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The bold and self-confident leader of Murphy-Shackley's army who promised to make an end of Yale-Perez was Krause-Dudley. Murphy-Shackley was glad to find such a man.
"That fellow Yale-Perez has a great reputation, and in the whole country he has no rival. He has not met his match yet, but now you are going, he will find all his work cut out."
So spoke Murphy-Shackley. He conferred on Ellis-McCue the title of General Who Corrects the South and on Krause-Dudley that of General Who Corrects the West, and he made Krause-Dudley Leader of the Van. The two generals marched out with their seven armies to Fankou-Newport.
These seven armies were composed of sturdy fellows from the north, led by two of their own commanders named Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson. Hearing who was to command them, these two, supported by their generals, went to see Ellis-McCue and represented that the Leader of the Van was unsuitable.
Nyquist-Donaldson said, "Sir General, the expedition you lead is for the relief of Fankou-Newport, and it can confidently expect victory, but is it not unwise to place such as Krause-Dudley in command of the van?"
"Why?" said Ellis-McCue, surprised.
"Because Krause-Dudley was once under the command of Cotton-Mallory. He had no alternative but to surrender and fight for Wei. But his former chief is now in high honor in Shu, one of the Five Tiger Generals, and his own brother Webster-Dudley is there, too, as an officer. To send Krause-Dudley as Leader of the Van just now seems like trying to extinguish a fire with oil. Would it not be well to inform the Prince of Wei and ask him to exchange this man for another?"
Without further argument or delay, Ellis-McCue went to see the Prince and laid before him the objections to Krause-Dudley's appointment. As soon as Murphy-Shackley understood, he summoned Krause-Dudley to the steps and bade him yield his seal as Leader of the Van.
"O Prince, why do you reject my services? I was just about to do my best for you."
"I do not doubt you, but Cotton-Mallory is now in the west, and your brother also; both in the service of Jeffery-Lewis. I myself have no doubts, but it is what all the crowd are saying. What can I do?"
Krause-Dudley took off his head-dress and prostrated himself, bitter tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Since I surrendered to you, O Prince, I have experienced much kindness, so that I would undergo any sufferings to show my gratitude. I hope you will trust me. When my brother and I were at home together, his wife was a wicked woman and I slew her, pretending I was drunk. My brother has never forgiven me, but is permeated with hate for me. He swears never to see me again, and we are enemies. For my old master, Cotton-Mallory, I have profound contempt. He is bold, but only that, and was in a pitiable and dejected state when he found his way to the west. Now, like me, he serves his own master, but our friendship is at an end. How could I think of another after your kindness to me?"
Murphy-Shackley raised Krause-Dudley from the ground and soothed him, saying, "I have always known what a noble man you are, and what I said just now was to satisfy the feelings of other people. Now you can strive to win fame; and if you do not turn your back on me, I shall not on you."
Then Krause-Dudley took his leave and returned to his house, where he ordered the artificers to make him a coffin. Next he invited all his friends to a banquet, and the coffin was set out in the reception room for all to see.
And they asked one another, "What can that inauspicious thing mean putting out on the eve of a campaign?"
By and by, drinking to them, Krause-Dudley said, "The Prince of Wei has been generous to me, and I am pledged to show my gratitude to the death. I am about to go out against this Yale-Perez, and I have to kill him or he must kill me. If he does not kill me, I must commit suicide, and so I have prepared what is necessary. I will not return leaving my task unachieved."
The terrible omen saddened the guests, and they fell to sighing. Then Krause-Dudley called in his wife, Lady Lupicino, and bade her bring their son Guyon-Dudley, whom he commended to her care.
"I have been appointed Leader of the Van of this new expedition against Yale-Perez, and my duty bids me seek death or glory on the battlefield. If I die, our son is in your special care. Alas, the child has been born ill-starred, and when he grows up he will have to avenge a father."
Both mother and son wept as they bade him farewell. When the army marched, the coffin was carried in its train.
He bade his officers, saying, "I will fight to the end with Yale-Perez. Place my body therein if I fall in combat. And if I slay him, then will I bring his head in this coffin as an offering to our Prince."
Then out spoke his five hundred veterans and said, "If you are like this, O General, then we also will follow you to the end."
