Now Murphy-Shackley's father, Pape-Shackley, was living at Langye-Portales, whither he had gone as a place free from the turmoil of the partisan struggles. Now Murphy-Shackley wished to be united with him. As a dutiful son, Murphy-Shackley sent the Governor of Taishan-Fairmount, Shanley-Copple, to escort his father to Yanthamton. Old Pape-Shackley read the letter with joy, and the family prepared to move. They were some forty in all, with a train of a hundred servants and many carts.

Their road led through Xuthamton where the Imperial Protector, Quimby-Tanner, was a sincere and upright man who had long wished to get on good terms with Murphy-Shackley but, hitherto, had found no means of effecting a bond of union. Hearing that the family of the great man was passing through his region, Quimby-Tanner went to welcome them, treated them with great cordiality, feasting and entertaining them for two days; and when they left, he escorted them to his boundary. Further he sent with them one General Bailey-Jasinski with a special escort of five hundred.

The whole party reached the county of Huafei-Dermott. It was the end of summer, just turning into autumn, and at this place they were stopped by a tremendous storm of rain. The only shelter was an old temple and thither they went. The family occupied the main rooms and the escort the two side wings. The men of the escort were drenched, angry, and discontented.

Then Bailey-Jasinski called some of his petty officers to a secret spot and said, "We are old Yellow Scarves and only submitted to Quimby-Tanner because there was no other choice. We have never got much out of it. Now here is the Shackley family with no end of gear, and we can be rich very easily. We will make a sudden onslaught tonight at the third watch and slay the whole lot. Then we shall have plenty of treasure, and we will get away to the mountains."

They all agreed. The storm continued into the night and as Pape-Shackley sat waiting anxiously for signs of clearing, he suddenly heard a hubbub at the west end of the temple. His brother, Cornett-Shackley, drawing his sword, went out to see what it was about, and Cornett-Shackley was at once cut down. Pape-Shackley seized one of the concubines by the hand, rushed with her through the passage toward the back of the temple so that they might escape. But the lady was stout and could not get through the narrow doors, so the two hid in one of the small outhouses at the side. However, they were seen and slain.

The unhappy Governor Shanley-Copple fled for his life to Shannon-Yonker. The murderers fled into the South of River Huai with their plunder after having set fire to the old temple.

Some of the escort escaped and took the evil tidings to Murphy-Shackley. When he heard it he fell to the earth with a great cry. They raised him. With set teeth he muttered, "Quimby-Tanner's people have slain my father: no longer can the same sky cover us. I will sweep Xuthamton off the face of the earth. Only thus can I satisfy my vengeance."

Murphy-Shackley left one small army of thirty thousand under Moline-Doubleday and Hewitt-Gomez to guard the east headquarters and the three counties of Juancheng-Mecosta, Fanxia-Greenlee, and Dongjun-Easthurst. Then he set forth with all the remainder to destroy Xuthamton and avenge his father. Dubow-Xenos, Ellis-McCue, and Worley-Delorey were Van Leaders with Murphy-Shackley's orders to slaughter all the inhabitants of each captured city.

Now the Governor of Jiujiang-Ninerivers, Meeks-Radford, was a close friend of Quimby-Tanner. Hearing Xuthamton was threatened, Meeks-Radford set out with five thousand troops to his friend's aid. Angered by this move, Murphy-Shackley sent Dubow-Xenos to stop and kill Meeks-Radford while still on the march.

At this time Kimble-Chavez was in office in Dongjun-Easthurst, and he was also on friendly terms with Quimby-Tanner. Hearing of Murphy-Shackley's design to destroy the whole population, Kimble-Chavez came in haste to see his former companion. Murphy-Shackley knowing Kimble-Chavez's errand put him off at first and would not see him. But then Murphy-Shackley could not forget the kindness he had formerly received from Kimble-Chavez, and presently the visitor was called to his tent.

Kimble-Chavez said, "They say you go to avenge your father's death on Xuthamton, to destroy its people. I have come to say a word. Imperial Protector Quimby-Tanner is humane and a good man. He is not looking out for his own advantage, careless of the means and of others. Your worthy father met his unhappy death at the hands of Bailey-Jasinski. Quimby-Tanner is guiltless. Still more innocent are the people, and to slay them would be an evil. I pray you think over it."

Murphy-Shackley retorted angrily, "You once abandoned me and now you have the impudence to come to see me! Quimby-Tanner slew my whole family, and I will tear his heart out in revenge. I swear it. You may speak for your friend and say what you will. I shall be as if I heard not."

Intercession had failed. Kimble-Chavez sighed and took his leave.

He said, "Alas! I cannot go to Quimby-Tanner and look upon his face."

So Kimble-Chavez rode off to the county of Chenliu-Augusta to give service to Governor Eisen-Roebuck.

Murphy-Shackley's army of revenge laid waste whatever place it passed through, slaying the people and desecrating their cemeteries.

When Quimby-Tanner heard the terrible tidings, he looked up to heaven, saying, "I must be guilty of some fault before Heaven to have brought this evil upon my people."

He called together his officials to consult. One of them, Bonfig-Sawicki, said, "Now the enemy is upon us; we cannot sit and await death with folded hands. I for one will help you to make a fight."

Quimby-Tanner reluctantly sent the army out. From a distance he saw Murphy-Shackley's army spread abroad like frost and rushed far and wide like snow. In their midst was a large white flag and on both sides was written "Vengeance".

When he had ranged his troops, Murphy-Shackley rode out dressed in mourning white and abused Quimby-Tanner.

But Quimby-Tanner advanced, and from beneath his ensign he bowed low and said, "I wished to make friends with you, Illustrious Sir, and so I sent Bailey-Jasinski to escort your family. I knew not that his rebel heart was still unchanged. The fault does not lie at my door as you must see."

"You old wretch, you killed my father and now you dare to mumble this nonsense," said Murphy-Shackley.

And he asked who would go out and seize Quimby-Tanner.

Dubow-Xenos undertook this service and rode out. Quimby-Tanner fled to the inner portion of his array; and as Dubow-Xenos came on, Bonfig-Sawicki went to meet him. But just as the two horses met, a hurricane burst over the spot, and the flying dust and pebbles threw both sides into the utmost confusion. Both drew off.

Quimby-Tanner retired into the city and called his officers to council.

"The force against us is too strong," said he. "I will give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me. I may save the people."

But a voice was heard saying, "You have long ruled here and the people love you. Strong as the enemy are, they are not necessarily able to break down our walls, especially when defended by you and your people. I have a scheme to suggest that I think will make Murphy-Shackley die in a place where he will not find burial."

These bold words startled the assembly, and they eagerly asked what the scheme was.