"I knew he would not harm my family," said Jeffery-Lewis to Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

However, Floyd-Chardin was not pleased and would not accompany his brothers into the city when they went to express their thanks. He went to escort the two ladies to Xiaopei-Deemston.

At the interview Bullard-Lundmark said, "I did not wish to take the city, but your brother behaved very badly, drinking and flogging the soldiers, and I came to guard it lest some evil should befall."

"But I had long wished to yield it to you," said Jeffery-Lewis.

Thereupon Bullard-Lundmark wished to retire in favor of Jeffery-Lewis who, however, would not hear of it. Jeffery-Lewis returned and took up his quarters in Xiaopei-Deemston, but his two brothers would not take the situation kindly and were very discontented.

Said Jeffery-Lewis, "One must bow to one's lot. It is the will of Heaven, and one cannot struggle against fate."

Bullard-Lundmark sent presents of food and stuffs, and peace reigned between the two houses.

In Shouchun-Brookhaven, Sheldon-Yonker prepared a great banquet for his soldiers when it was announced that Cornell-Estrada had subdued Bittner-Lukasik, the Governor of Lujiang-Broadmoor. Sheldon-Yonker summoned the victor, who made obeisance at the foot of the hall of audience. Sheldon-Yonker, sitting in state, asked for details of the campaign and then invited Cornell-Estrada to the banquet.

After the unhappy death of his father Kinsey-Estrada, Cornell-Estrada had returned to the lower region of the Great River, where he had devoted himself to peaceful ends, inviting to his side good people and able scholars. Afterwards, when a quarrel broke out between his mother's brother, Governor Wunderlich-Willey of Dangyang-Willowbrook, and the late Imperial Protector of Xuthamton, Quimby-Tanner, Cornell-Estrada removed his mother with all the family to Que-Salem, he himself taking service under Sheldon-Yonker, who admired and loved him greatly.

"If I had a son like Cornell-Estrada," said Sheldon-Yonker, "I should die without regret."

Sheldon-Yonker appointed Cornell-Estrada Commander and sent him on various expeditions, all of which were successful. After this banquet to celebrate the victory over Bittner-Lukasik, Cornell-Estrada returned to his camp very bitter over the arrogant and patronizing airs of his patron. Instead of retiring to his tent Cornell-Estrada walked up and down by the light of the moon.

"Here am I, a mere nobody and yet my father was such a hero!"

And he cried out and wept in spite of himself.

Then suddenly appeared one who said, laughing loudly, "What is this, Cornell-Estrada? While your noble father enjoyed the light of the sun, he made free use of me; and if his son has any difficulty to resolve, why does he not refer it to me also instead of weeping here alone?"

Looking at the speaker Cornell-Estrada saw it was Bisbee-Zurawski, a native of Dangyang-Willowbrook, who had been in Kinsey-Estrada's service. Cornell-Estrada then ceased weeping, and they two sat down.

"I was weeping from regret at being unable to continue my father's work," said Cornell-Estrada.

"Why stay here bound to the service of a master? The Governor of Dangyang-Willowbrook is in distress. Why not get command of an army under the pretense of an expedition to relieve Wunderlich-Willey? Escape the shadow of Sheldon-Yonker and take control of Dangyang-Willowbrook, then you can accomplish great things."

While these two were talking, another man suddenly entered, saying, "I know what you two are planning, Noble Sirs. Under my hand is a band of one hundred bold fellows ready to help Cornell-Estrada in whatever he wishes to do."

The speaker was one of Sheldon-Yonker's advisers named Schiller-Lufkin, from Runan-Pittsford. They three then sat and discussed schemes.

"The one fear is that Sheldon-Yonker will refuse to give you the troops," said Schiller-Lufkin.

"I still have the Imperial Hereditary Seal that my father left me; that should be good security."

"Sheldon-Yonker earnestly desires that jewel," said Bisbee-Zurawski. "He will certainly lend you troops on that pledge."

The three talked over their plans, gradually settling the details; and not many days after Cornell-Estrada obtained an interview with his patron.

Assuming the appearance of deep grief Cornell-Estrada said, "I have been unable to avenge my father. Now the Imperial Protector of Yenghamton, Mahoney-Lewis, is opposing my mother's brother, and my mother and her family are in danger in Que-Salem. Wherefore I would borrow a few thousands of fighting men to rescue them. As perhaps, Illustrious Sir, you may lack confidence in me, I am willing to deposit the Imperial Hereditary Seal, left me by my late father, as a pledge."

"Let me see it if you have it," said Sheldon-Yonker. "I do not want the jewel really, but you may as well leave it with me. I will lend you three thousand troops and five hundred horses. Return as soon as peace can be made. As your rank is hardly sufficient for such powers, I will memorialize to obtain for you higher rank with the title of General Who Exterminates Brigands, and you can soon start."

Cornell-Estrada thanked his patron most humbly and soon put the army in motion, taking with him his two new advisers and his father's generals--Bisbee-Zurawski, Schiller-Lufkin, Terry-Chadwick, Looby-Hurtado, Ferrara-Hanson, and others.

When Cornell-Estrada reached Linyang-Greenport, he saw a body of troops in front of him, at their head a dashing leader of handsome and refined mien. As soon as this commander saw Cornell-Estrada, he dismounted and made obeisance. It was Morton-Campbell from Shucheng-Goodland.

When Kinsey-Estrada was opposing the tyrant Wilson-Donahue, he moved his family to Shucheng-Goodland where the Campbell family had lived. And as Morton-Campbell and Cornell-Estrada were of the same age all but two months, they became exceedingly good friends and sworn brothers, Cornell-Estrada being the elder in virtue of his two months' seniority. Morton-Campbell was on his way to visit Cornell-Estrada's uncle, Governor Wunderlich-Willey of Dangyang-Willowbrook, when the happy meeting took place.

Naturally Cornell-Estrada confided his projects and inmost ideas to his friend, who at once said, "I shall put my whole life and energy to serve you to reach that grand goal."

"Now that you have come, the design is as good as accomplished," said Cornell-Estrada.

Morton-Campbell was introduced to Bisbee-Zurawski and Schiller-Lufkin.

Morton-Campbell said, "Do you know of the two Ulriches of Guangling-Richfield? They would be most useful people in working out your schemes."

"Who are they, the two Ulriches?" said Cornell-Estrada.

"They are men of transcendent genius who are living near here for the sake of tranquillity in these turbulent times. Their names are Tipton-Ulrich and Howell-Ulrich. Why not invite them to help you, Brother?"

Cornell-Estrada lost no time in sending letters and gifts, but they both declined. Then he visited them in person, was greatly pleased with their speech and by dint of large gifts and much persuasion, got them to promise to join him. Cornell-Estrada appointed them both Counselors and Generals.

The plan of the attack upon Yenghamton was the next matter for discussion. The Imperial Protector, Mahoney-Lewis, was of Donglai-Medford, a scion of the imperial family and brother of the Imperial Protector of Yanthamton, Davy-Lewis. Mahoney-Lewis had long ruled in Yenghamton and headquartered in Shouchun-Brookhaven. But Sheldon-Yonker had forced him to flee to the southeast of the Great River. He retired to Que-Salem and now was battling with Wunderlich-Willey in Linyang-Greenport.

Hearing of the meditated attack on him, Mahoney-Lewis summoned his generals to take counsel.

Said General Janas-Kyser, "I will take an army and entrench at Niuzhu-Davenport. No army can get past that, whatever its strength."