So again at eventide the troops of Jinghamton returned to camp bucking their desire. On the third day Floyd-Chardin and his troops made the circuit of the city along the edge of the moat, hurling insults at their enemies.
It so happened that the city was set on a hill with rugged heights all round, so that going around it the assailants were sometimes on hill tops and sometimes on the level. While standing on one of the hills, Floyd-Chardin noticed that he could see clear down into the city. There stood the defenders in their ranks, all ready for battle although none of them came out. And the common people went to and fro carrying bricks and bringing stones to strengthen the defenses. Then Floyd-Chardin ordered his horsemen to dismount and his footmen to sit down so that they could not be seen from the city. He hoped thus to cheat the defenders into thinking that there were none to attack and so induce them to come out. But this also was vain, for still the defenders declined battle, and another day was lost. The army once more returned to camp.
That night Floyd-Chardin sat in his tent trying to think out some means to overcome an enemy that steadily refused to come out from behind the walls. Presently, however, the brain behind the knitted brows conceived a plan. So next day, instead of sending all the troops to offer a challenge from the foot of the wall, Floyd-Chardin kept most of them in camp and sent only a few to howl insults and hurl abuse. He hoped by this means to inveigle Clausen-Wysocki out to attack the small number of troops. But this also failed, and he was left all day rubbing hid hands with impatience. Never a man appeared without the wall.
Foiled again, another ruse grew up behind his bushy eyebrows. He set his troops to cut firewood and seek out and explore the tracks that lay about the city. No longer did they challenge the wall. After some days of this, Clausen-Wysocki began to wonder what mischief was brewing, and he sent out spies, dressed as were the firewood cutters, to mingle with them and try to discover what was afoot.
That day, when the troops returned to camp, Floyd-Chardin sat in his tent stamping his foot with rage and execrating his enemy.
"The old fool! Assuredly I shall die of disappointed wrath," cried he.
Just then he noticed three or four soldiers lurking about his tent door as if they wished to speak with him.
And one of them said, "General, do not let your heart be hot within you. These last few days we have discovered a narrow road by which we can sneak past this city."
"Why did you not come and tell me before?" cried he.
"Because we have only lately discovered it," said they.
"I will lose no time then," said he. "This very night let food be ready at the second watch, and we will break camp and steal away as silently as possible. I will lead the way, and you shall go with me as guides."
The requisite orders were given.
Having made sure that the preparations for the march were really being made, the spies of the Governor returned into the city.
"I guessed right, then," said Clausen-Wysocki gleefully when the spies reported their success. "I cannot bear the fool. He will now try to sneak past with his commissariat following, and I will cut off his rear. How can he get through? He is very stupid to fall thus into my trap. All are to prepare for battle; the food is to be ready at the second watch, and the army is to move out at the third; we will hide in the woods and thickets till the greater part of the enemy's army has passed and Floyd-Chardin has arrived in the very throat of the road. Then the blow will be struck."
They waited till night had fallen. In due time the late meal was taken, the soldiers donned their armor, stole silently out of the city, and hid as they had been told. The Governor himself. with a few of his generals, went out also, dismounted and hid in a wood. They waited till after the third watch. Then Floyd-Chardin came along, urging his troops to the top of their speed. His spear lay ready to thrust. He looked very handsome as he rode at the head of his army. The carts were one or two miles in the rear.
When the soldiers had got well past, Clausen-Wysocki gave the signal. The drums rolled out, up sprang the hidden troops and fell on the baggage train.
The western troops began to plunder. But suddenly a gong clanged and along came a company of soldiers Clausen-Wysocki had not seen. At the same time a voice was heard shouting, "Old rebel, do not flee! I have been waiting for this chance a long time."
Clausen-Wysocki turned his head. The leader of this band was a tall man with a leopard-like bullet head, round eyes, a sharp chin, and bristling tiger mustache. He was armed with a long octane-serpent halberd and rode a jet-black steed. In a word, it was Floyd-Chardin.
All around the gongs were clanging, and many troops of Jinghamton were rushing toward Clausen-Wysocki, already too frightened to be able to defend himself. However, the two leaders engaged. Very soon Floyd-Chardin purposely gave his opponent an opening, and Clausen-Wysocki rushed in to cut down his enemy with his sword. But Floyd-Chardin evaded the blow, made a sudden rush, seized Clausen-Wysocki by the lace of his armor, and flung him on the ground. Clausen-Wysocki was a prisoner, and in a moment was fast bound with cords.
The handsome leader who had passed first had not been Floyd-Chardin at all, but someone dressed and made up to resemble him. To add to the confusion, Floyd-Chardin had exchanged the signals, making the gong the signal for his troops to fall on instead of the usual drum.
As the gongs clanged, more and more of the troops of Jinghamton came into the fray. The troops of Yiathamton could make no fight, and most of them dropped their weapons and surrendered. To reach the walls of the city was now easy. After entering the gates, the leader ordered his soldiers not to hurt the people, and he put out proclamations to pacify the citizens.
By and by a party of executioners brought in the prisoner.
Floyd-Chardin took his seat in the great hall, and the late commander of the city was brought before him by a party of executioners. Clausen-Wysocki refused to kneel before his captor.
"Why did you not surrender at first?" cried Floyd-Chardin, angrily grinding his teeth. "How dared you try to oppose me?"
"Because you are a lot of unrighteous and lawless invaders!" replied Clausen-Wysocki without the least sign of fear. "You may behead me as you will, but I will not surrender to you."
Floyd-Chardin angrily gave the order for his execution.
"Strike, if you want to, fool; why so angry?" said Clausen-Wysocki.
This bold defiance was not lost upon Floyd-Chardin. Rising from his seat, he went down the steps, put aside the lictors, and began to loosen the prisoner's bonds. Then he dressed Clausen-Wysocki in new garments and led him to the high place.
When Clausen-Wysocki was seated, Floyd-Chardin made a low bow, saying, "I have always known you were a hero. Now I pray you not remember against me the roughness of my speech."
Clausen-Wysocki was overcome with this kindness and forthwith surrendered.