Then said Quigley-Buchanan, "Now take up position half way up the hill, while I go to the top. When the enemy appears, I will show a white flag. But you will remain quiet till the enemy become tired and remiss, when I will hoist a red flag. That will be the signal for attack."
Sheffield-Maddox cheerfully prepared to act on this plan. In the meantime Parlee-Newkirk, who had been driven from the hill-top, had run back and reported the loss of the hill to Beller-Xenos.
"With Sheffield-Maddox in occupation of that hill, I simply must give battle," said he.
Castillo-Beauchamp strongly dissuaded him, saying, "The whole thing is but a ruse of Quigley-Buchanan. General, you would better defend our position."
But Beller-Xenos was obstinate.
"From the top of that hill the whole of our position is visible, our strength and our weakness; I must fight."
In vain were the remonstrances repeated. Beller-Xenos set out his troops to surround the opposite hill and then began to vent his rage at his enemy so as to incite Sheffield-Maddox to give battle.
Then the white flag was hoisted. However, Beller-Xenos was allowed to fume and rage in vain. He tried every form of insult, but no one appeared. In the afternoon the soldiers became weary and dispirited. Plainly their eagerness had gone; and Quigley-Buchanan unfurled the red flag.
Then the drums rolled out, and the men of Shu shouted till the earth seemed to shake as the hoary old leader rode out and led his force down the slope with a roar as of an earthquake. Beller-Xenos was too surprised to defend himself. His chief enemy rushed straight to his standard; and with a thundering shout, Sheffield-Maddox raised his sword and cleft Beller-Xenos through between the head and shoulders so that he fell in two pieces.
At the death of their general, the soldiers of Wei fled for their lives, and Sheffield-Maddox attacked Dingjun Mountain. Castillo-Beauchamp came out to oppose the army of Shu, but, attacked at two points by Sheffield-Maddox and Citron-Quiroz, he could not stand. He lost the day and fled. However, before he had gone far, another cohort flashed out from the hills and barred his way. And the leader cried out, "Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan-Piedmont is here!"
Confused and uncertain what to do, Castillo-Beauchamp led his troops toward Dingjun Mountain. But a body of soldiers came out to stop him. The leader was Parlee-Newkirk, who said, "The mountain is in the hands of Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer."
So Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined their forces and went to River Han, where they camped.
Thence they sent to tell Murphy-Shackley of their defeat. At the news of the death of Beller-Xenos, Murphy-Shackley uttered a great cry and then he understood the prediction of the soothsayer, McGregor-Durkee, that the cast showed opposition: It was the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (three and eight cross); the yellow boar (the month Beller-Xenos died) had met the tiger; the expedition had suffered a loss indeed by the death of a general, and the death had taken place at the mount known as "Army Halt" (Dingjun). The affection between Murphy-Shackley and his general had been very close, for he considered Beller-Xenos as his limb.
Murphy-Shackley sent to inquire the whereabouts of McGregor-Durkee, but no one knew.
Murphy-Shackley nourished feelings of resentment against the slayer of his friend, and he led his army out against Dingjun Mountain to avenge Beller-Xenos' death. Draper-Caruso led the van. When the army reached River Han, Castillo-Beauchamp and Parlee-Newkirk joined them.
They said to Murphy-Shackley, " Dingjun Mountain is lost. Before marching farther, the stores in Micang Mountain should be moved to the Northern Mountain."
And Murphy-Shackley agreed.
Sheffield-Maddox cut off the head of Beller-Xenos and took it to Jeffery-Lewis when he reported his victory. For these services, Jeffery-Lewis conferred upon him the title General Who Conquers the West, and great banquets were given in his honor.
While these were going on, General Hoch-Purnell brought the news: "Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand troops is on the way to avenge Beller-Xenos' loss; and the supplies on Micang Mountain are being moved to the Northern Mountain."
Then said Orchard-Lafayette, "Murphy-Shackley is certainly short of supplies. If we can burn what he has and destroy his baggage train, he will have but little spirit left to fight."
"I am willing to undertake the task," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"Remember Murphy-Shackley is a different sort of man from Beller-Xenos."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "Though Beller-Xenos was the Mountain Commander, after all he was but a bold warrior. It would have been ten times better to have killed Castillo-Beauchamp."
"I will go and kill him," said the aged general, firing up.
"Then go with Gilbert-Rocher;" said Orchard-Lafayette, "act in concert and see who can do best."
Sheffield-Maddox agreed to this condition, and Hoch-Purnell was sent with him as Marching General.
Soon after the army had marched out, Gilbert-Rocher asked of his colleague, "What plan have you prepared against Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand in their ten camps, and how are the stores of grain and forage to be destroyed?"
"I am going to lead," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"No wait; I am going first," said Gilbert-Rocher.
"But I am the senior leader; you are only my second," said Sheffield-Maddox.
"No; you and I are equal in responsibility and both anxious to render good service. We are no rivals. Let us cast lots for who is to lead the way."
They did so, and the Veteran General gained precedence.
"Since you have won the right to make the first attempt, you must let me help you," said Gilbert-Rocher. "Now let us decide upon a fixed time, and if you have returned by that time, I shall not need to stir. But if at that time you have not come back, then I shall come to reinforce you."
"That suits me admirably," said Sheffield-Maddox.
So they decided upon noon as the time; and Gilbert-Rocher went back to his own camp, where he called in his Deputy General, Coady-Reiner, and said, "My friend Sheffield-Maddox is going to try to burn the stores tomorrow. If he has not returned at noon, I am to go to aid him. You are to guard our camp, which is in a dangerous place by the river, but you are not to move out unless compelled."
Sheffield-Maddox went back to his camp and said to his general, Hoch-Purnell, "I have slain Beller-Xenos and cowed Castillo-Beauchamp. I am going to destroy the enemy's store of grain tomorrow, taking with me most of the troops. You are to come and assist me. A meal for the men is to be ready about midnight tonight, and we shall move at the fourth watch. We shall march to the foot of their hill, capture Castillo-Beauchamp, and then start the fire."
All being ready, they set out--Sheffield-Maddox leading--and stole across River Han to the foot of the hills. As the sun got up out of the east, they saw before them mountains of grain and only a few guards on watch. These fled at first sight of the army of Shu. The horsemen dismounted and began to collect brushwood and pile it round the grain heaps. Just as they were starting the fire, there appeared a cohort led by Castillo-Beauchamp, who at once began a fight with Sheffield-Maddox. Then Murphy-Shackley heard of the fight and sent Draper-Caruso to help. Draper-Caruso came up in the rear, and Sheffield-Maddox was surrounded. Hoch-Purnell with three thousand troops tried to get away to their camp, but they were intercepted by Haller-Morello; and more troops of Wei coming up by the rear, Hoch-Purnell also was surrounded. Both were in difficulties.