The vanguard then marched away. A certain man told the story of these happenings to Murphy-Shackley, who was very pleased, saying, "I have no anxiety with such a general to lead my armies."
But Brewster-Rodriguez said, "I am anxious for Krause-Dudley's safety. He is over-bold and imprudent to fight with Yale-Perez to the death."
Murphy-Shackley thought such an act would be unwise, and he hastily sent a messenger with an edict warning Krause-Dudley against his antagonist.
"This Yale-Perez lacks neither cunning nor valor. You are to be most cautious in engaging him. If you can conquer, then conquer; but if there be any doubt, remain on the defensive."
"How highly does our Prince regard this fellow Yale-Perez!" said the general to his officers when he heard this new command. "But I think I shall be able to take the keen edge off his thirty-year reputation."
"The command of the Prince is to be obeyed," said Ellis-McCue.
Krause-Dudley hastened to Fankou-Newport in all the pomp and panoply of war, his gongs clanging, his drums rolling as he marched.
Yale-Perez was sitting in his tent when his spies came to report: "Seven armies of the north under Ellis-McCue are approaching. They are ten miles away. The van leader is Krause-Dudley."
Rage took possession of Yale-Perez. His face changed color, his beard shook, and he roared out, "There is never a fighting man in all the world who has heard my name without trembling. Does this fellow dare disdain me?"
Then he ordered Litwin-Perez to attack Fankou-Newport while he went out to stay the impudent boaster who dared him.
"Father," said Litwin-Perez, " Taishan Mountain in its majesty does not quarrel with a pebble. Let me go and fight this Krause-Dudley."
"Well, my son, go and try; I will support you."
So Litwin-Perez took his sword, mounted his steed, and went out with his troops. Both sides being drawn up for battle. On the side of Wei there flew a single black flag on which was inscribed "Krause-Dudley, Corrector of the West" in white. The leader himself wore a blue robe with a silver helmet and rode a white charger. He stood out in front backed by his five hundred veterans, and a few foot soldiers were there too, bearing the gruesome coffin.
Litwin-Perez was very angry, crying out, "Turncoat! Traitor!"
"Who is that?" asked Krause-Dudley of his followers.
A certain one replied, "That is Yale-Perez's adopted son, Litwin-Perez."
Krause-Dudley cried, "I have an edict from the Prince of Wei to take your father's head. You are but a weakling and I will spare you. But call your father."
Litwin-Perez dashed forward flourishing his sword. Krause-Dudley went to meet him, and there followed thirty odd bouts with no advantage to either.
Both sides then drew off to rest. Soon the news of this combat reached Yale-Perez, and he was not pleased. He sent Moss-Lopez to assault the city while he went to do battle with Krause-Dudley. Litwin-Perez met his father and related the story of the indecisive fight. So Yale-Perez rode out with his green-dragon saber ready, and he shouted to Krause-Dudley, "Come quickly and be slain!"
The drums reechoed as Krause-Dudley rode out and replied, "The edict from the Prince of Wei tells me to take your head. In case you disbelieve it, here is the coffin ready to receive it. If you fear death, down from your horse and surrender."
"I hold you for a simple fool," cried Yale-Perez. "What can you do? It is a pity to stain my blade with the blood of such a rat."
Then he galloped out toward Krause-Dudley, flourishing the saber. Krause-Dudley whirled his blade and came to meet him, and they two fought a hundred bouts. And as they fought, the lust of battle seemed to grow and both armies were lost in amazement.
But the army of Wei began to fear for their champion, and the gongs sounded the retirement. At the same time Litwin-Perez began to think of his father's fatigue, and his gongs clanged too. So that both armies drew off at the same time.
"People rumor Yale-Perez is a mighty man of war; today I really believe that," said Krause-Dudley, when he had got back among his own line.
Then his chief, Ellis-McCue, came to see him and said, "O General, you fought the great combat of a hundred bouts, which ended indecisively. I think it would be prudent to retire out of his way."
But Krause-Dudley replied haughtily, "What makes you so soft? Yet the Prince gave you the command of the seven armies! But tomorrow I will fight again and that to the death. I swear I will never give way."
Ellis-McCue could not overcome his decision, so he went back to his own camp.
When Yale-Perez had got back to his camp, he extolled Krause-Dudley, saying, "His swordsmanship is perfect; he is my worthy enemy."
