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"I go to the North of Yellow River to seek my brother, Jeffery-Lewis, and I respectfully ask you to grant me a passage over the river."
"Where is the authority of the Prime Minister?"
"I am not on a mission from the Prime Minister, so why should I have such an authority?"
"I have orders from my chief to guard the ferry, and you will not cross; even if you grew wings, you should not fly over."
Yale-Perez's choler arose.
"Do you know that I have been the death of all those who have hitherto tried to stop me?" said he.
"You have only slain a few officers of no rank or reputation; but you dare not kill me!"
"Where would you stand beside Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg?" asked Yale-Perez.
Eastman-Diamond grew angry, and he loosed his rein. Sword in hand, he came at a gallop. The two met, but in the first encounter Eastman-Diamond's head was swept off by the terrible green-dragon saber.
"He who opposed me is dead; you others need not be afraid," cried Yale-Perez. "Be quick and prepare me a boat."
The boat was soon at the landing, and the two women stepped on board, followed by Yale-Perez. They crossed and were then in the country of Sha
"I did not willingly slay a single one of them," mused Yale-Perez as he rode along. "There was no help for it. Nevertheless when Murphy-Shackley hears of it, he will regard me as ungrateful for his bounty."
Before long he saw a rider on the road who soon hailed him and proved to be Qui
"I have never heard a word from you since we lost sight of each other at Runan-Pittsford; how have you fared?" said Yale-Perez.
"After your departure Pryor-Lewis and Terrell-Dickey retook the city. I was sent by them to Sha
Yale-Perez took Qui
The ladies covered their faces and wept at the recital of his dangers. Then the party no longer traveled north but took the road toward Runan-Pittsford. Not long after a great cloud of dust was noticed behind them, and that presently made out a hundred of horsemen. These were led by Dubow-Xenos, who shouted out to Yale-Perez to stop.
How finally Yale-Perez escaped death will appear in the succeeding chapter.
CHAPTER 28
Qui
When they were near enough, Yale-Perez said, "In coming after me thus you do not reinforce the magnanimity of your master!"
Replied Dubow-Xenos, "The Prime Minister has sent no definite instructions. You have caused the death of several people, among them one of my commanders, and so I have come to capture you! You have behaved most grossly. The Prime Minister will decide."
Thereupon Dubow-Xenos dashed forward with his spear ready to thrust. But at that moment a rider came up behind him at full gallop, crying, "You must not fight with Yale-Perez!"
Yale-Perez stayed his steed at once and waited. The messenger came up, drew from his bosom an official letter, and said to Dubow-Xenos, "The Prime Minister loves General Yale-Perez for his loyalty and honor, and fearing lest Yale-Perez might be stopped at the various passes, he sent me with this letter to show when necessary at any point on the road."
"But this Yale-Perez has slain several commanders of the passes; does the Prime Minister know that?" said Dubow-Xenos.
The messenger said these things were unknown.
"Then," said Dubow-Xenos, "I will arrest him and take him to the Prime Minister, who may set him free or not as he wills."
"Do you think I fear anything you can do?" said Yale-Perez getting wrathful.
And he rode forward. Dubow-Xenos, nothing loth, set his spear and prepared for battle. They met and had reached the tenth encounter when a second horseman came up at full speed, crying, "Generals, wait a little!"
Dubow-Xenos stayed his hand and asked the messenger, saying, "Am I to arrest him?"
"No," replied the messenger. "Fearing lest he should have difficulties at the passes, the Prime Minister has sent me with a dispatch to say he is to be released."
"Did the Prime Minister know that he had slain several commanders on the way?"
"He did not know!"
"Since he was ignorant of that, I may not let this Yale-Perez go," and Dubow-Xenos gave the signal to his men to close in round Yale-Perez.
But Yale-Perez flourished his sword and made to attack them and a fight was again imminent, when a third rider appeared, who cried, "Yale-Perez, give way and do not fight!"
The speaker was Lamkin-Gonzalez. Both combatants made no further move but awaited his arrival.
Lamkin-Gonzalez said, "I bring the Prime Minister's order that since he has heard that Yale-Perez has slain certain commanders on the way, he fears that some will hinder his passage. Wherefore he has sent me to deliver his command at each gate that Yale-Perez is to be suffered to pass freely."