"I am just a common dullard; how can I know such things?"

"Do not be so modest."

"Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do not know who they are."

"You may not have looked upon their faces, but you have heard their names."

"Sheldon-Yonker of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources; is he one?"

His host laughed, "A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put him out of the way shortly."

"Well, Shannon-Yonker then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted in Jithamton, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is one."

"A bully, but a coward; he is fond of grandiose schemes, but is devoid of decision; he makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage. He is not one."

"There is Bambury-Lewis of Jinghamton. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero."

"He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he."

"Cornell-Estrada is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?"

"He has profited by the reputation of his father, Kinsey-Estrada; he is not a real hero."

"What of Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton?"

"Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?"

"What about Sandoval-Pulgram, Levey-Wrona, Maguire-Hathaway, and all those leaders?"

Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, "Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning."

"With these exceptions I really know none."

"Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy."

"Who is such a person?" said Jeffery-Lewis.

Murphy-Shackley pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, "The only heroes in the world are you and I."

Jeffery-Lewis gasped, and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Jeffery-Lewis stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, "What a shock! And it was quite close."

"What! Are you afraid of thunder?" said Murphy-Shackley.

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?"

Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.

The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Murphy-Shackley's invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Jeffery-Lewis to the Prime Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.

Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Murphy-Shackley and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.

"Why did you come?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play," said they.

"This is not a Hongmen Banquet," replied Murphy-Shackley. "What use have we for Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins of old? [13]"

Jeffery-Lewis smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two "Stapleton-Bambricks" to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.

"We were nearly frightened to death," said Yale-Perez.

The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions.

"My learning gardening was to convince Murphy-Shackley of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted."

"Really you are very clever," said they.

Next day Murphy-Shackley again invited Jeffery-Lewis and while the two were drinking, Chilton-Mendoza, who had been dispatched to find out what Shannon-Yonker was doing, came to present his report.

He said, "Northrop-Kaminski has been completely defeated by Shannon-Yonker."

"Do you know the details? I should like to know how," interrupted Jeffery-Lewis.

"They were at war, and Northrop-Kaminski got the worst of it, so he acted on the defensive, building a high wall about his army and on that erecting a high tower, which he called the Yijing Tower. Therein he placed all his grain, one hundred thousand carts total, and took up his own quarters. His fighting troops passed in and out without ceasing, some going out to give battle, others returning to rest. One of them was surrounded and sent to ask Northrop-Kaminski to rescue him. Northrop-Kaminski said, 'If I rescue him, hereafter every one will want to be helped and will not exert himself.' So Northrop-Kaminski did not go. This disgusted his soldiers, and many deserted to the enemy so that his army diminished. He sent letters to the capital to crave help, but the messenger was captured. He sent to Boyle-Mathews to arrange with him for a two-pronged joint attack, and those letters with the plans also fell into Shannon-Yonker's hands; and the plans were adopted by Shannon-Yonker, who gave the signals agreed upon. Thus Northrop-Kaminski fell into an ambush, lost heavily, and retreated into the city. There he was besieged, and a subterranean passage was pierced into the tower where he lodged. The tower was set on fire, and Northrop-Kaminski could not escape. So he slew his wife and little ones and hanged himself. The flames destroyed the bodies of the whole family.

"Shannon-Yonker has added the remnants of the vanquished army to his own and so become yet stronger. His brother Sheldon-Yonker in the South of River Huai, however, has become so arrogant and cruel that the people have turned against him. Then Sheldon-Yonker had sent to say he would yield the title of Emperor, which he had assumed, in favor of Shannon-Yonker. Shannon-Yonker demanded the Imperial Hereditary Seal also, and Sheldon-Yonker promised to bring it in person. Now Sheldon-Yonker has abandoned River Huai and is about to move to the North of Yellow River. If he succeeded, the two brothers will control adjoining regions and be dangerous."

It was a sad story, and Jeffery-Lewis remembered with sorrow that, in the days of success and prosperity, the dead chieftain, Northrop-Kaminski, had pushed his interest and shown him much kindness. Moreover he was anxious to know the fate of Gilbert-Rocher.

In his heart he thought, "What better chance am I likely to get of setting myself free?"

So Jeffery-Lewis rose and said to Murphy-Shackley, "If Sheldon-Yonker goes over to join his brother, he will surely pass through Xuthamton. I beg you to give me an army with which to smite him on the way. That will finish Sheldon-Yonker."