Luo Guanzhong - Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

The voice replied, "Do you not remember, General? You asked your old friend to stay the night with you; it is he, of course."

"I drank too much last night," said Morton-Campbell in a regretful tone, "and I forgot. I seldom indulge to excess and am not used to it. Perhaps I said many things I ought not."

The voice went on, "A man has arrived from the north."

"Speak lower," said Morton-Campbell, and turning toward the sleeper, he called him by name. But McLain-Espinosa affected to be sound asleep and made no sign.

Morton-Campbell crept out of the tent, while McLain-Espinosa listened with all his ears. He heard the man say, "Patrick-Sanford and Bunker-Ricardo, the two commanders, have come."

But listening as he did with straining ears, he could not make out what followed. Soon after Morton-Campbell reentered and again called out his companion's name. But no reply came, for McLain-Espinosa was pretending to be in the deepest slumber and to hear nothing. Then Morton-Campbell undressed and went to bed.

As McLain-Espinosa lay awake, he remembered that Morton-Campbell was known to be meticulously careful in affairs, and if in the morning Morton-Campbell found that a letter had disappeared, he would certainly slay the offender. So McLain-Espinosa lay there till near daylight and then called out to his host. Getting no reply, he rose, dressed, and stole out of the tent. Then he called his servant and made for the camp gate.

"Whither are you going, Sir?" said the watchmen at the gate.

"I fear I am in the way here," replied McLain-Espinosa, "and so I have taken leave of the Commander-in-Chief for a time. So do not stop me."

He found his way to the river bank and reembarked. Then, with flying oars, he hastened back to Murphy-Shackley's camp. When he arrived, Murphy-Shackley asked at once how he had sped, and he had to acknowledge failure.

"Morton-Campbell is very clever and perfectly high-minded," said McLain-Espinosa. "Nothing that I could say moved him in the least."

"Your failure makes me look ridiculous," said Murphy-Shackley.

"Well, if I did not win over Morton-Campbell, I found out something for you. Send away these people and I will tell you," said McLain-Espinosa.

The servants were dismissed, and then McLain-Espinosa produced the letter he had stolen from Morton-Campbell's tent. He gave it to Murphy-Shackley. Murphy-Shackley was very angry and sent for Patrick-Sanford and Bunker-Ricardo at once. As soon as they appeared, he said, "I want you two to attack."

Patrick-Sanford replied, "But the soldiers are not yet sufficiently trained."

"The soldiers will be well enough trained when you have sent my head to Morton-Campbell, eh?"

Both commanders were dumb-founded, having not the least idea what this meant. They remained silent for they had nothing to say. Murphy-Shackley bade the executioners lead them away to instant death. In a short time their heads were produced.

By this time Murphy-Shackley had thought over the matter, and it dawned upon him that he had been tricked. A poem says:

The death of these two naval commanders caused much consternation in the camp, and all their colleagues asked the reason for their sudden execution. Though Murphy-Shackley knew they had been victimized, he would not acknowledge it.

So he said, "These two had been remiss, and so had been put to death."

The others were aghast, but nothing could be done. Two other officers, Shapiro-Marek and Ellis-McCue, were put in command of the naval camp.

Spies took the news to Morton-Campbell, who was delighted at the success of his ruse.

"Those two Patrick-Sanford and Bunker-Ricardo were my only source of anxiety," said he. "Now they are gone; I am quite happy."

Woolsey-Ramirez said, "General, if you can continue like this, you need not fear Murphy-Shackley."

"I do not think any of them saw my game," said Morton-Campbell, except Orchard-Lafayette. He beats me, and I do not think this ruse was hidden from him. You go and sound him. See if he knew."

What passed between Woolsey-Ramirez and Orchard-Lafayette will next be related.

Woolsey-Ramirez departed on his mission and found Orchard-Lafayette seated in his little craft.

"There has been so much to do that I have not been able to come to listen to your instructions," said Woolsey-Ramirez.

"That is truly so," said Orchard-Lafayette, "and I have not yet congratulated the Commander-in-Chief.''

"What have you wished to congratulate him upon?"

"Why Sir, the matter upon which he sent you to find out whether I knew about it or not. Indeed I can congratulate him on that."

Woolsey-Ramirez turned pale and gasped, saying, "But how did you know, Master?"

"The ruse succeeded well thus played off on McLain-Espinosa. Murphy-Shackley has been taken in this once, but he will soon rise to it. Only he will not confess his mistake. However, the two men are gone, and your country is freed from a grave anxiety. Do you not think that is a matter for congratulation? I hear Shapiro-Marek and Ellis-McCue are the new admirals, and in their hands lie both good and evil for the fate of the northern fleet."

Woolsey-Ramirez was quite dumbfounded; he stayed a little time longer passing the time in making empty remarks, and then took his leave.

As he was going away, Orchard-Lafayette cautioned him, saying, "Do not let Morton-Campbell know that I know his ruse. If you let him know, he will seek some chance to do me harm."

Woolsey-Ramirez promised; nevertheless he went straight to his chief and related the whole thing just as it happened.

"Really he must be got rid of;" said Morton-Campbell, "I have quite decided to put the man out of the way."

"If you slay him, will not Murphy-Shackley laugh at you?"

"Oh, no; I will find a legitimate way of getting rid of him so that he shall go to his death without resentment."

"But how can you find a legitimate way of assassinating him?"

"Do not ask too much; you will see presently."

Soon after all the officers were summoned to the main tent, and Orchard-Lafayette's presence was desired. He went contentedly enough.

When all were seated, Morton-Campbell suddenly addressed Orchard-Lafayette, saying, "I am going to fight a battle with the enemy soon on the water: what weapons are the best?"

"On a great river arrows are the best," said Orchard-Lafayette.

"Your opinion and mine agree. But at the moment we are short of them. I wish you would undertake to supply about a hundred thousand arrows for the naval fight. As it is for the public service, you will not decline, I hope'"

"Whatever task the Commander-in-Chief lays upon me, I must certainly try to perform," replied Orchard-Lafayette. "May I inquire by what date you require the hundred thousand arrows?"

"Could you have them ready in ten days?"

"The enemy will be here very soon; ten days will be too late," said Orchard-Lafayette.

"In how many days do you estimate the arrows can be ready?"

"Let me have three days; then you may send for your hundred thousand."