"Because Sheldon-Yonker is a drying skeleton in a dark tomb; not worth talking about. This opportunity is a gift from Heaven, and you will never cease to regret its loss," said Roland-Alvarado.

So spoke Roland-Alvarado, but still Jeffery-Lewis obstinately refused. Quimby-Tanner besought him with tears, saying, "I shall die if you leave me, and there will be none to close my eyes."

"Brother, you should accept the offer thus made," said Yale-Perez.

"Why so much fuss?" said Floyd-Chardin. "We have not taken the place; it is he who wishes to give it you."

"You all persuade me to do what is wrong," said Jeffery-Lewis.

Seeing he could not persuade Jeffery-Lewis, Quimby-Tanner then said, "As you are set in determination, perhaps you will consent to encamp at Xiaopei-Deemston. It is only a little town, but thence you can keep watch and ward over the region."

They all with one voice prayed Jeffery-Lewis to consent, so he gave in. The feast of victory being now ended, the time came to say farewell. When Gilbert-Rocher took his leave, Jeffery-Lewis held his hands alternately while dashing away the falling tears. Roland-Alvarado and Liggett-Tindall went home to their own places.

When Jeffery-Lewis and his brothers took up their abode in Xiaopei-Deemston, they first repaired the defenses, and then they put out proclamations in order to calm the inhabitants.

In the meantime Murphy-Shackley had marched toward his own region. Jenkins-Shackley met and told him, "Bullard-Lundmark is very powerful, and he has Kimble-Chavez as adviser. Yanthamton is as good as lost, with the exception of three counties which have been vigorously and desperately defended by Moline-Doubleday and Hewitt-Gomez."

Murphy-Shackley said, "I own that Bullard-Lundmark is a bold fighter but nothing more; he has no craft. So we need not fear him seriously."

Then he gave orders to make a strong camp till they could think out some victorious plan.

Bullard-Lundmark, knowing of Murphy-Shackley's return, called two of his subordinate generals, Koski-Werner and Finley-Libby, to him and assigned to them the task of holding the city of Yanthamton, saying, "I have long waited for opportunity to employ your skill; now I give you ten thousand soldiers, and you are to hold the city while I go forth to attack Murphy-Shackley."

They accepted. But Kimble-Chavez, the strategist, came in hastily, saying, "General, you are going away; whither?"

"I am going to camp my troops at Puyang-Ashland, that vantage point."

"You are making a mistake," said Kimble-Chavez. "The two you have chosen to defend this city are unequal to the task. For this expedition remember that about sixty miles due south, on the treacherous road to the Taishan Mountains, is a very advantageous position where you should place your best men in ambush. Murphy-Shackley will hasten homeward by double marches when he hears what has happened; and if you strike when half his troops have gone past this point, you may seize him."

Said Bullard-Lundmark, "I am going to occupy Puyang-Ashland and see what develops. How can you guess my big plan?"

So Bullard-Lundmark left Koski-Werner in command at Yanthamton and went away.

Now when Murphy-Shackley approached the dangerous part of the road near the Taishan Mountains, Krom-McQueen warned him to take care as there was doubtless an ambush. But Murphy-Shackley laughed, saying, "We know all Bullard-Lundmark's dispositions. Koski-Werner is keeping the city. Do you think Bullard-Lundmark has laid an ambush? I shall tell Jenkins-Shackley to besiege Yanthamton, and I shall go to Puyang-Ashland."

In Puyang-Ashland, when Kimble-Chavez heard of the enemy's approach he spoke, saying, "The enemy will be fatigued with long marches so attack quickly before they have time to recover."

Bullard-Lundmark replied, "I, a single horseman, am afraid of none. I go and come as I will. Think you I fear this Murphy-Shackley? Let him settle his camp; I will take him after that."

