第37部分(第5/7 页)

ort。　They　rode　up　the　hills；　dismounted；　burned　incense；　and　they　all　bowed　in　the　shrine。

Then　Sun　Ce　knelt　and　made　a　vow；　saying；　〃If　I；　Sun　Ce；　succeed　in　my　task　and　restore　the　authority　of　my　late　father；　then　will　I　restore　this　temple　and　order　sacrifices　at　the　four　seasons。〃

When　they　had　remounted；　Sun　Ce　said；　〃I　am　going　to　ride　along　the　ridge　and　reconnoiter　the　enemy's　position。〃

His　manders　begged　him　to　refrain；　but　he　was　obstinate；　and　they　rode　there　together；　noting　the　villages　below。

A　soldier　of　the　other　side　going　along　a　bye　road　quickly　reported　the　presence　of　horsemen　on　the　ridge；　and　Liu　Yao　said；　〃It　is　certainly　Sun　Ce　trying　to　inveigle　us　to　battle。　But　do　not　go　out。〃

Taishi　Ci　jumped　up；　saying；　〃What　better　chance　to　capture　him？〃

So；　without　orders　he　armed　himself　and　rode　through　the　camp；　crying；　〃If　there　be　any　valiant　men　among　you；　follow　me！〃

No　one　moved　save　a　subaltern　who　said；　〃He　is　a　brave　man；　and　I　will　go　with　him。〃

So　he　also　went。　The　others　only　laughed　at　the　pair。

Now　having　seen　all　he　wished；　Sun　Ce　thought　it　time　to　return　and　wheeled　round　his　horse。　But　when　he　was　going　over　the　summit；　someone　shouted；　〃Stay；　Sun　Ce！〃

Sun　Ce　turned。　Two　horsemen　were　ing　at　full　speed　down　the　next　hill。　Sun　Ce　halted　and　drew　up　his　little　escort　right　and　left；　he　himself　with　his　spear　ready。

〃Which　is　Sun　Ce？〃　shouted　Taishi　Ci。

〃Who　are　you？〃　was　the　reply。

〃I；　Taishi　Ci　of　Laihuang；　e　to　take　him　prisoner。〃

〃Then　I　am　he；〃　said　Sun　Ce；　laughing。　〃e　both　of　you　together。　I　am　not　afraid　of　you。　If　I　were；　I　should　not　be　Sun　Ce！〃

〃You　and　all　your　crowd　e　on；　and　I　will　not　blench！〃　cried　Taishi　Ci　putting