Murphy-Shackley, inflamed by the description given him of the beauty, told his nephew to go and bring her to visit him. Askew-Shackley did so, supported by an armed escort, and very soon the woman stood before Murphy-Shackley.

She was a beauty indeed, and Murphy-Shackley asked her name. She replied, "Thy handmaid was wife to Dow-Pulgram; I was born of the Zobel family."

"Do you know who I am?"

"I have known the Prime Minister by reputation a long time. I am happy to see him and be permitted to bow before him," said she.

"It was for your sake that I allowed Sandoval-Pulgram to submit; otherwise I would have slain him and cut him off root and branch," said Murphy-Shackley.

"Indeed, then, I owe my very life to you; I am very grateful," said she.

"To see you is a glimpse of paradise, but there is one thing I should like better. Stay here and go with me to the capital where I will see that you are properly cared for. What do you say to that, my lady?"

She could but thank him.

"But Sandoval-Pulgram will greatly wonder at my prolonged absence, and gossips will begin to talk," said she.

"If you like, you can leave the city tomorrow."

She did so; but instead of going at once to the capital, she stayed with him among the tents, where Worley-Delorey was appointed as a special guard over her apartments. Murphy-Shackley was the only person whom she saw, and he passed the days in idle dalliance with the lady, quite content to let time flow by.

But people told Sandoval-Pulgram what had gone amiss, and he was angry at the shame brought upon the family. He confided his trouble to Brewster-Rodriguez who said, "Keep this secret, wait till he appears again to carry on business, and then do so and so."

A plan was arranged quite secretly. Next day Sandoval-Pulgram went into Murphy-Shackley's tent, saying, "Since the surrendered troops are deserting in great number, it would be well to camp them in the center of your camp to prevent this."

Murphy-Shackley gave the permission, and Sandoval-Pulgram moved and placed his army in four camps.

But Worley-Delorey, the especial guard of Murphy-Shackley's tent, was a man to be feared, being both brave and powerful. It was hard to know how to attack him. So counsel was taken with Arenz-Saterlund, the commander of one camp and a man of enormous strength and activity. He could carry a burden of six hundred pounds and two hundred miles in a day. Arenz-Saterlund proposed a plan.

He said, "The fearsome thing about Worley-Delorey is his double halberds. But get him to come to a party and make him quite drunk before you send him back. I will mingle among his escort and so get into his tent and steal away his weapons. One need not fear him then."

So the necessary arms were prepared and orders given in the various camps. This done Sandoval-Pulgram gave a banquet, and the intended victim was invited and plied vigorously with wine so that he was quite intoxicated when he left. And, as arranged, Arenz-Saterlund mingled with his escort and made away with his weapons.

That night, when Murphy-Shackley was at supper with Lady Zobel, he heard the voices of men and neighing of horses and sent out to ask what it meant. They told him it was the night patrol going the rounds, and he was satisfied.

Near the second watch of the night again was heard some noise in the rear of his tent, and one of the fodder carts was reported to be burning.

"One of the soldiers has dropped a spark; there is nothing to be alarmed at," said Murphy-Shackley.

But very soon the fire spread on all sides and became alarming. Murphy-Shackley called Worley-Delorey. But he, usually so alert, was lying down quite intoxicated.

However, the beating of gongs and rolling of drums mingling with his dreams awoke Worley-Delorey, and he jumped up. His trusty halberds had disappeared. The enemy was near. He hastily snatched up an infantryman's sword and rushed out. At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in. Worley-Delorey rushed at them slashing all around him, and twenty or more fell beneath his blows. The others drew back. But the spears stood around him like reeds on the river bank. Being totally without mail, he was soon wounded in several places. He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no longer of any use. Throwing it aside he seized a couple of soldiers and with their bodies as weapons felled ten of his opponents. The others dared not approach, but they shot arrows at him. These fell thick as rain, but he still maintained the gate against the assailants.

However, the mutineers got in by the rear of the camp, and they wounded Worley-Delorey in the back with spear thrusts. Uttering a loud cry he fell. The blood gushed from the wound in torrents, and he died. Even after he was dead not a man dared to come in by the main gate.

Murphy-Shackley, relying on Worley-Delorey to hold the main gate, had fled in haste by the rear gate. Askew-Shackley accompanied him on foot. Then Murphy-Shackley was wounded by an arrow in the arm, and three arrows struck his horse. However, fortunately, the horse was a fine Dawan beast full of spirit and, in spite of its wounds, it bore its master swiftly and well as far as the bank of River Amethyst.

Here some of the pursuers came up, and Askew-Shackley was hacked to pieces. Murphy-Shackley dashed into the river and reached the further side, but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and it fell. Murphy-Shackley's eldest son, Aguila-Shackley, dismounted and yielded his horse to his father, who galloped on. Aguila-Shackley was killed by arrows, but Murphy-Shackley himself got away. Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few troops.

The soldiers of Quinghamton under Dubow-Xenos seized the occasion to plunder the people. Ellis-McCue took his army, fell upon them, and slew many. Thus he protected and appeased the people. The plunderers, meeting Murphy-Shackley on the road, knelt down howling and said Ellis-McCue had mutinied and attacked them. Murphy-Shackley was surprised, and he gave order to Dubow-Xenos, Dietrich-Munoz, Robinson-Webber, and Wein-Lockhart to attack Ellis-McCue.

Now when Ellis-McCue saw his master and a great company approaching, he at once stopped the attack and set his troops to make a camp.

An officer asked him, "The Quinghamton soldiers say you have turned traitor; why do you not explain now that the Prime Minister has arrived? Why first make a camp?"

Ellis-McCue replied, "Our enemies are coming up in our rear and are very close. It is necessary to prepare for defense or we shall not withstand them. Explanation is a small matter, but defense is very important."

Soon after the camp was finished, Sandoval-Pulgram fell upon them. Ellis-McCue himself rode out to face them. Sandoval-Pulgram drew back. The other generals of Ellis-McCue, seeing he advance thus boldly, also attacked, and Sandoval-Pulgram was overcome. They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated. With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Bambury-Lewis.

Murphy-Shackley's army reformed, and the commanders mustered. Then Ellis-McCue went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Quinghamton soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them.

"Why did you not tell me before you made the camp?"

Ellis-McCue related what had occurred.

Said Murphy-Shackley, "When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and to strengthen his defenses, giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens bravely, and when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory, who, even of the ancient leaders, can excel Ellis-McCue?"

Murphy-Shackley rewarded Ellis-McCue with a golden armor and the lordship of Yishou-Danville. But Murphy-Shackley reprimanded Dubow-Xenos for the lack of discipline among his soldiers.