e　to　a　small；　farm…like　enclosure；　where　tall　pines　and　lofty　cypresses；　luxuriant　bamboos；　and　gorgeous　flowers　sheltered　a　few　simple　huts。　An　exquisite　perfume　pervaded　the　whole　place。

Zhuge　Liang　rejoiced　to　recognize　the　spot　and　at　once　knocked　at　the　door。

A　lad　answered　his　knock；　and　Zhuge　Liang　was　telling　his　name　when　the　host　came　out　quickly；　saying；　〃Surely　my　visitor　is　the　Prime　Minister　of　the　Han　Dynasty？〃

Zhuge　Liang　saw　at　the　door　a　man　with　a　bamboo　b　holding　back　his　hair；　grass　shoes　on　his　feet；　and　a　robe　of　white　girded　in　by　a　black　girdle。　He　had　green　eyes　and　yellowed　hair。

〃Great　Scholar；　how　did　you　know　who　I　was？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃How　could　I　not　have　heard　of　your　expedition　to　the　south？〃

He　invited　Zhuge　Liang　to　enter。

When　they　had　seated　themselves　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃My　former　Prince；　the　First　Ruler；　confided　to　me　the　care　of　his　son　and　successor。　That　son；　now　Emperor；　gave　me　a　mand　to　lead　an　army　to　this　country；　get　the　Mangs　on　our　side；　and　spread　our　culture　among　them。　But　now　to　my　disappointment　Meng　Huo；　the　King；　has　hidden　himself　in　the　Bald　Dragon　Ravine；　and　some　of　my　soldiers　on　the　way　to　seek　him　drank　of　a　certain　fountain　and　are　dumb。　But　last　evening　the　former　leader　of　an　expedition；　Ma　Yuan；　manifested　his　sacred　presence　and　told　me　that　you；　Exalted　Sir；　had　a　remedy　for　this　evil；　and　I　pray　you　of　your　pity　to　give　me　of　the　potent　fluid　whereby　my　soldiers'　lives　may　be　saved。〃

The　recluse　replied；　〃I　am　only　a　worthless　old　man　of　the　wild　woods　and　unworthy　of　the　visit　of　such　as　you；　O　Minister。　The　water　you　desire　flows　out　at　the　back　of　my　cottage；　and　you　may　take　what　you　will　of