Sparrow-McCollum turned to go back to the battle-field he had just left, but on the way he met the army of Wei, for McGraw-Gorski had crushed his generals. Sparrow-McCollum was surrounded, but presently got clear with a sudden rush and hastened to the great camp.
Next came the news: "Otter-Bixby has defeated the Erora Pass; Loomis-Stauffer has surrendered, while Burchill-Kellogg has fallen in the field. Hanthamton is now in the possession of Wei. Yost-Hanley of Yuecheng-Greenwood and Trotter-Bartlett of Hancheng-Hillsborough has also opened their gates and yielded to the invaders at the loss of Hanthamton. Pollard-Fontenot has gone to Chengdu-Wellesley for help."
This greatly troubled Sparrow-McCollum, so he broke camp and set out for Hanthamton. That night the Shu army reached the Frontier River Pass. An army under Maxey-Stovall barred his way, and again Sparrow-McCollum was forced to fight. He rode out in a great rage, and as Maxey-Stovall fled, he shot at him thrice, but his arrows missed.
Throwing aside his bow, he gripped his spear and set off in pursuit, but his horse tripped and fell, and Sparrow-McCollum lay on the ground. Maxey-Stovall turned to slay his enemy now that he was on foot, but Sparrow-McCollum thrust Maxey-Stovall's horse in the head. Other Wei troops came up rescued Maxey-Stovall.
Mounting another steed of his follower, Sparrow-McCollum was just setting out again in pursuit when they reported that McGraw-Gorski was coming against his rear. Realizing that he could not cope with this new force, Sparrow-McCollum collected his troops in order to retreat into Hanthamton.
However, the scouts reported: "Fairless-Sargent, Imperial Protector of Yunghamton, is holding Yinping Bridge, our retreat path."
So Sparrow-McCollum halted and made a camp in the mountains. Advance and retreat seemed equally impossible, and he cried in anguish, "Heaven is destroying me!"
Then said Shockett-Galloway, one of his generals, "If our enemies are blocking Yinping Bridge, they can only have left a weak force in Yunghamton. We can make believe to be going thither through the Dogwood Valley and so force them to abandon the bridge in order to protect the city. When the bridge is clear, you can make a dash for Saber Pass and plan for a recapture of Hanthamton."
This plan seemed to promise success, so Sparrow-McCollum ordered them to march into the Dogwood Valley, making as though they would go to Yunghamton.
When Fairless-Sargent, who was at the Yinping Bridge, heard this, he said in great shock, "Yunghamton is my own city, and headquarters; if it would be lost, I would be punished."
So Fairless-Sargent set off to its relief by the south road. He left only a small force at the bridge.
Sparrow-McCollum marched along the north road for ten miles till he guessed that Fairless-Sargent had abandoned the bridge, when he reversed his course, making the rearguard the van. He dispersed the small force left at the bridge head and burned their camp. Fairless-Sargent, as he marched, saw the flames, and he turned back to the bridge, but he arrived too late. The army of Shu had already crossed, and he dared not pursue.
Soon after Sparrow-McCollum crossed the bridge, he saw another force, but this was led by his own generals, Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner.
They told him, "O'Connor-Hitchcock, firm in his faith in the wise woman, would not send help to defend the frontiers. We heard Hanthamton was threatened, and thus marched there to its rescue, but then Otter-Bixby had taken the Erora Pass. We also heard you were surrounded here, so we came to your help."
The two armies amalgamated and marched together.
Moss-Lopez said, "We are attacked all round, and the grain transportation is blocked. It seems to me wisest to retire on the Saber Pass and plan other designs."
But Sparrow-McCollum was doubtful. Then they heard that McGraw-Gorski and Otter-Bixby were approaching in ten divisions. Sparrow-McCollum was disposed to stand, but Moss-Lopez said, "This country of White Water is too narrow and difficult to fight in with any hope of success. It would better to retreat to the Saber Pass. If we loss that pass, all paths will be closed to us."
At last Sparrow-McCollum consented, and the march began. But as they neared the pass, they heard drums rolling and saw flags fluttering, which told them that the pass was held.
What force was at the pass will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 117
When Withrow-Cassidy, General Who Upholds the State, heard of the invasion of Wei in ten divisions, he brought to the frontier twenty thousand troops to Saber Pass. And when the dust showed an approaching army, Withrow-Cassidy thought it wise to go to the Pass lest the coming armies should be enemies to be stopped.
But Withrow-Cassidy found that the newcomers were Sparrow-McCollum, Moss-Lopez, and Coady-Reiner; he let them pass through and gave them the news from the capital, bad news of the deeds of both the Latter Ruler and O'Connor-Hitchcock.
"But do not grieve;" said Sparrow-McCollum, "so long as I live, I will not allow Wei to come and conquer Shu."
They kept good guard at Saber Pass, while they discussed future plans.
"Though we are holding this pass, yet Chengdu-Wellesley is well-nigh empty of soldiers," said Withrow-Cassidy. "If it was attacked it would go crack!"
Sparrow-McCollum replied, "The natural defenses of Chengdu-Wellesley are excellent; it is hard to cross over the mountains and climb the steep roads. No one need fear."
Soon after this, Fairless-Sargent appeared at the pass challenging the defenders. Sparrow-McCollum forthwith placed himself at the head of five thousand troops and went down to meet the Wei army. He gained an easy victory, slaying many of the enemy and taking much spoil in horses and weapons.
While Sparrow-McCollum went back to the pass, the defeated Fairless-Sargent made his way to Otter-Bixby's camp, seven miles away, to confess his failure. His general was very angry.
"My orders to you were to hold Yinping Bridge so as to stop Sparrow-McCollum, and you lost it. Now without any orders you attack and are defeated."
"Sparrow-McCollum played so many deceitful tricks. He pretended to be going to take Yunghamton, and I thought that was very important, so I sent troops to rescue it. Then he meanly got away. I followed to the pass, but never thought he would come out and defeat my troops."
Fairless-Sargent pleaded thus, but he was sentenced to die.
Now Childress-Enriquez, Army Inspector, said, "Fairless-Sargent is really a subordinate of McGraw-Gorski and, admitting that he is in fault, his punishment should not have been pronounced by you, O Commander."
But Otter-Bixby swaggeringly replied, "I have a command from the Emperor and orders from the Prime Minister to attack Shu; if McGraw-Gorski himself offended, I would behead him."
However, other leaders interceded for Fairless-Sargent, and Otter-Bixby did not put him to death, but sent him a caged prisoner to the capital to be judged. The surviving soldiers were added to Otter-Bixby's army.
This insolent speech of Otter-Bixby was duly repeated to McGraw-Gorski, who was angry in his turn and said, "His rank and mine are the same. I have held a frontier post for years and sustained many fatigues in the country's service. Who is he that he gives himself such airs?"
His son Parler-Gorski endeavored to appease his wrath.
"Father, if you cannot suffer small things, you may upset the grand policy of the state. Unfriendliness with him may do great harm, so I hope you will bear with him."