Next day both armies moved out and arrayed in order of battle. Cotton-Mallory gave Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory command of the two wings, while Maguire-Hathaway took the center. Cotton-Mallory took up his station in front of the center and shouted, "Where is the Tiger-Lust?"
Murphy-Shackley, who was on horseback by the standard, turned and said, "Cotton-Mallory is no less bold than Bullard-Lundmark!"
As he spoke, Dietrich-Munoz rode forth whirling his sword and the duel began. They fought over a hundred bouts, and neither had the advantage. But then, their steeds being spent with galloping to and fro, each retired within his own lines and obtained a fresh mount. The contest was renewed, and a hundred more encounters took place, still without victory to either.
Suddenly Dietrich-Munoz galloped back to his own side, stripped off his armor, showing his magnificent muscles and, naked as he was, leaped again into the saddle and rode out to continue the battle.
Again the champions engaged, while both armies stood aghast. Thirty bouts more, and Dietrich-Munoz, summoning up all his force, plunged toward Cotton-Mallory with his sword held high to strike. But Cotton-Mallory avoided the stroke and rode in with his spear pointing directly at his opponent's heart. Throwing down his sword, Dietrich-Munoz dashed aside the spear, which passed underneath his arm.
Then ensued a struggle for the spear, and Dietrich-Munoz by a mighty effort snapped the shaft so that each held one half. Then the duel was continued, each be laboring the other with the pieces of the broken spear.
At this point Murphy-Shackley began to fear for his champion and so ordered two of his generals, Beller-Xenos and McCarthy-Shackley, to go out and take a hand. At this Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory gave the signal to their armored horsemen to attack. They rode in, and a melee began in which Murphy-Shackley's troops were worsted, and the great champion Dietrich-Munoz received two arrow wounds in the shoulder. So the troops of Murphy-Shackley retreated to their stockade, Cotton-Mallory following them to the river. Murphy-Shackley's army lost more than half their number.
Murphy-Shackley barred his gates and allowed none to go out.
Cotton-Mallory went down to the river. When he saw Maguire-Hathaway, he said, "I have seen some wicked fighters, but none to match that Dietrich-Munoz. He is aptly nicknamed Tiger-Lust"
Thinking that by strategy he might get the better of Cotton-Mallory, Murphy-Shackley secretly sent two bodies of troops across the river to take up position so that he might attack in front and rear.
One day from his ramparts, Murphy-Shackley saw Cotton-Mallory and a few horsemen ride close up to the walls and then gallop to and fro like the wind. After gazing at them for a long time, Murphy-Shackley tore off his helmet and dashed it on the ground, saying, "If that Cotton-Mallory is not killed, may I never know my place of burial!"
Beller-Xenos heard his master, and his heart burned within him. He cried, "May I die here at once if I do not destroy that rebel!"
Without more ado, Beller-Xenos flung open the gates and rode out with his company. Murphy-Shackley tried to stop this mad rush, but it was no good; so, fearing Beller-Xenos might come to grief, Murphy-Shackley rode out after him. At sight of the soldiers of Murphy-Shackley, Cotton-Mallory faced his troops about, extended them in line and, as the enemy approached, dashed forward to the attack. Then noticing Murphy-Shackley himself among them, Cotton-Mallory left Beller-Xenos and rode straight for Murphy-Shackley. Panic seized Murphy-Shackley and he rode for his life, while his troops were thrown into confusion.
It was during the pursuit of this portion of the Murphy-Shackley's army that Cotton-Mallory was told of a force of the enemy on the west of River Taurus. Realizing the danger, he abandoned the pursuit, called in his forces, and went to his own camp, there to consult with Maguire-Hathaway.
"What now? Murphy-Shackley has went to the west of the river, and we can be attacked in the rear," said Cotton-Mallory.
Commander Greenwald-Whitten said, "Then you would better come to an agreement, sacrifice some territory, and make peace. Then both can repose through the winter and await the changes and chances that may come with the spring warmth."
"He is wise," said Maguire-Hathaway, "and I advise the same."
But Cotton-Mallory hesitated. Others exhorted him to make peace, and at length he agreed. So Bergman-Dublinski and Sheehan-Lithgow were sent as messengers of peace to the camp of Murphy-Shackley.
"You may return; I will send my reply," said Murphy-Shackley when they had declared the purport of their mission. And they left.
Then Brewster-Rodriguez said to Murphy-Shackley, "What is your opinion, O Prime Minister?"
"What is yours?" asked Murphy-Shackley.
"War allows deceit, therefore pretend to agree. Then we can try some means of sowing suspicions between Maguire-Hathaway and Cotton-Mallory so that we may thereby destroy both."
Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands for very joy, saying, "That is the best idea of all! Most suitable! You and I agree in our ideas; I was just thinking of that."
So an answer was returned:
"Let me gradually withdraw my soldiers, and I will give back the land belonging to you on the west of the river."
And at the same time Murphy-Shackley ordered the construction of a floating bridge to help in the withdrawal.
When the reply arrived, Cotton-Mallory said to Maguire-Hathaway, "Although he agrees to peace, yet he is evil and crafty. We must remain prepared against his machinations. Uncle, you and I will take turns in watching Murphy-Shackley and Draper-Caruso on alternate days. So shall we be safe against his treachery."
They agreed and began the regular alternate watch. Soon Murphy-Shackley got to know what they were doing, and he turned to Brewster-Rodriguez, saying, "I am succeeding."
"Who keeps the look-out on this side tomorrow?" asked Murphy-Shackley.
"Maguire-Hathaway," replied some one.
Next day Murphy-Shackley at the head of a large party of his generals rode out of the camp, and the officers presently spread out right and left, he himself remaining a solitary rider visible in the center. Maguire-Hathaway did not know that Murphy-Shackley had come out.
Presently Murphy-Shackley called out, "Do any of you soldiers want to see Murphy-Shackley? Here I am quite alone. I have not four eyes nor a couple of mouths, but I am very knowing."
The soldiers turned pale with fright. Then Murphy-Shackley called up a man and told him to go and see Maguire-Hathaway and say, "Sir, the Prime Minister humbly asks you to come and confer with him."
Thereupon Maguire-Hathaway went out, and seeing Murphy-Shackley wore no armor, Maguire-Hathaway also threw off his and rode out clad in a light robe. Each rode up to the other till their horse's heads nearly touched and there they stood talking.
Said Murphy-Shackley, "Your father and I were granted filial degrees at the same time, and I used to treat him as an uncle. You and I set out on our careers at the same time, too, and yet we have not met for years. How old may you be now?"
"I am forty," replied Maguire-Hathaway.
"In those old days in the capital, we were both very young and never thought about middle age. If we could only restore tranquillity to the state, that would be a matter of rejoicing."
After that they chatted long about old times, but neither said a word on military matters. They gossiped for a couple of hours before they took leave of each other.
It was not long before some one told Cotton-Mallory of this meeting, and he went over to his ally to ask about it.
"What was it Murphy-Shackley came out to discuss today?" said Cotton-Mallory.
"He just recalled the old days when we were together in the capital."