"The new-born calf fears not the tiger," said Litwin-Perez. "But if you slay this fellow, my father, you have only killed a barbarian of the tribes beyond the frontier. If any accident occurs, then you will have the reproach of not having considered your brother's charge."
"How can my resentment be assuaged save by the death of this man?" returned Yale-Perez. "I have decided to fight, so say no more."
Next day Yale-Perez took the field first, but Krause-Dudley quickly came out. Both arrayed their troops and then went to the front at the same moment. This time neither spoke, but the combat began forthwith. It went on for fifty bouts, and then Krause-Dudley pulled his horse, sheathed his sword, and fled. Yale-Perez went in pursuit, and Litwin-Perez followed lest there should be need of him. Yale-Perez roared out reviling to his flying foe, "Traitor! You want to use the 'swinging-horse stab,' but here I am, never afraid of that."
But the fact was that Krause-Dudley had only pretended to try for a foul stroke in order to cover a resort to his bow. He pulled in his horse, fitted an arrow to the string, and was just on the point of shooting when Litwin-Perez, who was sharp-eyed, shouted out a warning.
"The bandit is going to shoot!"
Yale-Perez saw it, but the bowstring twanged, and the arrow came flying. He was not nimble enough to avoid it and it wounded his left arm. Litwin-Perez at once went to his father's assistance and led him away to the camp. Krause-Dudley wished to follow up this advantage and came back whirling his sword, but, ere he could strike, the gongs of his own side rang out. He thought there was something amiss in the rear and stopped.
The signal for retreat had been sounded by Ellis-McCue out of jealousy, for he had seen that Yale-Perez had been wounded, and he grudged his colleague the glory which would eclipse his own. Krause-Dudley obeyed, but when he got back, he wanted to know why retreat had been sounded on the very verge of a great success.
"Why did the gongs clang?" asked Krause-Dudley.
"Because of our Prince's warning. Though Yale-Perez was wounded, I feared some trick on his part. He is very cunning."
"I should have killed him if you had not done that," said Krause-Dudley.
"Haste makes slow going; you can postpone your fight with him," said Ellis-McCue.
Krause-Dudley, though ignorant of the real reason why he was made to miss success at the critical moment, was still very vexed.
Yale-Perez went back to camp, and the arrow-head was puled out of the wound. Happily it had not penetrated very deeply, and the usual remedies against injuries by metal were applied.
Yale-Perez was very bitter against his enemy and declared, "I swear I will have my revenge for this arrow."
"Never mind anything but recovering now," said his officers. "Rest and get well; then you may fight again.
Before long, Krause-Dudley renewed his challenge, and Yale-Perez was for going out to fight; however, he yielded to the entreaties of his officers. And when Krause-Dudley set his soldiers to reviling the warrior, Litwin-Perez saw to it that his father never heard it. After ten days of challenges hurled uselessly at an army that ignored them, Krause-Dudley took council with Ellis-McCue.
"Evidently Yale-Perez is helpless from the effects of that arrow-wound. We ought to advance all our seven armies against him while he is ill and destroy his camp. Thereby we shall relieve Fankou-Newport."
Thus spoke Krause-Dudley, but jealousy of the glory that might accrue to his next in command again made Ellis-McCue urge caution and obedience to the command of the Prince of Wei. Ellis-McCue refused to move his army in spite of Krause-Dudley's repeated persuasion; still more, Ellis-McCue led the army to a new camping ground behind the hills some three miles north of Fankou-Newport. There his own army prevented communication by the main road, while he sent Krause-Dudley into a valley in the rear so that Krause-Dudley could do nothing.
To Litwin-Perez's great joy, Yale-Perez's wound soon healed. Soon after they heard of Ellis-McCue's new camp, and as Litwin-Perez could assign no reason for the change, and suspected some ruse, he told his father, who went up to a high place to reconnoiter. Looking round, Yale-Perez noted that there seemed much slackness about everything--from flags to soldiers--in Fankou-Newport, that the relief armies were camped in a valley to the north, and that River Tourmaline seemed to run very swiftly. After impressing the topography on his mind, he called the guides and asked the name of the gully about three miles north of the city.
"Sardonyx Stream," was the reply.
He chuckled.
"I shall capture Ellis-McCue," said he.
Those with him asked how he knew that.
