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The officers were deeply moved.
Then Halpin-Hearst was summoned. He appeared and fell upon his knees. His limbs were freed from the bonds, and he was sent into a side tent for refreshment. But the officers told off to entertain him received certain secret orders.
The chief prisoners were Halpin-Hearst, Lady Pierrot, Pitney-Hearst, and Nowak-Carder. There were many of his clan as well. As they were eating and drinking, a messenger appeared in the door of the tent and addressed the King: "The Prime Minister is ashamed and does not wish to see you again, Sir. He has sent me to release you. You may enlist another army if you can and once more try a decisive battle. Now you may go."
But instead of going Halpin-Hearst began to weep.
"Seven times a captive and seven times released!" said the King. "Surely there was never anything like it in the whole world. I know I am a barbarian and beyond the pale, but I am not entirely devoid of a sense of propriety and rectitude. Does he think that I feel no shame?"
Thereupon he and all his followers fell upon their knees and crawled to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief and begged pardon, saying, "O Minister, you are the majesty of Heaven. We people of the south will offer no more opposition."
"Then you yield?" said Orchard-Lafayette, sighing.
"I and my children and grandchildren are deeply affected by your all-pervading and life-giving mercy. Now how can we not yield?"
Orchard-Lafayette asked Halpin-Hearst to come up into the tent and be seated, and he prepared a banquet of felicitation. Also he confirmed Halpin-Hearst in his kingship and restored all the places that had been captured. Everyone was overwhelmed with Orchard-Lafayette's generosity, and they all went away rejoicing. A poem has praised Orchard-Lafayette's action:
The High Counselor Norwich-Ortega ventured to remonstrate with Orchard-Lafayette on his policy.
He said, "You, O Minister, have led the army this long journey into the wilds and have reduced the Mang country, and have brought about the submission of the king; why not appoint officials to share in the administration and hold the land?"
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "There are three difficulties. To leave foreigners implies leaving a guard for them; there is the difficulty of feeding a guard. The Mangs have lost many of their relatives. To leave foreigners without a guard will invite a calamity; this is the second difficulty. Among the Mangs, dethronements and murders are frequent, and there will be enmities and suspicions. Foreigners and they will be mutually distrustful; this is the third difficulty. If I do not leave our people, I shall not have to send supplies, which makes for peace and freedom from trouble."
They had to agree that the policy was wise.
The kindness of the conqueror was rewarded by the gratitude of these southern people, and they even erected a shrine in his honor, where they sacrificed at the four seasons. They called him their "Gracious Father", and they sent gifts of jewels, ci
When the feastings to the soldiers were finished, the army marched homeward to Shu. Oakley-Dobbins was in command of the advanced column. He marched to the River Scorpio. But on his arrival the clouds gathered and a gale blew over the face of the waters. Because of the force of the gale, the army could not advance. Oakley-Dobbins then returned and reported the matter to his chief. Orchard-Lafayette called in Halpin-Hearst to ask what this might mean.
The next chapter will contain Halpin-Hearst's explanation.
CHAPTER 91
Halpin-Hearst at the head of the Mang Chieftains and Notables attended to do honor to the army of Shu on its departure. They reached the River Scorpio in autumn, the ninth month. But on trying to cross the river, a tremendous storm came and hindered them. Oakley-Dobbins having reported his difficulty to Orchard-Lafayette, Halpin-Hearst was asked if he knew of any reason for such a storm.
Halpin-Hearst replied, "Wild spirits have always troubled those who would cross this river; it is necessary to propitiate them with sacrifices."
"What is the sacrifice?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"In the old days when malicious spirits brought misfortune, they sacrificed humans to the number of seven sevens and offered their heads. They also slew a black ox and a white goat. Sacrifice thus; the wind will subside and the waters come to rest. The same used to be done to secure a plenteous harvest."
"How can I slay a single man without good reason now that fighting is done and peace has returned?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
Orchard-Lafayette went down to the river to see for himself. The north wind was blowing hard, and the waves were high. Both humans and horses seemed frightened. He himself was perplexed. Then he sought out some of the natives and questioned them.
They said, "We have heard the demons moaning every night since the army crossed the river. The cries begin at dusk and continued till dawn. There are many dark demons in the malarial vapors and no one dared cross."
"The sin is mine," said Orchard-Lafayette, "for more than a thousand soldiers of Winston-Mallory perished in these waters beside the southern people. Their poor distressed souls are not yet freed. Therefore I will come this night and sacrifice to them."
"According to the ancient rule the number of victims ought to be forty-nine; then the spirits will disperse," said the natives.
"As the resentful demons are here because of the deaths of people, where is the sense in slaying more humans? But this will I do. I will make balls of flour paste after the ma
By nightfall, an altar had been set up on the bank of the river with the sacrificial objects all arranged. There were also forty-nine lamps. Flags were flying to summon the souls. The "mantou" were piled up on the ground. In the middle of the third watch, at midnight, Orchard-Lafayette, dressed in Taoist garb, went to offer the sacrifice in person, and he bade Withrow-Cassidy read this prayer:
"On the first day of the ninth month of the third year of the era Begi
"I now declare to you, O ye shades, the majesty of my master, the Emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty, excelling that of the Five Feudatories and brilliantly continuing the glory of the three ancient kings. Recently, when the distant south rebelliously invaded his territory, contumeliously sent an army, loosed the venom of their sorcery, and gave free rein to their savagery in rebellion, I was commanded to punish their crimes. Wherefore my brave armies marched and utterly destroyed the contemptible rebels. My brave soldiers gathered like the clouds, and the insensate rebels melted away. Hearing of the easy successes I won, they were entirely demoralized.