第68部分(第2/7 页)

ighed。

〃Who　is　there？〃　suddenly　asked　the　reader　at　the　sound。

Hu　Ban　entered　and　said；　〃I　am　Hu　Ban；　a　general　of　the　Governor。〃

〃Surely　you　are　the　son　of　Hu　Hua；　who　lives　outside　Xuchang；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃I　am　he；〃　replied　Hu　Ban。

Then　Guan　Yu　called　up　his　followers　and　bade　them　look　among　the　baggage　for　the　letter；　which　they　brought。　Guan　Yu　handed　it　to　the　General。

Hu　Ban　read　it　and　then　breathed　long；　saying；　〃I　very　nearly　caused　the　death　of　a　good　man。〃

Then　he　betrayed　the　whole　plot；　saying；　〃This　Wang　Zhi　is　a　wicked　man；　who　wanted　to　kill　you。　At　this　moment　you　are　surrounded；　and　at　the　third　watch　they　will　set　fire　to　this　place。　Now　I　will　go　and　open　the　city　gates　while　you　hastily　prepare　for　flight。〃

Guan　Yu　was　greatly　surprised；　but　he　quickly　buckled　up　his　armor；　got　his　steed　ready；　roused　the　two　ladies；　and　put　them　into　their　carriage。　Then　they　left　the　rest　house；　and　as　they　passed　out；　they　saw　the　soldiers　all　about　them；　each　with　a　torch。　The　party　hastened　to　the　outskirts　of　the　city　and　found　the　gate　already　open；　and　they　lost　no　time　in　getting　clear　of　the　city。　Hu　Ban　returned　to　give　orders　to　fire　the　rest　house。

The　fugitives　pressed　on。　But　before　long　they　saw　lights　ing　up　behind　them；　and　Wang　Zhi　called　out　to　them　to　stop。

Guan　Yu　reined　in　his　horse　and　began　to　abuse　him；　crying；　〃Worthless　fellow！　What　had　you　against　me　that　you　wished　to　burn　me　to　death？〃

Wang　Zhi　whipped　up　his　steed　and　set　his　spear；　but　Guan　Yu　cut　him　through　with　the　short　sword　he　wore　at　his　side　and　scattered　his　followers。

Then　the　carriage　pushed　on。　Guan　Yu's　heart　was　filled　with　gratitude　to　Hu　Ban。

When　the　party　drew　near　Huazhou；　s