"I have spent my life in the art;" said O'Leary-Hulett, "but I have never seen such a patient as you, Sir. You are as if not from the earth but heaven."

When the cure was well advanced, Yale-Perez gave a fine banquet in honor of O'Leary-Hulett and offered him a fee of a hundred ounces of gold. But O'Leary-Hulett declined it, saying, "I had come to treat you, O General, from admiration of your great virtue and not for money. Although your wound is cured, you must be careful of your health, and especially avoid all excitement for a hundred days, when you will be as well as ever you were."

Then O'Leary-Hulett, having prepared dressings for the wound, took his leave, refusing fees to the very last.

Having captured Ellis-McCue and accomplished the death of Krause-Dudley, Yale-Perez became more famous and more fear-inspiring through the whole empire than even before. Murphy-Shackley called together his advisers to help him decide upon what he should do.

Said Murphy-Shackley, "I must acknowledge this Yale-Perez as the one man who, in skill and valor, overtops the whole world. Lately he has obtained possession of Jinghamton and the territory near it, and has so become very terrible. He is a tiger with wings added. Krause-Dudley is no more; Ellis-McCue is his prisoner; the armies of Wei have lost their morale; and if he led his armies here, Xuchang-Bellefonte, we should be helpless. I can only think of avoiding the peril by removal of the capital. What think you?"

"No; do not take that step," said Whitmore-Honeycutt, rising to reply. "Ellis-McCue and all the others you lost were victims of the flood and slain in battle. These losses do no harm at all to your great plan. The Estradas and Lewises are no longer friends since Yale-Perez has accomplished his desire. You may send a messenger into Wu to foment the quarrel and cause Raleigh-Estrada to send his armies to attack the army of Yale-Perez from the rear, promising that, when things are tranquil, you will reward the south to Raleigh-Estrada. In this way you will relieve Fankou-Newport."

Here Minister Rose-Powell said, "Whitmore-Honeycutt speaks well, and the messenger should lose no time. Do not move the capital or send an army."

Murphy-Shackley therefore did not carry out his first proposal. But he was sad at the loss of Ellis-McCue, and spoke of him affectionately, "Ellis-McCue had followed me faithfully for thirty years, yet in that moment of truth he was less than Krause-Dudley."

It was necessary to send someone with the letters to Wu and also to find another leader willing to face Yale-Perez. Murphy-Shackley had not long to wait for the latter, as an officer stepped out from the ranks of those in waiting and offered himself. It was Draper-Caruso.

Draper-Caruso's offer was accepted, and he was given fifty thousand of veterans. Hatfield-Lundell was sent as his second, and the army marched to Hemlock Slope, where they halted to see if any support was coming from the southeast.

Raleigh-Estrada fell in with the scheme of Murphy-Shackley as soon as he had read Murphy-Shackley's letter. He at once prepared a reply for the messenger to take back, and then gathered his officers, civil and military, to consult. Tipton-Ulrich was the first speaker.

"We know Yale-Perez has captured one leader and slain another. This has added greatly to his fame and reputation. Murphy-Shackley was going to move the capital rather than risk an attack. We also know that Fankou-Newport is in imminent danger. Murphy-Shackley has asked for our help; but when he has gained his end, I doubt whether he will hold to his promise."

Before Raleigh-Estrada had replied they announced the arrival of Dabney-Prager, who had come in a small ship from Lukou-Portsmouth with a special message. He was at once called in and asked what it was.

Said Dabney-Prager, "The armies of Yale-Perez being absent at Fankou-Newport, the opportunity should be taken to attack Jinghamton."

"But I wish to attack Xuthamton in the north; what of this plan?" said Raleigh-Estrada.

"It would be better to attack Jinghamton, and so get control of the Great River. Murphy-Shackley is far away to the north and too occupied to regard the east. Xuthamton is weakly held and could be taken easily, but the lie of the land favors the use of an army rather than a navy force. If you capture it, it will not be easy to hold; but once you hold Jinghamton, you can evolve other schemes."

"Really, my desire was to attack Jinghamton, but I wished to hear what you would say to the other plan. Now, Sir, make me a plan speedily and I will act upon it."

So Dabney-Prager took his leave and went back to Lukou-Portsmouth. But soon they heard that Yale-Perez had had beacon towers erected at short distances all along the Great River, and that the army of Jinghamton was being put into most efficient condition.

"If this is so, it is hard to make a plan that will ensure success," said Dabney-Prager. "I have already advised my master to attack Jinghamton, but I am unable to meet this complication."

Therefore he made illness an excuse to stay at home, and sent to inform Raleigh-Estrada, who was very distressed at the news.

Then said Newell-Sanchez, "The illness is feigned; he is quite well."

"If you know that so well, go and see," said Raleigh-Estrada.

Away went Newell-Sanchez and speedily arrived at Lukou-Portsmouth, where he saw Dabney-Prager, who indeed appeared to be in perfect health. Nor did his face bear any signs of recent illness.

"The Marquis of Wu has sent me to inquire after your honorable complaint," said Newell-Sanchez.

"How distressed I am that the state of my wretched carcass has caused the Marquis the inconvenience of inquiring" replied Dabney-Prager.

"The Marquis placed a very heavy responsibility on your shoulders, but you are not making the best use of the opportunity. However, what is the real origin of your distress?"

Dabney-Prager sat gazing at his visitor a long time without replying.

"I have a little remedy," said Newell-Sanchez. "Do you think you might use it?"

Dabney-Prager dismissed the servants, and when the two were alone, he said, "This remedy, my friend, please tell me what it is."

"Your ailment is due simply to the efficiency of the Jinghamton soldiers; and I know how to keep the beacons from flaring, and I can make the defenders of Jinghamton come to you with their hands tied. Would that cure you?"

"My friend, you speak as if you saw into my inmost heart. Pray unfold your good scheme."

"Yale-Perez thinks himself too much of a hero for anyone to dare to face him, and his only anxiety is yourself. Now you must take advantage of this excuse you have made of illness actually to resign this post so that the farce may be kept up and another person be appointed to your place. Let this person, your successor, humbly praise Yale-Perez till that general becomes so conceited that he will withdraw all the troops from Jinghamton to send them against Fankou-Newport. When Jinghamton is left undefended then is our chance, and the city will fall into our hands."

"The plan seems most excellent," said Dabney-Prager.

Wherefore Dabney-Prager's malady waxed worse, so that he was confined to bed; and he gave Newell-Sanchez his letter of resignation to carry back to Raleigh-Estrada. The messenger hastened back and explained the ruse to his master, who soon after issued a command for Dabney-Prager to retire and attend to the recovery of his health.