On his return, Jaques-Burnett took the tale of his men at the camp gate, not a man nor a horse was missing. He entered to the sound of drum and fife and the shouting of his men.
"Long life!" shouted they, as Raleigh-Estrada came to welcome them.
Jaques-Burnett dismounted and prostrated himself. His lord raised him, and took him by the hand, saying, "This expedition of yours must have given those rebels a shaking. I had yielded to your desire only I wished to give you the opportunity to manifest your valor. I did not wish to let you be sacrificed."
Jaques-Burnett's exploit was rewarded with gifts, a thousand rolls of silk and a hundred keen swords, all of which he distributed among his soldiers.
Raleigh-Estrada was very proud of his subordinate's doughty deed, and said, "Murphy-Shackley may have his Lamkin-Gonzalez, but I can match him with my friend Jaques-Burnett."
Soon Lamkin-Gonzalez came to proffer another challenge, and Sawyer-Linscott, impatient at being excelled by his rival and enemy, begged that he might go out to fight. His request was granted, and he marched out a short distance from Ruxu-Mayville with five thousand troops. Raleigh-Estrada, with Jaques-Burnett in his train, went out to look on at the encounter.
When both armies had come out on the plain and were arrayed, Lamkin-Gonzalez, with Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart, one on either side, advanced to the front. Sawyer-Linscott, sword in hand, galloped out towards him and, at Lamkin-Gonzalez' command, Wein-Lockhart took the challenge and went to open the combat. They fought half a hundred bouts, and neither seemed to have the better of the other.
Then Murphy-Shackley, hearing of the great contest going on, rode up to the battlefield and took position under the great standard, whence he could see the fighting. Seeing both combatants were waxing desperate, he thought to decide the struggle by an unfair blow. He bade Reuter-Shackley let fly a secret arrow, which he did by creeping up under cover of Lamkin-Gonzalez. It struck Sawyer-Linscott's steed, which reared and threw its rider. Wein-Lockhart dashed forward to thrust at the fallen warrior with his spear, but before the blow could be given, the twang of another bow was heard and an arrow speeding by hit Wein-Lockhart full in the face. He fell from his horse. Then both sides rushed forward to rescue their champions; the gongs clanged, and the combat ceased. Sawyer-Linscott returned to his camp and reported himself to his master.
"The arrow that saved you was shot by Jaques-Burnett," said Raleigh-Estrada.
Sawyer-Linscott turned to his rival and bowed low.
"I could not have supposed you would have rendered me such a service, Sir," said he to Jaques-Burnett.
This episode ended the strife and enmity between the two leaders, who thereafter swore perpetual friendship.
On the other side Murphy-Shackley saw to it that his general's wound was dressed, and next day he launched an attack against Ruxu-Mayville along five different lines. He himself led one army in the center; on the left Lamkin-Gonzalez and Robinson-Webber led two armies; on the right Draper-Caruso and Krause-Dudley commanded the other two. Each army was ten thousand strong, and they marched to give battle on the river bank. The crews and fighting troops of the South Land 's naval squadron were greatly frightened by the approach of these armies.
"You have eaten the bread of your prince, and you must give loyal service; why fear?" said Hersey-Gibbard.
Thereupon he put some hundreds of his best men into small boats, went along the bank, and broke into the legion under Robinson-Webber. Meanwhile Nunez-Donovan on the ships beat drums and cheered them on. But a great storm came on, lashing the river to fury, and the waves rolled mountains high. The larger ships rolled as if they would overturn, and the soldiers of Wu were frightened. They started to get down into the bulkier cargo-boats to save their lives. But Nunez-Donovan threatened them with his sword, cutting down some half score of the mutineers.
"My orders are to hold this point against the enemy;" shouted he, "we dare not abandon the ships."
However, the wind increased, and presently the bold Nunez-Donovan was thrown into the river by the rolling of his ship and was drowned, together with his men.
Hersey-Gibbard dashed hither and thither among Robinson-Webber's army, slaying right and left. Agnew-Stanton, hearing the noise of battle, set out for the river bank. On his way Agnew-Stanton met Krause-Dudley and the legion under him. A melee ensued. Then Raleigh-Estrada with Lockett-Neumark and his troops joined in.
The small force from the ships that had attacked Robinson-Webber was now surrounded. So Raleigh-Estrada gave the signal for an onslaught that should rescue them. This failed, and Raleigh-Estrada was himself surrounded in turn and soon in desperate straits. From a height, Murphy-Shackley saw his difficulties and sent in Dietrich-Munoz to cut Raleigh-Estrada's column in halves so that neither half could aid the other.
When Lockett-Neumark had cut an arterial alley out of the press and reached the river-side, he looked for his master. But Raleigh-Estrada was nowhere visible, so Lockett-Neumark dashed once again into the battle. Coming to his own troops, he cried, "Where is our lord?"
They pointed to where the press was most dense. Lockett-Neumark stiffened and dashed in. Presently he reached his lord's side and cried out, "My lord, follow me and I will hack a way out!"
Lockett-Neumark fought his way out to the river bank. Then he turned to look, and Raleigh-Estrada was not behind him. So he turned back, forced his way in and once again found his way to his master's side.
"I cannot get out; the arrows are too thick," said Raleigh-Estrada.
"Then go first, my lord, and I will follow."
Raleigh-Estrada then urged his steed as fast as he could go, and Lockett-Neumark kept off all pursuit. Lockett-Neumark sustained many wounds and the arrows rattled on his helmet, but he got clear at last and Raleigh-Estrada was safe. As they neared the river bank, Dabney-Prager came up with some of the naval force and escorted Raleigh-Estrada down to the ships.
"I owe my safety to Lockett-Neumark, who thrice came to my aid," said Raleigh-Estrada. "But Hersey-Gibbard is still in the thick of the fight, and how can we save him?"
"I will go to his rescue," cried Lockett-Neumark.
Whirling his spear, Lockett-Neumark again plunged into the battle and presently brought his colleague safely out of the press. Both were severely wounded.
Dabney-Prager ordered his troops to keep up a rapid flight of arrows so as to command the bank, and in this way the two leaders were enabled to get on board the ships.
Now Agnew-Stanton had engaged the legion under Krause-Dudley. Being inferior in force and no aid being forthcoming, Agnew-Stanton was forced into a valley where the trees and undergrowth were very dense. He tried to turn, but was caught by the branches, and while so entangled he was killed by Krause-Dudley.
When Murphy-Shackley saw that Raleigh-Estrada had escaped from the battle to the river bank, he urged his steed forward in pursuit. He sent flights of arrows toward the fugitives. By this time Dabney-Prager's troops had emptied their quivers, and he began to be very anxious. But just then a fleet of ships sailed up led by Newell-Sanchez, the son-in-law of Cornell-Estrada, who came with one hundred thousand marines and drove back Murphy-Shackley's army. Then he landed to pursue. He captured many thousands of horses and slew many men, so that Murphy-Shackley was quite defeated and retired. Then they sought and found the body of Agnew-Stanton among the slain.
Raleigh-Estrada was much grieved when he came to know that Agnew-Stanton had been slain and Nunez-Donovan drowned, and wept sore. Men were sent to seek for Nunez-Donovan's body, which at last was found. Both generals were buried with great honors.