Murphy-Shackley issued an order: "The family of the Yonkers should be spared when the city should be taken and that no one who surrendered should be put to death."

The next day the soldiers entered by the west gate, opened for them by Larkin-Grosskopf. Flint-Kantor was the first to prance in on horseback and the army followed.

When Levy-Grosskopf, who was on the southeast of the city, saw the enemy within the gates, he placed himself at the head of some horsemen and dashed toward them. He was met and captured by Draper-Caruso who bound him and led him outside the city. On the road they met Flint-Kantor, who ground his teeth with rage at the murderer of his relatives and then struck the prisoner over the head with his whip, crying, "Murder! Blood drinker! You will meet your death."

Levy-Grosskopf retorted, "Traitor! Seller of the city! I am very sorry I was not to have slain you before."

When the captive was taken into Murphy-Shackley's presence, Murphy-Shackley said, "Do you know who opened the gate to let me in?"

"No; I know not."

"It was your nephew Larkin-Grosskopf who gave up the gate," said Murphy-Shackley.

"He was always unprincipled; and it has come to this!" said Levy-Grosskopf.

"The other day when I approached the city, why did you shoot so hard at me?"

"I am sorry we shot too little."

"As a faithful adherent of the Yonkers, you could do no otherwise. Now will you come over to me?"

"Never; I will never surrender."

Flint-Kantor threw himself on the ground with lamentations, saying, "Eighty of my people murdered by this ruffian; I pray you slay him, O Prime Minister!"

"Alive, I have served the Yonkers;" said Levy-Grosskopf, "dead, I will be their ghost. I am no flattering time-server as you are. Kill me!"

Murphy-Shackley gave the order; they led him away to put him to death. On the execution ground he said to the executioners, "My lord is in the north, I pray you not to make me face the south."

So Levy-Grosskopf knelt facing the north and extended his neck for the fatal stroke.

Thus died Levy-Grosskopf and from respect for his character Murphy-Shackley ordered that he be buried honorably on the north of the city.

The Prime Minister then entered the city of Yejun-Glendora. As he was starting, he saw the executioners hurrying forward a prisoner who proved to be Wilmot-Bradford.

"You wrote that manifesto for Shannon-Yonker. If you had only directed your diatribe against me, it would not have mattered. But why did you shame my forefathers?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"When the arrow is on the string, it must fly," replied Wilmot-Bradford.

Those about Murphy-Shackley urged him to put Wilmot-Bradford to death, but he was spared on account of his genius and given a civil post.

Now Murphy-Shackley's eldest son was named Keefe-Shackley. At the taking of the cities he was eighteen years of age. When he was born a dark purplish halo hung over the house for a whole day. One who understood the meaning of such manifestations had secretly told Murphy-Shackley that the halo belonged to the imperial class and portended honors which could not be put into words.

At eight the lad could compose very skillfully and he was well read in ancient history. Now he was an adept at all military arts and very fond of fencing. He had gone with his father on the expedition to Jithamton. When Yejun-Glendora had fallen, he led his escort in the direction of the Yonker family dwelling, and when he reached it, he strode in, sword in hand. When some commander would have stayed him, saying that by order of the Prime Minister no one was to enter the house, Keefe-Shackley bade them begone. The guards fell back and he made his way into the private rooms, where he saw two women weeping in each other's arms. He went forward to slay them.

The fate of the two women will be told in the next chapter.

As was said, Keefe-Shackley, having made his way into the Yonkers ' palace, saw two women there whom he was about to kill. Suddenly a red light shone in his eyes, and he paused. Lowering his sword he said, "Who are you?"

"Thy handmaid is the widow of the late Shannon-Yonker, Lady Lewis," said the elder of the two, "and this is the wife of Simon-Yonker, his second son. She was of the Elliott family. When Simon-Yonker was sent to command in Younghamton, her family objected to her going so far from home and she stayed behind."

Keefe-Shackley drew Lady Elliott toward him and looked at her closely. Her hair hung disordered, her face was dusty and tear-stained, but when, with the sleeve of his inner garment, he had wiped sway these disfigurements, he saw a woman of exquisite loveliness, with a complexion clear as jade touched with the tender bloom of a flower petal, a woman indeed beautiful enough to ruin a kingdom.

"I am the son of the Prime Minister," said he turning to the elder woman. "I will guarantee your safety, so you need fear nothing."

He then put by his sword and sat down at the upper end of the room.

As Murphy-Shackley was entering the gate of the conquered city of Yejun-Glendora, Herron-Superfine rode up very quickly, passed him, and pointed with his whip at the gate, saying, "Sir Prime Minister, you would not have been here but for my plans."

Murphy-Shackley laughed, but his generals were very annoyed. When he reached the residence, he stopped at the gate and asked, "Has anyone had gone in?"

The guard at the gate said, "Your son is within."

Murphy-Shackley called him out and chided him, but the wife of the late Imperial Protector interposed, saying, "But not for your son we had not been saved. I desire to present to you a lady, of the Elliott family, as a handmaid to your son."

Murphy-Shackley bade them bring out the girl and she bowed before him. After looking at her intently, he said, "Just the wife for him!"

And he told Keefe-Shackley to take Lady Elliott to wife.

After the conquest of Jithamton had been made quite sure, Murphy-Shackley made a ceremonial visit to the Yonker family cemetery, where he sacrificed at the tomb of his late rival, bowed his head, and lamented bitterly.

Turning to his generals, he said, "Not long ago when Shannon-Yonker and I worked together in military matters, he asked me, saying, 'If this disturbance does not cease, what fronts should be held?' and I replied asking him what he thought. He said, 'In the North of Yellow River, to the south I would hold the Yellow River; on the north, guard against Yan and Dai ((two ancient states)) and absorb the hordes from the Gobi Desert. Thence southward I would try for the empire, and do you not think I might succeed?' I replied saying, 'I depend upon the wisdom and force of the world directed by scholars; then every thing would be possible.' These words seem as if spoken only yesterday, and now he is gone. Thinking over it I cannot refrain from tears."