you。　But　now　I　firmly　believe　this　surrender　is　part　of　a　plot　to　kill　me。〃

Then　he　called　out　to　his　guards　to　search　the　prisoners。　They　did　so；　and　on　every　man　they　found　a　sharp　knife。

〃Did　you　not　say　that　if　your　family　were　taken　prisoners　you　would　yield？　How　now？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃We　have　e　of　our　own　will　and　at　the　risk　of　our　lives。　The　credit　is　not　yours。　Still　I　refuse　to　yield；〃　replied　Meng　Huo。

〃This　is　the　sixth　time　I　have　captured　you；　and　yet　you　are　obstinate。　What　do　you　expect？〃

〃If　you　take　me　a　seventh　time；　then　I　will　turn　to　you　and　never　rebel　again。〃

〃Well；　your　stronghold　is　now　destroyed。　What　have　I　to　fear？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

He　ordered　the　bonds　to　be　loosed；　saying；　〃If　you　are　caught　again　and　lie　to　me　once　more；　I　shall　certainly　not　be　inclined　to　let　you　off。〃

Meng　Huo　and　his　people　put　their　hands　over　their　heads　and　ran　off　like　rats。

The　defeated　Mangs　who　had　fled　were　of　thousands；　and　more　than　half　of　them　were　wounded。　They　fell　in　with　their　King；　who　restored　what　order　was　possible　and　felt　glad　that　he　had　still　some　leaders　left。　Then　he　and　the　Chief　Dai　Lai　took　counsel　together。

〃Whither　can　we　go？〃　said　Meng　Huo。　〃Our　stronghold　is　in　the　hands　of　the　enemy。〃

Dai　Lai　replied；　〃There　is　but　one　country　that　can　overe　these　troops。　That　is　the　Wuguo　Kingdom。　It　lies　two　hundred　miles　to　the　southeast。　The　King　of　that　state　is　named　Wutu　Gu。　He　is　a　giant　of　twelve　spans。　He　does　not　eat　grain；　but　lives　on　serpents　and　venomous　beasts。　He　wears　scaly　armor；　which　is　impenetrable　to　swords　and　arrows。　His　warriors　wear　rattan　armor。　This　rattan　grows　in　gullies；　climbing　over　rocks　and　walls。　The　inhabitants　cut　the　rattans　and　stee