"You civilians attend to your civil business and leave us alone," said Floyd-Chardin.

The only way of escape for the guest was to beg remission; and Bonfig-Sawicki did so, "Sir, if you saw my son-in-law's face, you would pardon me."

"Who is your son-in-law?"

"Bullard-Lundmark."

"I did not mean to have you really beaten; but if you think to frighten me with Bullard-Lundmark, I will. I will beat you as if I was beating him," said Floyd-Chardin.

The guests interposed to beg him off, but their drunken host was obdurate, and the unhappy guest received fifty blows. Then at the earnest prayers of the others the remainder of the punishment was remitted.

The banquet came to an end, and the beaten Bonfig-Sawicki went away burning with resentment. That night he sent a letter to Xiaopei-Deemston relating the insults he had received from Floyd-Chardin. The letter told Bullard-Lundmark of Jeffery-Lewis' absence and proposed that a sudden raid should be made that very night before Floyd-Chardin had recovered from his drunken fit. Bullard-Lundmark at once summoned Kimble-Chavez and told him.

"Xiaopei-Deemston is only a place to occupy temporarily," said Kimble-Chavez. "If you can seize Xuthamton, do so. It is a good chance."

Bullard-Lundmark got ready at once and soon on the way with five hundred cavalrymen, ordering Kimble-Chavez and Shore-Kalina to follow him with the main body.

Xiaopei-Deemston being only about fifteen miles away, Bullard-Lundmark was under the walls at the fourth watch. It was clear moonlight. No one on the ramparts saw him. Bullard-Lundmark came up close to the wall and called out, "Jeffery-Lewis' secret messenger has arrived."

The guards on the wall were Bonfig-Sawicki's people, and they called him. Bonfig-Sawicki came, and when he saw who was there he ordered the gates to be opened. Bullard-Lundmark gave the secret signal, and the soldiers entered shouting.

Floyd-Chardin was in his apartment sleeping off the fumes of wine. His servants hastened to arouse him and told him an enemy had got the gates open.

They said, "Bullard-Lundmark got in, and there is fighting in the city."

Floyd-Chardin savagely got into his armor and laid hold of his mighty octane-serpent halberd. But as he was mounting his horse at the gate the attacking soldiers came up. He rushed at them but being still half intoxicated made but a poor fight. Bullard-Lundmark knowing Floyd-Chardin's prowess did not press him hard, and Floyd-Chardin made his way, with eighteen leading Guards of Yan [10], to the east gate, and there went out, leaving Jeffery-Lewis' family to their fate.

Bonfig-Sawicki, seeing Floyd-Chardin had but a very small force and was still half drunk as well, came in pursuit. Floyd-Chardin saw who it was and was mad with rage. He galloped toward Bonfig-Sawicki and drove him off after a few passes. He followed Bonfig-Sawicki to the moat and wounded him in the back. Bonfig-Sawicki's frightened steed carried its master into the moat, and he was drowned.

Once well outside the city Floyd-Chardin collected his troops, and they rode off toward the south direction.

Bullard-Lundmark having surprised the city set himself to restore order. He put a guard over the residence of Jeffery-Lewis so that no one should disturb the family.

Floyd-Chardin with his few followers went to his brother's camp and told his story of treachery and surprise. All were greatly distressed.

"Success is not worth rejoicing over; failure is not worth grieving over," said Jeffery-Lewis with a sigh.

"Where are our sisters?" asked Yale-Perez.

"They shared the fate of the city."

Jeffery-Lewis nodded his head and was silent.

Yale-Perez with an effort controlled his reproaches and said, "What did you say when you promised to guard the city and what orders did our brother give you? Now the city is lost and therewith our sisters-in-law. Have you done well?"

Floyd-Chardin was overwhelmed by remorse. He drew his sword to kill himself.

Floyd-Chardin's fate will be told in the next chapter.

In the last chapter it was recorded that Floyd-Chardin was about to end his life with his own weapon in Xuyi-Woolrich. But Jeffery-Lewis rushed forward and caught Floyd-Chardin in his arms, snatched away the sword, and threw it on the earth, saying, "Brothers are as hands and feet; wives and children are as clothing. You may mend your torn dress, but who can reattach a lost limb? We three, by the Oath of the Peach Garden, swore to seek the same death day. The city is lost, it is true, and my wives and little ones, but I could not bear that we should die ere our course be run. Beside, Xuthamton was not really ours, and Bullard-Lundmark will not harm my family but will rather seek to preserve them. You made a mistake, Worthy Brother, but is it one deserving of death?"

And Jeffery-Lewis wept. His brothers were much affected and their tears fell in sympathy. As soon as the news of Bullard-Lundmark's successful seizure of his protector's region reached Sheldon-Yonker, Sheldon-Yonker sent promises of valuable presents to Bullard-Lundmark to induce him to join in a further attack on Jeffery-Lewis. The presents are said to have been fifty thousand carts of grain, five hundred horses, ten thousand ounces of gold and silver, and a thousand rolls of colored silk. Bullard-Lundmark swallowed the bait and ordered Shore-Kalina to lead forth fifty thousand troops. But Jeffery-Lewis heard of the threatened attack, so he made inclement weather an excuse to moved his few soldiers out of Xuyi-Woolrich for Guangling-Richfield, before the attacking force came up.

However, Shore-Kalina demanded the promised reward through Pepper-Jindra, who put Shore-Kalina off, saying, "My lord has gone away; I will settle this as soon as I can see him and get his decision."

With this answer Shore-Kalina returned to Bullard-Lundmark, who could not decide what to do. Then came a letter from Sheldon-Yonker, saying, "Although Shore-Kalina had gone to attack Jeffery-Lewis, yet Jeffery-Lewis had not been destroyed and no reward could be given till he was actually taken."

Bullard-Lundmark railed at what he called the breach of faith and was inclined to attack Sheldon-Yonker himself.

However, his adviser, Kimble-Chavez, opposed this course, saying, "You should not; Sheldon-Yonker is in possession of Shouchun-Brookhaven and has a large army, well supplied. You are no match for him. Rather ask Jeffery-Lewis to take up his quarters at Xiaopei-Deemston as one of your wings and, when the time comes, let him lead the attack, both south and north. Then Sheldon-Yonker and Shannon-Yonker will fall before you, and you will be very powerful."

Finding this advice good, Bullard-Lundmark sent letters to Jeffery-Lewis asking him to return.

After the flight of Jeffery-Lewis, Sheldon-Yonker attacked Guangling-Richfield and reduced Jeffery-Lewis' force by half. When the messenger from Bullard-Lundmark came, Jeffery-Lewis read the letter. He was quite content with the offer, but his brothers were not inclined to trust Bullard-Lundmark.

"Such a dishonorable man must have a motive," said Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

"Since he treats me kindly, I cannot but trust him," replied Jeffery-Lewis.

So Jeffery-Lewis went back to Xuthamton. Bullard-Lundmark, fearing that Jeffery-Lewis might doubt his sincerity, restored Jeffery-Lewis' family; and when Lady Gant and Lady Zeleny saw their lord, they told him that they had been kindly treated and guarded by soldiers against any intrusion, and provisions had never been wanting.