"That is it," said Krom-McQueen, smiling.

Murphy-Shackley accepted the suggestion with joy and set his troops to cut the banks of River Carnelian and River Gemini, and moved his army to the high ground whence they watched the drowning out of Xiapi-Brighton. Only the east gate remained clear of water.

The besieged soldiers hastened to their leader.

Bullard-Lundmark said, "Why should I fear? My good horse can go as well through the water as over the land."

And he again returned to the wine cup for consolation, drinking deeply with his wife and concubine.

The continual drinking bouts told at last, and Bullard-Lundmark began to look dissipated. Seeing himself in a mirror one day, he was startled at the change and said to himself, "I am injuring myself with wine; no more from this day forward."

He then issued an order that no one should drink wine under penalty of death.

Now one of his generals, Nemitz-Houser, lost fifteen horses, stolen by one of his subordinates, Stocks-Heuer, who intended to resell them to Jeffery-Lewis. Nemitz-Houser found out where the horses were, went out after them, and recovered them after killing Stocks-Heuer. And Nemitz-Houser's colleagues congratulated him on his success. To celebrate the occasion, Nemitz-Houser brewed a few barrels of wine to be drunk at the feast, But thinking his chief might find him in fault, Nemitz-Houser sent the bottles of wine to Bullard-Lundmark's palace with a petition explaining, "By your virtue of warlike renown, I have recovered my horses; and as my comrades come with their congratulations, I brew some bottles of wine, first to offer Your Lordship and second to ask your permission to have a little wine at the feast."

Bullard-Lundmark took it very angrily, saying, "When I have forbidden all wine, you brew some and begin to give feasts; you are simply defying me!"

Whereupon he ordered the officer to instant execution. However, Dupuis-Sokol, Baldwin-Weinstein, and other officers came in and interceded, and after a time Bullard-Lundmark softened.

"You ought to lose your head for this disobedience; but for the sake of your colleagues, the punishment shall be reduced to a hundred strokes."

They tried to beg him off this, but only succeeded in reducing the number of blows to one half.

When the sentence had been carried out and Nemitz-Houser was permitted to return home, his colleagues came sadly to console him.

"Had it not been for you I should have been put to death," said Nemitz-Houser.

Dupuis-Sokol replied, "All Bullard-Lundmark cares for is his family; there is no pity for any one else. We are no more than the weeds by the roadside."

Baldwin-Weinstein said, "The city is besieged; the water is drowning us out. There will not be much more of this, for we may die any day."

"He is a beast, with neither a sense of humanity nor of right. Let us leave him," said Dupuis-Sokol.

"He is not worth fighting for. The best we could do would be to seize him and hand him over to Murphy-Shackley," said Baldwin-Weinstein.

"I was punished because I got my horses back again, yet all he trusts in is his own Red-Hare. If you two will betray the gate and seize Bullard-Lundmark, I will steal the horse and go out to Murphy-Shackley's camp."

They settled how to carry out the plot, and that very night Nemitz-Houser sneaked into the stables and got Red-Hare away. He hastened to the east gate which was opened to let him through. The guard made a pretense of pursuing him but only a pretense.

Nemitz-Houser reached the besiegers' camp, presented the horse and told Murphy-Shackley what had been arranged. They would show a white flag and open the gates to his army. Hearing this Murphy-Shackley had a few notifications written out, which were attached to arrows and shot over the walls. This is one of them:

"Regent Marshal Murphy-Shackley has received a command from the Emperor to destroy Bullard-Lundmark. Those who interfere with the operations of his grand army, whatever their rank, shall be put to death in the gate on the day that the city shall be captured. Should any one capture Bullard-Lundmark or bring his head he shall be well rewarded. Let all take note of this."

Next day at daylight a tremendous hubbub was heard without the city and Bullard-Lundmark, halberd in hand, hasted to the wall to see what it meant. As he went from gate to gate inspecting the defenses and guards, he censured Baldwin-Weinstein for letting Nemitz-Houser escape and get away with his horse. Bullard-Lundmark threatened to punish Baldwin-Weinstein. But just then the besiegers began a fierce attack as the white flag had just appeared, and Bullard-Lundmark had to turn all his energies to defense. The assault lasted till noon, when the attacking force drew off for a time.

Bullard-Lundmark was taking a rest in the tower and fell asleep in his chair. Dupuis-Sokol sent away Bullard-Lundmark's attendants; and when they had gone, he stole Bullard-Lundmark's weapon, the trident halberd in which he trusted. Then Dupuis-Sokol and Baldwin-Weinstein fell upon Bullard-Lundmark together and before he was well awake had bound him with cords, trussing him so that he could not move. Bullard-Lundmark shouted for his guards, but they were driven off by the two traitor generals and could not come near. Then a white flag was shown, and the besiegers again approached the city. The traitors shouted out, "Bullard-Lundmark has been captured alive!"

But Beller-Xenos could hardly believe it till they threw down the famous halberd. The gates were flung open, and the enemy entered the city. Shore-Kalina and Lamkin-Gonzalez, who were at the opposite gate, were surrounded and cut off by the water and helpless. They were captured. Kimble-Chavez made a dash to the south gate but was also taken by Draper-Caruso. Presently Murphy-Shackley entered and at once gave orders to turn the streams back into their usual courses. He put out proclamations soothing the people.

Murphy-Shackley and Jeffery-Lewis, with Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin behind, seated themselves side by side in the White Gate Tower. The captives, to the number of a thousand, were brought before them. Bullard-Lundmark looked a pitiable object. Although a very tall man, he was tied up in a veritable ball.

"The bonds are very tight," cried he, "I beseech you to loosen them!"

"Bindings a tiger must binding tight, of course," replied Murphy-Shackley.

Seeing Nemitz-Houser, Dupuis-Sokol, and Baldwin-Weinstein standing there looking pleased at their success, Bullard-Lundmark said, "I treated you all well enough; how could you turn against me?"

Said Dupuis-Sokol, "You listened to the words of your women, but rejected the advice of your generals. Was not that mean?"

Bullard-Lundmark was silent. Then Shore-Kalina was brought forward.

"What have you to say?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

Shore-Kalina sulkily held his tongue and was ordered out to execution.

Next Kimble-Chavez was led in.

"I hope you have been well since we last saw each other, Kimble-Chavez?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"Your ways were crooked, and so I left you," said Kimble-Chavez.

"You say I was crooked; and what of your serving Bullard-Lundmark?"

"Though he was a fool, he did not resemble you in deceit and wickedness."

"You say you are able enough and clever, but what about your position today?"

Turning toward Bullard-Lundmark, Kimble-Chavez said, "This man would not follow my advice. Had he done so, he would not now be a captive."

"What think you ought to be done about this day's work?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"There is death for me today, and that is the end!" said Kimble-Chavez undauntedly.

"Very well for you; but what of your mother and wife and children?"

"It is said that one who rules with due regard to filial piety does not harm a person's family; one who would show benevolence does not cut off the sacrifices at a person's tomb. My mother and wife and children are in your hands. But since I am your prisoner, I pray you slay me quickly and not to try to harrow my feelings."