第101部分(第6/7 頁)

uld　cut　clean　through　iron　as　though　it　were　mud；　and　no　sword　had　so　keen　an　edge。

Before　Zhao　Yun　thus　fell　in　with　Xiahou　En；　the　later　was　simply　plundering；　depending　upon　the　authority　implied　by　his　office。　Least　of　all　thought　he　of　such　sudden　death　as　met　he　at　Zhao　Yun's　hands。

So　Zhao　Yun　got　possession　of　a　famous　sword。　The　name　Blue　Blade　was　chased　in　gold　characters　so　that　he　recognized　its　value　at　once。　He　stuck　it　in　his　belt　and　again　plunged　into　the　press。　Just　as　he　did　so；　he　turned　his　head　and　saw　he　had　not　a　single　follower　left。　He　was　quite　alone。

Nevertheless　not　for　a　single　instant　thought　he　of　turning　back。　He　was　too　intent　upon　his　quest。　To　and　fro；　back　and　forth；　he　rode　questioning　this　person　and　that。

At　length　a　man　said；　〃A　woman　with　a　child　in　her　arms；　and　wounded　in　the　thigh　so　that　she　cannot　walk；　is　lying　over　there　through　that　hole　in　the　wall。〃

Zhao　Yun　rode　to　look　and　there；　beside　an　old　well　behind　the　broken　wall　of　a　burned　house；　sat　the　mother　clasping　the　child　to　her　breast　and　weeping。

Zhao　Yun　was　on　his　knees　before　her　in　a　moment。

〃My　child　will　live　then　since　you　are　here；〃　cried　Lady　Mi。　〃Pity　him；　O　General！　Protect　him；　for　he　is　the　only　son　of　his　father's　flesh　and　blood。　Take　him　to　his　father；　and　I　can　die　content。〃

〃It　is　my　fault　that　you　have　suffered；〃　replied　Zhao　Yun。　〃But　it　is　useless　to　say　more。　I　pray　you　take　my　horse；　while　I　will　walk　beside　and　protect　you　till　we　get　clear。〃

She　replied；　〃I　may　not　do　that。　What　would　you　do　without　a　steed？　But　the　boy　here　I　confide　to　your　care。　I　am　badly　wounded　and　cannot　hope　to　live。　Pray　take　him　and　go　your　way。　Do　not　trouble　more　about　me。〃

〃I　hear　shouting；