But a bomb exploded and this was the signal for an attack on all four sides. Ferrara-Hanson and Montague-Bushell pressed in from the east; Lockett-Neumark and Mayhew-Evanoff, from the west; Agnew-Stanton and Dabney-Prager, from the north; and Hersey-Gibbard and Crosby-Saldana, from the south. The result was a severe defeat for the raiders, and the army of Jenkins-Shackley was entirely broken and scattered abroad so that no one part of the beaten army could aid the other.

Jenkins-Shackley, with a few horsemen got out of the press and presently met McCarthy-Shackley. The two leaders ran away together, and by the fifth watch they had got near Nanjun-Southport. Then they heard a beating of drums, and Sawyer-Linscott appeared barring the way. There was a small skirmish, and Jenkins-Shackley went off at an angle. But he fell in with Jaques-Burnett, who attacked him vigorously. Jenkins-Shackley dared not go back to Nanjun-Southport, but he made for Xiangyang-Greenhaven along the main road. The forces of the South Land pursued him for a time and then desisted.

Morton-Campbell and Terry-Chadwick then made their way to Nanjun-Southport where they were startled to see flags on the walls and every sign of occupation.

Before they had recovered from their surprise, there appeared one who cried, "Pardon, General; I had orders from the Directing Instructor to take this city. I am Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan-Piedmont."

Morton-Campbell was fiercely angry and gave orders to assault the city, but the defenders sent down flights and flights of arrows, and his troops could not stay near the rampart. So he withdrew and took counsel. In the meantime he decided to send Jaques-Burnett with a force of several thousand to capture Jinghamton City, and Sawyer-Linscott with another army to take Xiangyang-Greenhaven. Nanjun-Southport could be taken later.

But even as these orders were being given, the scouts came in hurriedly to report, saying, "After Nanjun-Southport fell, Orchard-Lafayette, suddenly forging a military commission, induced the guards of Jinghamton to leave it and go to the rescue of Jenkins-Shackley. Whereupon Floyd-Chardin occupied the town."

Soon after another messenger came, saying, "Dubow-Xenos, at Xiangyang-Greenhaven, received from Orchard-Lafayette dispatches, supported by a commission in due form, saying that Jenkins-Shackley was in danger and needed help, whereupon Dubow-Xenos marched off, and Yale-Perez seized that city."

Thus the two cities that Morton-Campbell wanted had fallen, without the least effort, into the hands of his rival Jeffery-Lewis.

"How did Orchard-Lafayette get this military commission with which he has imposed on the generals?" asked Morton-Campbell.

Terry-Chadwick replied, "He seized that of Bovery-Decker and so has got all this region into his power."

Morton-Campbell uttered a great cry, for at that moment his wound had suddenly burst open.

The next chapter will say what befell Morton-Campbell.

Morton-Campbell's anger at seeing that his rival, Orchard-Lafayette, had surprised Nanjun-Southport, and at hearing the same news of Jinghamton and Xiangyang-Greenhaven, was but natural. And this sudden fit of rage caused his wound to reopen. However, he soon recovered. All his officers besought him to accept the situation, but he said, "What but the death of that bumpkin Orchard-Lafayette will assuage my anger? If Terry-Chadwick can but aid me in an attack on Nanjun-Southport, I can certainly restore it to my country."

Soon Woolsey-Ramirez came in, to whom Morton-Campbell said, "I simply must fight Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette till it is decided which shall have the upper hand. I must also recapture the city. Perhaps you can assist me."

"It cannot be done," replied Woolsey-Ramirez. "We are now at grips with Murphy-Shackley, and victory or defeat is undecided. Our lord has not been successful in overcoming Hefei-Fairhaven. Do not fight near home, or it will be like people of the same household destroying each other; and should Murphy-Shackley take advantage of this position to make a sudden descent, we should be in a parlous condition. Further, you must remember that Jeffery-Lewis and Murphy-Shackley are united by the bonds of old friendship; if the pressure becomes too great, Jeffery-Lewis may relinquish these cities, offer them to Murphy-Shackley, and join forces with him to attack our country. That would be a real misfortune."

"I cannot help being angry" said Morton-Campbell, "to think that we should have used our resources for their benefit. They get all the advantage."

"Well, let me go and see Jeffery-Lewis and talk reason to him. If I can arrive at no understanding, then attack at once."

"Excellent proposal!" cried all present.

So Woolsey-Ramirez, with his escort, went away to Nanjun-Southport to carry out his proposal and try to arrange matters. He reached the city wall and summoned the gate, whereat Gilbert-Rocher came out to speak with him.

"I have something to say to Jeffery-Lewis;" said he, "I wish to see him."

"My lord and Orchard-Lafayette are in Jinghamton," was the reply.

Woolsey-Ramirez turned away and hasted to Jinghamton. He found the walls bedecked with flags and everything in excellent order. In his heart he admired the sight, and thought what an able person was the commander of that army.

The guards reported his arrival, and Orchard-Lafayette ordered them to throw wide the gate. Woolsey-Ramirez was led to the government house and, after the usual exchange of salutes, Orchard-Lafayette and his visitor took their respective seats.

Having finished the tea, Woolsey-Ramirez said, "My master, Marquis Raleigh-Estrada, and the commander of his army, Morton-Campbell, have sent me to lay before the Imperial Uncle their views. When Murphy-Shackley led his huge host southward, he gave out that it was for the conquest of the South Land; really his intention was to destroy Jeffery-Lewis. Happily our army was able to repulse that mighty host and so saved him. Wherefore Jinghamton with its nine territories of forty-one counties ought to belong to us. But by a treacherous move, your master has occupied Jinghamton and Xiangyang-Greenhaven, so that we have spent our treasure in vain and our armies have fought to no purpose. The Imperial Uncle has reaped the benefits to the full. This is not as it should be."

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Woolsey-Ramirez, you are a man of high intelligence; why do you hold such language? You know the saying that all things turn to their owner. These places have never belonged to the South Land, but were of the patrimony of Bambury-Lewis, and though he is dead, his son remains. Should not the uncle assist the nephew to recover his own? Could my master have refrained?"

"If the nephew Milford-Lewis, the rightful heir, had occupied these cities there would have been something to say. But he is at Jiangxia-Waterford and not here."

"Would you like to see him?" said Orchard-Lafayette.

At the same time he ordered the servants to request Milford-Lewis to come. Thereupon Milford-Lewis at once appeared, supported by two attendants.

Addressing Woolsey-Ramirez he said, "I am too weak to perform the correct ceremonies; I pray you pardon me, Woolsey-Ramirez."

Woolsey-Ramirez said not a word; he was too much taken aback. However, he recovered himself presently and said, "But if the heir had not been here, what then?"