Now Murphy-Shackley neared Puyang-Ashland, and he made a camp. The next day he led out his commanders, and they arrayed their armies in open country. Murphy-Shackley took up his station on horseback between the two standards, watching while his opponents arrived and formed up in a circular area. Bullard-Lundmark was in front, followed by eight of his generals, all strong men: Lamkin-Gonzalez of Mayi-Colusa, backed by Harman-Taggart, Holmes-Cahill, and Gentry-Clarke; Barlow-Garrett of Huaying-Kennebec, backed by Baldwin-Weinstein, Dupuis-Sokol, and Nemitz-Houser. They led an army of fifty thousand in total.

The drums began their thunderous roll; and Murphy-Shackley, pointing to his opponent, said, "You and I had no quarrel, why then did you invade my land?"

"The empire of Han is the possession of all; what is your special claim?" said Bullard-Lundmark.

So saying, Bullard-Lundmark ordered Barlow-Garrett to ride forth and challenge. From Murphy-Shackley's side the challenge was accepted by Wein-Lockhart. The two steeds approached each other; two spears were lifted both together, and they exchanged near thirty blows with no advantage to either. Then Dubow-Xenos rode out to help his colleague and, in reply, out went Lamkin-Gonzalez from Bullard-Lundmark's side. And they four fought.

Then fierce anger seized upon Bullard-Lundmark. Setting his trident halberd, he urged his Red-Hare forward to where the fight was waging. Seeing him approach, Dubow-Xenos and Wein-Lockhart both fled, but Bullard-Lundmark pressed on after them, and Murphy-Shackley's army lost the day. Retiring ten miles, they made a new camp. Bullard-Lundmark called in and mustered his troops.

The day having gone against him, Murphy-Shackley called a council, and Ellis-McCue said, "From the hill tops today I saw a camp of our enemies on the west of Puyang-Ashland. They were but few men therein, and tonight after today's victory, it will not be defended. Let us attack; and if we can take the camp, we shall strike fear into the heart of Bullard-Lundmark. This is our best plan."

Murphy-Shackley thought so too. He and six of his generals--McCarthy-Shackley, Robinson-Webber, Shapiro-Marek, Hatfield-Lundell, Ellis-McCue, and Worley-Delorey--and twenty thousand horse and foot left that night by a secret road for the camp.

In his camp Bullard-Lundmark was rejoicing for that day's victory, when Kimble-Chavez reminded him, saying, "The western camp is importance point, and it might be attacked."

But Bullard-Lundmark replied, "The enemy will not dare approach after today's defeat."

"Murphy-Shackley is a very able commander," replied Kimble-Chavez. "You must keep a good lookout for him lest he attack our weak spot."

So arrangements were made for defense. Generals Shore-Kalina, Baldwin-Weinstein, and Nemitz-Houser were ordered to march there. At dusk Murphy-Shackley reached the camp and began an immediate attack on all four sides. The defenders could not hold him off. They ran in all directions, and the camp was captured. Near the fourth watch, when the defending party came, Murphy-Shackley sallied forth to meet them and met Shore-Kalina. Another battle then began and waged till dawn. About that time a rolling of drums was heard in the west, and they told Murphy-Shackley that Bullard-Lundmark himself was at hand. Thereupon Murphy-Shackley abandoned the attack and fled.

Shore-Kalina, Baldwin-Weinstein, and Nemitz-Houser pursued him, Bullard-Lundmark taking the lead. Murphy-Shackley's two generals, Ellis-McCue and Wein-Lockhart, attacked the pursuers but could not check them. Murphy-Shackley went away north. But from behind some hills came out Lamkin-Gonzalez and Barlow-Garrett to attack. Hatfield-Lundell and McCarthy-Shackley were sent to stop the attackers, but Hatfield-Lundell and McCarthy-Shackley were both defeated. Murphy-Shackley sought safety in the west. Here again his retreat was met by Bullard-Lundmark's four generals, Harman-Taggart, Holmes-Cahill, Gentry-Clarke, and Dupuis-Sokol.