it。〃

The　serving　lad　then　showed　Wang　Ping　and　his　dumb　panions　to　the　Spring　of　Peace　and　Joy；　and　he　dipped　up　the　waters　for　them　to　drink。　As　soon　as　they　had　drunk；　they　coughed　up　some　poisoned　mucus　and　could　speak。　The　lad　also　led　the　soldiers　to　the　Spring　of　Eternal　Peace　where　they　could　bathe。

In　the　cottage　the　recluse　regaled　Zhuge　Liang　with　tea　made　of　cypress　seeds　and　a　conserve　of　pine　flowers。

He　also　told　his　guest；　saying；　〃In　this　region；　the　lands　are　full　of　serpents　and　scorpions；　and　the　lily　flowers　blown　into　the　springs　by　the　wind　make　them　unfit　to　drink。　However；　if　you　dig　wells；　you　will　find　good　water。〃

Then　Zhuge　Liang　begged　some　of　the　garlic…leaved　herb　as　an　antidote　against　malaria。　The　recluse　said　the　soldiers　could　pluck　as　much　as　they　wanted。　And　so　everyone　put　a　leaf　in　his　mouth　and　thus　became　malaria…proof。

Zhuge　Liang；　with　a　low　bow　then　begged　to　be　told　the　name　of　his　benefactor。

〃I　am　Meng　Huo's　eldest　brother；〃　said　the　recluse；　smiling。　〃My　name　is　Meng　Jie。〃

Zhuge　Liang　started。

〃Do　not　be　afraid；〃　said　the　recluse。　〃Let　me　explain。　We　were　three　brothers　of　the　same　parents；　the　eldest　being　myself。　Our　parents　are　both　dead。　My　brother　Meng　Huo；　being　headstrong　and　vicious；　has　never　been　amenable　to　culture。　I　have　talked　to　him　many　times；　but　he　kept　his　own　course。　Finally；　under　an　assumed　name；　I　retired　to　this　spot。　I　am　ashamed　for　my　brother's　rebellion；　which　has　put　you；　O　Minister；　to　the　trouble　of　making　this　expedition　into　a　barren　country；　but　it　has　given　me　the　privilege　of　seeing　you。　For　my　responsibility　in　this　I　deserve　to　die　a　thousand　times；　as　I　own　to　your　face；　and　I　beg　your　pardon。〃

Zhuge　Liang　sighed；　saying；