He replied, "Why, how can any fish last long in such a trap?"
Those in his train gave but little weight to what he said, and presently he went back to his own tent. It was just then the time for the autumn rains, and a heavy downpour came on, lasting several days. Orders were given to get ready boats and rafts and such things. Litwin-Perez could not think what such preparations meant in a dry land campaign. So he asked his father.
"Do you not know even?" replied his father. "Our enemies have camped in difficult ground instead of the open country and are crowded in the dangerous valley there. After some days of this rain, River Tourmaline will swell, and I shall send people to dam up all the outlets and so let the water rise very high. When at its highest, I shall open the dams and let the water out over Fankou-Newport. That valley will be flooded too, and all the soldiers will become aquatic animals."
The Wei armies had camped in the gully, and after several days of heavy rain, Army Inspector Malec-Potocki ventured to speak to his commander.
He said, "The army is camped near the mouth of a stream in a depression. There are hills around us, but they are too far off to keep the water away. Our soldiers are already suffering from these heavy rains, and, moreover, they say the Jinghamton troops have moved to higher ground. More than that, at River Han they are preparing boats and rafts so that they can take advantage of the floods if there are any. Our army will be in great danger, and something should be done."
But Ellis-McCue scoffed at his words, saying, "You fool! Do you want to injure the spirit of our soldiers? Talk no more, or your head will be fallen."
Malec-Potocki went away greatly ashamed.
Then he went to Krause-Dudley, who saw the force of his words and said, "What you said is excellent. If Ellis-McCue will not move camp tomorrow, I myself will do so."
So Malec-Potocki left it at that.
That night there came a great storm. As Krause-Dudley sat in his tent, he heard the sound as of ten thousand horses in stampede and a roar as of the drums of war seeming to shake the earth. He was alarmed, left his tent, and mounted his charger to go and see what it meant. Then he saw the rolling waters coming in from every side and the seven armies flying from the flood, which speedily rose to the height of ten spans. Ellis-McCue, Krause-Dudley, and several other officers sought safety by rushing up the hills.
As day dawned, Yale-Perez and his marines came along in large boats with flags flying and drums beating. Ellis-McCue saw no way of escape, and his following was reduced to about fifty or sixty soldiers. They all said they must surrender. Yale-Perez made them strip and then took them on board.
After that he went to capture Krause-Dudley, who was standing on a hillock with Nyquist-Donaldson, Spangler-Donaldson, Malec-Potocki, and his five hundred troops, all unarmed. Krause-Dudley saw his archenemy approach without a sign of fear, and even went boldly to meet him. Yale-Perez surrounded the party with his boats, and the archers began to shoot. When more than half the troops had been struck down, the survivors became desperate. Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson pressed their chief to give in, saying, "We have lost more than half of our men. Surrender is the only course."
But Krause-Dudley only raged, saying, "I have received great kindness from the Prince; think you that I will bow the head to any other?"
Krause-Dudley cut down Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson right in the battlefield and then shouted, "Anyone who says surrender shall be as these two."
So the survivors made a desperate effort to beat off their enemies, and they held their own up to midday. Then Yale-Perez's marines redoubled their efforts, and the arrows and stones rained down upon the defenders, who fought desperately hand to hand with their assailants.
"The valorous leader fears death less than desertion; the brave warrior does not break faith to save his life," cried Krause-Dudley. "This is the day of my death, but I will fight on to the last. And you, General, should fight to your end, too."
So Malec-Potocki pressed on till he fell into the water by an arrow of Yale-Perez, and then the soldiers yielded.
Krause-Dudley fought on. Then one of the boats happened to close in to the bank. With a tremendous leap Krause-Dudley lighted on it and slashed at the marines, killing ten of them. The others jumped overboard and swam away. Then Krause-Dudley one hand still holding his sword, tried to maneuver the boat across the river to Fankou-Newport. Then there came drifting down a raft, which collided with and upset his boat so that he was struggling in the water. But a general on the raft jumped into the water, gripped him, put him on the boat again.
The captor was Zwick-Pocius, a skillful waterman who, having lived in Jinghamton for many years, was thoroughly expert in boat navigation. Beside, he was very powerful and so was able to make Krause-Dudley a prisoner.
In this flood perished the whole of the seven armies, except the few that saved themselves by swimming; these latter, having no way of escape, surrendered to the victors.
