第139部分(第5/7 页)

off　his　red　robe　and　threw　it　away。　He　also　heard　one　say　〃Cao　Cao　is　he　with　the　long　beard！〃

At　once　Cao　Cao　took　the　sword　that　he　wore　at　his　side　and　sawed　off　some　of　the　beard。　Yet　again　a　soldier　recognized　him　and　told　Ma　Chao　that　Cao　Cao　had　now　cut　his　beard；　whereupon　the　order　went　forth　to　capture　short　beards。　And　then　Cao　Cao　wrapped　the　corner　of　a　flag　about　neck　and　jowl　and　fled。

Panic　seized　upon　the　soldiers　at　Tong　Pass；

Frightened；　Cao　Cao　flung　off　his　brocade　robe

And；　terror…stricken；　sawed　his　beard　off　with　a　sword。

The　fame　of　Ma　Chao　rose　even　to　the　sky。

Cao　Cao　had　got　clear　of　the　battle　and　was　getting　calmer。　Then　again　the　sound　of　hoofs　fell　upon　his　ears。　And　on　looking　round；　he　perceived　Ma　Chao　quite　close。　He　and　those　near　were　panic…stricken；　and　all　scattered　for　their　lives；　careless　of　the　fate　of　their　leader。

〃Cao　Cao；　do　not　flee！〃　cried　Ma　Chao　ing　nearer。

The　whip　dropped　from　Cao　Cao's　nerveless　hand　as　he　saw　his　enemy　ing　closer　and　closer。　But　just　as　Ma　Chao　had　leveled　his　spear　for　a　thrust；　Cao　Cao　slipped　behind　a　tree；　changed　the　direction　of　his　flight　and　so　escaped；　while　Ma　Chao　struck　the　tree。　He　quickly　pulled　out　his　spear；　but　the　delay　gave　the　fugitive　an　advantage；　although　it　did　not　quite　free　him　from　pursuit；　for　Ma　Chao　was　soon　again　galloping　on　his　track。

As　they　drew　near　the　slope　of　some　hills；　a　bold　general　suddenly　appeared；　who　cried；　〃Do　not　hurt　my　lord！〃

This　was　Cao　Hong；　and　he　went　toward　Ma　Chao；　whirling　his　sword。　Ma　Chao　was　stopped；　and　this　saved　Cao　Cao's　life。　Cao　Hong　and　Ma　Chao　fought　half　a　hundred　bouts　till　Cao　Hong　began　to　grow　weary　and　bee　uncertain　of　his　strokes。　And　when；　shortly　afte