第72部分(第3/7 页)

s　to　look　on。

Said　Yu　Ji；　〃I　will　pray　for　three　spans　high　of　refreshing　rain　for　the　benefit　of　the　people；　nevertheless　I　shall　not　escape　death　thereby。〃

The　people　said；　〃But　if　your　prayer　be　efficacious；　our　lord　must　believe　in　your　powers。〃

〃The　day　of　fate　has　e　for　me；　and　there　is　no　escape。〃

Presently　Sun　Ce　came　near　the　altar　and　announced　that　if　rain　had　not　fallen　by　noon；　he　would　burn　the　priest。　And　to　confirm　this　he　bade　them　prepare　the　pyre。

As　it　neared　noon　a　strong　wind　sprang　up；　and　the　clouds　gathered　from　all　quarters。　But　there　was　no　rain。

〃It　is　near　noon；〃　said　Sun　Ce。　〃Clouds　are　of　no　account　without　rain。　He　is　only　an　impostor。〃

Sun　Ce　bade　his　attendants　lay　the　priest　on　the　pyre　and　pile　wood　around　him　and　apply　the　torch。　Fanned　by　the　gale　the　flames　rose　rapidly。　Then　appeared　in　the　sky　above　a　wreath　of　black　vapor；　followed　by　roaring　thunder　and　vivid　lightning；　peal　on　peal　and　flash　on　flash。　And　the　rain　fell　in　a　perfect　deluge。　In　a　short　time　the　streets　became　rivers　and　torrents。　It　was　indeed　a　three…span　fall。

Yu　Ji；　who　was　still　lying　upon　the　pile　of　firewood；　cried　in　a　loud　voice；　〃O　Clouds；　cease　thy　rain；　and　let　the　glorious　sun　appear！〃

Thereupon　officials　and　people　helped　the　priest　down；　loosened　the　cord　that　bound　him；　and　bowed　before　him　in　gratitude　for　the　rain。

But　Sun　Ce　boiled　with　rage　at　seeing　his　officers　and　the　people　gathered　in　groups　and　kneeling　in　the　water　regardless　of　the　damage　to　their　clothing。

〃Rain　or　shine　are　as　nature　appoints　them；　and　the　wizard　has　happened　to　hit　upon　a　moment　of　change。　What　are　you　making　all　this　fuss　about？〃　cried　he。

Then　he　drew　his　sword　and　told　the　attenda