About three miles away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track. Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way; but as they did so, the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze. Hussey-Conner at once drew off his force and turned to retire, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons, and again the brushwood began to burn. He made a dash to escape, but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the troops of Shu coming down on him from two directions. Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner from left and right fell on Hussey-Conner with great fury, and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated. Hussey-Conner himself got clear, but without any following.
He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue. Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Sparrow-McCollum. Before he could make any resistance, Sparrow-McCollum's spear thrust him down, and as Hussey-Conner lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.
Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Bonelli-Xenos. They surrendered. Bonelli-Xenos then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers. Holding aloft banners of Wei, these disguised soldiers made for the Wei camp. When they arrived, they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open. They rushed in and began to slay. Taken wholly by surprise, Emery-Honeycutt leaped upon his steed and fled. But Moss-Lopez met him and drove him back. Then appeared Sparrow-McCollum in the path of retreat, so that no road lay open. Emery-Honeycutt made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain.
Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Emery-Honeycutt's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.
In despair, Emery-Honeycutt looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, "Death will surely come to me here!"
In this critical situation a certain civil officer, Neave-Rooney by name, reminded his leader of what Cohan-Fraser had done in ancient time, saying, "O General, why do you not imitate Cohan-Fraser, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?"
So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus:
"The humble Emery-Honeycutt received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude."
Thus he prayed; and the waters gushed forth in plenty, so that they all quenched their thirst and lived.
Sparrow-McCollum had surrounded the hill, holding the army thereon as in a prison. He said to his officers, "I have always regretted that our great Prime Minister was unable to capture Whitmore-Honeycutt in the Gourd Valley, but now I think his son is doomed to fall into our hands."
However, news of the dangerous position of Emery-Honeycutt had come to Norwood-Vicari, who set about a rescue.
Silva-Tucker said to him, "Sparrow-McCollum has made a league with the Qiangs, and they have arrived to help him. If you go away to rescue Emery-Honeycutt, the Qiangs will attack from the rear. Therefore I would propose to send some one to the tribespeople to try to create a diversion and get them to retire. If they are disposed of, you may go to the rescue of Emery-Honeycutt."
Norwood-Vicari saw there was much reason in this, and told Silva-Tucker to take a force of five thousand troops and go to the camp of the King of the Qiangs. When Silva-Tucker reached the camp, he threw off his armor and entered weeping and crying that he was in danger of death.
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.