"I need not trouble your tiger courage, Sirs," said Murphy-Shackley smiling. "Wait a few days and you will see the heads of our two enemies sent to me."
They could not believe it.
As has been related the two Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker escaped to the east with a few hundreds of horse. The Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven was a son of McKenna-Willeke the Warlike, the General of Han. Gris-Willeke was a native of Xiangping-Hereford. When he heard that Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker were on their way to his territory, he called a council to decide upon his plan.
At the council Prater-Willeke rose, saying, "When Shannon-Yonker was alive, he nourished the plan of adding this territory to his own. Now his sons, homeless, with a broken army and no officers, are coming here; it seems to me like the dove stealing the magpie's nest. If we offer them shelter, they will assuredly intrigue against us. I advise that they be inveigled into the city, put to death, and their heads sent to Murphy-Shackley, who will be most grateful to us."
Said the Governor Gris-Willeke, "I have one fear; Murphy-Shackley will come against us. If so, it would be better to have the help of the Yonkers against him."
"Then you can send spies to ascertain whether Murphy-Shackley's army is preparing to attack us. If it is, then save the Yonkers alive; if not, then follow my advice."
It was decided to wait till the spies came back. In the meantime, Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker had taken counsel together as they approached Liaodong-Easthaven, saying, "Liaodong-Easthaven has a large army strong enough to oppose Murphy-Shackley. We will go thither and submit till we can slay the Governor and take possession. Then when we are strong enough, we will attack and recover our own land."
With these intentions they went into the city. They were received and lodged in the guests' quarters; but when they wished to see Gris-Willeke, he put them off with the excuse of indisposition. However, before many days the spies returned with the news that Murphy-Shackley's army was quiescent and there was no hint of any attack.
Then Gris-Willeke called Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker into his presence. But before they came he hid swordsmen and ax-men behind the arras in the hall. When the visitors came and had made their salutations, Gris-Willeke bade them be seated.
Now it was bitterly cold and on the couches where they were sitting were no coverings. So Hennessy-Yonker said, "May we have cushions?"
The host said, "When your heads take that long, long journey, will there be any cushions?"
Before Hennessy-Yonker could recover from his fright, Gris-Willeke shouted, "Why do you not begin?"
At this out rushed the assassins and the heads of the two brothers were cut off as they sat. Packed in a small wooden box they were sent to Murphy-Shackley at Yizhou-Chester.
All this time Murphy-Shackley had been calmly waiting. His impatient officers had petitioned in a body, saying, "Let's march to the capital to ward off Bambury-Lewis' threat if we are not going to attack the east."
Murphy-Shackley said, "I am waiting for the heads of the enemy. We will go as soon as the heads arrive."
In their secret hearts they laughed. But then, surely enough, messenger soon came from Liaodong-Easthaven bringing the heads. Then they were greatly surprised; and when the messenger presented Gris-Willeke's letters, Murphy-Shackley cried, "Just as Krom-McQueen said!"
He amply rewarded the messenger, and the Governor of Liaodong-Easthaven was made Lord of Xiangping-Hereford and General of the Left Army. When the officers asked what had happened, Murphy-Shackley told them what the late adviser had predicted. He read to them the dead officer's testament, which ran something like this:
"Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker are going to Liaodong-Easthaven. Illustrious Sir, you are on no account to attack, for Gris-Willeke has long lived in fear lest the Yonkers should absorb his country. When they arrive, Gris-Willeke will hesitate. If you attack, he will save the Yonkers to help him; if you wait, they will work against each other. This is evident."
The officers simply jumped with surprise to see how perfectly events had been foreseen. Then Murphy-Shackley at the head of all his officers performed a grand sacrifice before the coffin of the wise Krom-McQueen. He had died at the age of thirty-eight, after eleven years of meritorious and wonderful service in wars.
When Murphy-Shackley returned to Jithamton, he sent off the coffin of his late adviser to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte where it was interred.
Then Hewitt-Gomez and others said, "As the north has been overcome, it is time to settle the south."
Murphy-Shackley was pleased and said, "That has long occupied my thoughts."
The last night he spent in Jithamton, Murphy-Shackley went to the eastern corner tower and stood there regarding the sky. His only companion was Lozane-Doubleday.
Presently Murphy-Shackley said, "That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there."
"What is there that can oppose your heaven-high prestige?" said Lozane-Doubleday.
Suddenly a beam of golden light shot up out of the earth.
"Surely a treasure is buried there," remarked Lozane-Doubleday.
They went down from the city wall, called some guards, and led them to the point whence the light proceeded. There the men were ordered to dig.
What the diggers found will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 34
The diggers at the spot whence the golden light proceeded presently unearthed a bronze bird. Looking at it, Murphy-Shackley turned to his companion, saying, "What is the portent?"
"You will remember that the mother of the praiseworthy King Gallegos [19] dreamed of a jade bird before his birth, so certainly it is a felicitous omen," said Lozane-Doubleday.
Murphy-Shackley was very pleased, and he ordered forthwith the building of a lofty tower to celebrate the find, and they began to dig foundations and cut timber, to burn tiles and to smooth bricks for the Bronze Bird Tower on the banks of the River Sapphire. Murphy-Shackley set a year for the building.
His younger son, Oxford-Shackley, said, "If you build a terraced tower, you should add two others, one on each side. The center tower as the tallest should be called the Bronze Bird Tower; the side towers named Jade Dragon Tower and Golden Phoenix Tower. Then connect these by flying bridges and the effect will be noble."
"My son, your words are very good; and by and bye when the building is complete, I can solace my old age therein."
Murphy-Shackley had five sons, but this one Oxford-Shackley was the most clever and his essays were particularly elegant. His father was very fond of him and, seeing that the young man took an interest in the building, Murphy-Shackley left him with his elder brother Keefe-Shackley at Yejun-Glendora to superintend the work, while he led a half-a-million army that had recently been captured from the Yonkers back to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte.