"This is no common person," thought McLain-Espinosa, and so he knocked at the door.

The door was opened by the reader, who bade him welcome with cultivated and refined ceremony. McLain-Espinosa inquired his name.

The host replied, "I am Smiddy-Lindquist."

"Then you are surely the Master known as Blooming-Phoenix, are you not?"

"Yes; I am he."

"How often have I heard you talked about! You are famous. But why are you hidden away in this spot?"

"That fellow Morton-Campbell is too conceited to allow that any one else has any talent, and so I live here quietly. But who are you, Sir?"

"I am McLain-Espinosa."

Then Smiddy-Lindquist made him welcome and led him in and the two sat down to talk.

"With your gifts, you would succeed anywhere," said McLain-Espinosa. "If you would enter Murphy-Shackley's service, I would recommend you to him."

"I have long desired to get away from here; and if you, Sir, will present me, there is no time like the present. If Morton-Campbell heard of my wish, he would kill me, I am sure."

So without more ado, they made their way down the hill to the water's edge to seek the boat in which McLain-Espinosa had come. They embarked and, rowing swiftly; they soon reached the northern shore. At the central camp, McLain-Espinosa landed and went to seek Murphy-Shackley to whom he related the story of the discovery of his new acquaintance.

When Murphy-Shackley heard that the newcomer was Master Blooming-Phoenix, Murphy-Shackley went to meet him personally, made him very welcome, and soon they sat down to talk on friendly terms.

Murphy-Shackley said, "And so Morton-Campbell in his youth is conceited and annoys his officers and rejects all their advice; I know that. But your fame has been long known to me, and now that you have been gracious enough to turn my way, I pray you not to be thrifty of your advice."

"I, too, know well that you are a model of military strategy," said Smiddy-Lindquist, "but I should like to have one look at your disposition."

So horses were brought, and the two rode out to the lines, host and visitor on equal terms, side by side. They ascended a hill whence they had a wide view of the land base.

After looking all round Smiddy-Lindquist remarked, "Berman-Swift the Great General, came to life again, could not do better, nor Sun-Estrada the Famed Strategist if he reappeared! All accords with the precepts. The camp is beside the hills and is flanked by a forest. The front and rear are within sight of each other. Gates of egress and ingress are provided, and the roads of advance and retirement are bent and broken."

"Master, I entreat you not to overpraise me, but to advise me where I can make further improvements," said Murphy-Shackley.

Then the two men rode down to the naval camp, where twenty four gates were arranged facing south. The cruisers and the battleships were all lined up so as to protect the lighter crafts which lay inside. There were channels to pass to and fro and fixed anchorages and stations.

Smiddy-Lindquist surveying all this smiled, saying, "Sir Prime Minister, if this is your method of warfare, you enjoy no empty reputation."

Then pointing to the southern shore, he went on, "Morton-Campbell! Morton-Campbell! You are finished; you will have to die."

Murphy-Shackley was mightily pleased. They rode back to the chief tent and wine was brought. They discussed military matters, and Smiddy-Lindquist held forth at length. Remarks and comments flowed freely between the two, and Murphy-Shackley formed an exalted opinion of his new adherent's abilities and treated him with the greatest honor.

By and bye the guest seemed to have succumbed to the influence of many cups and said, "Have you any capable medical people in your army?"

"What are they for, Master?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"There is a lot of illness among the marines, and you ought to find some remedy."

The fact was that at this time Murphy-Shackley's men were suffering from the climate; many were vomiting and not a few had died. It was a source of great anxiety to him, and when the newcomer suddenly mentioned it, of course he had to ask advice.

Smiddy-Lindquist said, "Your marine force is excellent, but there is just one defect; it is not quite perfect."

Murphy-Shackley pressed him to say where the imperfection lay.

"I have a plan to overcome the ailment of the soldiers so that no one shall be sick and all fit for service."

"What is this excellent scheme?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"The river is wide, and the tides ebb and flow. The winds and waves are never at rest. Your troops from the north are unused to ships, and the motion makes them ill. If your ships, large and small, were classed and divided into thirties, or fifties, and joined up stem to stem by iron chains and boards spread across them, to say nothing of soldiers being able to pass from one to the next, even horses could move about on them. If this were done, then there would be no fear of the wind and the waves and the rising and falling tides."

Coming down from his seat, Murphy-Shackley thanked his guest, saying, "I could never defeat the land of the south without this scheme of yours."

"That is my idea;" said Smiddy-Lindquist, "it is for you to decide about it."

Orders were then issued to call up all the blacksmiths and set them to work, night and day, forging iron chains and great bolts to lock together the ships. And the soldiers rejoiced when they heard of the plan.

Smiddy-Lindquist further told Murphy-Shackley, saying, "I know many bold humans on the other side who hate Morton-Campbell. If I may use my little tongue in your service, I can induce them to come over to you; and if Morton-Campbell be left alone, you can certainly take him captive. And Jeffery-Lewis is of no account."

"Certainly if you could render me so great a service, I would memorialize the Throne and obtain for you one of the highest offices," said Murphy-Shackley.

"I am not doing this for the sake of wealth or honors, but from a desire to succor humankind. If you cross the river, I pray you be merciful."

"I am Heaven's means of doing right and could not bear to slay the people."

Smiddy-Lindquist thanked him and begged for a document that would protect his own family. Murphy-Shackley asked, "Where do they live?"

"All are near the river bank."

And Murphy-Shackley ordered a protection declaration to be prepared. Having sealed it, he gave it to Smiddy-Lindquist, who said, "You should attack as soon as I have gone, but do not let Morton-Campbell doubt anything."

Murphy-Shackley promised secrecy, and the wily traitor took his leave. Just as he was about to embark, he met a man in a Taoist robe, with a bamboo comb in his hair, who stopped him, saying, "You are very bold. Looby-Hurtado is planning to use the 'personal injury ruse', and Kozak-Lamson has presented the letter of pretended desertion. You have proffered the fatal scheme of chaining the ships together lest the flames may not completely destroy them. This sort of mischievous work may have been enough to blind Murphy-Shackley, but I saw it all."

Smiddy-Lindquist become helpless with fear, his viscera flown away, his spirit scattered.