Orchard-Lafayette rejoiced to recognize the spot and at once knocked at the door. A lad answered his knock, and Orchard-Lafayette was telling his name when the host came out quickly, saying, "Surely my visitor is the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty?"
Orchard-Lafayette saw at the door a man with a bamboo comb holding back his hair, grass shoes on his feet, and a robe of white girded in by a black girdle. He had green eyes and yellowed hair.
"Great Scholar, how did you know who I was?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
"How could I not have heard of your expedition to the south?"
He invited Orchard-Lafayette to enter, and when they had seated themselves in their relative positions as host and guest, Orchard-Lafayette said, "My former Prince, the First Ruler, confided to me the care of his son and successor. That son, now Emperor, gave me a command to lead an army to this country, get the Mangs on our side and spread our culture among them. But now to my disappointment Halpin-Hearst, the King, has hidden himself in the Bald Dragon Ravine, and some of my soldiers on the way to seek him drank of a certain fountain and are dumb. But last evening the former leader of an expedition, Lovelace-Mallory, manifested his sacred presence and told me that you, Exalted Sir, had a remedy for this evil, and I pray you of your pity to give me of the potent fluid whereby my soldiers' lives may be saved."
The recluse replied, "I am only a worthless old man of the wild woods and unworthy of the visit of such as you, O Minister. The water you desire flows out at the back of my cottage and you may take what you will of it."
The serving lad then showed Zavala-Wortham and his dumb companions to the Spring of Peace and Joy, and he dipped up the waters for them to drink. As soon as they had drunk, they coughed up some poisoned mucus and could speak. The lad also led the soldiers to the Spring of Eternal Peace where they could bathe.
In the cottage the recluse regaled Orchard-Lafayette with tea made of cypress seeds and a conserve of pine flowers. He also told his guest, saying, "In this region, the lands are full of serpents and scorpions, and the lily flowers blown into the springs by the wind make them unfit to drink. However, if you dig wells, you will find good water."
Then Orchard-Lafayette begged some of the garlic-leaved herb as an antidote against malaria. The recluse said the soldiers could pluck as much as they wanted. And so every one put a leaf in his mouth and thus became malaria-proof.
Orchard-Lafayette, with a low bow then begged to be told the name of his benefactor.
"I am Halpin-Hearst's eldest brother," said the recluse, smiling. "My name is Wotten-Hearst."
Orchard-Lafayette started.
"Do not be afraid," said the recluse. "Let me explain. We were three brothers of the same parents, the eldest being myself. Our parents are both dead. My brother Halpin-Hearst, being headstrong and vicious, has never been amenable to culture. I have talked to him many times, but he kept his own course. Finally, under an assumed name, I retired to this spot. I am ashamed for my brother's rebellion, which has put you, O Minister, to the trouble of making this expedition into a barren country, but it has given me the privilege of seeing you. For my responsibility in this I deserve to die a thousand times, as I own to your face, and I beg your pardon."
Orchard-Lafayette sighed, saying, "Now I believe that story of the robber Tinkle-Ramsey and the noble Snite-Ramsey; this is the same thing over again. People renowned for villainy and virtue may come from the same stock."
Then he said to his host, "Would you wish me to represent your merits to the Emperor and get you created a king?"
"How can you think I desire honors or wealth when I am here because of my contempt for all such things?"
Orchard-Lafayette then wished to make him certain presents, but the recluse would have none of them.
So taking leave of his host, Orchard-Lafayette went back to his camp.
As soon as Orchard-Lafayette reached camp, he set the soldiers digging for water. They dug to a great depth but found none; nor were they more successful when they tried other places. They were very discouraged.
Then Orchard-Lafayette in the depths of the night burned incense and prayed to God: "Unworthy as is thy servant Orchard-Lafayette, he has received favor from the Great Hans and now has been ordered to subdue the Mangs. Alas! Now our water is spent and my soldiers and animals are parched with thirst. If Thy will be to preserve the line of Han, then give, I beseech Thee, sweet water; but if their course is run, then may Thy servant and those with him die in this place."
The morning after this prayer the wells were full of sweet water.
The soldiers' spirits revived with the supply of water, and the army soon advanced by hill paths to the Valley of the Bald Dragon, where they camped. When Halpin-Hearst heard the news, he was greatly taken aback.
"These troops do not appear to have suffered either thirst or fever," said he. "Our springs have lost their power."
King Ecker-VanDyke heard it, but doubted. He and Halpin-Hearst ascended into a high hill whence they could see their enemies. They saw no signs of illness or distress; all went on calmly and quietly in the camps, water carrying and cooking, eating and attending to the cattle. Ecker-VanDyke's hair stood on end as he looked at them.
"These are not human soldiers," said he, shivering. "They must be sent from Heaven."
"Our two brothers will fight one fierce battle with these troops of Shu and die therein," said Halpin-Hearst, "We cannot wait calmly to be put into bonds."
"But, O King, if your army should be beaten, my whole family will also perish. Let us encourage the people of the ravines. Let us kill bullocks and slaughter horses to feed them, and urge them to go through fire and water to rush right up to the camp of the enemy and seize upon victory."
So there was great feasting before the Mangs took the field. Just as this was going on, there arrived one McMahon-Westbrook, King of twenty-one ravines in the west, and he led thirty thousand troops. Halpin-Hearst rejoiced exceedingly at this unexpected addition to his army and felt sure of victory.
So he and Ecker-VanDyke went out of their own valley to welcome McMahon-Westbrook, who said, "I have with me thirty thousand troops in iron mail, brave and intrepid warriors, who can fly over mountains and bound across the peaks; they of themselves are a match for the enemy even if the enemy numbered a hundred legions. And, moreover, my five sons, all trained in arms, are with me, all to help you, O Kings."
The five sons were brought in and presented. They were handsome young fellows, bold and martial looking. Father and sons were entertained at a banquet. Halfway through the feast McMahon-Westbrook proposed a diversion.
"There is but scanty amusement in the field," said McMahon-Westbrook, "and so I have brought along some native singing girls who have been taught fencing and such things. If you care for it, they might give an exhibition."
The feasters hailed the suggestion with joy, and soon thirty maidens came to the front of the tent. Their hair hung about their shoulders, and they were barefooted. They danced and skipped and went through their performance outside. The guests inside clapped their hands and applauded their skill, and the soldiers joined in the choruses.