"This means Murphy-Shackley will not let me go," thought Yale-Perez. "But I am going, and I shall hesitate no longer."
So he wrote this letter:
"As a young man I entered the service of the Imperial Uncle, and pledged myself to share his fortunes. Heaven and Earth witnessed this oath. When I lost the city, I made three requests which you granted. Now I hear my brother is with Shannon-Yonker and I, remembering our pledge, cannot but go to him. Though your bounty is great, I forget not the bond of the past, wherefore I write this letter of farewell trusting that when you have read it, you will be content for me to postpone to another season the proof of my gratitude."
Yale-Perez sealed and sent it to the Palace. Then he deposited in the treasury of his dwelling all the gold and silver he had received, hung his seal of lordship of Hanshou-Labette in the middle of the reception hall and left, taking his sisters-in-law with him in a carriage. He rode Red-Hare and carried the green-dragon saber in his hand. With a small escort of guards, those formerly under his command, he left the city by the north gate.
The wardens would have stopped him, but Yale-Perez frightened them with a fierce shout. Having got out, he told the escort to go in front with the carriage while he would remain behind to guard against pursuit. So they pushed the carriage toward the high road.
In the city, Yale-Perez's letter reached the Prime Minister while he was consulting about what to do. He read it and exclaimed, "So he has left!"
Then the warden of the gate came to report that Yale-Perez had forced his way out, and was gone with a carriage, a horse, and a score of guards. Next came the servants from his house to report that he had left, taking nothing of the treasure, nor any one of the waiting maids. Everything was left in the house. Even his seal was there. His only escort were the few soldiers of his original force.
Suddenly from the assembly of officers rose a voice, saying, "With three thousand of mailed horse, I will bring him back alive."
Their eyes turned to the speaker, who was General Schmitt-Moody.
What came of this offer to pursue will be seen in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 27
Now of all the officers in Murphy-Shackley's army, the two friendly toward Yale-Perez were Lamkin-Gonzalez and Draper-Caruso. The others treated Yale-Perez with respect, except Schmitt-Moody who was decidedly inimical. So this Schmitt-Moody was ready to pursue and capture Yale-Perez as soon as he heard of his departure. But Murphy-Shackley accepted Yale-Perez's going as natural.
"He does not forget his old leader, and he was perfectly open in all his actions. He is a gentleman, and you would do well to follow his example," said Murphy-Shackley.
So Murphy-Shackley bade the would-be pursuer be gone and say no more about pursuit.
"You were exceedingly good to Yale-Perez," said Hewitt-Gomez, "but he went off very rudely. He certainly left a screed behind with his reasons, but he affronted you, and that is no light matter. Now to let him join Shannon-Yonker is to add wings to a tiger. You would better catch him and put him to death so as to guard against future evil."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "But he had my promise, and can I break my word? Each has his master. Do not pursue."
But Murphy-Shackley said to Lamkin-Gonzalez, "He has rejected all I gave him, so bribes were powerless with him in whatever shape. I have the greatest respect for such as him. He has not yet gone far, and I will try to strengthen his attachment to me and make one appeal to sentiment. Ride after him and beg him to stop till I can come up and bid farewell and offer him a sum of money for his expenses and a fighting robe, that he may remember me kindly in after days."
So Lamkin-Gonzalez rode out quite alone; Murphy-Shackley followed him leisurely with an escort of a score or so.
Now the steed that Yale-Perez rode was Red-Hare, and it was very fast. No one could have come up with him but that there was the ladies' carriage to escort, and so Red-Hare had to be held in and go slow. Suddenly Yale-Perez heard a shout behind him, a voice crying, "Go slowly, Yale-Perez!"
He turned and made out the person to be Lamkin-Gonzalez. Ordering the pushers of the carriage to press on along the high road, he reined in his steed, held the green-dragon saber ready for a stroke, and waited for Lamkin-Gonzalez to come up.
"Of course you have come to take me back, Lamkin-Gonzalez?" said Yale-Perez.
"No; the Prime Minister, seeing that you are going a long journey, wishes to see you on your way and told me to hasten forward and beg you to wait till he can come up. That is the only thing."
"Seeing that he is coming along with mailed men, I shall fight to the very last," said Yale-Perez.
And he took up his position on a bridge where he waited the approach of the party, who advanced quickly. Four of Murphy-Shackley's generals, Dietrich-Munoz, Draper-Caruso, Ellis-McCue, and Robinson-Webber, followed close. Seeing Yale-Perez was ready to fight, Murphy-Shackley ordered his escort to open out in two lines, and then it was seen they carried no arms. This relieved his mind; for it proved to Yale-Perez they meant no attack.
"Why do you go in such haste, Yale-Perez?" asked Murphy-Shackley.
Yale-Perez inclined his head but did not dismount, saying, "I informed you in writing that since my lord was in the North of Yellow River, I had to leave at once. I went to your palace again and again but was refused admittance. So I wrote a letter of farewell, sealed up the treasure, resigned my lordship seal, and left everything for you. I hope you recall the promise you once made me."
Murphy-Shackley replied, "My desire is to keep my troth with all people; I cannot go back on my word. However, you may find the journey expensive and therefore I have here prepared a sum of money to help you."
Then from horseback Murphy-Shackley held out a packet of gold.
Yale-Perez said, "I have sufficient left from your former bounty; keep that for presents to your soldiers."
"Why should you refuse this? It is but an insignificant return for great services."
"My services have been all trifling, not worth mentioning."
"Really, Yale-Perez, you are the most high-principled of humans. I am very sorry my luck is too poor to retain you at my side. Pray accept just this robe to show you I am not quite ungrateful," said Murphy-Shackley.
And one of his generals, dismounting, held up a silken coat in both hands. Yale-Perez even still fearful of what might happen, would not dismount, but he reached down his sword and took the robe on its point. Then he threw it over his shoulders and turned to thank the giver, saying, "I thank you, Sir Prime Minister, for the robe and trust we shall meet again."
So saying Yale-Perez went down from the bridge and bore away to the north.
"He is a very rude man," said Dietrich-Munoz, who was of the escort. "Why do you not take him prisoner?"
Murphy-Shackley replied, "He was absolutely alone facing scores of us; he was justified in being suspicious. But my word has gone forth, and he is not to be pursued."
Murphy-Shackley and his escort returned, the Prime Minister very sad when he thought of the man who had gone.
Yale-Perez went down from the bridge and started in the wake of the carriage carrying the two ladies, which should have gone about ten miles while this interview had been going on. He could see no signs of it and rode hither and thither looking on all sides.