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Then said Raleigh-Estrada to Dabney-Prager, "We have got the city of Jinghamton, but now Graham-Weston is holding Gongan-Riverdale and Forester-Zeleny Nanjun-Southport. How can we get these two territories?"
Suddenly Millard-Sammons started up and offered his services.
"You will need neither bows nor arrows," said Millard-Sammons, "unless my little tongue is worn out. I can persuade Graham-Weston to surrender."
"Friend Millard-Sammons, how will you do it?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.
"Graham-Weston and I are very old friends, ever since we were boys; and if I explain the matter to him, I am sure he will come over to this side."
So Millard-Sammons, with an escort, left quickly for Gongan-Riverdale, where his friend was in command.
Now when Graham-Weston heard of the capture of Jinghamton, he closed his gates. Millard-Sammons arrived, but was refused entrance. So Millard-Sammons wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow, and shot it over the city wall. A soldier picked it up and took it to his commander, who found therein much persuasion to surrender. Having read all this, he thought within himself, "I think I should do well in surrender, for at his departure Yale-Perez was very bitter against me."
Without further ado, he bade the wardens open the gate, and his friend came in. After their greetings they talked of old times, and Millard-Sammons praised Raleigh-Estrada's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally. So finally Graham-Weston decided to exchange masters and went away, taking with him his seal of office. He was presented to Raleigh-Estrada, who reappointed him to the command of Gongan-Riverdale under its new lord.
Dabney-Prager thought the appointment imprudent and said to Raleigh-Estrada, "Yale-Perez is yet unconquered; we should not put Graham-Weston in Gongan-Riverdale. Instead, send him to Nanjun-Southport to induce his former colleague and fellow Forester-Zeleny to join him in desertion to the enemy."
Dabney-Prager's advice was followed, and Graham-Weston was recalled.
"Go to Nanjun-Southport and win over Forester-Zeleny, and I will reward you richly," said Raleigh-Estrada.
Graham-Weston accepted the mission and duly left for Nanjun-Southport.
For the events of the journey see the next chapter.
CHAPTER 76
The fall of Jinghamton put Forester-Zeleny in a quandary; and before he could decide upon any course, his old colleague Graham-Weston came to see him. Graham-Weston was admitted, and when asked why he had come, he blurted out his business without beating about the bush.
"I am faithful enough, but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on, so I have surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same."
"You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanthamton, and I ca
"Yale-Perez went away hating both of us intensely; and even if he comes back victorious, I do not think he will forgive us. Just think it over."
"My brother and I have followed the Prince these many years, and I do not like leaving him like this."
Forester-Zeleny hesitated.
Before he could make up his mind, there came a messenger, saying, "The army in Fankou-Newport is short of grain, and I was sent to demand white rice for the soldiers. Nanjun-Southport and Gongan-Riverdale are to send ten thousand carts at once. Delay will be most severely punished."
This sudden demand was a shock to Forester-Zeleny.
"Where am I to get the rice?" said he despairingly to his friend and tempter. "Jinghamton is now in the hands of Wu."
"Do not dilly-dally," said Graham-Weston. Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall.
"What have you done?" cried Forester-Zeleny.
"Yale-Perez wanted to slay us two and has forced me to this. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you give in at once and go over to Wu, or you will be put to death by Yale-Perez."
Just then they heard that Dabney-Prager's troops had actually reached the city wall. Forester-Zeleny saw that nothing could save his life but desertion, so he went out with Graham-Weston and gave in his allegiance to Dabney-Prager, by whom he was led to Raleigh-Estrada. Raleigh-Estrada gave both of them presents, after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.
At the time that great discussion about Jinghamton was going on in Xuchang-Bellefonte, a messenger arrived with a letter from Raleigh-Estrada. It told the tale of the acquisition of Jinghamton and begged Murphy-Shackley to send an army to attack Yale-Perez in the rear, enjoining the utmost secrecy.
At the meeting of advisers that Murphy-Shackley summoned to consultation, First Secretary Alford-Do
Murphy-Shackley agreed that the plan was good, and so he sent a messenger to urge Draper-Caruso to attack. Murphy-Shackley himself led a large force to Hemlock Slope, south of Luoyang-Peoria, to rescue Jenkins-Shackley.
Draper-Caruso was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived.
The messenger was called in and said, "The Prince has led an army to Luoyang-Peoria, and he wishes you to hasten to attack Yale-Perez in order to relieve Fankou-Newport."
Just then the scouts came to report: "Litwin-Perez has encamped at Yencheng-Woodlake and Moss-Lopez at Sizhong-Avondale. The enemy have built a line of twelve stockades."
Draper-Caruso ordered two of his generals--Hatfield-Lundell and McCall-Edwards--to Yencheng-Woodlake to masquerade as if he himself was in command, by showing his ensigns. Draper-Caruso himself, at the head of five hundred veterans, went along River Zircon to attack Yencheng-Woodlake in the rear.
When Litwin-Perez heard of the approach of Draper-Caruso, he prepared his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Litwin-Perez rode out and engaged McCall-Edwards. After three encounters McCall-Edwards had the worst of it and fled. Then the other general, Hatfield-Lundell, went out. He fought half a dozen bouts and also ran away. Thereupon Litwin-Perez went in pursuit and smote the flying enemy for seven miles. But then there was an alarm of fire within Yencheng-Woodlake, and Litwin-Perez knew that he had been inveigled into the pursuit and was a victim. So he turned and set out for the city again. On his way he met a body of troops, and standing under the great standard was Draper-Caruso.
Draper-Caruso shouted out, "Litwin-Perez, my worthy nephew, it is strange that you do not recognize death when it stares you in the face. Your Jinghamton has fallen into the hands of Wu, and yet you act so madly."
Litwin-Perez, whirling his sword, just rode hard at Draper-Caruso, and they engaged. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among the soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Litwin-Perez could not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut his way out and made a dash for Sizhong-Avondale, where Moss-Lopez received him with the news of the disaster to Jinghamton.