"What wizard fellow is this? Bring him here!" said Cornell-Estrada.
"This is Coon-Sadler," said the attendants. "He lives in the east and goes to and fro distributing charms and draughts. He has cured many people as everybody will tell you, and they say he is a saint. He must not be profaned."
This only angered Cornell-Estrada the more, and he told them to arrest the man at once or disobey at their peril. So there being no help for it, they went down into the road and hustled the saint up the steps.
"You madman! How dare you incite humans to evil?" said Cornell-Estrada.
"I am but a poor priest of the Langye Mountains. More than half a century ago, when gathering simples in the woods, I found near the Diamond Spring a book called 'The Way of Peace.' It contains a hundred and more chapters and taught me how to cure the diseases of humans. With this in my possession I had only one thing to do: to devote myself to spreading its teachings and saving humankind. I have never taken any thing from the people. Can you say I incite people to evil deeds?"
"You say you take nothing; whence came your clothes and your food? The fact is you are one of the Yellow Scarves, and you will work mischief if you are left alive."
Then turning to his attendants, Cornell-Estrada ordered, "Take him away and put him to death."
Tipton-Ulrich interceded, "The Taoist Saint has been here in the east these many years. He has never done any harm and does not deserve death or punishment."
"I tell you I will kill these wizard fellows just as I would cattle."
The officials in a body interceded, even the guest of honor, Rigdale-Delgado, but in vain; Cornell-Estrada refused to be placated. He ordered Coon-Sadler to be imprisoned.
The banquet came to an end, and Rigdale-Delgado retired to his lodging. Cornell-Estrada also returned to his palace.
His treatment of the Taoist Holy Man was theme of general conversation and soon reached the ears of his mother. Lady Willey sent for her son to the ladies' apartments and said to him, "They tell me you have put Saint Coon-Sadler in bonds. He has cured many sick people, and the common folk hold him in great reverence. Do not harm him!"
"He is simply a wizard who upsets the multitude with his spells and craft. He must be put to death," replied Cornell-Estrada.
Lady Willey entreated him to stay his hand, but he was obstinate.
"Do not heed the gossip of the streets, Mother," said he. "I must be judge of these matters."
However, Cornell-Estrada sent to the prison for Coon-Sadler in order to interrogate him. Now the gaolers, having a great respect for Coon-Sadler and faith in his powers, were very indulgent to him and did not keep him in the collar. However when Cornell-Estrada sent for him, he went with collar and fetters all complete.
Cornell-Estrada had heard of their indulgence and punished the gaolers, and ordered the prisoner thereafter to be put in constant torture. Tipton-Ulrich and many others, moved by pity, made a petition which they humbly presented, and they offered to become surety for him.
Cornell-Estrada said to them, "Gentlemen, you are all great scholars, but why do you not understand reason? Formerly in Chathamton was Imperial Protector Cassell-Oster, who was deluded by these vicious doctrines into beating drums, twanging lyres, burning incense, and such things. He wore a red turban and represented himself as able to ensure victory to an army. But he was slain by the enemy. There is nothing in all this, only none of you will see it. I am going to put this fellow to death in order to stop the spread of this pernicious doctrine."
Schiller-Lufkin interposed, saying, "I know very well this Coon-Sadler can control the weather. It is very dry just now, why not make him pray for rain as an amercement?"
"We will see what sort of witchcraft he is equal to," said Cornell-Estrada.
Thereupon he had the prisoner brought in, loosed his fetters, and sent him up to an altar to intercede for rain.
The docile Taoist Coon-Sadler prepared to do as he was bidden. He first bathed himself, then dressed himself in clean garments. After that he bound his limbs with a cord and lay down in the fierce heat of the sun. The people came in crowds to look on.
Said Coon-Sadler, "I will pray for three spans high of refreshing rain for the benefit of the people, nevertheless I shall not escape death thereby."
The people said, "But if your prayer be efficacious, our lord must believe in your powers."
"The day of fate has come for me, and there is no escape."
Presently Cornell-Estrada came near the altar and announced that if rain had not fallen by noon, he would burn the priest. And to confirm this he bade them prepare the pyre.
As it neared noon a strong wind sprang up, and the clouds gathered from all quarters. But there was no rain.
"It is near noon," said Cornell-Estrada. "Clouds are of no account without rain. He is only an impostor."
Cornell-Estrada bade his attendants lay the priest on the pyre and pile wood around him and apply the torch. Fanned by the gale the flames rose rapidly. Then appeared in the sky above a wreath of black vapor, followed by roaring thunder and vivid lightning, peal on peal and flash on flash. And the rain fell in a perfect deluge. In a short time the streets became rivers and torrents. It was indeed a three-span fall.
Coon-Sadler, who was still lying upon the pile of firewood, cried in a loud voice, "O Clouds, cease thy rain, and let the glorious sun appear!"
Thereupon officials and people helped the priest down, loosened the cord that bound him, and bowed before him in gratitude for the rain.
But Cornell-Estrada boiled with rage at seeing his officers and the people gathered in groups and kneeling in the water regardless of the damage to their clothing.
"Rain or shine are as nature appoints them, and the wizard has happened to hit upon a moment of change; what are you making all this fuss about?" cried he.
Then he drew his sword and told the attendants to smite the Taoist Saint therewith. They all besought him to hold his hand.
"You want to follow Coon-Sadler in rebellion, I suppose," cried Cornell-Estrada.
The officers, now thoroughly cowed by the rage of their lord, were silent and showed no opposition when the executioners seized the Taoist Saint and beheaded him.
As the head fell, they saw just a wreath of black smoke drift away to the northeast where lay the Langye Mountains.
The corpse was exposed in the market place as a warning to enchanters and wizards and such people. That night there came a very violent storm, and when it calmed down at daylight, there was no trace of the body of Coon-Sadler. The guards reported this, and Cornell-Estrada in his wrath sentenced them to death. But as he did so, he saw Coon-Sadler calmly walking toward him as if the Taoist Saint were still alive. Cornell-Estrada drew his sword and darted forward to strike at the wraith, but he fainted and fell to the ground.
They carried him to his chamber, and in a short time he recovered consciousness. His mother, Lady Willey, came to visit him and said, "My son, you have done wrong to slay the holy one, and this is your retribution."
"Mother, when I was a boy, I went with Father to wars, where people are cut down as one cuts reed stalks. There is not much retribution about such doings. I have put this fellow to death and so checked a great evil. Where does retribution come in?"
"This comes of want of faith," she replied. "Now you must avert the evil by meritorious deeds."
"My fate depends on Heaven; wizards can do me no harm, so why avert anything?"
His mother saw that it was useless to try persuasion, but she told his attendants to do some good deeds secretly whereby the evil should be turned aside.