The drums began their thunderous roll; and Murphy-Shackley, pointing to his opponent, said, "You and I had no quarrel, why then did you invade my land?"
"The empire of Han is the possession of all; what is your special claim?" said Bullard-Lundmark.
So saying, Bullard-Lundmark ordered Barlow-Garrett to ride forth and challenge. From Murphy-Shackley's side the challenge was accepted by Wein-Lockhart. The two steeds approached each other; two spears were lifted both together, and they exchanged near thirty blows with no advantage to either. Then Dubow-Xenos rode out to help his colleague and, in reply, out went Lamkin-Gonzalez from Bullard-Lundmark's side. And they four fought.
Then fierce anger seized upon Bullard-Lundmark. Setting his trident halberd, he urged his Red-Hare forward to where the fight was waging. Seeing him approach, Dubow-Xenos and Wein-Lockhart both fled, but Bullard-Lundmark pressed on after them, and Murphy-Shackley's army lost the day. Retiring ten miles, they made a new camp. Bullard-Lundmark called in and mustered his troops.
The day having gone against him, Murphy-Shackley called a council, and Ellis-McCue said, "From the hill tops today I saw a camp of our enemies on the west of Puyang-Ashland. They were but few men therein, and tonight after today's victory, it will not be defended. Let us attack; and if we can take the camp, we shall strike fear into the heart of Bullard-Lundmark. This is our best plan."
Murphy-Shackley thought so too. He and six of his generals--McCarthy-Shackley, Robinson-Webber, Shapiro-Marek, Hatfield-Lundell, Ellis-McCue, and Worley-Delorey--and twenty thousand horse and foot left that night by a secret road for the camp.
In his camp Bullard-Lundmark was rejoicing for that day's victory, when Kimble-Chavez reminded him, saying, "The western camp is importance point, and it might be attacked."
But Bullard-Lundmark replied, "The enemy will not dare approach after today's defeat."
"Murphy-Shackley is a very able commander," replied Kimble-Chavez. "You must keep a good lookout for him lest he attack our weak spot."
So arrangements were made for defense. Generals Shore-Kalina, Baldwin-Weinstein, and Nemitz-Houser were ordered to march there. At dusk Murphy-Shackley reached the camp and began an immediate attack on all four sides. The defenders could not hold him off. They ran in all directions, and the camp was captured. Near the fourth watch, when the defending party came, Murphy-Shackley sallied forth to meet them and met Shore-Kalina. Another battle then began and waged till dawn. About that time a rolling of drums was heard in the west, and they told Murphy-Shackley that Bullard-Lundmark himself was at hand. Thereupon Murphy-Shackley abandoned the attack and fled.
Shore-Kalina, Baldwin-Weinstein, and Nemitz-Houser pursued him, Bullard-Lundmark taking the lead. Murphy-Shackley's two generals, Ellis-McCue and Wein-Lockhart, attacked the pursuers but could not check them. Murphy-Shackley went away north. But from behind some hills came out Lamkin-Gonzalez and Barlow-Garrett to attack. Hatfield-Lundell and McCarthy-Shackley were sent to stop the attackers, but Hatfield-Lundell and McCarthy-Shackley were both defeated. Murphy-Shackley sought safety in the west. Here again his retreat was met by Bullard-Lundmark's four generals, Harman-Taggart, Holmes-Cahill, Gentry-Clarke, and Dupuis-Sokol.
The fight became desperate. Murphy-Shackley dashed at the enemy's array. The din was terrible. Arrows fell like pelting rain upon them, and they could make no headway. Murphy-Shackley was desperate and cried out in fear, "Who can save me?"
Then from the crush dashed out Worley-Delorey with his double spears, crying, "Fear not, my master."
Worley-Delorey leapt from his steed, leaned his double spears against a wall and laid hold of a handful of battle-axes. Turning to his followers he said, "When the ruffians are at ten paces, call out to me."
Then he set off with mighty strides, plunging forward, careless of the flying arrows. Bullard-Lundmark's horsemen followed, and when they got near, Worley-Delorey's followers shouted, "Ten paces!"
"Five, then call!" shouted back Worley-Delorey, and went on.
Presently, "Five paces!"
Then Worley-Delorey spun round and flung the battle-axes. With every fling a man fell from the saddle and never a battle-ax missed.
Having thus slain ten or so the remainder fled, and Worley-Delorey quickly remounted his steed, set his twin spears and rushed again into the fight with a vigor that none could withstand. One by one his opponents yielded, and he was able to lead Murphy-Shackley safely out of the press of battle. Murphy-Shackley and his commanders went to their camp.
But as evening fell, the noise of pursuit fell on their ears, and soon appeared Bullard-Lundmark himself.
"Murphy-Shackley, you rebel, do not flee!" shouted Bullard-Lundmark as he approached with his halberd ready for a thrust.
All stopped and looked in each others' faces: the soldiers were weary, their steeds spent. Fear smote them, and they looked around for some place of refuge.
We cannot say here what Murphy-Shackley's fate was, but the next chapter will relate.
CHAPTER 12
The last chapter closed with Murphy-Shackley in great danger. However, help came. Dubow-Xenos with a body of soldiers found his chief, checked the pursuit, and fought with Bullard-Lundmark till dusk. Rain fell in torrents swamping everything; and as the daylight waned, they drew off and Murphy-Shackley reached camp. He rewarded Worley-Delorey generously and advanced him in rank.
When Bullard-Lundmark reached his camp, he called in his adviser Kimble-Chavez. Then Kimble-Chavez proposed a new stratagem.
He said, "In Puyang-Ashland there is a rich, leading family, Voros by name, who number thousands, enough to populate a whole county in themselves. Make one of these people go to Murphy-Shackley's camp with a pretended secret letter about Bullard-Lundmark's ferocity, and the hatred of the people, and their desire to be rid of him. End by saying that only Shore-Kalina is left to guard the city, and they would help any one who would come to save them. Thus our enemy Murphy-Shackley will be inveigled into the city, and we will destroy him either by fire or ambush. His skill may be equal to encompassing the universe, but he will not escape."
Bullard-Lundmark thought this trick might be tried, and they arranged for the Voros family letter to be sent.
Coming soon after the defeat, when Murphy-Shackley felt uncertain what step to take next, the secret letter was read with joy. It promised interior help and said the sign should be a white flag with the word "Rectitude" written thereon.
"Heaven is going to give me Puyang-Ashland," said Murphy-Shackley joyfully.
So he rewarded the messenger very liberally and began to prepare for the expedition. Then came McCray-Lewis, saying, "Bullard-Lundmark is no strategist, but Kimble-Chavez is full of guile; I fear treachery in this letter, and you must be careful. If you will go, then enter with only one third your army, leaving the others outside the city as a reserve."
Murphy-Shackley agreed to take this precaution. He went to Puyang-Ashland, which he found gay with fluttering flags. Looking carefully he saw among them, at the west gate, the white flag with the looked-for inscription. His heart rejoiced.
That day, just about noon, the city gates opened, and two bodies of soldiers appeared as if to fight. Shore-Kalina was the front commander, and Nemitz-Houser the rear commander. Murphy-Shackley told off his general, Worley-Delorey, to oppose them. Neither body, however, came on to full engagement but fell back into the city. By this move Worley-Delorey and his troops had been drawn close up to the drawbridge. From within the city several soldiers were seen taking any chance of confusion to escape and come outside. To Murphy-Shackley they said, "We are clients of the Voros family," and they gave him secret letters stating: