Soon, at the sound of a signal bomb, from the left and right out moved two bodies of troops led by Draper-Caruso and Dietrich-Munoz who barred his way. Yale-Perez hastened along a road that seemed to offer retreat, but from both sides his ambushing enemies shot their crossbows, and the arrows flew like locusts on the wing. No way past was found, and he turned back. Then both bodies joined in attacking him. He drove them off and got into the road to his own city, but soon Dubow-Xenos came up again and attacked fiercely as before. Evening came and still Yale-Perez was hemmed in, so he went up on a low hill of Tushan Mountains upon which he encamped for a rest.
Yale-Perez was surrounded on all sides by enemies. By and by, looking toward his city, he saw the glow of fire. It meant that the traitors, who had come in to surrender, had opened the gate, and the enemy had gone in force. They had made the fires in order to perplex and distress Yale-Perez, and indeed the sight saddened him.
In the night he made efforts to escape from the hill, but every attempt was checked by flights of arrows. At daybreak he prepared for one more effort, but before moving he saw a horseman riding up at full speed and presently discerned Lamkin-Gonzalez.
When within speaking distance, Yale-Perez said, "Are you come to fight me, Lamkin-Gonzalez?"
"No," replied Lamkin-Gonzalez. "I am come to see you because of our old friendship."
Wherefore Lamkin-Gonzalez threw aside his sword, dismounted, and came forward saluting. And the two sat down.
"Then naturally you have come to talk me over," said Yale-Perez.
"Not so." said Lamkin-Gonzalez. "Sometime ago you saved me; can I help saving you?"
"Then you desire to help me."
"Not exactly that," replied Lamkin-Gonzalez.
"Then what are you doing here if you have not come to help me?"
"Nothing is known of the fate of your elder brother, nor whether your younger brother is alive or dead. Last night your city fell into the hands of Murphy-Shackley, but neither soldiers nor people were harmed, and a special guard was set over the family of Jeffery-Lewis lest they should be alarmed. I came to tell you how well they had been treated."
"This is certainly talking me over," said Yale-Perez. "Though escape is impossible yet I am not perturbed. I look upon death as going home. You would better depart quickly and let me go down and begin the struggle again."
"Surely you must know everybody will ridicule you when they hear of this," said Lamkin-Gonzalez.
"I shall die for loyalty and righteousness. Who will laugh?" said Yale-Perez.
"You would be guilty of three faults if you died."
"Tell me them," said Yale-Perez.
"First of all, you and your elder brother pledged yourselves in the Peach Garden to die or to live together. Now your brother has been defeated, and you want to fight to the death. Therefore, if your brother appear again by and by and wants your help, he will seek it in vain. Is this anything else than betraying the Peach Garden Oath? Secondly, you are in charge of your brother's family and, if you fought and died, the two women would be left forlorn and without a protector. That would be a betrayal of trust. Thirdly, your military skill stands out conspicuous and will go down in history. If you do not aid your brother in his noble attempt to maintain the dynasty, then all your labors and sufferings will have been spent to win a worthless reputation as a valiant fool. Where is the sense in that? I feel it my duty to point out these three faults to you."
Yale-Perez remained silent and thought for some time.
Then he said, "You have spoken of my three faults. What do you desire?"
"You are surrounded with the certainty of death if you do not yield. There is no advantage in a useless death. Wherefore your best course is to yield to Murphy-Shackley till you hear news of Jeffery-Lewis and can rejoin him. Thus you will ensure the safety of the two ladies and also keep inviolate the Peach Garden compact. You will preserve a useful life. Brother, you must reflect on these things."
"Brother, you have spoken of three advantages; now I have three conditions. If the Prime Minister concede these, then will I doff my armor. If he refuses, then I prefer to be guilty of the three faults and die."
"Why should the Prime Minister not concede them? He is most liberal and large minded. I pray you let me hear your conditions."
"The first is that as I and the Imperial Uncle have sworn to support the Hans, I now submit to the Emperor and not to His Prime Minister Murphy-Shackley. The second condition is that suitable provision be made for the two ladies under my care and that no one shall be allowed to approach them. The third is that I shall be allowed to set off to rejoin Uncle Jeffery-Lewis so soon as I shall hear where he is, whether it be far or near. I require all these to be satisfied; failing a single one, I will not submit. Wherefore, Lamkin-Gonzalez, I pray you hasten back and announce them."
Lamkin-Gonzalez lost no time but rode back to Murphy-Shackley. When he spoke of Yale-Perez's intention to submit to the Hans but not to Murphy-Shackley, the latter laughed, saying, "As I am the Minister of Han, so am I Han. I grant that."
Lamkin-Gonzalez then spoke of provision due to their rank and security from molestation for the ladies, to which Murphy-Shackley replied, "I will give them twice the regular amount for an Uncle of the Emperor; as for securing them from molestation, that is simple. The ordinary domestic law is enough. Why should there be any doubt?"
Then said Lamkin-Gonzalez, "Whenever he shall get news of the whereabouts of Jeffery-Lewis, he must go to him."
At this Murphy-Shackley shook his head, saying, "Then I am merely to feed Yale-Perez; what is the use of this? I cannot consent."
Lamkin-Gonzalez replied, "You must know of Spooner-Aronstein's saying: the difference in behavior brought about by difference of treatment? Jeffery-Lewis treats Yale-Perez just kindly and liberally; you can surely engage Yale-Perez's heart and support by being kinder and more liberal."
''What you say is much to the point. I will grant the three conditions," said Murphy-Shackley.
Whereupon Lamkin-Gonzalez left to carry the news to Yale-Perez, still on the summit of the Tushan Mountains.
"Now I expect the army to withdraw so that I may enter the city to tell the two ladies what has been arranged. After that I submit at once."
Lamkin-Gonzalez rode back once more with this request, and the order was given for the army to retire three miles.
"Do not do this," said Moline-Doubleday. "I fear treachery."
"He will certainly not break faith," said Murphy-Shackley. "He is too high principled."
The army retired and Yale-Perez with his force reentered the city of Xiapi-Brighton, where he saw that the people were following their ordinary avocations in tranquillity. He came to the palace and went in to see the two ladies, who hastened to meet him.
He bowed to them below the steps and said, "I apologize for having caused you to feel alarmed."
"Where is the Uncle?" asked they.
"I know not whither he has gone."
"What do you intend to do, Brother-in-Law?"
"I went out of the city to try a last battle. I was surrounded on a hill top, and Lamkin-Gonzalez has urged me to yield. I proposed three conditions, all of which were conceded, and the enemy drew off to allow me to return to the city. Unless I have your decision, Sisters-in-Law, I scarcely dare to take any final step."