第127部分(第1/7 页)

When　the　drums　were　beating　most　furiously；　suddenly　Guan　Yu　wheeled　round　his　horse　and　fled。　Of　course　Huang　Zhong　followed。　Just　as　the　moment　for　the　feint　arrived；　Guan　Yu　heard　behind　him　a　tremendous　crash　and　turned　to　see　his　pursuer　lying　prone　upon　the　ground。　Huang　Zhong's　steed　had　stumbled　and　thrown　him。

Guan　Yu　turned；　raised　his　sword　in　both　hands；　and　cried　in　a　fierce　tone；　〃I　spare　your　life；　but　quick！　Get　another　horse　and　e　again　to　battle。〃

Huang　Zhong　pulled　his　horse　to　its　feet　hastily；　leapt　upon　its　back；　and　went　into　the　city　at　full　speed。　The　Governor　was　astonished　and　asked　for　an　account　of　the　accident。

〃The　horse　is　too　old；〃　replied　Huang　Zhong。

〃Why　did　you　not　shoot　since　your　aim　is　so　perfect？〃　asked　the　Governor。

〃I　will　try　again　tomorrow；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。　〃I　will　run　away　as　if　overe；　and　so　tempt　him　to　the　drawbridge　and　then　shoot　him。〃

Han　Xuan　gave　the　veteran　a　gray　horse　that　he　usually　rode　himself。　Huang　Zhong　thanked　him　and　retired。

But　Huang　Zhong　could　not　forget　Guan　Yu's　generous　conduct；　nor　could　he　understand　it。　He　could　not　make　up　his　mind　to　shoot　the　man　who　had　spared　his　life。　Yet　if　he　did　not　shoot；　he　betrayed　his　duty　as　a　soldier。　It　was　very　perplexing；　and　the　whole　night　spent　in　thinking　it　over　found　him　still　undecided。

At　daybreak　a　man　came　in　saying　that　Guan　Yu　was　near　the　wall　and　challenging　them　again。　So　Huang　Zhong　gave　order　to　go　out。

Now　Guan　Yu；　having　fought　for　two　days　and　not　having　overe　Huang　Zhong；　was　very　ill　at　ease。　So　he　called　up　all　his　dignity　when　he　went　forth　to　fight　that　day。　When　they　had　got　to　the　thirtieth　bout；　Huang　Zhong　fled　as　if　he　was　overe。　Guan　Yu　pursued。

As　he　rode