dress　the　wound　with　a　certain　preparation；　sew　it　up　with　a　thread；　and　there　will　be　no　further　trouble。　But　I　think　you　may　quail　at　the　severity　of　the　treatment。〃

Guan　Yu　smiled。

〃It　all　sounds　easy　enough；〃　said　he。　〃But　why　the　post　and　the　ring？〃

Refreshments　were　then　served；　and　after　a　few　cups　of　wine；　the　warrior　extended　his　arm　for　the　operation。　With　his　other　hand　he　went　on　with　his　game　of　chess。　Meanwhile　the　surgeon　prepared　his　knife　and　called　a　lad　to　hold　a　basin　beneath　the　limb。

〃I　am　just　going　to　cut。　Do　not　start；〃　said　Hua　Tuo。

〃When　I　consented　to　undergo　the　treatment；　did　you　think　I　was　afraid　of　pain？〃

The　surgeon　then　performed　the　operation　as　he　had　pre…described。　He　found　the　bone　much　discolored；　but　he　scraped　it　clean。　When　the　knife　went　over　the　surface　of　the　bone　and　made　horrible　sounds；　all　those　near　covered　their　eyes　and　turned　pale。　But　Guan　Yu　went　on　with　his　game；　only　drinking　a　cup　of　wine