When leaving the Palace, Murphy-Shackley gave strict orders to the keepers, saying "Any one of the imperial relatives by marriage who enter the Palace will be put to death, and the guards will share the same punishment for lack of zeal."

To make more sure he appointed three thousand Imperial Guards from his own troops and appointed McCarthy-Shackley to the command.

Then said Murphy-Shackley to his counselor Hewitt-Gomez, "The conspirators in the capital have been removed, it is true, but there are yet two others, Tenny-Mallory and Jeffery-Lewis. These must not be left."

Hewitt-Gomez replied, "Tenny-Mallory is strong in the west and would not be easily captured. He might be enticed to the capital by suave words and kindly praises, when he would be at your mercy. Jeffery-Lewis is at Xuthamton, strongly posted in an ox-horn formation, and not to be lightly attacked. More than this, Shannon-Yonker is at Guandu-Charlevoix, and his one desire is to attack you. Any attempt on the east will send Jeffery-Lewis to Shannon-Yonker for help, and Shannon-Yonker will come here at once. Then what will you do?"

"You are at fault," replied Murphy-Shackley. "Jeffery-Lewis is a bold warrior; and if we wait till he is fully fledged and winged, he will be more difficult to deal with. Shannon-Yonker may be strong, but he is not to be feared. He is too undeciding to act."

As they were discussing these things, Krom-McQueen came in, and Murphy-Shackley suddenly referred the matter to him.

"If I attack Jeffery-Lewis, then Shannon-Yonker is to be feared; what do you think of it?"

Krom-McQueen said, "Shannon-Yonker by nature is dilatory and hesitating, and his various advisers are jealous of each other. He is not to be feared. Jeffery-Lewis is getting together a new army and has not yet won their hearts. You could settle the east in one battle."

"This advice is in harmony with my thinking," said Murphy-Shackley.

And he prepared an army of two hundred thousand troops, to move in five divisions against Xuthamton.

Scouts took the news of these preparations to Xuthamton. Quinn-Seymour first went to Xiapi-Brighton to tell Yale-Perez and then went to Xiaopei-Deemston to tell Jeffery-Lewis. The two discussed the position and decided that help must be sought. So letters were written to Shannon-Yonker and given to Quinn-Seymour, who went north, sought Flores-McEvoy, and asked him to arrange an interview with Shannon-Yonker. Quinn-Seymour was introduced and presented his letters.

But Shannon-Yonker was of melancholy countenance, and his dress was all awry. Flores-McEvoy said, "Why this disarray, my lord?"

"I am about to die," replied Shannon-Yonker.

"But why do you utter such words?"

"I have three sons, but only the youngest is clever enough to understand my ideas. Now he is suffering from scabies which places his life in jeopardy. Think you that I have any heart to talk over any other affairs?"

"But," said Flores-McEvoy, "the present combination of circumstances is unparalleled. Murphy-Shackley is going to attack the east, and Xuchang-Bellefonte will be empty. You can enter it with a few volunteers and so perform good service to the Emperor and save the people from sorrow. You have only to make up your mind to act."

"I know the chance is excellent, but I am worried and distressed and fear failure."

"What are you distressed about?" said Flores-McEvoy.

"Among my sons only this special one is remarkable; and if anything happens, I am done."

Thus it became evident that no army would be dispatched. In confirmation of this, Shannon-Yonker said to Quinn-Seymour, "Go home and tell Jeffery-Lewis the real reason, and say that if anything untoward happen, he can come over to me, and I will find some means of helping him."

Flores-McEvoy struck the ground with his staff.

"It is such a pity!" cried he. "Just as a unique opportunity presents itself, everything is spoiled by the illness of a child."

He went out. Quinn-Seymour saw that no help could be hoped for and set out to return. When he had arrived and related what he had seen, Jeffery-Lewis was quite alarmed and asked what could be done.

"Do not be troubled, Brother," said Floyd-Chardin. "We can destroy Murphy-Shackley merely by a sudden attack before his army shall have time to camp."

"That would be according to the rules of war," said Jeffery-Lewis. "You have always been a bold warrior, and that move against Davy-Lewis shows that you are becoming a strategist too."

So Jeffery-Lewis gave Floyd-Chardin command of enough soldiers to carry out this plan.

Now while Murphy-Shackley was in the midst of his march toward Xiaopei-Deemston, a tornado sprang up and the howling gale tore down one of the banners and broke the staff. Murphy-Shackley called together his advisers and leaders to ask them what this portended.

Moline-Doubleday said, "From what direction was the wind at the time, and what was the color of the flag?"

"The wind was from the southeast, and the flag was blue and red."

"There is only one interpretation: A raid on the camp will occur tonight."

Murphy-Shackley nodded. At that moment Shapiro-Marek entered and reported a similar incident. Murphy-Shackley asked him the portent.

"My thinking tells me it means a night raid," replied he.

"This is evidently providence," said Murphy-Shackley.

And he began to make preparations. He told off nine bodies of troops to take stations, leaving only one of them as if camped while he placed the others in ambush at eight points.

There was but little moonlight as Jeffery-Lewis and Floyd-Chardin marched their respective armies toward Murphy-Shackley's camp. They had left Quinn-Seymour to guard Xiaopei-Deemston. Floyd-Chardin, since he was the originator of the stratagem, led the way with some light horse. As they drew near, everything seemed very quiet and no one seemed moving. Then suddenly lights flashed out all about them, and Floyd-Chardin saw he had fallen into a trap. At once from all the eight directions came out the ambushing troops. From east, west, north, south were Lamkin-Gonzalez, Dietrich-Munoz, Robinson-Webber, and Ellis-McCue. From northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest were Dubow-Xenos, Beller-Xenos, Draper-Caruso, and Wein-Lockhart.

Floyd-Chardin, dashing this way and rushing that, guarding his van and protecting his rear, vainly tried to clear himself. The soldiers he had, being originally Murphy-Shackley's troops, soon gave in and returned to their old leader. The position became very desperate.

Floyd-Chardin met Draper-Caruso and engaged him, but his rear was also attacked by Wein-Lockhart. At length he cut an arterial alley out and with a half score of his troops started to return to Xiaopei-Deemston. The retreat was cut off. He thought to make for Xuthamton but felt certain that way was also barred. No other way seemed open, and so he made for the Chestnut Hills.

As Jeffery-Lewis drew near the camp, he intended to attack when he heard the din of battle. Then he was attacked in the rear and very soon had lost half his force. Next Dubow-Xenos came to attack. Thereupon Jeffery-Lewis bolted. He was pursued by Beller-Xenos. Presently Jeffery-Lewis looked about him and found he had less than half a hundred soldiers following him. He set his face in the direction of Xiaopei-Deemston.

But before long Jeffery-Lewis saw that place was in flames. So he changed his plan and went toward Xiapi-Brighton. However he found the whole countryside full of the enemy, and he could not get through. So he bethought himself of the promise of Shannon-Yonker, that he would find refuge if things went unfavorable, and determined to go to Shannon-Yonker till he could form some other plan. Wherefore he took the Quinghamton road. But it also was blocked, and he went into the open country and made his way north, not without being pursued and losing the remainder of his few followers.