When Halpin-Hearst came to his own camp, he found Gilbert-Rocher in possession and all in order. Gilbert-Rocher was seated beneath the large banner, with his sword drawn, and as the King passed, he also said, "Do not presume on the kindness of the Prime Minister because you have been generously treated."
Halpin-Hearst grunted and passed on. Just as he was going over the frontier hills, he saw Oakley-Dobbins and a company drawn up on the slopes. Oakley-Dobbins shouted, "See to it; we have got into the inmost recesses of your country and have taken all your defensive positions. Yet you are fool enough to hold out. Next time you are caught, you will be quite destroyed. There will be no more pardons."
Halpin-Hearst and his company ran away with their arms over their heads. Each one returned to his own ravine.
After the crossing of the river, the soldiers were feasted. Then Orchard-Lafayette addressed his officers: "I let Halpin-Hearst see our camp the second time he was our prisoner, because I wanted to tempt him into raiding it. He is something of a soldier, and I dangled our supplies and resources before his eyes, knowing he would try to burn them and that he would send his brother to pretend to submit that thereby he could get into our camp and have a chance to betray us. I have captured and released him three times, trying to win him over. I do not wish to do him any harm. I now explain my policy that you may understand I am not wasting your efforts and you are still to work your best for the government."
They all bowed, and one said, "O Minister, you are indeed perfect in every one of the three gifts: wisdom, benevolence, and valor. Not even Kaplan-Valentine or Harper-Stowell can equal you!"
Said Orchard-Lafayette, "How can I expect to equal our men of old? But my trust is in your strength, and together we shall succeed."
This speech of their leader's pleased them all mightily.
In the meantime Halpin-Hearst, puffed up with pride at getting off three times, hastened home to his own ravine, whence he sent trusted friends with gifts to the Eight Nations and the Ninety-three Sees and all the Mang quarters and clans to borrow shields and swords and warriors and braves. He got together one hundred thousand soldiers. They all assembled on an appointed day, massing like clouds and sweeping in like mists gathering on the mountains, each and all obeying the commands of the King Halpin-Hearst.
And the scouts knew it all, and they told Orchard-Lafayette, who said, "This is what I was waiting for, that the Mangs should have an opportunity of knowing our might."
Thereupon he seated himself in a small carriage and went out to watch.
The story of the campaign will be continued in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 89
Orchard-Lafayette's small carriage was escorted by only a few horsemen. Hearing that a sluggish river, the Western River, lay in the way, and having no boat, Orchard-Lafayette bade the escort cut down some trees and make a raft. They did so, but the raft sank. So Orchard-Lafayette turned to Newcomb-Rosenbach, who said, "There is close by a mountain covered with bamboos. I have heard of these bamboos, and some are several spans in girth. We can make a bridge of them for the army to cross."
So thirty thousand soldiers were sent to the mountains, where they cut down many thousands of bamboos, and floated them down river. Then at the narrowest point they made a bridge a hundred spans or so in length. Next the main army was brought down to the river and camped in line along the bank. The camp was protected by a moat, crossed by a floating bridge, and a mud rampart. On the south bank they constructed three large stockades so as to prepare for the coming of the Mang soldiers.
They had not long to wait. Halpin-Hearst was hot with rage and came quickly. As soon as he got near the river, he led out ten thousand fierce warriors, armed with big swords and shield, and challenged the first stockade.
Orchard-Lafayette went forth in simple state. He wore a silk cap and a crane-white robe and held in his hand a feather fan. He sat in a four-horse carriage, and his generals rode right and left.
The King of the Mang was clad in mail of rhinoceros hide and wore a bright red casque. In his left hand he bore a shield, and his right gripped a sword. He rode a red ox. As soon as he saw his enemies, he opened his mouth and poured forth abuse and insults, while his warriors darted to and fro brandishing their weapons.
Orchard-Lafayette at once ordered the army to retire within the stockades and bar the gates. The Mangs came close up to the stockade and pranced about naked, shouting in derision.
Within the stockade the Shu generals grew very angry, and they went in a body to their leader to beg that he would withdraw the order to remain on the defensive. But Orchard-Lafayette would not listen.
Presently he said, "These men are not submissive to the Empire Government and are naturally fierce and turbulent. In that mood we are no match for them. But all we have to do is to remain on guard for a few days till their ferocity has spent itself. Then I have a plan that will overcome them."
Days passed, and the army of Shu made no move; they only maintained the defensive. Orchard-Lafayette watched the besiegers from an eminence, and saw the first vigor of their advance give way to careless idleness.
Then Orchard-Lafayette called together his generals and asked, "Dare you give battle now?"
They all rejoiced at the suggestion; so he called them two by two or one by one and gave them secret orders. Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins went in first. Zavala-Wortham and Glenn-Jenner followed.
To Winston-Mallory he said, "I am going to abandon these stockades and retire north of the river. As soon as we have crossed, you are to cut loose the floating bridge and move it down the stream so that Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins may cross."
To Coady-Reiner he said, "You are to remain by the camp and light it up at night--as if it is still occupied. When Halpin-Hearst pursues, then you are to cut off his retreat."
Last of all, Snow-Perez was to escort Orchard-Lafayette's carriage.
The soldiers marched out of the camp at evening, and the lamps were hung up as usual. The Mangs saw this from a distance and dared not attack. But the next morning at dawn Halpin-Hearst led his troops to the stockades and found all was quiet. He went close up and saw they were all empty and bare; not a soldier was there. Grain and fodder lay about among empty carts; all was in confusion, suggesting hasty departure.
"They have abandoned the camp," said Pitney-Hearst. "But this is only a ruse."
Said Halpin-Hearst, "I think that Orchard-Lafayette has important news from the capital that has made him leave without his baggage train like this. Either Wu has invaded or Wei has attacked. They left these lamps burning to make us think the camps were occupied, but they ran away leaving everything behind. If we pursue we cannot go wrong."