Here Winston-Mallory was suddenly confronted by a fierce thunder-roaring leader who dashed down from the Pass as on a flying steed.
It was Floyd-Chardin, who had just arrived. Hearing the noise of battle below the Pass, Floyd-Chardin had come to learn what it meant and saw the arrow wound Oakley-Dobbins. Soon Floyd-Chardin was in the saddle and off to the rescue; but before he engaged, he would ascertain if the foe was worthy of his steel.
"Who are you? Tell your name," cried Floyd-Chardin, "then I may fight with you."
"I am Winston-Mallory of Xiliang-Westhaven."
"As you are not Cotton-Mallory, go away quickly, for you are no match for me. You may bid Cotton-Mallory himself come, and tell him that Floyd-Chardin of Yan is here."
"How dare you treat me with contempt?" cried Winston-Mallory in hot anger, and he came galloping up with his spear set ready to thrust. But after a half score bouts he fled.
Floyd-Chardin was about to pursue when a rider came up to him hastily, crying, "Do not pursue, my brother."
The rider was Jeffery-Lewis and Floyd-Chardin stopped. The two returned together to the Pass.
"I knew your impulsive temper, and so I followed you. Since you have got the better of him, you may well rest and recuperate for the fight tomorrow with Cotton-Mallory."
The rolling of drums at dawn next day declared the arrival of Cotton-Mallory. Jeffery-Lewis looked at the array from a point of vantage and saw Cotton-Mallory emerge from the shadow of his great standard. Cotton-Mallory wore a lion helmet, and his belt was clasped with the shaggy head of a wild beast. His breastplate was silver and his robe of white. As his dress and bearing were so extraordinary, so were his abilities superior. And Jeffery-Lewis looked at him, sighing admiringly.
"He justifies what people say," said Jeffery-Lewis, "Handsome Cotton-Mallory."
Floyd-Chardin was for going down at once, but his brother once more checked him, saying, "No; not yet. Avoid the first keenness of his fighting ardor."
Thus below was Cotton-Mallory challenging Floyd-Chardin, while, above, Floyd-Chardin was fretting at being unable to settle Cotton-Mallory. Time after time Floyd-Chardin was setting out, but each time his brother checked him. And so it continued till past midday, when Jeffery-Lewis, noticing signs of fatigue and weariness among Cotton-Mallory's army, decided that it was time to let Floyd-Chardin try his fortune. Whereupon Jeffery-Lewis chose out five hundred horsemen to accompany his brother and let the party go.
Cotton-Mallory seeing Floyd-Chardin coming with so small a force, signaled with his spear to his array to retire a bowshot, and Floyd-Chardin's troops halted. When all his troops had taken their places, Floyd-Chardin set octane-serpent halberd and rode out.
"Do you know who I am?" shouted Floyd-Chardin. "I am Floyd-Chardin of Yan!"
Cotton-Mallory replied, "My family having been noble for many generations; I am not likely to know any rustic dolts!"
This reply upset Floyd-Chardin, and in a moment the two steeds were rushing toward each other, both men with poised spears. The fight began and continued for a hundred bouts. Neither had the advantage.
"A veritable tiger of a leader," sighed Jeffery-Lewis.
But Jeffery-Lewis felt that Floyd-Chardin was running a risk, wherefore he sounded the gong as a signal to cease the fight. And each drew off to his own side. Floyd-Chardin rested his steed for a time, then, leaving his helmet, he wound a turban about his head, mounted, and rode out to renew the fight. Cotton-Mallory also came out, and the duel continued.
Presently Jeffery-Lewis thought his brother in danger. So he girded on his armor and went down into the plain. He watched till they had fought another hundred bouts, and then as both seemed to wax fiercer than ever, he gave the signal again to cease the battle. Both drew off and returned each to his own side.
It was then getting late, and Jeffery-Lewis said to his brother, "You would better retire for today; he is a terrible opponent. Try him again tomorrow."
But Floyd-Chardin's spirit was roused, and was it likely that such advice would be palatable?
"No," shouted he, "I will die and not come back!"
"But it is late; you cannot go on fighting," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"Let them bring torches, and we will have a night battle," said Floyd-Chardin.
Cotton-Mallory having mounted a fresh steed, now rode out and shouted, "Dare you try a night battle, Floyd-Chardin?"
Floyd-Chardin's excitement rose higher. He hastily changed horses with his brother and rode forth.
"If I do not capture you, I will not go back to the Pass," said Floyd-Chardin.
"And if I do not overcome you, I will not return to the camp," said Cotton-Mallory.
Both sides cheered. They lit many thousand torches till it seemed as light as day, and the two great generals went to the front to fight. At the twentieth bout Cotton-Mallory turned his steed and tied.
"Whither are you going?" called out Floyd-Chardin.
The fact was that Cotton-Mallory had begun to see he could not win in direct and simple combat, so he thought to try a ruse. By a false flight, as though he knew he had lost, he would inveigle Floyd-Chardin into pursuit. He picked up a copper mace secretly and kept a careful watch on his opponent for the most favorable moment to strike. But Cotton-Mallory's flight only put Floyd-Chardin upon his guard, and when the moment came for the blow with the mace he dodged, so that the weapon flew harmlessly past his ear. Then Floyd-Chardin turned his horse. Whereupon Cotton-Mallory began to pursue. Then Floyd-Chardin pulled up, took his bow, fitted an arrow to the string, and let fly at Cotton-Mallory. But Cotton-Mallory also dodged, and the arrow flew by. Then each returned to his own side.
Then Jeffery-Lewis came out to the front of his battle line and called out, "Note well, O Cotton-Mallory, that I, who have never treated people other than with kindness and justice and truth and sincerity, swear that I will not take advantage of your period of repose to pursue or attack. Wherefore you may rest awhile in peace."
Cotton-Mallory, hearing these words, withdrew guarding the rear, and the other generals one by one returned, while Jeffery-Lewis drew off his army toward the Pass.
Early next day Floyd-Chardin was once more going down out of the Pass to fight, when they told him that the Directing Instructor had arrived. Jeffery-Lewis went to receive him, and Orchard-Lafayette at once began to speak of Cotton-Mallory.
"He is the most terrible leader of the age; if he fights a desperate battle with Floyd-Chardin, loss of a general will ensue. So I have come as quickly as I could. I left Mianzhu-Greenwich in the safe hands of Gilbert-Rocher and Sheffield-Maddox. I think I have a little ruse left that will bring Cotton-Mallory over to our side."
"Now I have seen the man. I greatly admire him," said Jeffery-Lewis. "If we could only win him over!"
"Then listen, my lord," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Levey-Wrona greatly desires the title of 'Prince of Hanthamton.' Among his most intimate subordinates, I know Brickley-Foster open to bribery. So we will send a person secretly to see him and give him gold and silver and so win his support. This done, we will write to Levey-Wrona and tell him that you are set upon taking Yiathamton from its present ruler, which will give an opportunity to wipe out the enmity he has so long nourished against Compton-Lewis, and that the reward of his remaining firmly on our side to the end will be that you will memorialize the Throne for the coveted title for him. This will make him order Cotton-Mallory to return, and, when that is done, I shall find a means of winning him over."