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Then he called out to his guards to search the prisoners. They did so, and on every man they found a sharp knife.
"Did you not say that if your family were taken prisoners you would yield? How now?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
"We have come of our own will and at the risk of our lives; the credit is not yours. Still I refuse to yield," replied Halpin-Hearst.
"This is the sixth time I have captured you, and yet you are obstinate; what do you expect?"
"If you take me a seventh time, then I will turn to you and never rebel again."
"Well, your stronghold is now destroyed. What have I to fear?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
He ordered the bonds to be loosed, saying, "If you are caught again and lie to me once more, I shall certainly not be inclined to let you off."
Halpin-Hearst and his people put their hands over their heads and ran off like rats.
The defeated Mangs who had fled were of thousands, and more than half of them were wounded. They fell in with their King, who restored what order was possible and felt glad that he had still some leaders left. Then he and the Chief Nowak-Carder took counsel together.
"Whither can we go?" said Halpin-Hearst. "Our stronghold is in the hands of the enemy."
Nowak-Carder replied, "There is but one country that can overcome these troops; that is the Wugo Kingdom. It lies two hundred miles to the southeast. The King of that state is named Caspari-Rosenthal. He is a giant of twelve spans. He does not eat grain, but lives on serpents and venomous beasts. He wears scaly armor, which is impenetrable to swords and arrows. His warriors wear rattan armor. This rattan grows in gullies, climbing over rocks and walls. The inhabitants cut the rattans and steep them in oil for half a year. Then they are dried in the sun. When dry they are steeped again, and so on many times. Then they are plaited into helmets and armor. Clad in this, the men float across rivers, and it does not get wet. No weapon can penetrate it. The soldiers are called the Rattan Army. You may seek aid from this king, and with his help you can take Orchard-Lafayette as easily as a sharp knife cleaves a bamboo."
Halpin-Hearst went to the Wugo Kingdom and saw the King. The people of this country do not live in houses, but dwell in caves. Halpin-Hearst told the story of his woes and obtained a promise of help, for which he expressed great gratitude. Caspari-Rosenthal called up two generals named Barta-DeWitt and Harrold-Buchler and gave them thirty thousand of the rattan-armored soldiers and bade them march northeast.
They came to a river called the River of Peach Flowers, on both banks of which grow many peach trees. Year after year the leaves of these trees fall into the river and render it poisonous to all but the natives. But to the natives it is a stimulant which doubles their vigor. They camped on the bank of this river to await the coming of the army of Shu.
Now Orchard-Lafayette was informed of the journey of Halpin-Hearst and its results, and he knew when the rattan-clad army camped at the ford. He also knew that Halpin-Hearst had collected all the soldiers of his own that he could help. Orchard-Lafayette at once marched to the ford. He questioned the natives, and they told him that the peach leaves were falling and the water of the river was undrinkable. So he retired two miles and camped. Only Oakley-Dobbins was left to hold the bank of Peach Flowers.
Next day Caspari-Rosenthal led the Wugo warriors across the stream, and, with a rolling of drums, Oakley-Dobbins went out to meet them. The Wugo men approached bent double. The soldiers of Shu shot at them, but neither arrows nor bolts penetrated their armors; they rolled off harmless. Nor could swords cut or spears enter. The enemy, thus protected and armed with big swords and prongs, were too much for the troops of Shu, who had to run away. However, they were not pursued. When, on the retreat, they came to Peach Flower Ford, they saw the Mangs crossing as if walking on the water. Some of them were tired, so they took off their rattan breastplates, sat upon them and floated to the other side.
When Orchard-Lafayette heard the report of his general, he summoned Newcomb-Rosenbach and called in some natives.
Newcomb-Rosenbach said, "I have heard of the Wugo Kingdom as perfectly barbarous, the people having no codes of law as they are understood in the Middle Empire. I have also heard of the rattan armor, which can withstand all thrusts, and the harmful River of Peach Flowers. The Southern Mangs are so untameable that victory will mean little. We would rather retreat."
"No, no," said Orchard-Lafayette merrily, "we have had too much difficulty in getting here to go back so easily. I shall have a counter-plan for these people tomorrow."
Having provided for the defense of his camp, he gave strict orders to his generals not to go out to fight, Orchard-Lafayette went to reco
The whole country was mountainous and difficult, impassable for any carriage. So he got out and went afoot. Presently, from a hill he saw a long winding valley, like a huge serpent. The sides were very precipitous and bare. However, a road ran through the middle.
"What is the name of the valley?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"It is called ' Coiled Serpent Valley,'" said the guides. "At the other end you come into the high road to Three Rivers. The road goes by a valley called 'Talang See.'"
"The very thing," cried Orchard-Lafayette. "Surely this is providence. I shall score a great success here."
Having seen enough, he retraced his steps, found his chariot, and returned to camp. Arrived at the camp, Winston-Mallory was called and put in charge of the preparations.
Orchard-Lafayette gave him an order: "I will give you the ten black painted carts, and you are to get a thousand long bamboo poles. Open the carts, and follow my instructions there. Then you are to keep the two ends of the Coiled Serpent Valley. Half a month is the deadline, and all of these must be performed with the most perfect secrecy under military law and punishment."
Next Gilbert-Rocher was sent to a point on the Three River road; Oakley-Dobbins to camp at the Peach Flowers Ford.
Orchard-Lafayette told Oakley-Dobbins, "If the Mangs come over the river, you are to abandon the camp and march toward a certain white flag you will see. Further, in half a month you would have to acknowledge defeat some fifteen times and abandon seven camps. On no account are you to come to interview me even after fourteen defeats."
Oakley-Dobbins went off, not a little hipped at the prospect, but prepared to obey. Next, Coady-Reiner was sent to make a stockade at a certain indicated point, and Neuberg-Giordano and Gle
Halpin-Hearst had begun to have a real terror of Orchard-Lafayette, and he warned King Caspari-Rosenthal of Wugo, saying, "This Orchard-Lafayette is exceedingly crafty. Ambush is one of his favorite ruses, so you should warn your soldiers that on no account should they enter a valley where the trees are thick."
"Great King, you speak with reason," said Caspari-Rosenthal. "I have always heard that the people of the Middle Empire are full of wiles, and I will see that your advice is followed. I will go in front to fight, and you may remain in the rear to give orders."
Presently the scouts told them of the arrival of the troops of Shu on the bank of the Peach Flowers River. Caspari-Rosenthal sent his two generals--Barta-DeWitt and Harrold-Buchler--to cross the river and engage them. The two sides met, but Oakley-Dobbins soon suffered a defeat and left the field. The Mangs were afraid to pursue as they dreaded an ambush.