"He is nothing but a tickle-minded child," said Murphy-Shackley. "He is never of the same mind two days running, and I cannot depend upon what he says. Now your brother Flint-Kantor is in my employ and has a post of importance, you would better remain here also."
"Sir Prime Minister, you are in error," said Donald-Kantor. "It is said that the lord's honor is the servant's glory; the lord's sadness is the servant's shame. How can I turn my back on the family I have so long served?"
Murphy-Shackley felt he could not be persuaded and sent him back. Donald-Kantor returned and told Navarro-Yonker the surrender could not be arranged, and Navarro-Yonker turned on him angrily, saying, "Your brother is with Murphy-Shackley, and you want to betray me also!"
At this unmerited reproach such a huge wave of anger welled up in Donald-Kantor's breast that he was overcome and fell in a swoon. They carried him out, but the shock had been too severe, and soon after he died. Navarro-Yonker regretted his conduct when it was too late.
Then Adair-Gilliam said, "Tomorrow when we go out to battle, we will drive the people out in front as a screen for the soldiers, and we must fight a winning battle."
That night they assembled all the common people of the place and forced into their hands swords and spears. At daylight they opened the four gates, and a huge party with much shouting came out at each, peasantry carrying arms in front, and soldiers behind them. They pushed on toward Murphy-Shackley's camps, and a melee began lasted till near midday. But this was quite indecisive, although heaps of dead lay everywhere.
Seeing that success was at best only partial, Murphy-Shackley rode out to the hills near and thence had the drums beaten for a new attack under his own eye. His officers and troops, seeing that he could observe them in person, exerted themselves to the utmost, and Navarro-Yonker's army was severely defeated. Of the peasantry driven into the battle-field multitudes were slain.
McCarthy-Shackley, who displayed very great valor, burst into the press of battle and met Navarro-Yonker face to face. The two slashed and hammered at each other and Navarro-Yonker was killed.
Adair-Gilliam saw that his side was wholly disorganized and tried to withdraw into the shelter of Nanpi-Austell. Wein-Lockhart saw this and opened a tremendous discharge of arrows so that Adair-Gilliam fell and the moat was soon filled with dead.
The city fell to Murphy-Shackley; he entered and set about restoring peace and order. Then suddenly appeared a new army under two of Simon-Yonker's generals, Stone-Dean and Nielsen-Melton. Murphy-Shackley led out his troops to meet them, but the two commanders laid down their arms and yielded. They were rewarded with the rank of lordship.
Then Boyle-Mathews, the leader of the Black Hills Brigands, came with one hundred thousand troops and gave in his submission. He was made General Who Pacifies the North.
By an order of Murphy-Shackley, the head of Navarro-Yonker was exposed and death was threatened to any one who should lament for him. Nevertheless a man dressed in mourning attire was arrested for weeping below the exposed head at the north gate. Taken into Murphy-Shackley's presence, he said he was Sandquist-Lynch and had been an officer in Quinghamton. He had been expelled because he had remonstrated with Navarro-Yonker; but when the news of Navarro-Yonker's death came, he had come to weep for his late master.
"Did you know of my command?" said Murphy-Shackley.
"I knew it."
"Yet you were not afraid?"
"When one has received favors from a man in life, it would be wrong not to mourn at his death. How can one stand in the world if one forgets duty through fear? If I could bury his body, I would not mind death."
Murphy-Shackley said, "And there were many such as this in the north. What a pity that the Yonker family could not make the best of them! But if they had done so, I should never have dared to turn my eyes toward this place."
The intrepid mourner was not put to death. The remains of Navarro-Yonker were properly interred, and Sandquist-Lynch was well treated and even given an appointment.
In his new position Sandquist-Lynch was asked for advice about the best way to proceed against Hennessy-Yonker, who had fled to his brother, but Sandquist-Lynch remained silent, thereby winning from Murphy-Shackley renewed admiration for his constancy.
"He is indeed loyal!" said Murphy-Shackley.
Then he questioned Krom-McQueen, who advised him, saying, "Give Simon-Yonker's former generals the command and ask them to attack Younghamton."
Whereupon Stone-Dean and Nielsen-Melton were given the command and reinforced by the armies under Cobb-McBride, Levine-McBride, Cross-Fischer, and Dennis-LeBlanc to bring about the surrender of Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker. Then six generals, to attack Younghamton along three routes. Other armies led by Robinson-Webber, Wein-Lockhart, and Boyle-Mathews were sent against Tiffany-Paine at Binghamton.
The two Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker heard of Murphy-Shackley's advance with dismay for they had no hope of successful resistance. Therefore they abandoned Younghamton and hastily marched into Liaoxi-Westmont to seek refuge with the Wuhuan tribespeople in the frontier Wuhuan State.
Then Pekar-Marcus, new Imperial Protector of Younghamton, was not disposed to incur the enmity of the powerful Murphy-Shackley, so he called his subordinates together to swear them to support him and said, "I understand that Murphy-Shackley is the most powerful man of the day, and I am going to support him and those who do not go with me I shall put to death."
Each in turn smeared his lips with the blood of sacrifice and took the oath till it came to the turn of Goble-Sinclair. Instead he dashed his sword to the ground, crying, "I have received great promotions and benefits from the Yonkers. Now my lord has been vanquished; my knowledge was powerless to save him, my bravery insufficient to cause me to die for him; I have failed in my duty. But I refuse to commit the crowning act of treachery and ally myself with Murphy-Shackley."
This speech made the others turn pale.
The chief said, "For a great undertaking there must be lofty principles. However, success does not necessarily depend upon universal support, and since Goble-Sinclair is actuated by such sentiments then let him follow his conscience."
So Pekar-Marcus turned Goble-Sinclair out of the assembly. Pekar-Marcus then went out of the city to meet and welcome Murphy-Shackley's army and rendered his submission. He was well received and the title given him of General Who Guards the North.
Then the scouts came to report: "Generals Robinson-Webber, Wein-Lockhart, and Boyle-Mathews had marched to Binghamton, but that Tiffany-Paine had occupied Wine Jar Pass and could not be dislodged."
So Murphy-Shackley marched thither himself. The defender still maintaining his position, Murphy-Shackley asked for plans. Lozane-Doubleday proposed that a band should go over pretending to be deserters. Murphy-Shackley assented and then called the two Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride, to whom he gave whispered orders. They left with their companies.
Soon they came near the pass and called out, saying, "We are old officers in Shannon-Yonker's armies forced into surrender to Murphy-Shackley. We find him so false and he treats us so meanly that we want to return to help our old master. Wherefore quickly open your gates to us."
Tiffany-Paine was suspicious, but he let the two officers come up to the pass; and when they had stripped off their armor and left their horses, they were permitted to enter.
And they said to Tiffany-Paine, "Murphy-Shackley's troops are new to the country and not settled; you ought to fall upon their camp this very evening. If you approve, we will lead the attack."
Tiffany-Paine decided to trust them and prepared to attack, giving the two brothers the leadership of ten thousand soldiers. But as they drew near Murphy-Shackley's camp, a great noise arose behind them and they found themselves in an ambush attacked on all sides. Realizing too late that he had been the victim of a ruse, Tiffany-Paine retreated to the pass, but found it occupied by Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart. Tiffany-Paine then made the best of his way to the Chieftain of the Xiongnu People. Murphy-Shackley gave orders to hold the passes and sent companies in pursuit.