carriage was ready, and she mounted, taking Antoine-Lewis with her. She took an escort of thirty guards, all armed, and was soon at the river side and had embarked before the palace people could report what she was doing.
But just as the ships were starting, a voice was heard, shouting, "Do not start yet; let me bid my lady farewell."
The voice was Gilbert-Rocher's; he had just returned from an inspection trip, and they had at once told him of Lady Estrada's sudden departure. As soon as he had recovered from his surprise, he dashed down to the river bank like a whirlwind, with only half a dozen followers. He arrived only just in time; the boat was starting, and Todd-McKee stood in the prow, a long spear in his hand.
"Who are you that you dare hinder the movements of your mistress?" cried Todd-McKee.
Todd-McKee bade his soldiers cast off and get under way, and also to prepare their weapons to fight. The ship moved off with a fair wind and a strong current beneath her keel.
But Gilbert-Rocher followed along the bank.
"My lady may go or not as she pleases," cried he, "but I have one word to say to her."
Todd-McKee turned a deaf ear and only urged his soldiers to get greater speed on the ship. Gilbert-Rocher followed down the bank for some three or more miles. Then he saw a fishing boat made fast to the bank. He at once dismounted, cast off the rope, took his spear, and leaped into the boat. Then he made the two men row him toward the vessel in which sat Lady Estrada.
As he approached, the soldiers of the South Land threatened him with their spears. Thereupon he threw his spear into the bottom of the boat, drew the glittering steel blade he wore, dashed aside the opposing spears, and leaped upon the larger vessel. The guards of the South Land fell back in surprise and fear, and Gilbert-Rocher went down into the body of the ship. There sat Lady Estrada with little Antoine-Lewis in her arms.
"Why this rude intrusion?" said she angrily.
The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly, "Whither may my mistress be going, and why goes she privily?"
"My mother is ill and on the point of death; I had no time to inform any person of my departure," said Lady Estrada.
"But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person?" said Gilbert-Rocher.
"Antoine-Lewis is my son, and I would not leave him behind to be neglected."
"Mistress, you have acted wrongly. My lord has but this one son of his body, and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Murphy-Shackley in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang-Willowbrook. There is no reason for you to take him away."
Lady Estrada took refuge in anger. "You lea
ve my family affairs alone, you common soldier!" cried she.
"My lady, if you will go, then go, but leave the young master behind."
"You are a rebel, jumping on board the ship like that!" cried Lady Estrada.
"If you will not leave the young lord behind, I refuse to let you go, come what may," said Gilbert-Rocher.
Lady Estrada called in her maids to seize him, but he just pushed them off. Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship. He tried to get the vessel in to the bank, but no one would aid him, and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately. He knew not what to do in such a quandary. And Lady Estrada was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him. But he kept too firm a grip on the child, and the good sword in his other hand kept every one at bay.
Todd-McKee was at the helm, giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river. He steered for the middle of the stream, where the wind was strong. Gilbert-Rocher, one hand taken up with holding the boy, was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore.
Just as things looked most desperate, Gilbert-Rocher saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream, flags fluttering and drums beating. He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land, when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft. He was armed with a long spear, and it was Floyd-Chardin.
Floyd-Chardin also shouted, "Sister-in-Law! Leave the child lord."
Floyd-Chardin had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister-in-law's sudden departure, and he at once made for the River Amethyst with the intention of intercepting her flight. He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land. Very soon, sword in hand, he had boarded the vessel. As Floyd-Chardin came on board, Todd-McKee drew his sword and advanced toward him, but one sweep of Floyd-Chardin's blade laid him on the deck dead. And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Estrada.
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