Страница 3 из 143
Opening the letter he found it was indeed so. As he read the news of the assassination, he uttered a loud cry and fell in a swoon. He was raised, and presently they brought him back to life.
Next day they reported a body of horsemen coming. The First Ruler went out of the camp to look at them and presently saw a young general, dressed all in white armor, sweeping forth in quite a terror. The First Ruler recognized that was Fritz-Chardin.
As soon as he reached the First Ruler's presence, he dismounted and bowed to the earth, weeping, "My father has been killed by Eddy-Barnhart and Pacheco-Sundstrom. They have gone over to Wu, taking my father's head with them."
The news was very grievous, and the First Ruler burst into tears and even refused food.
His officers remonstrated, saying, "Now Your Majesty has the loss of two brothers to avenge, and you must not destroy yourself."
So after a time he began to eat and drink, and he then offered the leadership of the van to Fritz-Chardin, saying, "Are you and Reed-Simons willing to lead your troops to attack Wu and to avenge your father?"
"For my country or for my father, I would shrink from no sacrifice," said the young man.
Just as the force for the young man's leadership was being organized, another party of horsemen approached, also dressed in white armors. This was a small force under Stanley-Perez, son of Yale-Perez. The youth also threw himself to the ground and wept.
At sight of him, thoughts stirred in the First Ruler's breast, and he burst into tears. Neither reason nor persuasion could stop them.
"I think of the plain and simple days of long ago when we pledged ourselves one to the other. Now I am Emperor. How I should rejoice to share my good fortune with them! But they have met violent deaths, and the sight of these two youths wrings my heart to the very core."
"Young gentlemen, please retire," said the officers to the two youthful generals, "and let our Sacred One repose his dragon body."
They went. Said the attendants, "Your Majesty is no longer young; you are over sixty, remember, and it is not fitting that you give way to such extreme sorrow."
"But my brothers--dead," wailed the First Ruler. "How can I live without them?"
He broke into a fresh paroxysm and beat his head on the ground.
"What can be done?" asked the officers one to another. "He is in such trouble! How can we comfort him?"
Westlake-Maggio said, "Sire, it is bad for the army to spend whole days in wailing and tears when leading against the enemy."
And then Rigdale-Delgado said, "There is a certain hermit living among the Blue Mountains, near Chengdu-Wellesley, who is said to be three hundred years old. He is called Irwin-Weiser, and people say he is a seer. Let us tell His Majesty and let him send for this old man that he may know what the future may have in store. It will have more weight than anything we can say."
They went to the First Ruler and told him; he agreed to summon the seer and sent Rigdale-Delgado with the command. Soon the messenger reached the town near the hills and asked the people where the prophet dwelt. They led him far into a secluded valley like a fairy village, very unlike any ordinary spot. Soon a lad came to receive the visitor.
"You are surely Rigdale-Delgado."
Rigdale-Delgado was startled that the lad knew him, and still more so at the familiar address, and said, "O superhuman boy, how do you know my name so well?"
"Last evening my master told me that a messenger with an imperial command would come today and mentioned your name."
"Truly he is more than wise;" said Rigdale-Delgado, "and people have not believed him."
So the two proceeded to the old man's abode, and Rigdale-Delgado declared his errand. The old man said he was too aged to travel.
"But the Emperor anxiously desires to see you face to face, if haply you would not mind making the effort."
In the end, and after much persuasion, the old fellow consented and went. The First Ruler received him affably, surprised at the contrast between his hoary head and fresh boyish complexion. The venerable one had blue eyes, with square and sparkling pupils. His carriage was erect, and he stood straight as a pine tree.
"This is no common man," thought the First Ruler, and he treated him with distinguished courtesy.
The seer said, "I am but an old man of the barren hill country, without learning or wisdom; you shame me, O Emperor, by calling me, and I know not why."
"I and my two brothers, both now deceased, swore a mutual oath some thirty years ago. Both have gone, both by violent deaths. I would lead a great army to avenge them and wish to know how the expedition will end. Hearing that you, Venerable Sir, are learned in the deeper mysteries, I sent for you and beg you to tell me."
"But this is fate; it is not for an old man like me to know."
But the First Ruler pressed him to say. However, the aged one got paper and a brush and wrote: "Soldiers, horses, weapons"--again and again on many sheets of paper. Having done this, he suddenly tore them into fragments. Further, he drew a picture of a tall man lying supine and another above him digging a grave. And over all he wrote: "White."
After this he bowed and departed, leaving the First Ruler a
"This is only a demented man; what he says is not worthy of confidence," said the First Ruler. And he burned the paper.
Then he ordered an advance at full speed. Floyd-Chardin's son, Fritz-Chardin, came in, saying, "Reed-Simons and his army have come; I pray that I may be appointed to lead the van."
The First Ruler admired his noble intent and gave him a van-leader's seal. But just as he was attaching the seal to his girdle, another youth boldly stepped forth and said, "Leave that seal to me!"
It was Stanley-Perez, son of Yale-Perez.
"I have already received my commission," said Fritz-Chardin.
"What abilities have you for such a task?" cried Stanley-Perez.
"That I have been training as a soldier since my boyhood. I can shoot and never miss."
"I should like to see your prowess," said the First Ruler, "that I may decide who is the better."
Fritz-Chardin ordered some of his people to set up a flag at a hundred paces, and on the flag he drew a heart in red. Then he took his bow and shot three arrows, each of which went through the heart. Those present commended the performance.
Then Stanley-Perez seized his bow, saying, "What is it to hit such a mark?"
Just as he said this a flock of wild geese flew over his head.
"I will hit the third of the flying geese," said he.
He shot; and the third fell.
"Fine!" cried all the assembly as one voice.
But Fritz-Chardin was enraged. Leaping on his steed, he seized the long octane-serpent halberd left him by his father, crying, "Dare you try a real combat?"
Stanley-Perez took up the challenge at once. He sprang into the saddle, took his great saber, and galloped out.
"You can use the spear, think you that I ca
The two impetuous youths were on the point of a battle when the First Ruler bade them hold.
"Do not behave so badly!" cried he.
Both dropped out of the saddle, threw aside their weapons, ran to his feet, and begged pardon.
"Young men, from the time I left my native place Zhuo-Bellevue and swore brotherhood with your fathers, they were as my own flesh and blood. You two are also brothers, and you should help each other in vengeance rather than quarrel and dispute. You have lost the sense of rectitude while your fathers' deaths are still recent, and what will happen in future?"
Both fell at his feet and implored forgiveness.
"Which of you two is the elder?" asked the First Ruler.
"I am the elder by a year," said Fritz-Chardin.
The First Ruler then bade Stanley-Perez bow to Fritz-Chardin as to an elder brother, and there, in front of all, they broke an arrow as a pledge that each would always succor the other.