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Page 15
"Oh, illustrious Ling," he cried, restraining his grief with
difficulty, and leaning for support upon the shoulders of two bowmen,
"how prosperous indeed are you! What greater misfortune can engulf a
person who is both an ambitious soldier and an affectionate son, than
to lose such a chance of glory and promotion as only occurs once
within the lifetime, and an affectionate and venerable father upon the
same day? Behold this mandate to attend, without a moment's delay, at
the funeral obsequies of one whom I left, only last week, in the
fullness of health and power. The occasion being an unsuitable one, I
will not call upon the courteous Ling to join me in sorrow; but his
own devout filial piety is so well known that I can conscientiously
rely upon an application for absence to be only a matter of official
ceremony."
"The application will certainly be regarded as merely official
ceremony," replied Ling, without resorting to any delicate pretence of
meaning, "and the refined scruples of the person who is addressing me
will be fully met by the official date of his venerated father's death
being fixed for a more convenient season. In the meantime, the
unobtrusive Chief of Bowmen may take the opportunity of requesting
that the family tomb be kept unsealed until he is heard from again."
Ling turned away, as he finished this remark, with a dignified feeling
of not inelegant resentment. In this way he chanced to observe a large
body of soldiers which was leaving the camp accompanied by their
lesser captains, all crowned with garlands of flowers and creeping
plants. In spite of his very inadequate attainments regarding words of
order, the Commander made it understood by means of an exceedingly
short sentence that he was desirous of the men returning without
delay.
"Doubtless the accomplished Commander, being but newly arrived in this
neighbourhood, is unacquainted with the significance of this display,"
said one of the lesser captains pleasantly. "Know then, O wise and
custom-respecting Ling, that on a similar day many years ago this
valiant band of bowmen was engaged in a very honourable affair with
certain of the enemy. Since then it has been the practice to
commemorate the matter with music and other forms of delight within
the large square at Si-chow."
"Such customs are excellent," said Ling affably. "On this occasion,
however, the public square will be so insufferably thronged with the
number of timorous and credulous villagers who have pressed into the
town that insufficient justice would be paid to your entrancing
display. In consequence of this, we will select for the purpose some
convenient spot in the neighbourhood. The proceedings will be
commenced by a display of arrow-shooting at moving objects, followed
by racing and dancing, in which this person will lead. I have spoken."
At these words many of the more courageous among the bowmen became
destructively inspired, and raised shouts of defiance against the
enemy, enumerating at great length the indignities which they would
heap upon their prisoners. Cries of distinction were also given on
behalf of Ling, even the more terrified exclaiming:
"The noble Commander Ling will lead us! He has promised, and assuredly
he will not depart from his word. Shielded by his broad and sacred
body, from which the bullets glance aside harmlessly, we will advance
upon the enemy in the stealthy manner affected by ducks when crossing
the swamp. How altogether superior a person our Commander is when
likened unto the leaders of the foemen--they who go into battle
completely surrounded by their archers!"
Upon this, perceiving the clear direction in which matters were
turning, the Chief of Bowmen again approached Ling.
"Doubtless the highly-favoured person whom I am now addressing has
been endowed with exceptional authority direct from Peking," he
remarked with insidious politeness. "Otherwise this narrow-minded
individual would suggest that such a decision does not come within the
judgment of a Commander."
In his ignorance of military matters it had not entered the mind of
Ling that his authority did not give him the power to commence an
attack without consulting other and more distinguished persons. At the
suggestion, which he accepted as being composed of truth, he paused,
the enlightened zeal with which he had been inspired dying out as he
plainly understood the difficulties by which he was enclosed. There
seemed a single expedient path for him in the matter; so, directing a
person of exceptional trustworthiness to prepare himself for a
journey, he inscribed a communication to the Mandarin Li Keen, in
which he narrated the facts and asked for speedy directions, and then
despatched it with great urgency to Si-chow.
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