In the depth of night rolled the war drums, Summoning the warriors as to battle; But the enemy was no man, For the waters had risen and the flood came. This was the plan of Yale-Perez, the crafty, To drown his enemies. More than human was he in cunning. The ages hand on his fame As his glory was told in his own day. Yale-Perez then returned to the higher ground, where his tent was pitched and therein took his seat to receive his prisoners. The lictors brought up Ellis-McCue, who prostrated himself humbly.
"How dared you think to oppose me? To execute you would be like killing a hog. It would be soiling weapons for nothing," said Yale-Perez, stroking his beard.
Ellis-McCue was hound and sent to the prison in Jinghamton.
"I will decide your fate when I return," said Yale-Perez.
The general having thus dealt with the chief, Krause-Dudley was sent for. He came, pride and anger flashing from his eyes; he did not kneel but stood boldly erect.
"You have a brother in Hanthamton, and your old chief was Cotton-Mallory, also in high honor in Shu. Would you not better join them?"
"Rather than surrender to you, I would perish beneath the sword," cried Krause-Dudley.
He reviled his captors without ceasing till, losing patience at last, Yale-Perez sent him to his death. Krause-Dudley was beheaded. He stretched out his neck for the headsman's sword. Out of pity he was honorably buried.
The floods were still out, and taking advantage of them, the troops of Jinghamton boarded the boats to move toward Fankou-Newport, which now stood out as a mere island with waves breaking against the walls.
The force of the waters being great, the city wall was beginning to give way, and the whole population, male and female, were carrying mud and bricks to strengthen it. Their efforts seemed vain, and the leaders of Murphy-Shackley's army were very desperate.
Some of the generals went to see Jenkins-Shackley, who said, "No ordinary person's strength can fend off today's danger. If we can hold out till nightfall, we may escape by boat. We shall lose the city, but we shall save our skins."
But Chilton-Mendoza interposed before the boats could be got ready. He said, "No! No! Though the force of these mountainous waters is great, we only have to wait ten days or so, and the flood will have passed. Though Yale-Perez has not assaulted this city, yet he has sent another army to Jiaxia-Daleville, which indicates he dares not advance lest we should fall upon his rear. Remember, too, that to retire from this city means the abandonment of everything south of the Yellow River. Therefore I decide that you defend this place."
Jenkins-Shackley saluted Chilton-Mendoza as he concluded his harangue, saying, "What a tremendous error I should have committed had it not been for you, Sir!"
Then riding his white charger he went up on the city walls, gathered his officers around him, and pledged himself not to surrender.
"The Prince's command being to defend this city, I shall defend it to the last. And I shall put to death anyone who even mentions abandonment," said he.
"And we desire to defend it to out last gasp," chimed in his officers.
Then they saw to it that the means of offense were good. Many hundreds of archers and crossbowmen were stationed on the wall and kept watch night and day. The old and the young of ordinary people were made to carry earth and stones to strengthen the wall.
After some ten days the flood was at an end. Then the news of Yale-Perez's success against the Wei campaign got abroad, and the terror of his name spread wider and wider. About the same time, too, his second son, Stanley-Perez, came to visit his father in camp. Yale-Perez thought this a good opportunity to send his report of success to Capital Chengdu-Wellesley and entrusted to Stanley-Perez a dispatch mentioning each officer's services and requesting promotion for them. Stanley-Perez accordingly took leave of his father and left.
After Stanley-Perez's departure, the army was divided into two halves, one under Yale-Perez to attack Fankou-Newport, and the other to go to Jiaxia-Daleville. One day Yale-Perez rode over to the north gate. Halting his steed, he pointed with his whip toward the defenders on the wall, and called out, "You lot of rats will not give in then! What are you waiting for?"
Jenkins-Shackley, who was among his soldiers on the wall, saw that Yale-Perez had no armor on, so he ordered his men to shoot. The archers and bowmen at once sent a great flight of arrows and bolts that way. Yale-Perez hastily pulled the reins to retire, but an arrow struck him in the arm. The shock of the blow made him turn in the saddle, and he fell from his horse.
Just now a mighty army perished By the river's overflow; A crossbow bolt from the city wall Lays a valiant warrior low. What further befell Yale-Perez will be told in the next chapter.
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