第11部分(第1/7 页)

this　all　e　about？〃

Cao　Cao　told　him　and　said；　〃Had　it　not　been　for　this　man　here　with　me；　I　should　have　been　already　hacked　to　pieces。〃

Lu　Boshe　bowed　low　to　Chen　Gong；　saying；　〃You　are　the　salvation　of　the　Cao　family。　But　be　at　ease　and　rest；　I　will　find　you　a　bed　in　my　humble　cottage。〃

Lu　Boshe　then　rose　and　went　into　the　inner　chamber　where　he　stayed　a　long　time。　When　he　came　out；　he　said；　〃There　is　no　good　wine　in　the　house。　I　am　going　over　to　the　village　to　get　some　for　you。〃

And　he　hastily　mounted　his　donkey　and　rode　away。　The　two　travelers　sat　a　long　time。　Suddenly　they　heard　at　the　back　of　the　house　the　sound　of　sharpening　a　knife。

Cao　Cao　said　to　Chen　Gong；　〃He　is　not　my　real　uncle。　I　am　beginning　to　doubt　the　meaning　of　his　going　off。　Let　us　listen。〃

So　they　silently　stepped　out　into　a　straw　hut　at　the　back。

Presently　someone　said；　〃Bind　before　killing；　eh？〃

〃As　I　thought；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃Now　unless　we　strike　first；　we　shall　be　taken！〃

Suddenly　Cao　Cao　and　Chen　Gong　dashed　in；　sword　in　hand；　and　slew　the　whole　household　male　and　female；　in　all　eight　persons。

After　this　they　searched　the　house。　In　the　kitchen　they　found　a　pig　bound　ready　to　kill。

〃You　were　too　suspicious；〃　said　Chen　Gong；　〃and　we　have　slain　honest　folks！〃

Cao　Cao　and　Chen　Gong　at　once　mounted　and　rode　away。　Soon　they　met　their　host　Lu　Boshe　ing　home；　and　over　the　saddle　in　front　of　him　they　saw　two　vessels　of　wine。　In　his　hands　he　carried　fruits　and　vegetables。

〃Why　are　you　going；　Sirs？〃　Lu　Boshe　called　to　them。

〃Wanted　people　dare　not　linger；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃But　I　have　bidden　them　kill　a　pig！　Why　do　you　refuse　my　poor　hospitality？　I　pray　you　ride　back　with　me。〃

Cao　Cao　paid　no　he