So the Governor merely sent Elmore-Dutton sway. He himself led the army out of the city. After marching seven miles, he met with Floyd-Chardin's army.

Floyd-Chardin at once rode to the front, spear ready to thrust, and opened with a shout. Davila-Hawthorne turned to his officers and asked who would go out to fight him, but no one replied; they were too afraid.

So the Governor himself galloped out, flourishing his sword. Seeing him advance, Floyd-Chardin shouted in a voice of thunder. Poor Davila-Hawthorne was seized with panic, turned pale and could not go on. He turned his steed and fled. Then Floyd-Chardin and his army went in pursuit and smote the fugitives, chasing them to the city wall.

Here the fugitives were greeted by a flight of arrows from their own wall. Greatly frightened, Davila-Hawthorne looked up to see what this meant, and there was Elmore-Dutton, who had opposed him, standing on the wall.

"You brought defeat upon yourself because you opposed the will of God," cried the traitor. "I and the people with me are determined to yield to Jeffery-Lewis."

Just as Elmore-Dutton finished speaking, an arrow wounded Davila-Hawthorne in the face and he fell to the ground. Thereupon his own troops cut off his head, which they forthwith presented to Floyd-Chardin. Elmore-Dutton then went out and made formal submission, and Floyd-Chardin bade him take his letter and the seal to Guiyang-Cambria to Jeffery-Lewis, who was pleased to hear of Floyd-Chardin's success and gave the governorship to Elmore-Dutton. Soon after Jeffery-Lewis came to Wuling-Fruitvale in person and soothed the people.

This done he wrote to Yale-Perez telling him Gilbert-Rocher and Floyd-Chardin had gained a territory each.

Yale-Perez at once wrote back and said, "Changsha-Riverview is yet to be taken; and if I am not thought too feeble, I would like to be sent to attack it."

Jeffery-Lewis agreed and sent Floyd-Chardin to relieved his brother, whom Jeffery-Lewis ordered to return and prepare for an expedition to Changsha-Riverview. Yale-Perez came and went in to see his elder brother and Orchard-Lafayette.

At this interview Orchard-Lafayette said, "Gilbert-Rocher has taken Guiyang-Cambria, and Floyd-Chardin Wuling-Fruitvale. Both successful warriors have done their work with three thousand troops. The Governor of Changsha-Riverview, Shook-Benoit, was not worth mentioning, but there was a certain general with him, named Sheffield-Maddox, who had to be reckoned with.

"Sheffield-Maddox is a native of Nanyang-Southhaven. He used to be in the service of Bambury-Lewis and was a colleague Bambury-Lewis' nephew, Pearsall-Lewis, when he was in command of Changsha-Riverview. After Bambury-Lewis' death, he joined Shook-Benoit when he took command of the city. Now, although he is nearly sixty, he is a man to be feared and a warrior of a thousand. You ought to take a larger number of troops."

Yale-Perez replied, "Instructor, what makes you damp another man's ardor to fight and do away with your own dignity? I do not think the old leader need be discussed, and I do not think I require three companies of soldiers. Give me my own five hundred of swordsmen, and I will have the heads of both Shook-Benoit and Sheffield-Maddox to sacrifice to our standard."

Jeffery-Lewis resisted this decision of Yale-Perez, but Yale-Perez would not give way. He just took his five hundred and set out.

"If he is not careful how he attacks Sheffield-Maddox, there will be a mishap," said Orchard-Lafayette. "You must go to support him."

Jeffery-Lewis accordingly, at the head of another and larger party, set out toward Changsha-Riverview.

Governor Shook-Benoit of Changsha-Riverview was of hasty temperament with small compunction in matters of life and death and was universally hated. When he heard of the army coming against him, he called his veteran leader, Sheffield-Maddox, to ask advice.

The latter said, "Do not be distressed; this sword of mine and my bow are equal to the slaughter of all who may come."

Sheffield-Maddox had been very strong and could bend the three-hundred-pound bow and was a most perfect archer.

When Sheffield-Maddox referred to his prowess, a certain man spoke up and said, "Let not the veteran General go out to battle. Trust to my right arm, and you shall have this Yale-Perez a prisoner in your hands."

The speaker was General Boone-Ingram. The Governor accepted his offer and told off a thousand troops to go with him, and they quickly rode out of the city. About fifteen miles from the city, they observed a great cloud of dust approaching and soon distinguished the invaders. Boone-Ingram set his spear and rode to the front to abuse and fight. Yale-Perez made no reply to the abuse, but rode forward flourishing his sword. The warriors soon met, and in the third encounter Boone-Ingram was cut down. Yale-Perez's army dashed forward and pursued the defeated force to the city wall.

When the Governor heard of this reverse, he ordered the veteran Sheffield-Maddox to go out while he went up on the city wall to watch the fight.

Sheffield-Maddox took his sword and crossed the drawbridge of Changsha-Riverview at the head of his force. Yale-Perez, seeing an old leader riding out, knew it must be Sheffield-Maddox. Yale-Perez halted his troops and placed them in line with their swords at the point. Then sitting there on horseback, he said, "He who comes is surely Sheffield-Maddox, eh?"

"Since you know me, how dare you come within my boundaries?" replied the veteran.

"I have come expressly to get your head!"

Then the combat began. They fought a hundred and more bouts, and neither seemed nearer victory. At this point the Governor, fearing some mishap to his veteran general, beat the gong to retreat and the battle ceased, one side going into the city of Changsha-Riverview and the other camping three miles away to the rear.

Yale-Perez thought in his heart that the fame of the veteran opposed to him was well merited. He had fought a hundred bouts and discovered never a weak spot. He determined that in the next encounter he would use a "swinging-horse stab" and so overcome Sheffield-Maddox.

Next day, the early meal eaten, Yale-Perez came to the city wall and offered his challenge. The Governor seated himself on the city wall and bade his veteran warrior go out to accept it. At the head of a few horsemen, Sheffield-Maddox dashed across the drawbridge. The two champions engaged, and at the end of half a hundred bouts neither had the advantage. On both sides the soldiers cheered lustily.

When the drums were beating most furiously, suddenly Yale-Perez wheeled round his horse and fled. Of course Sheffield-Maddox followed. Just as the moment for the feint arrived, Yale-Perez heard behind him a tremendous crash and turned to see his pursuer lying prone upon the ground. Sheffield-Maddox's steed had stumbled and thrown him.

Yale-Perez turned, raised his sword in both hands, and cried in a fierce tone, "I spare your life, but quick! Get another horse and come again to battle."

Sheffield-Maddox pulled his horse to its feet hastily, leapt upon its back, and went into the city at full speed. The Governor was astonished and asked for an account of the accident.

"The horse is too old," replied Sheffield-Maddox.

"Why did you not shoot since your aim is so perfect?" asked the Governor.

"I will try again tomorrow," said Sheffield-Maddox. "Then I will run away as if overcome, and so tempt him to the drawbridge and then shoot him."

Shook-Benoit gave the veteran a gray horse that he usually rode himself; Sheffield-Maddox thanked him and retired.

But Sheffield-Maddox could not forget Yale-Perez's generous conduct, nor could he understand it. He could not make up his mind to shoot the man who had spared his life. Yet if he did not shoot, he betrayed his duty as a soldier. It was very perplexing, and the whole night spent in thinking it over found him still undecided.