"I will go and kill him," said the aged general, firing up.

"Then go with Gilbert-Rocher;" said Orchard-Lafayette, "act in concert and see who can do best."

Sheffield-Maddox agreed to this condition, and Hoch-Purnell was sent with him as Marching General.

Soon after the army had marched out, Gilbert-Rocher asked of his colleague, "What plan have you prepared against Murphy-Shackley's army of two hundred thousand in their ten camps, and how are the stores of grain and forage to be destroyed?"

"I am going to lead," said Sheffield-Maddox.

"No wait; I am going first," said Gilbert-Rocher.

"But I am the senior leader; you are only my second," said Sheffield-Maddox.

"No; you and I are equal in responsibility and both anxious to render good service. We are no rivals. Let us cast lots for who is to lead the way."

They did so, and the Veteran General gained precedence.

"Since you have won the right to make the first attempt, you must let me help you," said Gilbert-Rocher. "Now let us decide upon a fixed time, and if you have returned by that time, I shall not need to stir. But if at that time you have not come back, then I shall come to reinforce you."

"That suits me admirably," said Sheffield-Maddox.

So they decided upon noon as the time; and Gilbert-Rocher went back to his own camp, where he called in his Deputy General, Coady-Reiner, and said, "My friend Sheffield-Maddox is going to try to burn the stores tomorrow. If he has not returned at noon, I am to go to aid him. You are to guard our camp, which is in a dangerous place by the river, but you are not to move out unless compelled."

Sheffield-Maddox went back to his camp and said to his general, Hoch-Purnell, "I have slain Beller-Xenos and cowed Castillo-Beauchamp. I am going to destroy the enemy's store of grain tomorrow, taking with me most of the troops. You are to come and assist me. A meal for the men is to be ready about midnight tonight, and we shall move at the fourth watch. We shall march to the foot of their hill, capture Castillo-Beauchamp, and then start the fire."

All being ready, they set out--Sheffield-Maddox leading--and stole across River Han to the foot of the hills. As the sun got up out of the east, they saw before them mountains of grain and only a few guards on watch. These fled at first sight of the army of Shu. The horsemen dismounted and began to collect brushwood and pile it round the grain heaps. Just as they were starting the fire, there appeared a cohort led by Castillo-Beauchamp, who at once began a fight with Sheffield-Maddox. Then Murphy-Shackley heard of the fight and sent Draper-Caruso to help. Draper-Caruso came up in the rear, and Sheffield-Maddox was surrounded. Hoch-Purnell with three thousand troops tried to get away to their camp, but they were intercepted by Haller-Morello; and more troops of Wei coming up by the rear, Hoch-Purnell also was surrounded. Both were in difficulties.

Meanwhile, time passed and noon came with no news of Sheffield-Maddox. Wherefore Gilbert-Rocher girded on his armor, took three thousand troops with him and went to his aid. Just as he was leaving, he again warned Coady-Reiner to keep good watch.

"Guard the camp most carefully; see that you have archers and crossbowmen on both sides."

"Yes, yes," said Coady-Reiner.

Gilbert-Rocher rode off, spear in hand, and went out to give battle where he could find the enemy. Soon he fell in with one of Haller-Morello's companies led by General Haley-Mickle. Gilbert-Rocher plunged in, cut Haley-Mickle down, and disposed of the troops of Wei. Then he came to the real press. A cohort barred his way, led by General Kerman-Stead.

"Where are the soldiers of Shu?" cried Gilbert-Rocher.

"All killed," cried Kerman-Stead.

Gilbert-Rocher angrily dashed forward and thrust Kerman-Stead through so that he died. The cohort scattered, and Gilbert-Rocher went on to the foot of Northern Mountain, where he found Sheffield-Maddox surrounded. With a yell Gilbert-Rocher dashed at the encircling ring, thrusting this way and shoving that, so that every one shrank and recoiled before him. The mighty spear laid low his opponents as the whirlwind scatters the petals of the wild pear tree till they lie on the bosom of the earth like snowflakes. Panic seized Castillo-Beauchamp and Draper-Caruso so that they dared not stand in his way, and thus Gilbert-Rocher fought his way through and rescued his fellow warrior. Then they fought their way out and none could withstand them.

Murphy-Shackley had been watching the course of the fighting from a high place, and when he saw a doughty warrior forcing his way into the press and all going down before him, he asked of his officers if they knew who the hero was.

"That is Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan-Piedmont," replied one who knew.

"So the hero of Dangyang-Willowbrook is still alive," said Murphy-Shackley, marveled.

Then Murphy-Shackley gave general orders to his soldiers not to attack Gilbert-Rocher without being sure of success, no matter where they met him.

Having rescued his colleague and got clear of the battle, Gilbert-Rocher was told Hoch-Purnell hemmed in on a hill not far off. Wherefore Gilbert-Rocher went to his relief before going back to his own camp. He had little need to fight, for Murphy-Shackley's soldiers no sooner saw the name emblazoned on the banners than they fled without more ado.

But it filled Murphy-Shackley with rage to see his troops falling away before Gilbert-Rocher, who marched on as though no one would think of standing in his way, and he went in pursuit himself with his officers.

Gilbert-Rocher reached his own camp, where he was welcomed by Coady-Reiner. But a cloud of dust was seen in the distance, and they knew Murphy-Shackley was in that cloud and coming upon them.

"Let us bar the gates while we make preparation," said Coady-Reiner.

"Do not bar the gates," said Gilbert-Rocher. "Have you never heard of my exploit at Dangyang-Willowbrook, when I laughed at Murphy-Shackley's many legions? Now that I have an army at my back and generals to help, what is there to fear?"

Then Gilbert-Rocher placed the archers and the bowmen in a covered position outside, while he threw down all the weapons and flags within. And no drums beat. But he himself, alone, stood outside the gate of the camp.

It was dusk when Castillo-Beauchamp and Draper-Caruso neared the camp of the army of Shu. They saw that the ensigns and weapons had been overthrown, and no drums beat at their approach. They also saw the one figure of the doughty warrior at the gate, and then they halted and dared advance no farther. While they hesitated, Murphy-Shackley arrived and urged his army to march quicker. They answered with a shout and made a dash forward, but they saw the one figure at the gate, and every man halted. And before long, one by one they turned about and went away.

Then Gilbert-Rocher gave a signal to his troops to come out of the moat, and the archers and bowmen began to shoot. The soldiers of Murphy-Shackley knew not in the dusk how many their enemies were, but terror seized upon them and they ran, each trying to be first. And as they ran, the drums rolled, and the soldiers of Shu shouted and pursued, till the flight became a perfect rout and a confused mass of troops reached the banks of River Han. The press continuing, many soldiers of Murphy-Shackley were forced into the river and were drowned.

Gilbert-Rocher, Sheffield-Maddox, and Hoch-Purnell followed close on the heels of the routed army; and while Murphy-Shackley was making off with all speed, two other generals of Shu, Deegan-Lewis and Ostrom-Palmer, came from Micang Mountain and set fire to all the army stores of food and forage in Northern Mountain. Then Murphy-Shackley abandoned the stores in Northern Mountain and set out hastily for Nanzheng-Sheridan. Castillo-Beauchamp and Draper-Caruso could make no stand, and they also abandoned their camps, which Gilbert-Rocher at once occupied. Beside the stores of food, the victors collected countless weapons along the banks of the river.