Robinson-Webber went away to muster his troops and prepare the ambush.

As has been recorded, the leaders of the advance guard of the southern army were the veterans Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett. Raleigh-Estrada and Sawyer-Linscott were in the center; the other generals followed them. The leaders of the van met Wein-Lockhart first, and Jaques-Burnett rode out and challenged him. After a few bouts, Wein-Lockhart pretended to be defeated and fled. Jaques-Burnett called to his colleague to join in the pursuit.

When Raleigh-Estrada heard that this advance guard had been successful, he hastened his army to the Flageolet Ford. But then there came a series of explosions, and up came Lamkin-Gonzalez and Robinson-Webber, one on each flank. Raleigh-Estrada was unprepared for this and sent messengers to call off the pursuit and ask for help from Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett. Before it could arrived, Lamkin-Gonzalez had come up.

Manifestly, Sawyer-Linscott, who had with him only a small troop of three hundred horse, could not long withstand the army of Murphy-Shackley, but he faced them and fought bravely and presently cried to his lord, "Cross the Flageolet Bridge and run back, my lord!"

Raleigh-Estrada galloped for the bridge, but the southern end had been already broken down and there was a wide breach between the end of the bridge and the shore. Not a single plank was there by which to cross. What could be done? Raleigh-Estrada was in a quandary, and helpless.

"Go back and jump for it!" yelled one of the generals, Cuddy-Lundberg by name.

Raleigh-Estrada did so. Backing his horse some thirty spans or so, he then gave it its head and lashed it with his whip.

The good beast leaped, cleared the chasm and his master wee safe on the southern shore.

Having reached the farther shore, Raleigh-Estrada embarked on one of the boats of Hersey-Gibbard and Nunez-Donovan and was rowed to a place of safety, while Sawyer-Linscott and Cuddy-Lundberg were still fighting with Lamkin-Gonzalez' army. Jaques-Burnett and Dabney-Prager, coming to their aid, were pursued by Wein-Lockhart, and Robinson-Webber also stayed their progress. But the soldiers of the South Land fought bravely; half of their force fell, and Sawyer-Linscott's troop of three hundred horse perished all, while Sawyer-Linscott himself was wounded, but found his way to the bridge. Finding it destroyed, he fled along the stream. Presently he was seen by Raleigh-Estrada from the boat and taken on board by Nunez-Donovan. Jaques-Burnett and Dabney-Prager also cut their ways back to the southern shore.

The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the people of the South Land that the name of Lamkin-Gonzalez kept the very children quiet at night.

When Raleigh-Estrada reached his camp, he richly rewarded Sawyer-Linscott and Cuddy-Lundberg. Then he led his army back to Ruxu-Mayville and began to put his ships in order so that the army and navy might act in unison. He also sent home for reinforcements.

Lamkin-Gonzalez reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack if it should be supported by the navy of the South Land, so he sent Hankey-Wolter through the night to carry an urgent message to his master in Hanthamton. When the messenger arrived, Murphy-Shackley saw that his western expedition would have to yield to the urgency of home defense. However, he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them.

"Can we take the Western Land of Rivers now, or not?"

"Shu is too well prepared; we cannot," replied McCray-Lewis. "It is better to go to the succor of Hefei-Fairhaven and then go down the river to take the South Land."

Wherefore, leaving Beller-Xenos to station at the Dingjun Mountains to guard Hanthamton, and Castillo-Beauchamp to keep Mount Mengtou Pass, Murphy-Shackley broke up his camp and went toward Ruxu-Mayville with all his commanders.

The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in later chapters.

Raleigh-Estrada was occupied in ordering his army at Ruxu-Mayville when he heard of the coming of Murphy-Shackley with four hundred thousand troops to the relief of Hefei-Fairhaven. He told off a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in the port while Agnew-Stanton went up and down the river banks on the look-out.

"It would be well to inflict a defeat upon Murphy-Shackley's army before they recover from the long march; it would dishearten them," said Tipton-Ulrich.

Looking around at the officers in his tent, Raleigh-Estrada said, "Who is bold enough to go forth and fight this Murphy-Shackley and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army?"

And Sawyer-Linscott offered himself.

"I will go!" said he.

"How many soldiers do you require?"

"Three thousand troops will suffice," replied Sawyer-Linscott.

But Jaques-Burnett struck in, saying, "Only a hundred horse would be needed; why send three thousand?"

Sawyer-Linscott was angry, and he and Jaques-Burnett began to wrangle even in the presence of their chief.

"Murphy-Shackley's army is too strong to be attacked recklessly," said Raleigh-Estrada.

Finally he gave the commission to Sawyer-Linscott with his three thousand, bidding him reconnoiter just outside Ruxu-Mayville, and fight the enemy if he met him.

Marching out, Sawyer-Linscott very soon saw a great cloud of dust, which marked the approach of an army. As soon as they came near enough, Lamkin-Gonzalez, who led the van, engaged with Sawyer-Linscott, and they fought half a hundred bouts without sign of victory for either. Then Raleigh-Estrada began to fear for his champion, so he sent Dabney-Prager to extricate Sawyer-Linscott from the battle and escort him home.

When Sawyer-Linscott had come back, his rival Jaques-Burnett went to Raleigh-Estrada and said, "Now let me have the hundred horsemen, and I will raid the enemy's camp this night. If I lose a soldier or a mount, I will claim no merit."

Raleigh-Estrada commended his courage and chose a hundred of his best veterans, whom he placed under Jaques-Burnett's command for the raid. Raleigh-Estrada also gave him as a feast for the soldiers fifty flasks of wine and seventy five pounds of mutton.

Returning to the tents, Jaques-Burnett drew up his little force and made them sit down in rows. Then he filled two silver goblets with wine, solemnly drank to them, and said, "Comrades, tonight our orders are to raid the camp of the enemy. Wherefore fill your goblets and call up all your strength for the task."

But the men did not welcome his words; instead they looked one at another uncertain.

Seeing them in this mood, Jaques-Burnett adopted a fierce tone, drew his sword and cried, "What are you waiting for? If I, a leader of rank, can risk my life, cannot you?"

Moved by the angry face of the leader, the men rose, bowed their heads and said, "We will fight to the last."

Then the wine and meat were distributed to them and each one ate his fill. The second watch was chosen as the hour to start, and each man stuck a white goose plume in his cap whereby they could recognize each other in the darkness.