第69部分(第2/7 页)

ught　out　wine　for　the　two　men。　The　two　ladies　were　entertained　in　the　inner　apartments。　And　while　they　refreshed　themselves；　their　baggage　was　put　out　to　dry　and　their　steeds　were　fed。

As　the　day　closed　in；　they　saw　several　youths　e　along；　and　their　host　said；　〃My　son　is　e　to　pay　his　respects。〃

〃This　is　my　humble　son；〃　said　Guo　Chang；　presenting　a　lad　to　Guan　Yu。

〃What　has　he　been　doing？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。

〃He　has　just　e　in　from　hunting。〃

The　young　fellow　went　out。　The　old　man　continued；　〃All　my　family　have　been　farmers　or　scholars。　He　is　my　only　son；　and　instead　of　following　in　the　footsteps　of　his　ancestors　he　cares　for　nothing　but　gadding　about　and　hunting；　unhappily。〃

〃Why　unhappily？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃In　these　days　of　disorder　a　good　soldier　can　make　a　name　for　himself。〃

〃If　he　would　only　learn　the　military　arts；　that　would　be　something　of　a　career。　But　he　is　nothing　but　a　vagabond　and　does　everything　he　should　not。　He　is　a　grief　to　me。〃

Guan　Yu　sighed　in　sympathy。　The　old　gentleman　stayed　till　a　late　hour；　and　when　he　took　his　leave；　his　two　guests　began　to　prepare　for　rest。

Suddenly　outside　there　arose　a　great　hubbub；　men　shouting　and　horses　neighing。　Guan　Yu　called　to　his　people；　but　as　no　one　answered；　he　and　Sun　Qian　drew　their　swords　and　went　into　the　stable　yard。　There　they　found　their　host's　son　on　the　ground　shouting　to　his　followers　to　fight。

Guan　Yu　asked　what　it　was　all　about；　and　his　guards　told　him；　〃The　young　fellow　had　tried　to　steal　Red　Hare；　but　had　been　badly　kicked。　We　heard　shouting　and　went　to　see　what　it　meant　when　his　men　had　set　on　us。〃

Guan　Yu　was　very　wrathful。

〃You　mean　thieves！　Would　you　steal　my　horse？〃　cried　he。

But　before　he　could　do　anything；　his　ho