第148部分(第2/7 页)

get　the　vessel　in　toward　the　shore。

Just　as　things　looked　most　desperate；　Zhao　Yun　saw　a　string　of　ships　filing　out　from　a　creek　lower　down　the　stream；　flags　fluttering　and　drums　beating。　He　thought　that　certainly　all　was　over　and　he　was　about　to　fall　a　victim　to　a　stratagem　of　the　South　Land；　when　he　noticed　a　mighty　warrior　standing　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　craft。　He　was　armed　with　a　long　spear；　and　it　was　Zhang　Fei。

Zhang　Fei　also　shouted；　〃Sister…in…law！　Leave　the　child　lord。〃

Zhang　Fei　had　been　out　scouting　when　he　heard　the　news　of　his　sister…in…law's　sudden　departure；　and　he　at　once　made　for　the　River　Yu　with　the　intention　of　intercepting　her　flight。　He　had　arrived　just　in　the　nick　of　time　to　cut　off　the　ships　of　the　South　Land。　Very　soon；　sword　in　hand；　he　had　boarded　the　vessel。　As　Zhang　Fei　came　on　board；　Zhou　Shan　drew　his　sword　and　advanced　toward　him；　but　one　sweep　of　Zhang　Fei's　blade　laid　him　on　the　deck　dead。　And　the　grim　warrior　hung　his　head　at　the　feet　of　Lady　Sun。

〃Why　this　very　unseemly　behavior？〃　cried　Lady　Sun；　now　quite　frightened。

〃Sister；〃　said　Zhang　Fei；　〃you　thought　very　little　of　my　brother　when　you　set　out　on　this　mad　journey。　That　was　behaving　rudely。〃

〃My　mother　is　very　ill。　It　is　a　matter　of　life　and　death；〃　cried　she。　〃If　I　had　waited　for　your　brother's　permission　to　go；　I　should　have　been　too　late。　If　you　do　not　let　me　go　now；　I　will　throw　myself　into　the　river。〃

Zhao　Yun　and　Zhang　Fei　took　counsel　together。　They　said　to　each　other；　〃It　is　hardly　the　correct　thing　for　servants　to　force　their　lord's　wife　into　mitting　suicide。　Suppose　we　keep　the　child　and　let　the　vessel　go。〃

Then　they　said；　〃O　Lady；　we　cannot　allow　the　wife　of　our　exalted　brother　to　die　a　death　of　shame；　and　so　w