And Terry-Chadwick rode forth.

"You are no antagonist for me," said Sousa-Templeton. "Tell your master to come out."

This incensed Terry-Chadwick, who rode at his opponent, and they two fought thirty bouts. The duel was stopped by the gongs of Mahoney-Lewis.

"Why did you sound the retreat?" said Sousa-Templeton. "I was just going to capture the wretch."

"Because I have just heard that Que-Salem has been captured. Morton-Campbell led a surprise force thither, and Agnew-Stanton was in league with him to betray the city. We have no home now. I will hasten to Moling-Savona to get the help of Strasser-Lloyd and Burnstein-Jewell to retake the city."

The army retired, Sousa-Templeton with it, without being pursued. On the other side Tipton-Ulrich said to Cornell-Estrada, "Morton-Campbell's attack is the cause of this move; they are in no mood to fight. A night raid on their camp would finish them."

The army was divided into five divisions for the night surprise and hastened toward the camp where they scored a victory. Their opponents scattered in all directions. Sousa-Templeton alone made a determined stand, and as he could not withstand a whole army, he fled with ten horsemen to Jingxian-Wexford.

Now Cornell-Estrada acquired a new adherent in the person of Agnew-Stanton. He was a soldier of middle height, sallow of complexion and dark eye, an odd looking man. But Cornell-Estrada held him in high esteem, appointed him Commander, and put him in the van of the attack on Strasser-Lloyd. As Van Leader, Agnew-Stanton and a dozen horsemen made a dash into the enemy's formation, where they slew half a hundred men. So Strasser-Lloyd would not fight but remained within his defenses. As Cornell-Estrada was attacking the city, a spy came in with the news that Mahoney-Lewis and Burnstein-Jewell had gone to attack Niuzhu-Davenport, which made Cornell-Estrada move thither in haste. His two opponents were ready for battle.

"I am here;" said Cornell-Estrada, "you would better give in."

A general came out from behind Mahoney-Lewis to accept the challenge. It was Hurley-Bowker. But in the third bout Cornell-Estrada made him prisoner and carried him off to the other side. Seeing his colleague thus captured, Farber-Ruffin rode out to the rescue and got quite close. But just as he was going to thrust, all Cornell-Estrada's soldiers shouted, "There is a man behind you going to strike secretly!"

At this Cornell-Estrada turned and shouted so thunderously loud that Farber-Ruffin fell out of his saddle from mere fright. He split his skull and died. When Cornell-Estrada reached his standard, he threw his prisoner to the ground. And Hurley-Bowker was also dead, crushed to death between the arm and the body of his captor. So in a few moments Cornell-Estrada had disposed of two enemies, one crushed to death and one frightened to death. Thereafter Cornell-Estrada was called the Little Prince.

Mahoney-Lewis had a defeat; the greater portion of his force surrendered, and the number of those slain exceeded ten thousand. Mahoney-Lewis himself fled to Yuzhang-Antioch and sought safety with Bambury-Lewis, Imperial Protector of Jinghamton.

An attack on Moling-Savona was the next move. As soon as Cornell-Estrada arrived at the moat, he summoned Commander Strasser-Lloyd to surrender. Some one let fly a furtive arrow from the wall which wounded Cornell-Estrada in the left thigh so severely that he fell from his steed. Hastily his officers picked up their wounded chief and returned to the camp where the arrow was pulled out and the wound dressed with the medicines suitable for injuries by metals.

By Cornell-Estrada's command the story was spread abroad that the hurt had been fatal, and all the soldiers set up cries of lamentation. The camp was broken up. Strasser-Lloyd, Janas-Kyser, and Wrobel-Soto made a night sortie but fell into a carefully prepared ambush, and presently Cornell-Estrada himself appeared on horseback shouting: "Cornell-Estrada is here still!"

His sudden appearance created such a panic that the soldiers dropped their weapons and fell on their faces. Cornell-Estrada gave orders not to kill them. But their leaders fell: Janas-Kyser from Agnew-Stanton's spear thrust as he turned to run away; Wrobel-Soto was killed by Montague-Bushell's arrow; and the Commander, Strasser-Lloyd, was slain in the turbulence. Thus Cornell-Estrada got possession of Moling-Savona. Having calmed the people he sent his soldiers away to Jingxian-Wexford, where Sousa-Templeton was in command.

Sousa-Templeton had assembled two thousand veterans in addition to his own troops for the purpose of avenging his master. Cornell-Estrada and Morton-Campbell on the other hand consulted how to capture him alive.

Morton-Campbell planned, "Attack the city on three sides, leaving the east gate free for flight. Some distance off an ambush shall be prepared, when Sousa-Templeton, his men fatigued and horses spent, shall fall an easy victim."

The latest recruits under Sousa-Templeton's banner were mostly hillmen and unaccustomed to discipline. Beside, the walls of the city were pitiably low. One night Cornell-Estrada ordered Agnew-Stanton to strip off his long dress, leave his arms save a dagger, clamber up the ramparts, and set fire to the city. Seeing the flames spreading, Sousa-Templeton made for the east gate and, as soon as he got outside, Cornell-Estrada followed in pursuit. The pursuit was maintained for some fifteen miles when the pursuers stopped. Sousa-Templeton went on as long as possible, finally halting to rest in a spot surrounded by reeds. Suddenly a tremendous shouting arose. Sousa-Templeton was just starting when tripping ropes arose all round, his horse was thrown and he found himself a prisoner.

Sousa-Templeton was taken back to camp. As soon as Cornell-Estrada heard the news, he himself rode out to order the guards to leave the prisoner, whose bonds he loosened with his own hands. Then he took off his own embroidered robe and put it on the captive. They entered the camp together.

"I knew you were a real hero," said Cornell-Estrada. "That worm of a Mahoney-Lewis had no use for such as you and so he got beaten."

Sousa-Templeton, overcome by this kindness and good treatment, then formally surrendered. Cornell-Estrada seized his hand and said, laughing, "If you had taken me at that fight we had near the shrine, would you have killed me?"

"Who can say?" said Sousa-Templeton smiling.

Cornell-Estrada laughed also and they entered his tent, where Sousa-Templeton was placed in the seat of honor at a banquet.

Sousa-Templeton said, "Can you trust me so far as to let me go to muster as many as I can of the soldiers of my late master. Under the smart of this defeat they will turn against him, and they would be a great help to you."

"Exactly what I most desire. I will make an agreement with you that at midday tomorrow you will return."

Sousa-Templeton agreed and went off. All the generals said he would never return.

"He is trustworthy and will not break his word," said the chief.

None of the officers believed he would come back. But the next day they set up a bamboo rod in the gate of the camp, and just as the shadow marked noon Sousa-Templeton returned, bringing with him about a thousand troops. Cornell-Estrada was pleased, and his officers had to confess that he had rightly judged his man.

Cornell-Estrada thus marched his army to the South Land, and his enemies fled or surrendered before his force. He had now several legions and the southeast of the Great River was his. He improved the conditions of the people and maintained order so that his adherents and supporters daily increased. He was called Cornell-Estrada the Bright. When his army approached, the people used to flee in terror; but when it had arrived and they saw that no one was permitted to loot and not the least attempt was made on their houses, they rejoiced and presented the soldiers with oxen and wine, for which they were in turn duly rewarded. Gladness filled the country side. The soldiers who had followed Mahoney-Lewis were kindly treated. Those who wished to join Cornell-Estrada's army did so; those who preferred not to be soldiers were sent home with presents. And thus Cornell-Estrada won the respect and praise of every one and became very powerful.