o　the　waters。〃

Thereupon　Wen　Ping　sprang　into　a　small　light　craft　and　sailed　out；　followed　by　ten　cruisers　which　came　at　his　signal。

Standing　in　the　prow　of　his　ship；　Wen　Ping　called　out　to　those　advancing　toward　them；　〃You　southern　ships　are　not　to　approach！　Such　are　the　orders　of　the　Prime　Minister。　Stop　there　in　mid　stream！〃

The　soldiers　all　yelled　to　them　to　lower　their　sails。　The　shout　had　not　died　away　when　a　bowstring　twanged；　and　Wen　Ping　rolled　down　into　the　ship　with　an　arrow　in　the　left　arm。　Confusion　reigned　on　his　ship；　and　all　the　others　hurried　back　to　their　camp。

When　the　ships　were　about　a　mile　of　distant；　Huang　Gai　waved　his　sword　and　the　leading　ships　broke　forth　into　fire；　which；　under　the　force　of　the　strong　wind；　soon　gained　strength　and　the　ships　became　as　fiery　arrows。　Soon　the　whole　twenty　dashed　into　the　naval　camp。

All　Cao　Cao's　ships　were　gathered　there；　and　as　they　were　firmly　chained　together　not　one　could　escape　from　the　others　and　flee。　There　was　a　roar　of　bombs　and　fireships　came　on　from　all　sides　at　once。　The　face　of　the　three　rivers　was　speedily　covered　with　fire　which　flew　before　the　wind　from　one　ship　to　another。　It　seemed　as　if　the　universe　was　filled　with　flame。

Cao　Cao　hastened　toward　the　shore。　Huang　Gai；　with　a　few　troops　at　his　back；　leaped　into　a　small　boat；　dashed　through　the　fire；　and　sought　Cao　Cao。　Cao　Cao；　seeing　the　imminence　of　the　danger；　was　making　for　the　land。　Zhang　Liao　got　hold　of　a　small　boat　into　which　he　helped　his　master；　none　too　soon；　for　the　ship　was　burning。　They　got　Cao　Cao　out　of　the　thick　of　the　fire　and　dashed　for　the　bank。

Huang　Gai；　seeing　a　handsomely　robed　person　get　into　a　small　boat；　guessed　it　must　be　Cao　Cao　and　pursued。

He　drew　very　n