o；　I　fail　in　the　task　set　me　by　my　Prince：　I　wish　that　I　might　die。〃

〃Be　not　so　cast　down；　O　Minister；〃　said　the　aged　one。　〃I　can　lead　you　to　a　place　where　you　may　counteract　all　this。〃

〃I　would　ask　for　your　instruction；　Venerable　One；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃What　exalted　advice　have　you　to　confer　upon　me？　I　hope　you　will　instruct　me。〃

〃West　of　this；　not　far　off；　is　a　valley；　and　seven　miles　from　its　entrance　is　a　stream　called　the　'Spring　of　Eternal　Peace'；　near　which　there　lives　a　recluse　known　as　the　Hermit　of　the　Stream。　He　has　not　left　the　valley　these　twenty　years。　Behind　his　hut　there　gushes　out　a　spring　of　water；　called　the　'Spring　of　Peace　and　Joy'。　This　is　the　antidote　to　your　poison。　Bathing　in　its　waters　is　a　cure　for　skin　diseases　and　for　malaria。　Moreover；　near　the　hut　grows　an　herb　called　the　'garlic…leaved　fragrance'。　Chewing　a　leaf　of　this　safeguards　one　from　malaria。　You　can　do　no　better　than　go　to　the　hut　of　the　recluse　forthwith　and　get　these　remedies。〃

Zhuge　Liang　humbly　thanked　his　aged　counselor；　and　said；　〃Venerable　Sir；　I　am　profoundly　affected　by　your　merciful　kindness　and　passion。　May　I　ask　again　by　what　name　may　call　you？〃

The　old　man　rose　and　entered　the　temple；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Spirit　of　this　mountain；　sent　by　Ma　Yuan　to　guide　you。〃

As　he　said　this；　he　shouted　at　the　solid　rock　behind　the　temple；　and　it　opened　of　itself　and　let　him　in。

Zhuge　Liang's　astonishment　was　beyond　words。　He　made　another　obeisance　to　the　Spirit　of　the　temple　and　went　down　by　the　way　he　had　e。　Then　he　returned　to　his　camp。

Next　day；　bearing　incense　and　gifts；　Wang　Ping　and　his　stricken　men　went　west　to　the　spot　which　the　old　man　had　indicated。　They　luckily　found　the　valley　and　followed　its　narrow　road　till　they　cam