第102部分(第4/7 页)

　Zhao　Yun　retook　the　road　toward　Long　Slope　Bridge。

But　in　his　rear　arose　another　tumultuous　shouting；　seeming　to　rend　the　very　sky；　and　Wen　Ping　came　up　behind。　However；　although　the　man　was　weary　and　his　steed　spent；　Zhao　Yun　got　close　to　the　bridge　where　he　saw　standing；　all　ready　for　any　fray；　Zhang　Fei。

〃Help　me；　Zhang　Fei！〃　he　cried　and　crossed　the　bridge。

〃Hasten！〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃I　will　keep　back　the　pursuers！〃

About　seven　miles　from　the　bridge；　Zhao　Yun　saw　Liu　Bei　with　his　followers　reposing　in　the　shade　of　some　trees。　He　dismounted　and　drew　near；　weeping。　The　tears　also　started　to　Liu　Bei's　eyes　when　he　saw　his　faithful　mander。

Still　panting　from　his　exertions；　Zhao　Yun　gasped　out；　〃My　fault………death　is　too　light　a　punishment。　Lady　Mi　was　severely　wounded。　She　refused　my　horse　and　threw　herself　into　a　well。　She　is　dead；　and　all　I　could　do　was　to　fill　in　the　well　with　the　rubbish　that　lay　around。　But　I　placed　the　babe　in　the　breast　of　my　fighting　robe　and　have　won　my　way　out　of　the　press　of　battle。　Thanks　to　the　little　lord's　grand　luck　I　have　escaped。　At　first　he　cried　a　good　deal；　but　for　some　time　now　he　has　not　stirred　or　made　a　sound。　I　fear　I　may　not　have　saved　his　life　after　all。〃

Then　Zhao　Yun　opened　his　robe　and　looked：　The　child　was　fast　asleep。

〃Happily；　Sir；　your　son　is　unhurt；〃　said　Zhao　Yun　as　he　drew　him　forth　and　presented　him　in　both　hands。

Liu　Bei　took　the　child　but　threw　it　aside　angrily；　saying；　〃To　preserve　that　suckling　I　very　nearly　lost　a　great　mander！〃

Zhao　Yun　picked　up　the　child　again　and；　weeping；　said；　〃Were　I　ground　to　powder；　I　could　not　prove　my　gratitude。〃

From　out　Cao　Cao's　host　a　tiger　rushed；

His　wish　but　to　destroy；

Though　Liu　Bei's　consort