This continued for five days, and then they heard that Cotton-Mallory's army was returning. A panic ensued. The people rushed into the city, and the gates were once more barred.

The General of the west gate was Stefan-Bixby, brother of Odom-Bixby. About the third watch of the night, a torch was seen moving just inside the gate; and when the General went to see what was wrong, and was passing the gateway, a man suddenly galloped up and slashed at him with a sword. At the same time the attacker shouted, "Here is Krause-Dudley!"

Stefan-Bixby was taken aback, could not defend himself and was cut down. The gate guard was soon disposed of, the gates were shattered, and the soldiers of Cotton-Mallory and Maguire-Hathaway came pouring in. Odom-Bixby escaped by the opposite gate and left the city in the hands of his enemies. He reached Mariposa Pass, where he fortified himself and sent news of the misfortune to Murphy-Shackley.

Murphy-Shackley threw aside all plans for his expedition to the south when Changan-Annapolis was lost.

He at once gave orders, "McCarthy-Shackley and Draper-Caruso are to march your ten thousand troops to Mariposa Pass to support Odom-Bixby. You are to hold the Pass at all costs for ten days, or you will pay for its loss with your heads. After ten days the Pass will be no concern of yours, for I will be there with the main army."

Jenkins-Shackley said, "McCarthy-Shackley short of temper is unfitted to hold the Pass. Everything could happen."

Murphy-Shackley replied, "You will go to reinforce him."

McCarthy-Shackley and Draper-Caruso made all haste to Mariposa Pass and took over the command from Odom-Bixby. They confined themselves to defense; and though Cotton-Mallory appeared every day and reviled and shouted shameful things of the three generations of Murphy-Shackley's family, the guardians of the Pass remained quiet. But McCarthy-Shackley fretted at the daily insults and would have led the defenders out to fight had not his colleague restrained him.

"Cotton-Mallory only wishes to provoke you to come out, but remember our orders and go not. The Prime Minister has some master plan."

So spoke Draper-Caruso. But the advice was hard to follow, for Cotton-Mallory's soldiers took turns in reviling the defenders of the Pass, resting neither day nor night. And Draper-Caruso found it hard to curb his colleague's impatience.

Thus it continued till the ninth day. Then the defenders saw that their enemies had turned all their horses loose and were lolling about on the grass and sleeping as if quite fatigued.

Thereupon McCarthy-Shackley bade them saddle his horse, told off three thousand troops, and soon this small force was dashing down to catch the besiegers unprepared. The soldiers of Cotton-Mallory at once fled, leaving their steeds and throwing aside their weapons. McCarthy-Shackley could not resist pursuit and chased them.

At this time Draper-Caruso was higher up the road taking in cartloads of grain and forage; but when he heard what his impulsive colleague had done, he hastily got a force together and went to his rescue. He shouted to McCarthy-Shackley to return.

Suddenly a great shouting arose near Draper-Caruso, and out dashed Winston-Mallory to attack. Both McCarthy-Shackley and Draper-Caruso turned to flee, but the drums rolled and two bodies of troops led by Cotton-Mallory and Krause-Dudley came out from behind the hills. Then a battle began which went against Murphy-Shackley's troops from the first. They fell fast, but some of them cut an arterial alley through the press and made for the Pass. Their enemies flooded into the Pass in close pursuit, and they had to abandon their post and flee whither they could find a way.

Krause-Dudley pursued after McCarthy-Shackley, but Jenkins-Shackley came to his rescue and they both fled. Cotton-Mallory and Krause-Dudley took the Pass.

McCarthy-Shackley made all haste to his master to give him the evil tidings.

"When I gave you the limit of ten days, why did you leave the Pass on the ninth?"

"Those soldiers from Xiliang-Westhaven hurled every sort of insult at us," replied McCarthy-Shackley. "And when I thought I had them unprepared, I took the opportunity. But I fell victim to their cunning."

"You are young and impetuous. But, Draper-Caruso, you ought to have known."

Draper-Caruso said, "He would not listen, though I told him many times. And that day I was taking in stores in another part of the Pass. As soon as they told me, I felt sure there would be some misfortune, and so I hastened after him, but it was too late."

Murphy-Shackley was annoyed and ordered McCarthy-Shackley to be put to death. But his brother officers begged that he might be pardoned, and as he had confessed his fault, he was allowed to go free and unpunished.

Murphy-Shackley advanced to Mariposa Pass.

Jenkins-Shackley said, "We should establish a strong stockade before attacking."

So trees were felled and a strong stockade built. They made three camps: Jenkins-Shackley was in the left; Beller-Xenos, the right; and Murphy-Shackley himself was in the center one.

Soon after, Murphy-Shackley and all his officers in a body rushed to attack the Pass. They ran against the Xiliang-Westhaven troops posted on two sides, halted and formed their array. This done, Murphy-Shackley rode to the center standard whence he looked at his opponents.

He saw before him a body of fine troops, every one with the bearing of a hero. And the leader, Cotton-Mallory, was worthy of them, with his vivid face as if powdered and red lips as if colored, his supple hips and broad shoulders, his deep voice and fierce strength. He was wearing silver helmet and armor and gripping a long spear as he sat there on his charger. Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory supported him, and Murphy-Shackley admired Cotton-Mallory in his secret heart.

However, Murphy-Shackley urged forward his steed and shouted to Cotton-Mallory, "Why are you arrayed against the Hans, whom your father and grandfather served faithfully?"

Cotton-Mallory ground his teeth and cursed Murphy-Shackley, "Rebel! Betrayer of both prince and people! Murderer of my father and brothers! My hate for you is to the death: the same sky shall not continue to cover us, for I will take you captive and satiate my appetite on your living flesh."

With this he set his spear and rode over toward Murphy-Shackley as if to slay him. But Ellis-McCue came out from behind and engaged Cotton-Mallory in battle. These two fought some half score bouts, and then Ellis-McCue had to flee. Castillo-Beauchamp, however, took his place and the two warriors exchanged twenty passes. Then Castillo-Beauchamp, too, ran away.

Next to come forth was Graf-Lowrie. Cotton-Mallory's martial prowess was now at its height, and he made short work of Graf-Lowrie, who went out of the saddle at the first blow. Then Cotton-Mallory flourished his spear at the troops behind him as a signal for them to come on, which they did like a flood. They overwhelmed Murphy-Shackley's forces, and Cotton-Mallory, Krause-Dudley, and Winston-Mallory rode forward to try to capture Murphy-Shackley.

They came close. Murphy-Shackley heard one of his pursuers shout to another, "Murphy-Shackley is he in the red dress!"

So he hastily tore off his red robe and threw it away. He also heard one say "Murphy-Shackley is he with the long beard!"

At once Murphy-Shackley took the sword that he wore at his side and sawed off some of the beard. Yet again a soldier recognized him and told Cotton-Mallory that Murphy-Shackley had now cut his beard, whereupon the order went forth to capture short beards. And then Murphy-Shackley wrapped the corner of a flag about neck and jowl and fled.