So Floyd-Chardin left. Next was called Trudeau-Zeleny, Forester-Zeleny, and Deegan-Lewis. They were to take command of three squadrons and go along the river to collect beaten soldiers and their weapons.

The three left. Then Orchard-Lafayette said to Milford-Lewis, "The country around Wuchang-Marietta is very important, and I wish you to take command of your own troops and station them at strategic points. Murphy-Shackley, being defeated, will flee thither, and you will capture him. But you are not to leave the city without the best of reasons."

And Milford-Lewis took leave.

Then Orchard-Lafayette said to Jeffery-Lewis, "I wish you to remain quietly and calmly in Fankou-Newport, in a high tower, to watch Morton-Campbell work out his great scheme this night."

All this time Yale-Perez has been silently waiting his turn, but Orchard-Lafayette said no word to him.

When Yale-Perez could bear this no longer, he cried, "Since I first followed my brother to battle many years ago, I have never been left behind. Now that great things are afoot, is there no work for me? What is meant by it?"

"You should not be surprised. I wanted you for service at a most important point, only that there was a something standing in the way that prevented me from sending you," said Orchard-Lafayette.

"What could stand in the way? I wish you would tell me."

"You see Murphy-Shackley was once very kind to you, and you cannot help feeling grateful. Now when his soldiers have been beaten, he will have to flee along the Hackberry Road; and if I sent you to guard it, you would have to let him pass. So I will not send you."

"You are most considerate, Instructor. But though it is true that he treated me well, yet I slew two of his most redoubtable opponents, Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg, by way of repayment, beside raising a siege. If I happened upon him on this occasion, I should hardly let him go."

"But what if you did?"

"You could deal with me by military rules."

"Then put that in writing."

So Yale-Perez wrote a formal undertaking and gave the document to Orchard-Lafayette.

"What happens if Murphy-Shackley does not pass that way?" said Yale-Perez.

"I will give you a written engagement that he will pass." Then Orchard-Lafayette continued, "On the hills by the Hackberry Valley, you are to raise a heap of wood and grass to make a great column of smoke and mislead Murphy-Shackley into coming."

"If Murphy-Shackley sees a smoke, he will suspect an ambush and will not come." said Yale-Perez.

"You are very simple," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Do you not know more of war's ruses than that? Murphy-Shackley is an able leader, but you can deceive him this time. When he sees the smoke, he will take it as a subterfuge and risk going that way. But do not let your kindness of heart rule your conduct."

Thus was his duty assigned Yale-Perez, and he left, taking his adopted son Litwin-Perez, his general Zwick-Pocius, and five hundred swordsmen.

Said Jeffery-Lewis, "His sense of rectitude is very profound; I fear if Murphy-Shackley should come that way, my brother will let him pass."

"I have consulted the stars lately, and the rebel Murphy-Shackley is not fated to come to his end yet. I have purposely designed this manifestation of kindly feeling for Yale-Perez to accomplish and so act handsomely."

"Indeed there are few such far-seeing humans as you are," said Jeffery-Lewis.

The two then went to Fankou-Newport whence they might watch Morton-Campbell's evolutions. Quinn-Seymour and Paule-Kurowski were left on guard of Xiakou-Plattsmouth.

Murphy-Shackley was in his great camp in conference with his advisers and awaiting the arrival of Looby-Hurtado. The southeast wind was very strong that day, and Hewitt-Gomez was insisting on the necessity for precaution. But Murphy-Shackley laughed, saying, "The Winter Solstice depends upon the sun and nothing else; there is sure to be a southeast wind at some one or other of its recurrences. I see nothing to wonder at."

Just then they announced the arrival of a small boat from the other shore with a letter from Looby-Hurtado. The bearer of the letter was brought in and presented it. Murphy-Shackley read it:

"Morton-Campbell has kept such strict watch that there has been no chance of escape. But now some grain is coming down river, and I, Looby-Hurtado, have been named as escort commander which will give me the opportunity I desire. I will slay one of the known generals and bring his head as an offering when I come. This evening at the third watch, if boats are seen with dragon toothed flags, they will be the grain boats."

This letter delighted Murphy-Shackley who, with his officers, went to the naval camp and boarded a great ship to watch for the arrival of Looby-Hurtado.

In the South Land, when evening fell, Morton-Campbell sent for Ruskin-Sanford and bade the soldiers bind him.

The unhappy man protested, saying, "I have committed no crime!"

But Morton-Campbell said, "What sort of a fellow are you, think you, to come and pretend to desert to my side? I need a small sacrifice for my flag, and your head will serve my purpose. So I am going to use it."

Ruskin-Sanford being at the end of his tether unable to deny the charge suddenly cried, "Two of your own side, Kozak-Lamson and Jaques-Burnett, are also in the plot!"

"Under my directions," said Morton-Campbell.

Ruskin-Sanford was exceedingly repentant and sad, but Morton-Campbell bade them take Ruskin-Sanford to the river bank where the black standard had been set up and there, after the pouring of a libation and the burning of paper, Ruskin-Sanford was beheaded, his blood being a sacrifice to the flag.

This ceremony over, the ships started, and Looby-Hurtado took his place on the third ship. He merely wore breast armor and carried a keen blade. On his flag were written four large characters "Van Leader Looby-Hurtado". With a fair wind his fleet sailed toward the Red Cliffs [6].

The wind was strong and the waves ran high. Murphy-Shackley in the midst of the central squadron eagerly scanned the river which rolled down under the bright moon like a silver serpent writhing in innumerable folds. Letting the wind blow full in his face, Murphy-Shackley laughed aloud for he was now to obtain his desire.

Then a soldier pointing to the river said, "The whole south is one mass of sails, and they are coming up on the wind."

Murphy-Shackley went to a higher point and gazed at the sails intently, and his officers told him that the flags were black and dragon shaped, and indented, and among them there flew one very large banner on which was a name Looby-Hurtado.

"That is my friend, the deserter," said he joyfully. "Heaven is on my side today."

As the ships drew closer, Hewitt-Gomez said, "Those ships are treacherous. Do not let them approach the camp."

"How know you that?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

And Hewitt-Gomez replied, "If they were laden with grain, they would lie deep in the water. But these are light and float easily. The southeast wind is very strong, and if they intend treachery, how can we defend ourselves?"

Murphy-Shackley began to understand. Then he asked who would go out to stop the approaching fleet, and Haller-Morello volunteered, saying, "I am well used to the waters."

Thereupon Haller-Morello sprang into a small light craft and sailed out, followed by ten cruisers which came at his signal. Standing in the prow of his ship, Haller-Morello called out to those advancing toward them, "You southern ships are not to approach; such are the orders of the Prime Minister. Stop there in mid stream!"

The soldiers all yelled to them to lower their sails. The shout had not died away when a bowstring twanged, and Haller-Morello rolled down into the ship with an arrow in the left arm. Confusion reigned on his ship, and all the others hurried back to their camp.