eep　gully；　and　there　seemed　nothing　but　to　turn　and　fight。　Yue　Ji　e　close　and　struck　at　him　with　the　mace。　Guan　Xing　evaded　the　blow；　but　it　fell　upon　his　steed　and　knocked　it　over　into　water。　Guan　Xing　went　into　the　water　too。

Presently　he　heard　a　great　noise　again　behind　him。　Yue　Ji　and　his　troops　had　found　a　way　down　into　the　gully　and　were　ing　at　him　down　the　stream。　Guan　Xing　braced　himself　for　a　struggle　in　the　water。

Then　he　saw　Zhang　Bao　and　Ma　Dai　ing　up　on　the　bank　fighting　with；　and　driving　off；　the　Qiangs。　Yue　Ji　was　struck　by　Zhang　Bao；　and　he　too　fell　into　the　gully。　Guan　Xing　gripped　his　sword　and　was　about　to　launch　a　stroke　at　Yue　Ji　as　he　came　up；　when　Yue　Ji　jumped　out　of　the　water　and　ran　away。

At　once　Guan　Xing　caught　the　steed　Yue　Ji　had　left；　led　it　up　the　bank　and　soon　had　it　ready　to　mount。　Then　he　girded　on　his　sword；　got　on　the　horse；　and　joined　the　battle　with　his　colleagues。

After　driving　off　the　Qiangs；　Guan　Xing；　Zhang　Bao；　and　Ma　Dai　gathered　together　and　rode　back。　They　quickly　gained　the　camp。

〃I　do　not　know　how　to　overe　these　men；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Let　me　protect　the　camp　while　you　go　back　and　ask　the　Prime　Minister　what　we　should　do。〃

Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　started　at　once　and　made　the　best　of　their　way　back。　They　told　Zhuge　Liang　what　had　happened。　He　at　once　sent　off　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　to　go　into　ambush。　After　this　he　went　himself　with　thirty　thousand　troops　and　Jiang　Wei；　Zhang　Yi；　Guan　Xing；　and　Zhang　Bao　and　soon　came　to　Ma　Dai's　camp。　The　day　after；　from　the　summit　of　a　hill；　Zhuge　Liang　surveyed　the　country　and　the　enemy；　who　were　ing　on　in　a　ceaseless　stream。

〃It　is　not　difficult；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

He　called　up　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　certain　orders。

The