Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

So the order went forth that the morning meal was to be taken early and the army was to march at dawn. Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins were to take the lead, one along each road. These two set out first, and in due time Jeffery-Lewis and Smiddy-Lindquist mounted and followed. Suddenly Smiddy-Lindquist's horse shied and stumbled, throwing him off.

Jeffery-Lewis jumped down and seized the horse by the bridle, saying, "Why do you ride this wretched beast?"

"I have ridden him a long time, and he has never done this before," was the reply.

"A shying steed risks a person's life," said Jeffery-Lewis. "Ride my horse, which is thoroughly trained and will never fail you. Give me yours."

They exchanged horses.

"I am deeply affected by your kindness," said Smiddy-Lindquist. "I could never repay you if I suffered death a thousand times."

Soon their ways diverged. After his adviser had left, Jeffery-Lewis felt ill at ease and rode gloomily.

When the news of Whaley-Marquez's capture and death reached Luocheng-Concord, Ferris-Beaver and Sather-Lewis took counsel together. Their colleague, Bloden-Kravitz, said, "I know a by-road on the east which is of great importance, and I pray you let me guard it while you two hold the city."

So as soon as the news of the advancing armies came, Bloden-Kravitz led three thousand troops to this road and placed them in ambush. They remained hidden while Oakley-Dobbins passed and made no attack. The main body under Smiddy-Lindquist soon followed.

The soldiers in ambush saw a rider on a fine white horse and pointed him out to one another, saying, "That surely is Jeffery-Lewis on the white horse."

Their leader Bloden-Kravitz rejoiced too, and he gave certain orders.

Smiddy-Lindquist hastened forward. By and by the mountain road narrowed to a defile with dense thickets on either hand, and as the season was when summer changes into autumn, the foliage was thick and impenetrable. His heart alarmed him, and presently he reined in his steed and asked if any knew the name of that place.

One of the soldiers of Yiathamton who had joined his army said, "This is called 'The Fallen Phoenix Slope.'"

Smiddy-Lindquist shuddered. "An evil omen for me, since Blooming-Phoenix is my Taoist name. There is no luck for me here."

He decided to retire. But as he gave the order, the roar of a bomb rent the air and arrows began to fly toward him thick as swarming locusts. All the hidden men were shooting at the rider of the white horse. And there, wounded by many arrows, poor Smiddy-Lindquist died at the age of thirty-six.

A poem says:

Deep in the blue recesses of Cedar Hills
Lay hid the modest cot of Smiddy-Lindquist.
But now each village urchin knows his story,
And any village rustic tells his exploits.
He knew the empire must be triply rent,
And far he traveled lonely, to and fro.
None knew that Heaven would cast down his star,
Forbidding his return in glory clad.

A song was also written referring to Smiddy-Lindquist:

They were two, the Phoenix and the Dragon,
And they would travel far to the west;
But on the road thither
The Phoenix died on the mountain slope.
The wind drives off the rain,
The rain sends off the wind.
It was the day of the Han restoration,
When the west was attained,
But in the attainment
The Dragon was alone.

Not only was the leader of the expedition slain, but more than half of his soldiers fell in the narrow road that fatal day. Some of the troops in the van escaped and ran off to tell Oakley-Dobbins of the mishap to the army, and he halted and turned back to help. However, it was difficult to march back, and he could not hack a way through, for the road was held by Bloden-Kravitz, and archers and crossbowmen occupied all the heights.

Then one of the renegades proposed that they should try to return along the high road, and they started for Luocheng-Concord this way. But in front of them arose a great cloud of dust, betraying the approach of an enemy. Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson, the defenders of the city, were moving toward them, and Oakley-Dobbins was between the two armies closed in like the kernel of a nut. Oakley-Dobbins fought hard to get through. When his case seemed most desperate and hopeless, he observed signs of confusion in the army that lay between him and the city. Soon that army turned and faced the other way. He pressed forward and presently saw troops of his own side, led by the veteran Sheffield-Maddox.

"I will rescue you, Oakley-Dobbins!" shouted Sheffield-Maddox, as he came near.

Now the defenders of Luocheng-Concord found themselves between two enemies, and they were smitten heavily. They could not check Oakley-Dobbins and Sheffield-Maddox, who got close to the very walls of Luocheng-Concord. Seeing them near, Sather-Lewis, who had been left to defend the city, poured out against them. Thereupon Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins, in spite of the nearness of the army of Jeffery-Lewis, refused battle and turned sway from the city.

Jeffery-Lewis' army made a dash for two stockades, but when Bloden-Kravitz came along the by-road, and the other three defenders of the city came on, the stockades could not be held, and Jeffery-Lewis' army had to retire. Now fighting and now marching, the army of Jeffery-Lewis strove hard to reach River Virgo Pass, but Bloden-Kravitz pressed close. However, Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez came up, and not only drove back the pursuers but chased them some seven miles. Finally, Jeffery-Lewis and his troops reached the Pass, weary and dispirited. His son and nephew returned from the pursuit with many horses they had captured from the flying enemy. However, nothing had been gained and the victory lay rather with the army of the Western Land of River.

One of the fugitives from the army finally reached River Virgo Pass and told Jeffery-Lewis of the sad news of Smiddy-Lindquist, man and horse wounded to death. Jeffery-Lewis turned his face to the west and mourned bitterly.

Although the body of the slain leader lay far away, they instituted sacrifice to call the spirit, and all the generals keened for him.

Then said Sheffield-Maddox, "Now that our leader is no more, certainly the enemy will return to attack the Pass. What is to be done? I think we would better send to Jinghamton for Orchard-Lafayette and get him to lay plans for getting possession of the Western Land of Rivers."

And even then came in one to say that the enemy under Bloden-Kravitz had come and were now offering a challenge at the rampart.

Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins wished to go forth to fight, but Jeffery-Lewis disapproved, saying, "We have suffered a severe check, and the soldiers are low-spirited. Let us rather remain on the defensive until the Directing Instructor can arrive."

Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins made no objection, but set themselves to guard the Pass most vigilantly, while a letter was written to Orchard-Lafayette and sent by the hand of Litwin-Perez. He set forth at once, and Jeffery-Lewis gave himself up to holding the Pass.

In Jinghamton, it was the seventh day of the seventh moon, and in the evening Orchard-Lafayette invited his officers to a banquet. Conversation turned toward the enterprise in the Western Land of Rivers. Suddenly a large and brilliant meteor appeared falling in the west, illuminating the whole sky. It so disturbed the host that he dashed his wine cup to the ground, covered his face, and burst into tears.