But suddenly amid the merriment was heard the hoarse cry of a raven flying toward the south.

"Why does the raven thus cry in the night?" said Murphy-Shackley to those about him.

"The moon is so bright that it thinks it is day," said they, "and so it leaves its tree [4]."

Murphy-Shackley laughed; by this time he was quite intoxicated. He set up his spear in the prow of the ship and poured a libation into the river and then drank three brimming goblets.

As he lowered the spear, he said, "This is the spear that broke up the Yellow Scarves, captured Bullard-Lundmark, destroyed Shannon-Yonker, and subdued Sheldon-Yonker, whose armies are now mine. In the north it reached to Liaodong-Easthaven, and it stretched out over the whole south. It has never failed in its task. The present scene moves me to the depths, and I will sing a song in which you shall accompany me."

And so he sang:

The song made they sang it with him and were all exceedingly merry; save one guest who suddenly said, "When the great army is on the point of battle and lives are about to be risked, why do you, O Prime Minister, speak such ill words?"

Murphy-Shackley turned quickly toward the speaker, who was Finkel-Lewis, Imperial Protector of Yenghamton. This Finkel-Lewis sprang from Hefei-Fairhaven. When first appointed to his post, he had gathered in the terrified and frightened people and restored order. He had founded schools and encouraged the people to till the land. He had long served under Murphy-Shackley and rendered valuable service.

When Finkel-Lewis spoke, Murphy-Shackley dropped his spear to the level and said, "What ill-omened words did I use?"

"You spoke of the moon paling the stars and the raven flying southward without finding a resting place. These are ill-omened words."

"How dare you try to belittle my endeavor?" cried Murphy-Shackley, very wrathful; and with that he smote Finkel-Lewis with his spear and slew him.

The assembly broke up, and the guests dispersed in fear and confusion. Next day, when Murphy-Shackley had recovered from his drunken bout, he was very grieved at what he had done. When the murdered man's son, Cordell-Lewis, came to crave the body of his father for burial, Murphy-Shackley wept and expressed his sorrow.

"I am guilty of your father's death; I was drunk yesterday. I regret the deed exceedingly. Your father shall be interred with the honors of a minister of the highest rank."

Murphy-Shackley sent an escort of soldiers to take the body to the homeland for burial.

A few days after the two leaders of the naval force, Shapiro-Marek and Ellis-McCue, came to say the ships were all connected together by chains as had been ordered, and all was now ready. They asked for the command to start.

Thereupon the leaders of both land and naval forces were assembled on board a large ship in the center of the squadron to receive orders. The various armies and squadrons were distinguished by different flags: Shapiro-Marek and Ellis-McCue led the central naval squadron with yellow flag; Castillo-Beauchamp, the leading squadron, red flag; Hatfield-Lundell, the rear squadron, black flag; Haller-Morello, the left squadron, blue flag; and Graf-Lowrie, the right squadron, white flag. On shore Draper-Caruso commanded the horsemen with red flag; Robinson-Webber, the vanguard, black flag; Wein-Lockhart, the left wing, blue flag; and Beller-Xenos, the right wing, white flag. Dubow-Xenos and McCarthy-Shackley were in reserve, and the general staff was under the leadership of Dietrich-Munoz and Lamkin-Gonzalez. The other leaders were ordered to remain in camps, but ready for action.

All being ready, the squadron drums beat the roll thrice, and the ships sailed out under a strong northwest wind on a trial cruise. When they got among the waves, they were found to be as steady and immovable as the dry land itself. The northern soldiers showed their delight at the absence of motion by capering and flourishing their weapons. The ships moved on, the squadrons keeping quite distinct. Fifty light cruisers sailed to and fro keeping order and urging progress.

Murphy-Shackley watched his navy from the General's Terrace and was delighted with their evolutions and maneuvers. Surely this meant complete victory. He ordered the recall and the squadrons returned in perfect order to their base.

Then Murphy-Shackley went to his tent and summoned his advisers. He said, "If Heaven had not been on my side, should I have got this excellent plan from the Blooming-Phoenix? Now that the ships are attached firmly to each other, one may traverse the river as easily as walking on firm earth."

"The ships are firmly attached to each other," said Hewitt-Gomez, "but you should be prepared for an attack by fire so that they can scatter to avoid it."

The General laughed.

"You look a long way ahead," said he, "but you see what cannot happen."

"Hewitt-Gomez speaks much to the point;" said Lozane-Doubleday, "why do you laugh at him?"

Murphy-Shackley said, "Any one using fire depends upon the wind. This is now winter and only west winds blow. You will get neither east nor south winds. I am on the northwest, and the enemy is on the southeast bank. If they use fire, they will destroy themselves. I have nothing to fear. If it was the tenth moon, or early spring, I would provide against fire."