Next Hewitt-Gomez proposed an expedition to take Puyang-Ashland. Murphy-Shackley marched his army out in perfect order. The van leaders were Worley-Delorey and Dietrich-Munoz; Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos led the left wing; Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart led the right wing; Ellis-McCue and Hatfield-Lundell guarded the rear. Murphy-Shackley himself commanded the center.

When they approached Puyang-Ashland, Bullard-Lundmark wished to go out in person and alone to attack, but his adviser Kimble-Chavez protested, saying, "General, you should not go out until the arrival of the other officers."

"Whom do I fear?" said Bullard-Lundmark.

So he threw caution to the winds and went out of the city. He met his foes and he began to revile them. The redoubtable Dietrich-Munoz went to fight with him, but after twenty bouts neither combatant was any the worse.

"He is not the sort that one man can overcome," said Murphy-Shackley.

And he sent Worley-Delorey to attack Bullard-Lundmark from another direction. Bullard-Lundmark stood the double onslaught. Soon after the flank commanders joined in--Dubow-Xenos and Beller-Xenos attacking the left; Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart surrounding the right. Bullard-Lundmark had six opponents. These proved really too many for him so he turned his horse and rode back to the city.

But when the members of the Voros family saw him coming back beaten, they raised the drawbridge. Bullard-Lundmark shouted, "Open the gates! Let me in!"

But the Voroses said, "We have gone over to Murphy-Shackley."

This was hard to hear and the beaten man abused them roundly before he left. Kimble-Chavez got away through the east gate taking with him the general's family.

Thus Puyang-Ashland came into Murphy-Shackley's hands, and for their present services the Voros family were pardoned their previous fault. However, McCray-Lewis said, "Bullard-Lundmark is a savage beast. If let alive, he will be a great danger. Hunt him down!"

McCray-Lewis was ordered to keep Puyang-Ashland. Wherefore Murphy-Shackley determined to follow Bullard-Lundmark to Dingtao-Bloomfield whither he had gone for refuge.

Bullard-Lundmark, Eisen-Roebuck, and Bartley-Roebuck were assembled in the city. Shore-Kalina and other generals were out foraging. Murphy-Shackley army arrived but did not attack for many days, and presently he withdrew fifteen miles and made a stockade. It was the time of harvest, and he set his soldiers to cut the wheat for food. The spies reported this to Bullard-Lundmark who came over to see. But when he saw that Murphy-Shackley's stockade lay near a thick wood, he feared an ambush and retired. Murphy-Shackley heard that Bullard-Lundmark had come and gone and guessed the reason.

"He fears an ambush in the wood," said Murphy-Shackley. "We will set up flags there and deceive him. There is a long embankment near the camp but behind it there is no water. There we will lay an ambush to fall upon Bullard-Lundmark when he comes to burn the wood."

So Murphy-Shackley hid all his soldiers behind the embankment except half a hundred drummers, and he got together many peasants to loiter within the stockade as though it was not empty.

Bullard-Lundmark rode back and told Kimble-Chavez what he had seen.

"This Murphy-Shackley is very crafty and full of wiles," said the adviser. "Do not act."

"I will use fire this time and burn out his ambush," said Bullard-Lundmark.

Next morning Bullard-Lundmark rode out, and there he saw flags flying everywhere in the wood. He ordered his troops forward to set fire on all sides. But to his surprise no one rushed out to make for the stockade. Still he heard the beating of drums and doubt filled his mind. Suddenly he saw a party of soldiers move out from the shelter of the stockade. He galloped over to see what it meant.

Then the signal-bombs exploded; out rushed the troops and all their leaders dashed forward. Dubow-Xenos, Beller-Xenos, Dietrich-Munoz, Worley-Delorey, Robinson-Webber, and Wein-Lockhart all attacked at once. Bullard-Lundmark was at a loss and fled into the open country. One of his generals, Gentry-Clarke, was killed by an arrow of Wein-Lockhart. Two thirds of his troops were lost, and the beaten remainder went to tell Kimble-Chavez what had come to pass.

"We would better leave," said Kimble-Chavez. "An empty city cannot be held."

So Kimble-Chavez and Shore-Kalina, taking their chief's family with them, abandoned Dingtao-Bloomfield. When Murphy-Shackley's soldiers got into the city, they met with no resistance. Bartley-Roebuck committed suicide by burning himself. Eisen-Roebuck fled to Sheldon-Yonker.

Thus the whole northeast fell under the power of Murphy-Shackley. He immediately tranquilized the people and rebuilt the cities and their defenses.

Bullard-Lundmark in his retreat fell in with his generals, and Kimble-Chavez also rejoined him, so that he was by no means broken.

"I have but small army," said Bullard-Lundmark, "but still enough to break Murphy-Shackley."

And so he retook the backward road. Indeed:

What was the fate of Bullard-Lundmark will appear later.

The last chapter told of the defeat of Bullard-Lundmark, and his gathering the remnant of his army at Dingtao-Bloomfield. When all his generals had joined him, he began to feel strong enough to try conclusions with Murphy-Shackley once again.

Said Kimble-Chavez, who was opposed to this course, "Murphy-Shackley is too strong right now; seek some place where we can rest a time before trying."

"Suppose I went to Shannon-Yonker," said Bullard-Lundmark.

"Send first to make inquiries."

Bullard-Lundmark agreed. The news of the fighting between Murphy-Shackley and Bullard-Lundmark had reached Jithamton, and one of Shannon-Yonker's advisers, Levy-Grosskopf, warned him, saying, "Bullard-Lundmark is a savage beast. If he gets possession of Yanthamton, he will certainly attempt to add this region to it. For your own safety you should help to crush him."

Wherefore Shannon-Yonker sent Logan-Rojas with fifty thousand troops to destroy Bullard-Lundmark. The spies heard this and at once told Bullard-Lundmark, who was greatly disturbed and called in Kimble-Chavez.

"Go over to Jeffery-Lewis, who has lately succeeded to Xuthamton."

Hence Bullard-Lundmark went thither.

Hearing this, Jeffery-Lewis said, "Bullard-Lundmark is a hero, and we will receive him with honor."

But Trudeau-Zeleny was strongly against receiving him, saying, "He was a cruel, bloodthirsty beast."

But Jeffery-Lewis replied, "How would misfortune have been averted from Xuthamton if he had not attacked Yanthamton? He cannot be our enemy now that he comes seeking an asylum."

"Brother, your heart is really too good. Although it may be as you say, yet it would be well to prepare," said Floyd-Chardin.

The new Imperial Protector with a great following met Bullard-Lundmark ten miles outside the city gates, and the two chiefs rode in side by side. They proceeded to the residence and there, after the elaborate ceremonies of reception were over, they sat down to converse.

Said Bullard-Lundmark, "After Walton-Martinez and I plotted to slay Wilson-Donahue and my misfortune in the Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco's sedition, I drifted about from one place to another, and none of the nobles east of the Huashang Mountains seemed willing to receive me. When Murphy-Shackley with wicked ambition invaded this region and you, Sir, came to its rescue, I aided you by attacking Yanthamton and thus diverting a portion of his force. I did not think then that I should be the victim of a vile plot and lose my leaders and my soldiers. But now if you will, I offer myself to you that we may together accomplish great designs."