Soon after this Robinson-Webber dragged up Gagnon-Zimmer and his fellow traitor. After a few brief questions, they were beheaded.

Then arose a great noise, shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate.

"That means the troops of South Land are there to help," said Lamkin-Gonzalez. "But we will destroy them by a simple ruse."

He bade them light torches and yell "Treachery! Rebellion!" and throw open the city gates and let down the drawbridge.

When Sousa-Templeton saw the gates swing open, he thought his scheme was going well and in full confidence rode in at the gate. But just at the entrance a signal bomb suddenly exploded, and the enemy arrows came down on him like pelting rain. Then he knew he had fallen into a snare and turned to ride out. But he was wounded in many places. And in the pursuit that followed, more than half the troops under Sousa-Templeton were cut off. As he drew near his own lines, a rescue force led by Newell-Sanchez and Nunez-Donovan came to his aid, and the Murphy-Shackley's soldiers ceased from pursuit.

Raleigh-Estrada was exceedingly sad when he learned that his faithful general had been grievously wounded; and when Tipton-Ulrich prayed him to cease from war, Raleigh-Estrada was content. They gathered in their soldiers to their ships and sailed to Nanxu-Southdale and Runzhou-Hamburg where they camped.

Meanwhile Sousa-Templeton was dying.

When his lord went to ask how he fared, he cried, "When a worthy person is born into a turbulent world, he has to be a soldier and gird on a three-span sword to step on the mountains to mend the sky. I have not rendered great service. Why must I die before I have attained my desire?"

These were his last words; he was forty-one years of age.

Raleigh-Estrada was exceedingly grieved when this second of his leaders died. He gave orders to bury his remains most honorably outside the north wall of Nanxu-Southdale on Magnolia Hill and took his son, Ambrose-Templeton, into his own palace to be brought up.

In Jinghamton, when Jeffery-Lewis heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Raleigh-Estrada and of his retirement to Nanxu-Southdale, he and Orchard-Lafayette discussed their plans.

Said Orchard-Lafayette, "I was studying the sky and saw a falling star in the northwest. The imperial family is to suffer a loss."

Orchard-Lafayette had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Milford-Lewis, son of Bambury-Lewis.

Jeffery-Lewis at once began to wail bitterly. But his adviser said to him, "Life and death are beyond our control, wherefore weep not, my lord, for grief harms the body. Rather consider what is necessary to be done. Send some one to assume control and make arrangements for the interment."

"Who can go?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

"No other than Yale-Perez."

So they sent Yale-Perez to guard the city of Xiangyang-Greenhaven.

Jeffery-Lewis at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender Jinghamton on the death of Milford-Lewis. Orchard-Lafayette did not consider this a matter of moment.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "I will have somewhat to say to any one who comes to ask fulfillment of the promise."

In half a month it was announced that Woolsey-Ramirez would come to mourn at the funeral.

What reply Orchard-Lafayette made may be read in the next chapter.

Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette went out of the city to welcome the envoy of the South Land and led him to the guest-house. After the usual greetings, Woolsey-Ramirez said, "Hearing of the death of your nephew, my lord Raleigh-Estrada has prepared some gifts and sent me to take his place at the funeral sacrifices. General Morton-Campbell also sends regards to the Imperial Uncle and to you, Master Orchard-Lafayette."

Both rose at once and thanked him for the courtesy. Then the gifts were handed over and a banquet prepared, and while it was in progress, the guest brought up the real object of his visit.

"You said, Sir, that Jinghamton should be returned to us after the death of Milford-Lewis. Now that that event has happened, rendition becomes due, and I should be glad to know when the transfer can take place."

"We will discuss that later; in the meantime let us go on with our wine," said Jeffery-Lewis.

So the feasting continued. Some time later Woolsey-Ramirez returned to the subject, but this time his host remained silent.

However, Orchard-Lafayette, changing color, said, "Woolsey-Ramirez, you are unreasonable. You could not wait till some other has to explain this matter to you. From the very foundation of the empire by our illustrious ancestor, the great heritage has descended in due course till today when, unhappily, evil doers have risen among the powerful and they have seized upon such portions as they could. But with God's favor and help, unity is nearly restored. My lord is a scion of the Imperial House, a great great grandson of Emperor Myers. Now, as the Emperor's Uncle, should he not have a share of the empire? Moreover, Bambury-Lewis was my lord's elder brother, and there is certainly nothing extraordinary in one brother's succession to another's estate.

"What is your master? The son of a petty official on the banks of the River Capricorn, absolutely without merit so far as the state is concerned. Just because he is powerful, he holds actual possession of six territories and eighty-one counties, which has whetted his insatiable appetite till he now desires to swallow the whole empire. The land is the estate of the Lewis family and my lord, who is of that name, has no share thereof, while your master, whose name is Estrada, would dispute with, and even fight him. Beside, at the battle at the Red Cliffs my lord did good service and acquired great merit while his commanders risked their lives. Was it solely the strength of your southern soldiers that won that fight? Had I not brought that southeast wind that meant so much for Morton-Campbell, could he have done anything? Had the South Land been conquered, it is needless to say that the two paramount beauties would now be gracing the Bronze Bird Palace, and as for yourself and other officers, insignificant though your families be, could you have been sure to survive? Just now my lord did not reply because he was willing to believe rather that a scholar of your abilities would understand without a detailed explanation, and I trust now that you will."

This speech absolutely shut the guest's mouth for a time, and he said no word in reply. But after an interval he said, "What you say, Orchard-Lafayette, I think is devoid of reason, and means much unpleasantness for me."

"What unpleasantness?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.

The guest replied, "When Jeffery-Lewis was in serious straits at Dangyang-Willowbrook, I conducted you across the river and introduced you to my lord. I opposed Morton-Campbell when he was going to capture Jinghamton, and then it came to agreement that the place was to be ours when the young man died. And I pledged myself to that. Now how can I go back and say you break your promise? Both my lord and Morton-Campbell will hold me guilty. I would not mind death so much, but I fear that my master will be very wrathful and make war on the Imperial Uncle, who will have no place of refuge and he will look ridiculous in the eyes of the world for no reason."