But the city proved no place of safety. Beller-Xenos with his army appeared the following day, and Cotton-Mallory fled before him to the west. But ere he had gone seven miles, he came face to face with another army drawn up in battle array. Salazar-Friedman was the leader.

Grinding his teeth with rage, Cotton-Mallory set his spear and rode at Salazar-Friedman, while his two generals, Winston-Mallory and Krause-Dudley, attacked the rear. Salazar-Friedman was overcome, and his seven brothers who had gone with him into the battle were slain. Salazar-Friedman himself was wounded in five places, but still fought on till he was wounded down.

However, Beller-Xenos had not left pursuing Cotton-Mallory. He came up to the city, and Cotton-Mallory fled before him to the west. His army was now reduced to the two generals and about five or six of horsemen, and these few were left to go their way.

Murphy-Shackley's general, Beller-Xenos, set himself to restore order and tranquillity in the region of Xithamton, after which he apportioned its defense among Newsham-Lapinski and other trustworthy commanders. The wounded leader Salazar-Friedman was sent to the capital in a carriage. When he arrived Xuchang-Bellefonte, he saw Murphy-Shackley who offered him the title of Lordship.

But Salazar-Friedman declined the honor, saying, "I have neither the credit of a successful defense nor the merit of death with my master. Death should be my portion rather than honors. How could I accept the offer?"

Murphy-Shackley praised him and insisted on granting the lordship.

Having escaped from their pursuers, Cotton-Mallory and his few followers decided to make for Hanthamton and offer their services to Governor Levey-Wrona. Levey-Wrona received them gladly, for he thought with such help he could certainly get possession of Yiathamton on the west as well as repel Murphy-Shackley on the east. More than this, he thought to cement the friendship by giving Cotton-Mallory a daughter to wife. But this displeased one of his generals, Herring-Foster.

"The misfortune that befell Cotton-Mallory's wife and family was entirely the fault of his own misconduct. Would you give your daughter to such as he to wife?" said Herring-Foster.

Levey-Wrona again considered the matter and abandoned his intention. But a certain busybody told Cotton-Mallory what had been proposed and that Herring-Foster had defeated the scheme. Whereupon Cotton-Mallory was very annoyed and sought to compass the death of Herring-Foster. Herring-Foster and his brother, Brickley-Foster, on the other side conspired to destroy Cotton-Mallory.

At this time a messenger from Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton arrived in Hanthamton begging for assistance against the invader Jeffery-Lewis. Levey-Wrona refused help. But then Bryant-Rivera came on the same errand. He first saw Brickley-Foster and talked to him and brought him to favor the scheme.

Bryant-Rivera said, "The Eastern and Western Lands of Rivers, which stand next each other as the lips are close to the teeth, are interdependent. If Yiathamton is lost, Hanthamton has little chance to survive. On the other hand, once relieved by your help, Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis will reward twenty counties to Hanthamton as compensation."

So Bryant-Rivera won over Brickley-Foster, who led him to see his master. To Levey-Wrona again Bryant-Rivera spoke forcibly and laid the matter before him so cogently that Levey-Wrona promised his help.

Ewing-Miller, one of Levey-Wrona's officers, tried to dissuade him by pointing out the old enmity between him and Compton-Lewis, but another suddenly interjected, saying, "Useless I may be, but if you will give me troops, I will capture this Jeffery-Lewis and you will retain all your land."

Who made this bold offer? The next chapter will tell.

It was Ewing-Miller who thus opposed sending help to Compton-Lewis. Then Cotton-Mallory rose and said, "I have been the recipient of much kindness from my lord, which I feel I can never repay adequately. Now let me lead an army to take Artemisia Pass and capture Jeffery-Lewis. Then, my lord, Compton-Lewis will surely lose his twenty counties, and they shall be yours."

This offer rejoiced Levey-Wrona, who sent away Bryant-Rivera without an answer and told off twenty thousand for Cotton-Mallory to lead. Krause-Dudley was too ill to take part in the expedition, so he remained in Hanthamton. Levey-Wrona ordered Herring-Foster to be Army Supervisor. Cotton-Mallory and Winston-Mallory chose the day to march to Artemisia Pass.

Meanwhile, the messenger sent by Quigley-Buchanan had returned to Luocheng-Concord to report: "Heywood-Vesely advised Compton-Lewis to set fire to all the plains and valleys between the capital and the invaders, as well as the granaries, to move sway the people, and to stand solely on the defensive."

This news caused Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette great anxiety, for it would be a grave danger to them. However, Quigley-Buchanan was more sanguine.

"Do not be anxious," said he, "the plan would be extremely harmful, but it will not be carried out. Compton-Lewis will not do that."

Surely enough, very soon they heard that Compton-Lewis had not adopted the suggestion; he would not remove the people. It was a great relief to Jeffery-Lewis

Then said Orchard-Lafayette, "Now let us capture Mianzhu-Greenwich quickly, for, that done, Chengdu-Wellesley is as good as ours."

Jeffery-Lewis therefore told off Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins to advance first. When Commander of Mianzhu-Greenwich, Skaggs-Carrillo, heard of their advance, he ordered Finney-Schuster to go out to stop them, and Finney-Schuster led out three thousand troops. The two sides being arrayed, Sheffield-Maddox rode out and fought some half hundred bouts with Finney-Schuster. Neither was able to claim a victory, and so Orchard-Lafayette from the midst of the host ordered them to beat the gongs to cease from battle.

When Sheffield-Maddox had got back to his side again, he said, "O Instructor, why did you sound the retirement just as I was getting the better of my opponent?"

"Because I saw that Finney-Schuster was not to be overcome by mere force. Tomorrow you shall fight again, and then you shall lead him into the hills by the ruse of pretended defeat. There will be a surprise awaiting him."

Sheffield-Maddox agreed to try this plan, and so on the morrow accepted Finney-Schuster's challenge when it was offered. After about the tenth bout, Sheffield-Maddox and his troops pretended to be worsted and ran. Finney-Schuster pursued and was quickly lured into the mountains. Suddenly his danger flashed into his mind, and he turned to go back.

But he found Oakley-Dobbins' troops drawn up across his path, while Orchard-Lafayette from a hill top near by cried, "You would better yield; if not, there are bows and crossbows on both sides of you--all ready to avenge the death of our Smiddy-Lindquist."

Finney-Schuster dropped off his horse, threw aside his armor, and offered submission. Not a soldier of his had been hurt. The prisoner was conducted to Jeffery-Lewis, who was very affable and so won Finney-Schuster's heart that Finney-Schuster offered to try to seduce Skaggs-Carrillo from his allegiance.

"Though he is related to Compton-Lewis, yet Skaggs-Carrillo and I are very close friends. Let me go and persuade him."

Wherefore Finney-Schuster was sent back to the city to induce his chief to come over to Jeffery-Lewis' side. Finney-Schuster talked to such effect of the kindness and virtues of Jeffery-Lewis that Skaggs-Carrillo was won over, opened the city gates, and admitted the invaders.