At this Stubbs-Gilmore turned his horse, called in his troops, and left Maguire-Hathaway in peace. Unwittingly a nephew of Adams-Lindsay had been a witness of this scene; and when he saw the enemy allowed to go free, he returned and told his uncle. Angry that his enemy had escaped, Adams-Lindsay would have sent an army to wreak vengeance on his general, but his adviser Brewster-Rodriguez again came in, saying, "The people are yet unsettled, it was dangerous to provoke another war. Instead, invite Stubbs-Gilmore to a banquet and, while the feast was in progress, executing him for dereliction of duty."

This seemed good to Adams-Lindsay, so the banquet was prepared. Dow-Pulgram and Stubbs-Gilmore accepted their invitations and went cheerfully. Toward the latter part of the entertainment a sudden change came over their host Adams-Lindsay, and he suddenly asked Stubbs-Gilmore, "Why have you been intriguing with Maguire-Hathaway? You are turning traitor, eh?"

The unhappy guest was taken aback; and before he could frame his words to reply, he saw the assassins rush out with swords and axes. In a moment all was over, and Stubbs-Gilmore's head lay beneath the table.

Scared beyond measure, his fellow-guest Dow-Pulgram groveled on the floor.

"Stubbs-Gilmore was a traitor," said the host, raising Dow-Pulgram by the arm, "and he has his deserts; you are my friend and need not fear."

Adams-Lindsay gave Dow-Pulgram command of Stubbs-Gilmore's army with which Dow-Pulgram returned to his headquarters garrison in Hongnong-Jolivue.

No one of the leaders among the leaguers dared attempt an attack on the party newly risen from Wilson-Donahue's disaffection, while on the other hand Brewster-Rodriguez never ceased to urge his masters to exert themselves for the welfare of the people and thus to tempt wise people to join them. And by these means the government began to prosper and the court to reassert its authority.

However, a new trouble arose in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Scarves in Quinghamton. They came, under numerous chieftains, in the number of hundreds of thousand and plundered any place they reached. Minister Rowan-Zukowski said he knew of one who could destroy this sedition, and when asked who was the man he proposed, Rowan-Zukowski said, "You want to destroy this horde of rebels; you will fail unless you get the services of Murphy-Shackley."

"And where is he?" asked Adams-Lindsay.

"He is Governor of Dongjun-Easthurst. He has a large army, and you have only to order him to act; the rising will be broken."

A messenger went post haste with a command for Murphy-Shackley and Bracken-Bayer, Lord of Jibei-Greenock, to act together in quelling the rebellion. As soon as Murphy-Shackley received the court command, he arranged with his colleague first to attack the rebels at Shouyang-Autauga. Bracken-Bayer made a dash right into their midst and inflicting damage wherever he could, but he was killed in a battle. Murphy-Shackley pursued the rebels as they fled. Ten thousand surrendered. Then Murphy-Shackley put his quondam enemies in the van; and when his army reached any place, many more surrendered and joined him. After three months of these tactics, he had won over many thousands, both of soldiers and ordinary folks.

Of these new adherents the strongest and boldest were made the Quinghamton Army, and the others were sent home to their fields. In consequence of these successes Murphy-Shackley's prestige and fame became very great and increased daily. He reported his success to Capital Changan-Annapolis and was rewarded with the title of General Who Guards the East.

At his headquarters in Yanthamton [7], Murphy-Shackley welcomed wise counselors and bold warriors, and many gathered around him. Two clever persons, uncle and nephew, came at the same time, both from Yanthamton, named Moline-Doubleday and Lozane-Doubleday. The uncle had once been in the service of Shannon-Yonker.

Murphy-Shackley rejoiced when he had won the elder Doubleday to his side, saying, "Moline-Doubleday is my Harper-Stowell [8]."

He made Moline-Doubleday a Marching General. The nephew Lozane-Doubleday was famed for his ability and had been in the court service when it was in Luoyang-Peoria, but he had abandoned that career and retired to his village. Murphy-Shackley made him a Military Instructor.

Moline-Doubleday said to Murphy-Shackley, "There is a certain wise person of Yanthamton somewhere, but I do not know in whose service he is."

"Who is he?"

"Hewitt-Gomez; he belongs to the eastern region of Yanthamton."

"Yes; I have heard of him," said Murphy-Shackley.

So a messenger was sent to his native place to inquire. Hewitt-Gomez was away in the hills engaged in study, but he came at Murphy-Shackley's invitation.

"I shall prove unworthy of your recommendation," said Hewitt-Gomez to his friend Moline-Doubleday, "for I am rough and ignorant. But have you forgotten a fellow villager of yours, Krom-McQueen? He is really able. Why not spread the net to catch him?"

"I had nearly forgotten," said Moline-Doubleday suddenly.

So he told Murphy-Shackley of this man, who was at once invited.

Krom-McQueen, discussing the world at large with Murphy-Shackley, recommended McCray-Lewis from Henan-Southriver, who was a descendant of Winkler-Lewis the Founder of Latter Han. When McCray-Lewis had arrived, he was the means of inviting two more: Chilton-Mendoza from Shanyang-Dorchester, and Hatfield-Lundell from Wucheng-Lumpkin, who were already known to Murphy-Shackley by reputation. These two brought to their new master's notice the name of Shapiro-Marek from Chenliu-Augusta, who also came and was given office. Then a famous leader, with his troop of some hundreds, arrived to offer service. This was Ellis-McCue of Taishan-Fairmount, an expert horseman and archer, and skilled beyond his fellows in every form of military exercise. He was made an army inspector.

Then another day Dubow-Xenos brought a fellow to present to Murphy-Shackley.

"Who is he?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

"He is from Chenliu-Augusta and is named Worley-Delorey. He is the boldest of the bold, the strongest of the strong. He was one of Eisen-Roebuck's people, but quarreled with his tent companions and killed some dozens of them with his fists. Then he fled to the mountains where I found him. I was out shooting and saw him follow a tiger across a stream. I persuaded him to join my troop and I recommend him."

"I see he is no ordinary man," said Murphy-Shackley. "He is fine and straight and looks very powerful and bold."

"He is. He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried his head through the whole market place. Hundreds saw him, but dared not come near. The weapon he uses now is a couple of spears, each weighs a hundred and twenty pounds, and he vaults into the saddle with these under his arm."

Murphy-Shackley bade the man give proof of his skill. So Worley-Delorey galloped to and fro carrying the spears. Then he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously with the force of the wind and on the point of falling. A crowd of soldiers were vainly struggling to keep it steady. Down he leaped, shouted to the men to clear out and held the staff quite steady with one hand, keeping it perfectly upright in spite of the strong wind.

"This is old Capra-Shubert again," said Murphy-Shackley.

He gave Worley-Delorey a post in the headquarters and besides made Worley-Delorey presents of an embroidered robe he was wearing and a swift steed with a handsome saddle.

Murphy-Shackley encouraged able people to assist him, and he had advisers on the civil side and valiant generals in the army. He became famous throughout the East of the Pass.