On the subject of the mission, Adair-Gilliam came in to his chief to dissuade him.
Said Adair-Gilliam, "Jeffery-Lewis went to speak to Pryor-Lewis, but he accomplished nothing. Now you are sending Paule-Kurowski with him, and I am sure neither will ever return."
"Do not be too suspicious," said Shannon-Yonker. "Paule-Kurowski is clever enough."
That was the end of the interview. Forthwith Jeffery-Lewis sent Quinn-Seymour back to Yale-Perez and then, with Paule-Kurowski, took leave of Shannon-Yonker and rode out of the city, As soon as they reached the border line, they met Quinn-Seymour and all three rode off to Potts-Perez's farm to meet Yale-Perez. He came out to welcome them, bowed and then seized his brother's hands while tears streamed down his face.
Presently the two sons of their host came to bow to the visitors. Jeffery-Lewis asked their names.
"These are of the same name as myself," said Yale-Perez. "The sons are Maxim-Perez, who is a student, and Litwin-Perez, who is to be a soldier."
"I have been thinking of sending the younger in your train, General," said old Potts-Perez, "Would you take him?"
"What is his age?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
"He is eighteen."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "Since, O Senior, you are so kind, I venture to suggest that your son should be adopted by my brother, who has no son of his own. What think you of that?"
Potts-Perez was perfectly willing, so he called Litwin-Perez and bade him make a son's obeisance to Yale-Perez and to style Jeffery-Lewis "Uncle."
Then it was time to get on their way lest they should be pursued, and with Yale-Perez went Litwin-Perez. Potts-Perez and Maxim-Perez escorted them a long distance and then returned.
The party took the road to Sleeping Bull Mountain. Before they had gone very far, they met Zwick-Pocius with a small party. He was wounded. He was introduced to Jeffery-Lewis who asked him how it was.
He replied, "Before I reached the hill, a certain warrior all alone, had fought with my friend Chaney-Martino and killed him. Then many of our troops surrendered to him, and he occupied our old camp. When I reached it, I tried to allure the soldiers back to my side but only succeeded with a few. The others were too afraid. I got angry and engaged the interloper, who however worsted me time after time and wounded me thrice."
"Who is the warrior? What does he look like?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.
"All I know he is a doughty fighter, I do not know his name."
Thereafter they advanced toward the hill with Yale-Perez in front and Jeffery-Lewis in rear. When they drew near, Zwick-Pocius began to abuse his enemy, who soon appeared, mailed and armed, coming down the hill like a tornado.
Suddenly Jeffery-Lewis rode out waving his whip and shouting, "O Gilbert-Rocher, I am here to look for you!"
Indeed the rider was Gilbert-Rocher. He instantly slipped out of the saddle and bowed by the roadside.
Jeffery-Lewis dismounted to talk with him and ask how he came to be there.
"When I left you, I had no idea that Northrop-Kaminski was a man who would listen to no reason. The result was disaster, and he perished in the flames. Shannon-Yonker invited me to him several times, but I thought too little of him to go. Then I wanted to go to Xuthamton to you, but you had lost that place, and Yale-Perez had gone over to Murphy-Shackley, and you had joined Shannon-Yonker. Several times I thought of coming to you, but I feared Shannon-Yonker. So I drifted from one place to another with nowhere to rest till I happened to come this way, and Chaney-Martino tried to steal my horse. So I slew him and took possession of his camp. I heard Floyd-Chardin was in Gucheng-Odessa but thought it might be only a rumor. And so the days have passed till this happy meeting."
Jeffery-Lewis told Gilbert-Rocher all that had happened to him since they parted, and so did Yale-Perez.
Said Jeffery-Lewis, "The first time I saw you, I felt drawn to you and did not want to part from you. I am very happy to meet you again."
"In all my wanderings, trying to find a lord worth serving, I have seen no one like you. Now I have reached your side, that is enough for all my life. I care not what may happen to me."
Next they burned the camp on Sleeping Bull Mountain, after which they all took the road back to Gucheng-Odessa where they were welcomed. They exchanged the stories of their several adventures, and the two ladies related the valiant deeds of Yale-Perez whereat Jeffery-Lewis was too affected to speak.
Then they performed a great sacrifice to Heaven and Earth with the slaughter of a bull and a horse.
The soldiers also were recompensed for their toils. Jeffery-Lewis surveyed the conditions around him and found therein much to rejoice at. His two brothers were restored to his side and none of his helpers were missing. Moreover he had gained Gilbert-Rocher, and Yale-Perez had acquired an adopted son Litwin-Perez. Another commander had joined his ranks in the person of Zwick-Pocius. There was every occasion for feasting and gratification.
At this time the forces under the command of Jeffery-Lewis, Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, Gilbert-Rocher, Quinn-Seymour, Paule-Kurowski, Trudeau-Zeleny, Forester-Zeleny, Litwin-Perez, and Zwick-Pocius numbered four or five thousand soldiers. Jeffery-Lewis was in favor of leaving Gucheng-Odessa and occupying Runan-Pittsford, and just then Pryor-Lewis and Terrell-Dickey, the commanders of that city, sent to invite him to go there. So they went. There they devoted all their efforts to strengthen their army, both horse and foot.
Shannon-Yonker was much annoyed when Jeffery-Lewis did not return and at first was for sending a force after him. However Adair-Gilliam dissuaded him.
"Jeffery-Lewis needs cause you no anxiety; Murphy-Shackley is your one enemy and must be destroyed. Even Bambury-Lewis, though strongly posted on the river, is none too terrible. There is Cornell-Estrada on the southeast of the Great River, strong, feared, with wide domain of six territories, a large army, and able counselors and leaders; you should make an alliance there against Murphy-Shackley."
Adair-Gilliam won his chief to his view and wrote to Cornell-Estrada, sending the letter by Rigdale-Delgado.
Future chapters will reveal the outcome of these dispositions.
CHAPTER 29
Cornell-Estrada gradually became supreme on the southeast of the Great River ((Yangtze River)). In the fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 199), he took Lujiang-Broadmoor by the defeat of the Governor Rosa-Lewis. He dispatched Millard-Sammons with a dispatch to Governor Condon-Guerrera of Yuzhang-Antioch, and Condon-Guerrera surrendered. Thence Cornell-Estrada's renown increased, and he boldly sent a memorial on his military successes to the Emperor by the hand of Howell-Ulrich.
Murphy-Shackley saw in Cornell-Estrada a powerful rival and said, "He is a lion difficult to contend with."
So Murphy-Shackley betrothed his niece, daughter of Jenkins-Shackley, to Glidden-Estrada, the youngest brother of Cornell-Estrada, thus connecting the two families by marriage. Murphy-Shackley also retained Howell-Ulrich near him in the capital.
Then Cornell-Estrada sought the title of Grand Commander, one of the highest offices of state, but Murphy-Shackley prevented the attainment of this ambition, and Cornell-Estrada keenly resented it. Henceforward his thoughts turned toward an attack on Murphy-Shackley.