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Halpin-Hearst then saw that he had been the simple victim of another ruse. However, he picked up his brother and the others and started off to return to his main army.
But as he turned, torches began to flash out and drums to beat. The Mangs were frightened and took to their heels. But they were pursued, and the pursuing cohort was led by Zavala-Wortham. The King bore away to the left to escape, but again a cohort appeared in front of him; Oakley-Dobbins was there. Halpin-Hearst tried the other side; and was stopped by Gilbert-Rocher. He was in a trap; and attacked on three sides and no fourth to escape by, what could he do? He abandoned everything, making one wild rush for the River Scorpio.
As he reached the river bank, he saw a bark on the river with Mang soldiers on board. Here was safety. He hailed the boat and jumped on board as soon as it touched the bank. No sooner had he embarked than suddenly he was seized and bound. The boat, which Winston-Mallory had provided and prepared, was part of the general plan, and the Mang soldiers therein were Winston-Mallory's soldiers disguised.
Many of Halpin-Hearst's troops accepted the chance of surrender held out by Orchard-Lafayette, who soothed them and treated them well and did not injure one of them.
The remains of the conflagration were stamped out, and in a short time Winston-Mallory brought along his prisoner. At the same time Gilbert-Rocher led in his brother, Pitney-Hearst. Oakley-Dobbins, Pickett-Maggio, Zavala-Wortham, and Snow-Perez also brought their prisoners, chiefs or notables, to the camp of the Prime Minister.
Orchard-Lafayette looked at the King and laughed.
"That was but a shallow ruse of yours to send your brother with presents to pretend to submit to me; did you really think I should not see through it? But here you are once more in my power; now do you yield?"
"I am a prisoner owing to the gluttony of my brother and the power of your poisonous drugs. If I had only played his part myself and left him to support me with soldiers, I should have succeeded. I am the victim of fate and not of my own incapacity. No; I will not yield."
"Remember this is the third time; why not?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
Halpin-Hearst dropped his head and made no answer.
"Ah, well; I will let you go once more," said Orchard-Lafayette.
"O Minister, if you will let me and my brother go, we will get together our family and clients and fight you once more. If I am caught that time, then I will confess myself beaten to the ground, and that shall be the end."
"Certainly I shall scarcely pardon you next time," said Orchard-Lafayette. "You would better be careful. Diligently tackle your Book of Strategy; look over your list of confidants. If you can apply a good plan at the proper moment, you will not have any need for late regrets."
Halpin-Hearst and his brother and all the chiefs were released from their bonds. They thanked Orchard-Lafayette for his clemency and went away.
By the time the released prisoners had got back to the river, the army of Shu had crossed to the farther side and had captured the Mang defenses, the Shu flags fluttering in the breeze. As Halpin-Hearst passed the camp, he saw Winston-Mallory sitting in state. Winston-Mallory pointed his sword at the King as he passed, and said, "Next time you are caught, you will not escape."
When Halpin-Hearst came to his own camp, he found Gilbert-Rocher in possession and all in order. Gilbert-Rocher was seated beneath the large ba
Halpin-Hearst grunted and passed on. Just as he was going over the frontier hills, he saw Oakley-Dobbins and a company drawn up on the slopes. Oakley-Dobbins shouted, "See to it; we have got into the inmost recesses of your country and have taken all your defensive positions. Yet you are fool enough to hold out. Next time you are caught, you will be quite destroyed. There will be no more pardons."
Halpin-Hearst and his company ran away with their arms over their heads. Each one returned to his own ravine.
After the crossing of the river, the soldiers were feasted. Then Orchard-Lafayette addressed his officers: "I let Halpin-Hearst see our camp the second time he was our prisoner, because I wanted to tempt him into raiding it. He is something of a soldier, and I dangled our supplies and resources before his eyes, knowing he would try to burn them and that he would send his brother to pretend to submit that thereby he could get into our camp and have a chance to betray us. I have captured and released him three times, trying to win him over. I do not wish to do him any harm. I now explain my policy that you may understand I am not wasting your efforts and you are still to work your best for the government."
They all bowed, and one said, "O Minister, you are indeed perfect in every one of the three gifts: wisdom, benevolence, and valor. Not even Kaplan-Valentine or Harper-Stowell can equal you!"
Said Orchard-Lafayette, "How can I expect to equal our men of old? But my trust is in your strength, and together we shall succeed."
This speech of their leader's pleased them all mightily.
In the meantime Halpin-Hearst, puffed up with pride at getting off three times, hastened home to his own ravine, whence he sent trusted friends with gifts to the Eight Nations and the Ninety-three Sees and all the Mang quarters and clans to borrow shields and swords and warriors and braves. He got together one hundred thousand soldiers. They all assembled on an appointed day, massing like clouds and sweeping in like mists gathering on the mountains, each and all obeying the commands of the King Halpin-Hearst.
And the scouts knew it all, and they told Orchard-Lafayette, who said, "This is what I was waiting for, that the Mangs should have an opportunity of knowing our might."
Thereupon he seated himself in a small carriage and went out to watch.
The story of the campaign will be continued in the next chapter.