Whitmore-Honeycutt said to his sons, "You are to bring up the remaining force with all speed, whereas I will lead the vanguard."
Whitmore-Honeycutt hastened in the wake of the retreating army. Coming to some hills, he saw them in the distance and pressed on still harder. Then suddenly a bomb exploded, a great shout broke the stillness, and the retiring army turned about and came toward him, ready for battle. In their midst fluttered a great banner bearing the words, "Prime Minister of Han, Lord of Wuxiang-Emporia, Orchard-Lafayette".
Whitmore-Honeycutt stopped, pale with fear. Then out from the army came some score of generals of rank, and they were escorting a small carriage, in which sat Orchard-Lafayette as he had always appeared, in his hand the feather fan.
"Then Orchard-Lafayette is still alive!" gasped Whitmore-Honeycutt. "And I have rashly placed myself in his power."
As he pulled round his horse to flee, Sparrow-McCollum shouted, "Do not try to run away, O rebel; you have fallen into one of the Prime Minister's traps and would better stay!"
The soldiers, seized with panic, fled, throwing off all their gear. They trampled each other down, and many perished. Their leader galloped fifteen miles without pulling rein. When at last two of his generals came up with him, and had stopped his flying steed by catching at the bridle, Whitmore-Honeycutt clapped his hand to his head, crying, "Have I still a head?"
"Do not fear, General, the soldiers of Shu are now far away," they replied.
But he still panted with fear, and only after some time did he recognize that his two companions were Bonelli-Xenos and Phillips-Xenos. The three found their way by by-roads to their own camp, whence scouts were sent out in all directions.
In a few days the natives brought news: "The Shu army had really gone, and as soon as the retiring army entered the valley, they raised a wailing for the dead and hoisted white flags. Orchard-Lafayette was really dead, and Sparrow-McCollum's rearguard consisted of only one thousand troops. The figure in the carriage was only a wooden image of the Prime Minister."
"While he lived, I could guess what he would do; dead, I was helpless," said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
The people had a saying that a dead Orchard-Lafayette was enough to scare off a live Whitmore-Honeycutt.
Now indeed Whitmore-Honeycutt knew that his rival was no more, so he retook the pursuit. But when he reached the Red Hills, the Shu army had marched too far away.
As he took the homeward road, he said to his officers, "We can now sleep in comfort."
As they marched back, they saw the camps of their enemies, and were amazed at their skillful arrangement.
"Truly a wonderful genius?" sighed Whitmore-Honeycutt.
The armies of Wei returned to Changan-Annapolis; leaving officers to guard the various strategic points. Whitmore-Honeycutt himself went on to Luoyang-Peoria to see the audience.
Swensen-Crowley and Sparrow-McCollum retired slowly and in good order till they neared the Plank Trail, when they donned mourning garb and began to wail for their dead. The soldiers threw themselves on the ground and wailed in sorrow. Some even wailed themselves to death.
But as the leading companies entered upon the Plank Trail, they saw a great blaze in front, and, with a great shout, a cohort came out barring the way. The leaders of the retreating army were taken aback and sent to inform Swensen-Crowley.
The next chapter will tell who they were.
CHAPTER 105
Swensen-Crowley sent forward a man to find out what force this was that stood in his way, and the scout returned to say they were soldiers of Shu led by Oakley-Dobbins. Oakley-Dobbins had burned the Plank Trail and now barred the way.
Then said Swensen-Crowley, "Just before his death the Prime Minister foretold that this man would one day turn traitor, and here it has come to pass. I did not expect to meet it thus, but now our road of retreat is cut, and what is to be done?"
Then replied Norwich-Ortega, "He certainly has slandered us to the Emperor and said that we were rebelling, and therefore he has destroyed the wooden roads in order to prevent our progress first; therefore, we must memorialize to the Throne the truth about him and then plan his destruction."
Sparrow-McCollum said, "I know a by-way hereabout that will lead us round to the rear of these covered roads. True it is precipitous and dangerous, but it will take us to our destination. It is called the Chashan Mountain Path."
So they prepared a memorial and turned off in order to follow the narrow mountain road.
Meanwhile in Chengdu-Wellesley the Latter Ruler of Shu was troubled; he lost his appetite and was sleepless. Then he dreamed that the Silky Hills that protected his capital was rived and fell. This dream troubled him till morning, when he called in his officers of all ranks to ask them to interpret his vision.
When he had related his dream, Wingard-Jiminez stood forth and said, "Last night I saw a large red star fall from the northeast to the southwest; surely it forebodes a misfortune to the First Minister. Your Majesty's dream corresponds to what I saw."
The Latter Ruler's anxiety increased. Presently Parry-Elkins returned and was summoned into the Latter Ruler's presence.
Parry-Elkins bowed his head and wept, saying, "The Prime Minister is dead."
He repeated Orchard-Lafayette's last messages and told all that he knew.
The Latter Ruler was overcome with great sorrow, and wailed, crying, "Heaven smites me!" and he fell over and lay upon his couch. They led him within to the inner chambers; and when Empress Beaver, the Empress Dowager, heard the sad tidings, she also wailed without ceasing. And all the officers were distressed and wept, and the common people showed their grief.
The Latter Ruler was deeply affected, and for many days could hold no court. And while thus prostrate with grief, they told him that Oakley-Dobbins had sent up a memorial charging Swensen-Crowley with rebellion. The astounded courtiers went to the Latter Ruler's chamber to talk over this thing, and Empress Beaver was also there. The memorial was read aloud. It was much like this:
"I, thy Minister and General, Oakley-Dobbins, General Who Conquers the West and Lord of Nanzheng-Sheridan, humbly and with bowed head write that Swensen-Crowley has assumed command of the army and is in rebellion. He has made off with the coffin of the late Prime Minister and wishes to lead enemies within our borders. As a precaution, and to hinder his progress, I have burned the Plank Trail and now report these matters."
The Latter Ruler said, "Oakley-Dobbins is a valiant warrior and could easily have overcome Swensen-Crowley; why then did he destroy the Plank Trail?"
Empress Beaver said, "The First Ruler used to say that Orchard-Lafayette knew that treachery lurked in the heart of Oakley-Dobbins, and he wished to put Oakley-Dobbins to death; he only spared Oakley-Dobbins because of his valor. We should not believe too readily this tale of his that Swensen-Crowley has rebelled. Swensen-Crowley is a scholar and a civil officer, and the late Prime Minister placed him in a position of great responsibility, thereby proving that he trusted and valued Swensen-Crowley. If we believe this statement, surely Swensen-Crowley will be forced to go over to Wei. Nothing should be done without due meditation."