第158部分(第1/7 页)

Here　Ma　Dai　was　suddenly　confronted　by　a　fierce　thunder…roaring　leader　who　dashed　down　from　the　Pass　as　on　a　flying　steed。

It　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　just　arrived。　Hearing　the　noise　of　battle　below　the　Pass；　Zhang　Fei　had　e　to　learn　what　it　meant　and　saw　the　arrow　wound　of　Wei　Yan。　Soon　Zhang　Fei　was　in　the　saddle　and　off　to　the　rescue。　But　before　he　engaged；　he　would　ascertain　if　the　foe　was　worthy　of　his　steel。

〃Who　are　you？　Tell　your　name；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃then　I　may　fight　with　you。〃

〃I　am　Ma　Dai　of　Xiliang。〃

〃As　you　are　not　Ma　Chao；　go　away　quickly；　for　you　are　no　match　for　me。　You　may　bid　Ma　Chao　himself　e；　and　tell　him　that　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan　is　here。〃

〃How　dare　you　treat　me　with　contempt？〃　cried　Ma　Dai　in　hot　anger；　and　he　came　galloping　up　with　his　spear　set　ready　to　thrust。　But　after　a　half　score　bouts　he　fled。

Zhang　Fei　was　about　to　pursue　when　a　rider　came　up　to　him　hastily；　crying；　〃Do　not　pursue；　my　brother。〃

The　rider　was　Liu　Bei；　and　Zhang　Fei　stopped。　The　two　returned　together　to　the　Pass。

〃I　knew　your　impulsive　temper；　and　so　I　followed　you。　Since　you　have　got　the　better　of　him；　you　may　well　rest　and　recuperate　for　the　fight　tomorrow　with　Ma　Chao。〃

The　rolling　of　drums　at　dawn　next　day　declared　the　arrival　of　Ma　Chao。　Liu　Bei　looked　at　the　array　from　a　point　of　vantage　and　saw　Ma　Chao　emerge　from　the　shadow　of　his　great　standard。　Ma　Chao　wore　a　lion　helmet；　and　his　belt　was　clasped　with　the　shaggy　head　of　a　wild　beast。　His　breastplate　was　silver　and　his　robe　of　white。　As　his　dress　and　bearing　were　so　extraordinary；　so　were　his　abilities　superior。　And　Liu　Bei　looked　at　him；　sighing　admiringly。

〃He　justifies　what　people　say；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃Handsome　Ma　Chao。〃

Zhang　Fei　was　for