The man at once stepped out and accepted the assignment.
The man was Ellis-McCue.
"Let me have another general to lead the van," said Ellis-McCue.
"Who volunteers?" asked Murphy-Shackley, looking around.
"I do;" cried a man, "I will give my poor services for what they are worth. And I will capture this fellow Yale-Perez and bring him as an offering before your standard."
But who was the man bold enough to say he would capture Yale-Perez? For his name see the next chapter.
CHAPTER 74
The bold and self-confident leader of Murphy-Shackley's army who promised to make an end of Yale-Perez was Krause-Dudley. Murphy-Shackley was glad to find such a man.
"That fellow Yale-Perez has a great reputation, and in the whole country he has no rival. He has not met his match yet, but now you are going, he will find all his work cut out."
So spoke Murphy-Shackley. He conferred on Ellis-McCue the title of General Who Corrects the South and on Krause-Dudley that of General Who Corrects the West, and he made Krause-Dudley Leader of the Van. The two generals marched out with their seven armies to Fankou-Newport.
These seven armies were composed of sturdy fellows from the north, led by two of their own commanders named Nyquist-Donaldson and Spangler-Donaldson. Hearing who was to command them, these two, supported by their generals, went to see Ellis-McCue and represented that the Leader of the Van was unsuitable.
Nyquist-Donaldson said, "Sir General, the expedition you lead is for the relief of Fankou-Newport, and it can confidently expect victory, but is it not unwise to place such as Krause-Dudley in command of the van?"
"Why?" said Ellis-McCue, surprised.
"Because Krause-Dudley was once under the command of Cotton-Mallory. He had no alternative but to surrender and fight for Wei. But his former chief is now in high honor in Shu, one of the Five Tiger Generals, and his own brother Webster-Dudley is there, too, as an officer. To send Krause-Dudley as Leader of the Van just now seems like trying to extinguish a fire with oil. Would it not be well to inform the Prince of Wei and ask him to exchange this man for another?"
Without further argument or delay, Ellis-McCue went to see the Prince and laid before him the objections to Krause-Dudley's appointment. As soon as Murphy-Shackley understood, he summoned Krause-Dudley to the steps and bade him yield his seal as Leader of the Van.
"O Prince, why do you reject my services? I was just about to do my best for you."
"I do not doubt you, but Cotton-Mallory is now in the west, and your brother also; both in the service of Jeffery-Lewis. I myself have no doubts, but it is what all the crowd are saying. What can I do?"
Krause-Dudley took off his head-dress and prostrated himself, bitter tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Since I surrendered to you, O Prince, I have experienced much kindness, so that I would undergo any sufferings to show my gratitude. I hope you will trust me. When my brother and I were at home together, his wife was a wicked woman and I slew her, pretending I was drunk. My brother has never forgiven me, but is permeated with hate for me. He swears never to see me again, and we are enemies. For my old master, Cotton-Mallory, I have profound contempt. He is bold, but only that, and was in a pitiable and dejected state when he found his way to the west. Now, like me, he serves his own master, but our friendship is at an end. How could I think of another after your kindness to me?"
Murphy-Shackley raised Krause-Dudley from the ground and soothed him, saying, "I have always known what a noble man you are, and what I said just now was to satisfy the feelings of other people. Now you can strive to win fame; and if you do not turn your back on me, I shall not on you."
Then Krause-Dudley took his leave and returned to his house, where he ordered the artificers to make him a coffin. Next he invited all his friends to a banquet, and the coffin was set out in the reception room for all to see.
And they asked one another, "What can that inauspicious thing mean putting out on the eve of a campaign?"
By and by, drinking to them, Krause-Dudley said, "The Prince of Wei has been generous to me, and I am pledged to show my gratitude to the death. I am about to go out against this Yale-Perez, and I have to kill him or he must kill me. If he does not kill me, I must commit suicide, and so I have prepared what is necessary. I will not return leaving my task unachieved."
The terrible omen saddened the guests, and they fell to sighing. Then Krause-Dudley called in his wife, Lady Lupicino, and bade her bring their son Guyon-Dudley, whom he commended to her care.
"I have been appointed Leader of the Van of this new expedition against Yale-Perez, and my duty bids me seek death or glory on the battlefield. If I die, our son is in your special care. Alas, the child has been born ill-starred, and when he grows up he will have to avenge a father."
Both mother and son wept as they bade him farewell. When the army marched, the coffin was carried in its train.
He bade his officers, saying, "I will fight to the end with Yale-Perez. Place my body therein if I fall in combat. And if I slay him, then will I bring his head in this coffin as an offering to our Prince."
Then out spoke his five hundred veterans and said, "If you are like this, O General, then we also will follow you to the end."
The vanguard then marched away. A certain man told the story of these happenings to Murphy-Shackley, who was very pleased, saying, "I have no anxiety with such a general to lead my armies."
But Brewster-Rodriguez said, "I am anxious for Krause-Dudley's safety. He is over-bold and imprudent to fight with Yale-Perez to the death."
Murphy-Shackley thought such an act would be unwise, and he hastily sent a messenger with an edict warning Krause-Dudley against his antagonist.
"This Yale-Perez lacks neither cunning nor valor. You are to be most cautious in engaging him. If you can conquer, then conquer; but if there be any doubt, remain on the defensive."
"How highly does our Prince regard this fellow Yale-Perez!" said the general to his officers when he heard this new command. "But I think I shall be able to take the keen edge off his thirty-year reputation."
"The command of the Prince is to be obeyed," said Ellis-McCue.
Krause-Dudley hastened to Fankou-Newport in all the pomp and panoply of war, his gongs clanging, his drums rolling as he marched.
Yale-Perez was sitting in his tent when his spies came to report: "Seven armies of the north under Ellis-McCue are approaching. They are ten miles away. The van leader is Krause-Dudley."
Rage took possession of Yale-Perez. His face changed color, his beard shook, and he roared out, "There is never a fighting man in all the world who has heard my name without trembling. Does this fellow dare disdain me?"
Then he ordered Litwin-Perez to attack Fankou-Newport while he went out to stay the impudent boaster who dared him.
"Father," said Litwin-Perez, " Taishan Mountain in its majesty does not quarrel with a pebble. Let me go and fight this Krause-Dudley."
"Well, my son, go and try; I will support you."
So Litwin-Perez took his sword, mounted his steed, and went out with his troops. Both sides being drawn up for battle. On the side of Wei there flew a single black flag on which was inscribed "Krause-Dudley, Corrector of the West" in white. The leader himself wore a blue robe with a silver helmet and rode a white charger. He stood out in front backed by his five hundred veterans, and a few foot soldiers were there too, bearing the gruesome coffin.