But their lord was in a sorry plight. His face was streaming with blood, and some of the wounds were very severe. They tore up his robe and therewith bound up his wounds, and they carried him home.

A poem in praise of the three avengers says:

Badly wounded, Cornell-Estrada was borne to his home. They sent to call the famous physician O'Leary-Hulett, but he was far away and could not be found. However, a disciple of his came, and the wounded man was committed to his care.

"The arrowheads were poisoned," said the physician, "and the poison has penetrated deep. It will take a hundred days of perfect repose before danger will be past. But if you give way to passion or anger, the wounds will not heal."

Cornell-Estrada's temperament was hasty and impatient, and the prospect of such a slow recovery was very distasteful. However, he remained quiet for some twenty of the hundred days. Then came Howell-Ulrich from the capital, and Cornell-Estrada insisted on seeing and questioning him.

"Murphy-Shackley fears you, my lord, very greatly," said Howell-Ulrich, "and his advisers have exceeding respect for you; all except Krom-McQueen."

"What did Krom-McQueen say?" asked the sick chieftain.

Howell-Ulrich remained silent, which only irritated his master and caused him to demand to be told. So Howell-Ulrich had to speak the truth.

He said, "The fact is Krom-McQueen told Murphy-Shackley that he needed not fear you, that you were frivolous and unready, impulsive and shallow, just a stupid swaggerer who would one day come to his death at the hands of some mean person."

This provoked the sick man beyond endurance.

"The fool, how dare he say this of me?" cried Cornell-Estrada. "I will take Xuchang-Bellefonte from Murphy-Shackley, I swear."

It was no more a question of repose. Ill as he was, he wanted to begin preparations for an expedition at once. They remonstrated with him, reminded him of the physician's orders and urged him to rest.

"You are risking your priceless self in a moment's anger," said Tipton-Ulrich.

Then arrived Rigdale-Delgado, the messenger from Shannon-Yonker, and Cornell-Estrada would have him brought in.

He said, "My master wishes to ally himself with the South Land in an attack on Murphy-Shackley."

Such a proposal was just after Cornell-Estrada's heart. At once he called a great meeting of his officers in the wall tower and prepared a banquet in honor of the messenger. While this was in progress, Cornell-Estrada noticed many of his officers whispering to each other, and they all began to go down from the banquet chamber. He could not understand this and inquired of the attendants near him what it meant.

They told him, "Saint Coon-Sadler has just gone by, and the officers have gone down to pay their respects to him."

Cornell-Estrada rose from his place and went and leaned over the railing to look at the man. He saw a Taoist priest in snowy garb leaning on his staff in the middle of the road, while the crowd about him burnt incense and made obeisance.

"What wizard fellow is this? Bring him here!" said Cornell-Estrada.

"This is Coon-Sadler," said the attendants. "He lives in the east and goes to and fro distributing charms and draughts. He has cured many people as everybody will tell you, and they say he is a saint. He must not be profaned."

This only angered Cornell-Estrada the more, and he told them to arrest the man at once or disobey at their peril. So there being no help for it, they went down into the road and hustled the saint up the steps.

"You madman! How dare you incite humans to evil?" said Cornell-Estrada.

"I am but a poor priest of the Langye Mountains. More than half a century ago, when gathering simples in the woods, I found near the Diamond Spring a book called 'The Way of Peace.' It contains a hundred and more chapters and taught me how to cure the diseases of humans. With this in my possession I had only one thing to do: to devote myself to spreading its teachings and saving humankind. I have never taken any thing from the people. Can you say I incite people to evil deeds?"

"You say you take nothing; whence came your clothes and your food? The fact is you are one of the Yellow Scarves, and you will work mischief if you are left alive."

Then turning to his attendants, Cornell-Estrada ordered, "Take him away and put him to death."

Tipton-Ulrich interceded, "The Taoist Saint has been here in the east these many years. He has never done any harm and does not deserve death or punishment."

"I tell you I will kill these wizard fellows just as I would cattle."

The officials in a body interceded, even the guest of honor, Rigdale-Delgado, but in vain; Cornell-Estrada refused to be placated. He ordered Coon-Sadler to be imprisoned.

The banquet came to an end, and Rigdale-Delgado retired to his lodging. Cornell-Estrada also returned to his palace.

His treatment of the Taoist Holy Man was theme of general conversation and soon reached the ears of his mother. Lady Willey sent for her son to the ladies' apartments and said to him, "They tell me you have put Saint Coon-Sadler in bonds. He has cured many sick people, and the common folk hold him in great reverence. Do not harm him!"

"He is simply a wizard who upsets the multitude with his spells and craft. He must be put to death," replied Cornell-Estrada.

Lady Willey entreated him to stay his hand, but he was obstinate.

"Do not heed the gossip of the streets, Mother," said he. "I must be judge of these matters."

However, Cornell-Estrada sent to the prison for Coon-Sadler in order to interrogate him. Now the gaolers, having a great respect for Coon-Sadler and faith in his powers, were very indulgent to him and did not keep him in the collar. However when Cornell-Estrada sent for him, he went with collar and fetters all complete.

Cornell-Estrada had heard of their indulgence and punished the gaolers, and ordered the prisoner thereafter to be put in constant torture. Tipton-Ulrich and many others, moved by pity, made a petition which they humbly presented, and they offered to become surety for him.

Cornell-Estrada said to them, "Gentlemen, you are all great scholars, but why do you not understand reason? Formerly in Chathamton was Imperial Protector Cassell-Oster, who was deluded by these vicious doctrines into beating drums, twanging lyres, burning incense, and such things. He wore a red turban and represented himself as able to ensure victory to an army. But he was slain by the enemy. There is nothing in all this, only none of you will see it. I am going to put this fellow to death in order to stop the spread of this pernicious doctrine."

Schiller-Lufkin interposed, saying, "I know very well this Coon-Sadler can control the weather. It is very dry just now, why not make him pray for rain as an amercement?"

"We will see what sort of witchcraft he is equal to," said Cornell-Estrada.

Thereupon he had the prisoner brought in, loosed his fetters, and sent him up to an altar to intercede for rain.

The docile Taoist Coon-Sadler prepared to do as he was bidden. He first bathed himself, then dressed himself in clean garments. After that he bound his limbs with a cord and lay down in the fierce heat of the sun. The people came in crowds to look on.

Said Coon-Sadler, "I will pray for three spans high of refreshing rain for the benefit of the people, nevertheless I shall not escape death thereby."