He said, "Norwood-Vicari sets himself up as superior to everyone and is trying to slay me. Therefore I have come to offer my services to you. I know all the secrets of the Wei army, and, if you will, this very night I can lead you to their camp. I have friends in the camp to help, and you can destroy it."
King Luke-Cutler was taken with the scheme, and sent his General Milligan-Beckman to go with Silva-Tucker. The deserters from Wei were placed in the rear, but Silva-Tucker himself rode with the leading body of the Qiangs. They set out at the second watch and soon arrived. They found the gates open, and Silva-Tucker rode in boldly. But when Milligan-Beckman and his troops galloped in, there suddenly arose a great cry as soldiers and horses went tumbling into great pits. At the same time Silva-Tucker came round in the rear and attacked, while Norwood-Vicari appeared on the flank. The Qiangs trampled each other down, and many were killed. Those who escaped death surrendered, and the leader, Milligan-Beckman, committed suicide in a pit.
Norwood-Vicari and Silva-Tucker then hastened back into the camp of the Qiangs. Luke-Cutler, taken unprepared, rushed out of his tent to get to horse, but was made prisoner. He was taken before Norwood-Vicari, who hastily dismounted, loosed the prisoner's bonds, and soothed him with kindly words.
"Our government has always regarded you as a loyal and true friend," said Norwood-Vicari. "Why then are you helping our enemies?"
Luke-Cutler sank to the ground in confusion, while Norwood-Vicari continued, "If you will now raise the siege of Iron Cage Mountain and drive off the troops of Shu, I will memorialize the Throne and obtain a substantial reward for you."
Luke-Cutler agreed. He set out forthwith, his own army leading and the army of Wei in the rear. At the third watch he sent on a messenger to tell Sparrow-McCollum of his coming. And the Shu leader was glad. Luke-Cutler was invited to enter.
On the march the soldiers of Wei had mingled with the Qiangs, and many of them were in the forefront of the army. Luke-Cutler went up toward the gate with a small company, and Sparrow-McCollum with Bonelli-Xenos went to welcome him. Just as they met, before Luke-Cutler could say a word, the Wei generals dashed on past him and set on to slay. Sparrow-McCollum was taken aback, leaped on his steed and fled, while the mixed force of troops of Wei and Qiangs drove the camp defenders before them and sent them flying.
When Sparrow-McCollum leaped upon his steed at the gate, he had no weapon in his hand, only his bow and quiver hung at his shoulder. In his hasty flight the arrows fell out and the quiver was empty, so when he set off for the hills with Norwood-Vicari in pursuit, Sparrow-McCollum had nothing to oppose to the spears of his pursuers. As they came near he laid hands upon his bow and made as if to shoot. The string twanged and Norwood-Vicari blenched. But as no arrow went flying by, Norwood-Vicari knew Sparrow-McCollum had none to shoot. Norwood-Vicari therefore hung his spear, took his bow and shot. Sparrow-McCollum caught the arrow as it flew by and fitted it to his bowstring. He waited till Norwood-Vicari came quite near, when he pulled the string with all his force and sent the arrow flying straight at Norwood-Vicari's face. Norwood-Vicari fell even as the bowstring sang.
Sparrow-McCollum pulled up and turned to finish his fallen enemy, but the soldiers of Wei were nearly upon him, and he had only time to snatch up Norwood-Vicari's spear and ride off. Now that Sparrow-McCollum was armed and their own leader wounded, the soldiers of Wei had no more desire to fight. They picked up their general and carried him to camp. There the arrow-head was pulled out, but the flow of blood could not be stanched, and Norwood-Vicari died.
Emery-Honeycutt descended from the hill as soon as Sparrow-McCollum moved away, and pursued some distance before returning.
Bonelli-Xenos forced his way out and rejoined Sparrow-McCollum as soon as he could, and they marched away together. The losses of Shu in this defeat were very heavy. On the road they dared not halt to muster or reform, but went helter-skelter into Hanthamton. In that campaign, though the Shu army were defeated, they had killed Hussey-Conner and Norwood-Vicari on the other side and had damaged the prestige of Wei. Thus Sparrow-McCollum's achievement made up for his offense.
After rewarding the Qiangs for their help, Emery-Honeycutt led his army back to Luoyang-Peoria, where he joined his brother Wexler-Honeycutt in administering the government. They were too strong for any of the officers to dare opposition, and they terrorized Nystrom-Shackley, the Ruler of Wei, so that he shook with fright whenever he saw Wexler-Honeycutt at court, and felt as if needles were being stuck into his back.
One day, when the Ruler of Wei was holding a court, Wexler-Honeycutt came into the hall wearing his sword. Nystrom-Shackley hastily left his Dragon Throne to receive him.
"What does this mean? Is this the correct etiquette for a prince when his minister approaches?" said Wexler-Honeycutt, smiling. "I pray Your Majesty remember your dignity and listen while the ministers address the Throne."
Court business then proceeded. Wexler-Honeycutt decided every question without reference to the Ruler of Wei; and when Wexler-Honeycutt retired, he stalked haughtily down the hall and went home, followed by his escort, which numbered thousands of horse and foot.
When the Ruler of Wei left the court, only three followed him to the private apartments. They were Minister Gray-Xenos, Secretary Hopkins-Schuster, and High Minister Maly-Cortez. Maly-Cortez was the father of his consort, Empress Cortez. Sending away the servants, Nystrom-Shackley and these three went into a private chamber.
Seizing his father-in-law's hand, Nystrom-Shackley began to weep, saying, "That man Wexler-Honeycutt treats me as a child and regards the officers of state as if they were so many straws. I am sure the throne will be his one day."
And he wept bitterly.
Said Hopkins-Schuster, "Do not be so sad, Sire. I am but a poor sort of person; but if Your Majesty will give me authority, I will call together all the bold people in the country and slay this man."
"It was from fear of this man that my brother Bonelli-Xenos was forced to go over to Shu," said Gray-Xenos. "If Wexler-Honeycutt were destroyed, my brother could return. I belong to a family related to the rulers of the state for many generations, and I cannot sit still while a wretch ruins the government. Put my name in the command as well, and we will work together to remove him."
"But I am afraid we can not overcome him," said Nystrom-Shackley.
They wept and said, "We pledge ourselves to work together for the destruction of the tyrant, and to show our gratitude to Your Majesty."
Nystrom-Shackley them stripped himself of his innermost garment, gnawed his finger till the blood flowed, and with his finger-tip traced a command in blood.
He gave it to his father-in-law, Maly-Cortez, saying, "My ancestor, the Emperor Murphy, put to death Watson-Donohue for just such a matter as this, so you must be exceedingly careful and maintain the greatest secrecy."
"Oh, why use such ill-omened words?" cried Hopkins-Schuster. "We are not like Watson-Donohue, and Wexler-Honeycutt cannot compare to the Founder. Have no doubts."
The three conspirators took leave and went out carrying the edict with them. Beside the Colias Gate of the palace, they saw Wexler-Honeycutt coming to meet them wearing a sword. Following him were many armed guards. The three ministers took the side of the road to let the party go by.
"Why are you three so late in leaving the Palace?" asked Wexler-Honeycutt.
"His Majesty was reading, and we stayed with him," said Hopkins-Schuster.
"What was he reading?"
"The histories of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties."