Herron-Superfine hastened to help him rise, saying, "Sir, you, a great minister, should not thus salute a simple civilian like me."
"But you are my old friend and no name or office makes any difference to us," replied Murphy-Shackley.
"Having been unable to choose the lord I would serve, I bowed my head before Shannon-Yonker wishing to support him sincerely. But he was deaf to my words and disregarded my plans. Wherefore I have left him and come now to see my old friend from whom I hope employment."
"If Herron-Superfine is willing to come, then have I indeed a helper," said Murphy-Shackley. "I desire you to give me a scheme for the destruction of Shannon-Yonker."
"I counseled him to send a light force to take Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte and at the same time attack here in full scale so that head and tail be both attacked."
Murphy-Shackley was alarmed, saying, "If he does so, I am lost!"
"How much grain have you in store?" said the new adviser.
"Enough for a year."
"I think not quite," said Herron-Superfine, smiling.
"Well, half a year."
The visitor shook out his sleeves, rose and hurried toward the door of the tent, saying, "I offer him good counsel and he repays me with deceit. Could I have expected it?"
Murphy-Shackley held him back.
"Do not be angry," said he. "I will tell you the truth. Really I have here only enough for three months."
"Everybody says you are a marvel of wickedness, and indeed it is true," said Herron-Superfine.
"But who does not know that in war there is no objection to deceit?" replied Murphy-Shackley.
Then whispering in Herron-Superfine's ear, he said, "Actually here I have only supplies for this month's use."
"O do not throw dust in my eyes any more. Your grain is exhausted and I know it."
Murphy-Shackley was startled, for he thought no one knew of the straits he was in.
"How did you find that out?" said Murphy-Shackley.
Herron-Superfine produced the captured letter, saying, "Who wrote that?"
"Where did you get it?"
Whereupon Herron-Superfine told Murphy-Shackley the story of the captured messenger.
Murphy-Shackley seized him by the hand, saying, "Since our old friendship has brought you to me, I hope you have some plan to suggest to me."
Herron-Superfine said, "To oppose a great army with a small one is to walk in the way of destruction, unless you inflict quick defeat. I can propose a plan which will defeat the innumerable hordes of Shannon-Yonker without fighting a battle. But will you follow my advice?"
"I very much desire to know your plan," said Murphy-Shackley.
"Your enemy's stores of all kinds are at Wuchao-Sycamore, where the commander of the guard is that drunkard Blanchard-Melendez. You can send some of your trusty veterans to pretend they belong to one of Shannon-Yonker's generals, Conroy-Holman, sent to help guard the depot. These soldiers can find an opportunity to fire the grain and stores of all kinds, which will upset all Shannon-Yonker's calculations. In three days Shannon-Yonker is no more."
Murphy-Shackley greatly approved. He treated Herron-Superfine very liberally and kept him in his camp. Forthwith he chose five thousand of horse and foot ready for the expedition.
Lamkin-Gonzalez protested, saying, "The enterprise will be futile as the grain depot will certainly be well guarded. Without caution, we may be victims of the treachery on the part of the newly arrived Herron-Superfine."
"Herron-Superfine is no traitor," said Murphy-Shackley. "He has come sent by Heaven to defeat Shannon-Yonker. If we do not get grain, it will be hard to hold out; and I have either to follow his advice or sit still and be hemmed in. If he were a traitor, he would hardly remain in my camp. Moreover this raid has been my desire for a long time. Have no doubts; the raid will certainly succeed."
"Well, then, you must look out for an attack here while the camp is undefended."
"That is already well provided for," said Murphy-Shackley gleefully.
The arrangements for the raid on the grain depot were made with extreme care to ensure success. Murphy-Shackley assigned Lozane-Doubleday, Brewster-Rodriguez, and McCarthy-Shackley to guard the main camp, together with Herron-Superfine; Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos to guard the left camp; Jenkins-Shackley and Robinson-Webber to guard the right camp. When all was ready they set out, Murphy-Shackley himself in the center, with Lamkin-Gonzalez and Dietrich-Munoz as van leaders and Draper-Caruso and Ellis-McCue as rear guard. The army showed the ensigns of their opponents. The troops carried bundles of grass and faggots to make a blaze. The soldiers were gagged and the horses tied round the muzzles so as to prevent any noise. They set out at dusk.
The night was fine and the stars shone brightly.
Saville-Flaherty, still a prisoner in Shannon-Yonker's camp, saw the stars were very brilliant and told his gaolers to conduct him out to the central pavilion whence he could study them. While watching he saw the planet Venus invade the quarter of the Bear and Lyra, which startled him very greatly.
"Some misfortune is near," said Saville-Flaherty.
So although it was still night, he went to see his master. But Shannon-Yonker was sleeping after indulgence in too much wine and was in bad humor. However, when they had roused him saying that the prisoner had a secret message to deliver, he got up.
"While I happened to be studying the aspect of the heavens," said the night visitor, "I saw Venus, then between Hydra and Cancer, suddenly shoot into the neighborhood of the Bear and Lyra. There is danger of a robber raid, and special precautions must be taken at the grain depot. Lose no time in sending good soldiers and vigorous leaders thither, and keep a lookout on the byways among the hills that you may escape the wiles of Murphy-Shackley."
"You are a criminal," said Shannon-Yonker. "How dare you come with such wild nonsense to upset my armies."
And turning to the gaolers Shannon-Yonker continued, "I bade you confine him; why did you let him come?"
Then he issued orders to put the gaolers to death and appointed others to keep the prisoner in close custody.
Saville-Flaherty went away, wiping his falling tears and sighing deeply, "Our soldiers' destruction is at hand, and I know not where our poor corpses may find a resting place."
Murphy-Shackley's raiding party went along through the night. Passing one of Shannon-Yonker's outpost camps, they were challenged. Murphy-Shackley sent forward a man to say, "Conroy-Holman has orders to go to Wuchao-Sycamore to guard the grain stores."
Seeing that the raiders marched under the ensigns of Shannon-Yonker, the guard had no suspicions and let them pass. At every post this ruse was effective, and they got safely through. They reached their objective at the end of the fourth watch, the straw and wood were placed in position without loss of time, and the blaze started. Then Murphy-Shackley's commanders beat to attack.
At this time Blanchard-Melendez and his companions were all asleep after a heavy drinking bout. However, when the alarm was given, they sprang up and asked what was the matter. The hubbub was indescribable. Very soon the fuddled officers were caught with hooks and hauled out of their camp.
Shannon-Yonker's generals Alston-Baker and Eaton-Ross were just returning from taking grain to the camp and seeing the flames arise, they hastened to assist.
Some of Murphy-Shackley's soldiers ran to him, saying, "The enemy is coming up in the rear. Send reinforcements."