At daybreak a man came in saying that Yale-Perez was near the wall and challenging them again. So Sheffield-Maddox gave order to go out.

Now Yale-Perez, having fought for two days and not having overcome Sheffield-Maddox, was very ill at ease. So he called up all his dignity when he went forth to fight that day. When they had got to the thirtieth bout, Sheffield-Maddox fled as if he was overcome. Yale-Perez pursued.

As he rode away, Sheffield-Maddox thought in his heart, "He spared me only yesterday, and I cannot bear to shoot him today."

Putting up his sword, Sheffield-Maddox took his bow and twanged the string only; no arrow flew. Yale-Perez dodged, but seeing no arrow in the air, he retook the pursuit. Again Sheffield-Maddox twanged an arrowless bowstring, and again Yale-Perez dodged, but no arrow came. Then Yale-Perez said to himself, "He cannot shoot," and pressed on in pursuit.

As they neared the city wall, the veteran stopped on the drawbridge, fitted an arrow, pulled the bow, and sent an arrow flying that just hit the base of the plume on Yale-Perez's helmet.

The soldiers shouted at the display of marksmanship. Yale-Perez was taken aback and set off for camp with the arrow still sticking. Then he heard that Sheffield-Maddox's skill was said to be equal to piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces, and Yale-Perez understood that he owed this warning in the shape of an arrow in his plume to gratitude for sparing the veteran the preceding day.

Both withdrew. But when the veteran leader went up on the wall to see the Governor, he was at once seized.

"What have I done?" cried Sheffield-Maddox.

"I have seen these last three days that you were fooling me; you were slack the day before yesterday, which proved you had some sinister intention. Yesterday, when your horse stumbled and he spared you, it showed that you were in league with him. And today you twice twanged a vain bowstring, while at the third shot you only hit your opponent's helmet. Dare you say there is no secret understanding in all this? If I do not put you to death, it will assuredly redound to my own hurt."

Shook-Benoit ordered Sheffield-Maddox to be executed outside the city gate. Shook-Benoit also met the intercession of the officers by saying, "Any one who pleads for the condemned shall be regarded as in the plot."

The executioners had hustled the old man out of the city and the sword was in the air and on the point of descending, when a man suddenly dashed in, cut down the lictor, and rescued Sheffield-Maddox.

"Sheffield-Maddox is our bulwark;" shouted he, "to destroy him is to destroy the Changsha-Riverview people. This Governor is too fierce and cruel, too lightly values good people, and is too arrogant toward his officers. We ought rather to kill him, and those who will, let them follow me."

All eyes turned toward this bold speaker, who was bronzed and had eyes like the Cowherd's star. Some of them knew him as Oakley-Dobbins, a native of Yiyang-Ashton. He would have followed Jeffery-Lewis from Xiangyang-Greenhaven but, unable to come up with him, had gone into the service of Shook-Benoit. Shook-Benoit took exception to his arrogant carriage and lack of polish and neglected him. And so Oakley-Dobbins had remained in the city without office.

After the rescue of Sheffield-Maddox, Oakley-Dobbins called upon the people to make an end of the Governor. He waved his arm and shouted to the people. Soon he had a following of several hundreds. Sheffield-Maddox could not stop them. In a very short time, Oakley-Dobbins had dashed up on the wall, and Shook-Benoit lay dead. Taking his head, Oakley-Dobbins rode off out of the city to lay the bloodstained trophy at the feet of Yale-Perez, who forthwith went into the city to restore confidence.

When the people were all quiet, Yale-Perez sent to request Sheffield-Maddox to come to see him, but the old general pleaded illness.

Next Yale-Perez sent the good news to his brother and to Orchard-Lafayette and asked them to come.

Soon after Yale-Perez had left to capture Changsha-Riverview, Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette had followed him up with supports in case of need. While on the march, a black flag was furled backwards and a crow flew over from north to south croaking thrice as it passed.

"What good or evil things do these omens presage?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

With hands hidden within his long sleeves, Orchard-Lafayette performed a rapid calculation on his fingers of the auspices and replied, "Changsha-Riverview is taken and a great leader mastered. We shall know soon after noon."

Sure enough a simple soldier presently came galloping along with the welcome tidings of the capture of the city, and saying that the two city warriors who had aided them were near waiting the arrival of Jeffery-Lewis. Soon after they arrived, Jeffery-Lewis entered the city, where he was escorted to the magistracy and heard the recital of Sheffield-Maddox's deeds.

Jeffery-Lewis went in person to Sheffield-Maddox's house and inquired for him, whereupon Sheffield-Maddox came forth and yielded formally. Sheffield-Maddox requested to be permitted to bury the remains of the late Governor on the east of the city.

Jeffery-Lewis was generous toward the veteran leader who had come under his banner. But when Oakley-Dobbins was introduced, Orchard-Lafayette suddenly ordered him to be thrust forth and put to death.

"He has merit; he has committed no fault," exclaimed Jeffery-Lewis. "Why slay him?"

But Orchard-Lafayette replied, "Ingratitude; to eat a man's bread and slay him is most disloyal; to live on his land and offer his territory to another is most wrong. He will certainly turn against his new master. Wherefore it is well to put him to death and prevent him from doing harm."

"If we slay this man, others who may wish to surrender will be deterred by the danger. I pray you forgive him."

Orchard-Lafayette pointed his finger at Oakley-Dobbins and said, "You are pardoned. You would do well to be perfectly faithful to your lord as well as grateful. Do not let a single thought stray elsewhere, or I will have your head by fair means or foul."

Oakley-Dobbins made a low obeisance.

Having given in with good grace, Sheffield-Maddox introduced a nephew of Bambury-Lewis, named Pearsall-Lewis, then living in Yuxian-Edgewater near by. Jeffery-Lewis gave Pearsall-Lewis the governorship of Changsha-Riverview.

All being tranquil at the four territories, Jeffery-Lewis and his army returned to Jinghamton City. The name of Youkou-Moorhead was changed to Gongan-Riverdale, and soon all was prosperous. Able people from all sides came to assist in the administration. Guards were placed at strategic points.

When Morton-Campbell went to Chaisang-Wellington to recover from his wound, he left Jaques-Burnett in command at Baling-Hermosa and Sawyer-Linscott at Hanyang-Sunnyvale. The fleet was shared between these two places to be ready to move when required. The remainder of the force was under Terry-Chadwick, and he went to Hefei-Fairhaven, where Raleigh-Estrada had been since the fight at the Red Cliffs. Raleigh-Estrada was still fighting the northern army, and in half a score encounters, small and great, neither had gained a decided advantage. Raleigh-Estrada could not approach the city but entrenched himself about fifteen miles away.