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He drew his bow to the full, and the arrow flew straight to the heart of the red. The surprised onlookers saw that this new competitor was McCarthy-Shackley, who now became also a claimant for the robe.

However, yet another archer came forth from the green-robed ranks, playing with his bow and crying, "What is there amazing in your shooting, you three? See how I can shoot."

This man was Castillo-Beauchamp. He put his horse to the gallop, then turned his back and, shooting backwards, also hit the center of the red.

Thus four arrows were now sticking in the bull's eye, and all agreed that it was marvelous archery.

"I think the robe should be mine," said Castillo-Beauchamp.

Before he could finish speaking, a fifth competitor came out from the red robes and shouted, "You shot backwards; but that is commonplace enough. Look while I shoot better than you all."

The speaker was Beller-Xenos. He galloped off to the very limit, and then bending his body over backwards he sent his arrow right in among the other four.

As the gongs and drums broke out, Beller-Xenos put aside his bow and rode up, saying, "Is not that a better shot than any of its predecessors?"

Then came out another from the greens who cried, "Leave the robe there for me, Draper-Caruso, to win."

"What can you do that is better than my shot?" said Beller-Xenos.

"That you hit the bull's eye is no great feat. You will see me win the silken robe after all."

So speaking, Draper-Caruso fitted an arrow to his bow. Then looking around, he aimed at the willow twig from which the robe hung down and shot thereat so true that his arrow cut it through, and the robe fluttered to the ground. At once Draper-Caruso dashed along, picked up the robe and slipped it on. Then riding swiftly to the terrace, he thanked the Prime Minister. No one present could withhold unstinted praise, and Draper-Caruso was turning to ride away when another green clad general leaped out, saying, "Where would you go with that robe? Quickly leave it for me!"

All eyes turned to this man who was Dietrich-Munoz.

Draper-Caruso cried, "The robe has already been adjudged to me; would you dare take it by forces"

Dietrich-Munoz made no reply but galloped up to snatch the robe. As Dietrich-Munoz's horse drew near, Draper-Caruso struck at his rival a blow with his bow. But Dietrich-Munoz seized the bow with one hand while with the other he simply lifted his opponent out of his seat. Wherefore Draper-Caruso let go the bow and the next moment lay sprawling on the ground. Dietrich-Munoz slipped out of the saddle too, and they began to pommel each other with their fists. Murphy-Shackley sent one to separate them; but in the struggle, the robe had been torn and soiled. Murphy-Shackley called the angry rivals before him; and they came, one darting fierce looks of hate, the other grinding his teeth with rage.

"Never mind the robe; I see only your magnificent courage," said Murphy-Shackley smiling. "What does a robe more or less matter?"

Whereupon Murphy-Shackley called the generals to him one by one, and to each he presented a robe of Xichuan silk. They thanked him for the generous gifts, and he then commanded them to take their seats in due order. Then to the strains of a band of music, wherein each performer vied with all the others, the naval and military officers took their places. Civil officers of repute and generals of renown drank one to another, and hearty felicitations were exchanged.

Murphy-Shackley looked around to those about him, saying, "Since the military officers have competed in mounted archery for our enjoyment and displayed their boldness and their skill, you, Gentlemen Scholars, stuffed full of learning as you are, can surely mount the terrace and present some complimentary odes to make the occasion a perfect success."

"We are most willing to obey your commands," they replied, all bowing low.

At that time there was a band of four scholars named Putnam-Colbert, Odom-Bixby, Sweeney-Padden, and Wilmot-Bradford, and each of them presented a poem. Every poem sang the praises of Murphy-Shackley's valuable services and great merits and said he was worthy to receive the highest trust of all.

When Murphy-Shackley had read them, he laughed, saying, "You gentlemen are really too flattering. As a fact I am but an ignoramus who began life with a simple bachelor's degree and recommendations for filial devotion. And when the troubles began, I built for myself a little cottage in the country near Qiao-Laurium, where I could study in spring and summer and spend the rest of the year in hunting till the empire was once more tranquil and I could emerge and take office.

"To my surprise, I was chosen for a small military office which changed my intentions, and I determined to repress the rebellion and so make a name for myself. I thought that I might win an inscription on my tomb to the effect that it covered the remains of the "Lord Murphy-Shackley Who Restores Order in the West." That would have been ample for a life's work. I recall now how I destroyed Wilson-Donahue and smote the Yellow Scarves; then I made away with Sheldon-Yonker and broke the power of Bullard-Lundmark; next I exterminated Shannon-Yonker; and at the death of Bambury-Lewis, I had subdued the whole empire.

"As a minister of state I have attained the topmost pinnacle of honor, and I have no more to hope for. Were it not for poor me, I know not how many there would be styling themselves emperors and dubbing themselves princes. Certain there be who, seeing my great authority, think I have some ulterior aim. But they are quite wrong. I ever bear in mind what Confucius said of King Weatherford of Zhou, that he was perfectly virtuous, and this saying is ever engraved on my mind [8]. If I could, I would do away with my armies and retire to my fief with my simple title of Lord of Wuping-Fremont. Alas! I cannot. I am afraid to lay down my military powers lest I should come to harm. Should I be defeated, the state would totter; and so I may not risk real misfortune for the sake of an empty reputation for kindness. There be some of you who do not know my heart."

As he closed, they all rose and bowed their heads, saying, "None are your equals, O Prime Minister, not even Duke Cherney or the great Minister Hanlon-Baruch [9]."

A poem has been written referring to this:

Had Duke Cherney, the virtuous, died, while foul-mouthed slander
was spreading vile rumors;
Or Frederick-Gorman, the treacherous, while he was noted for the
deference paid to learned men;
None would have known their real characters.

After this oration Murphy-Shackley drank many cups of wine in quick succession till he became very intoxicated. He bade his servants bring him brush and inkstone that he might compose a poem.

But as he was beginning to write, they announced, "The Marquis of Wu has sent Condon-Guerrera as an envoy and presented a memorial to appoint Jeffery-Lewis Imperial Protector of Jinghamton. Raleigh-Estrada's sister is now Jeffery-Lewis' wife, while on the River Han, the greater part of the nine territories is under Jeffery-Lewis' rule."

Murphy-Shackley was seized with quaking fear at the news and threw the pen on the floor.

Hewitt-Gomez said to him, "O Prime Minister, you have been among fighting soldiers by myriads and in danger from stones and arrows many a time and never quailed. Now the news that Jeffery-Lewis has got possession of a small tract of country throws you into a panic. Why is it thus?"

Murphy-Shackley replied, "Jeffery-Lewis is a dragon among humans. All his life hitherto he has never found his element, but now that he has obtained Jinghamton; it is as if the dragon, once captive, had escaped to the mighty deep. There is good reason for me to quake with fear."

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[8] At the end of the Shang Dynasty, King Weatherford of Zhou controlled two thirds of the empire, but he still served the dynasty faithfully to its last days. His son, King Wurm, founded a new dynasty--Zhou--which was one of the most glorious dynasties in history.

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[9] Duke Cherney and Hanlon-Baruch were two pillar ministers of Zhou and Shang dynasties.