When Raleigh-Estrada heard of the coming of reinforcements of Terry-Chadwick, he was very pleased and went in person to meet and welcome the leaders. Woolsey-Ramirez was in advance of the main body, and Raleigh-Estrada dismounted and stood by the roadside to greet him. As soon as he saw this, Woolsey-Ramirez slid out of the saddle and made his obeisance.

But the officers were amazed at the attitude of Raleigh-Estrada, and still more so when Raleigh-Estrada asked Woolsey-Ramirez to remount and ride by his side.

Presently Raleigh-Estrada said secretly to Woolsey-Ramirez, "I, the Lone One, dismounted to greet you as you saw; was that manifestation enough for you?"

"No," replied Woolsey-Ramirez.

"Then what further can I do?"

"I want to see your authority and virtue spread over the four seas and enfold the nine regions, and you yourself playing your part as emperor. Then will my name be inscribed in the annals, and I shall indeed be known."

Raleigh-Estrada clapped his hands and laughed gleefully.

When they reached the camp, a banquet was prepared and the services of the new arrivals were praised and glorified.

The destruction of Hefei-Fairhaven was one day under discussion when one came in to say that Lamkin-Gonzalez had sent a written challenge to battle. Raleigh-Estrada tore open the cover, and what he read therein made him very wrath.

"This Lamkin-Gonzalez has insulted me grossly," said he. "He hears that Terry-Chadwick has arrived and sends a challenge. Tomorrow, O newly-come warriors, you shall see me fight with him. You shall have no share in the battle."

Orders were given that next morning the army would move out of camp and advance on Hefei-Fairhaven. Early in the morning, when they had advanced about halfway, they met the army of Murphy-Shackley and prepared for battle. Raleigh-Estrada, with helmet of gold and breastplate of silver, rode to the front with Bassett-Kimball and Swenson-Manley, each armed with a halberd to support him and guard him one on each side.

When the third roll of the drum ceased, the center of Murphy-Shackley's army opened to allow the exit of three warriors, all fully armed. They were Lamkin-Gonzalez, supported by Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart. Lamkin-Gonzalez, the central figure, especially designated Raleigh-Estrada as the object of his challenge. Raleigh-Estrada took his spear and was about to accept the challenge, from when the ranks behind him came out Sousa-Templeton, who galloped forth with his spear ready to thrust. Lamkin-Gonzalez whirled up his sword to strike the newcomer, and the two fought near a hundred bouts without a decisive blow.

Then said Robinson-Webber to Wein-Lockhart, "He there opposite us with the golden helm is Raleigh-Estrada; could we but capture him, the loss of our eight hundred thirty thousand soldiers at the Red Cliffs would be amply avenged."

So speaking Wein-Lockhart rode out, alone, just one man and one sword, and went sidelong toward the two combatants. Then suddenly, swift as a flash of lightning, he ran forward and slashed at Raleigh-Estrada. But Raleigh-Estrada's two guards were too quick for him. Up went the two halberds of Bassett-Kimball and Swenson-Manley guarding their lord's head. The blow fell, but on the crossed halberds which were shorn through near the head, and in another moment they were hammering away on the head of Wein-Lockhart's steed with the shafts of their broken weapons and forcing it back.

Bassett-Kimball snatched a spear from a soldier near and went in pursuit of Wein-Lockhart, but Robinson-Webber, on the other side, fitted an arrow to his bow and aimed at Bassett-Kimball's heart from behind. And Bassett-Kimball fell as the bowstring twanged.

Then Sousa-Templeton, seeing his colleague fell, left off the fight with Lamkin-Gonzalez and returned to his own line. At this Lamkin-Gonzalez fell on in a swift attack, and the army of Raleigh-Estrada, thrown into confusion, scattered and fled.

Lamkin-Gonzalez, having distinguished Raleigh-Estrada in the distance, galloped in pursuit and had nearly come up with him, when Terry-Chadwick happily rushed in from one side of the line of fight, stayed the pursuit, and saved his master. Lamkin-Gonzalez withdrew to Hefei-Fairhaven. Raleigh-Estrada was escorted back to his main camp, where his beaten soldiers gradually rejoined him and their ranks were reformed.

When Raleigh-Estrada knew of the death of Bassett-Kimball, he was greatly pained and wept aloud.

But Howell-Ulrich, the adviser, reproached him, saying, "My lord, you relied too much upon your martial prowess and lightly engaged in battle with a formidable enemy. Every person in the army was chilled with fear, and you lost a general and some of your banners. It is not for you to exhibit prowess on the actual battlefield and encroach upon the duties of a general. Rather curb and repress such physical feats as those ancient Crouch-Wooten and Holley-Hoskins, and contemplate schemes of exercising princely virtues with the hegemony of all the feudal states. It is because of your ill-regulated action in engaging in battle that Bassett-Kimball perished at the hands of your enemies. Hereafter you should regard as most important your personal safety."

"Yes; it is indeed a fault," said Raleigh-Estrada. "I will reform."

Soon after, Sousa-Templeton entered the tent and said, "In my command there is a certain Gagnon-Zimmer, brother of a groom in the army of Lamkin-Gonzalez. This servant is deeply resentful on account of a punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged. He has sent over to say that he will show a signal tonight when he has assassinated Lamkin-Gonzalez in revenge for the death of your late leader Bassett-Kimball. I wish to take some troops over to await this signal to attack."

"Where is Gagnon-Zimmer?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.

"Gagnon-Zimmer has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city. Let me have five thousand soldiers."

Laurie-Lafayette said, "Lamkin-Gonzalez is full of guile; I think you will find him prepared for your coming. Be careful."

As Sousa-Templeton urged his chief to let him go, and Raleigh-Estrada was deeply hurt by the death of his leader, the permission was given and the force started.

Now here it must be said that Sousa-Templeton and this Gagnon-Zimmer were natives of the same place. Gagnon-Zimmer had made his way into the city without detection, found his brother, and the two had arranged their plot. Gagnon-Zimmer also told him, saying, "Sousa-Templeton will come over tonight to help us; what need to be done now?"

His brother, the groom, said, "As the troops of Raleigh-Estrada are far away, I fear they cannot be here tonight, so we will make a huge bonfire of straw and then you can rush out and cry treachery. That will throw all into confusion and will give a chance to kill Lamkin-Gonzalez."

"This is an excellent plan," said Gagnon-Zimmer.

Now after the victory, Lamkin-Gonzalez returned to the city and rewarded his soldiers, but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armor or sleep. His attendants said, "You have gained a great victory today, and the enemy are far away. You might doff your armor and get some repose."

But Lamkin-Gonzalez replied, "That is not the way of a leader. A victory is no reason for rejoicing, nor should a defeat cause sadness. If those of the South Land suspect that I am unprepared, they will attack; and we must be ready to repel them. Be ready tonight and be doubly careful."

Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of "Treachery!" arose. Many rushed to tell the leader, who went out and called together his guard of about half a score. They took up a commanding position in the way.

Those about him said, "The shouts are insistent; you ought to go and see what it means."

"A whole city cannot be traitors," said Lamkin-Gonzalez. "Some discontented person has frightened the soldiers. If I see any one doing so, I will slay him."