hen　they　hear　the　wind。　The　fact　is　he　has　exhausted　all　his　craft　and　has　tried　every　ruse。　Now　our　task　is　nearly　done。〃

Wutu　Gu　was　greatly　cheered　and　began　to　feel　contempt　for　his　enemy。

The　sixteenth　day　of　the　long　fight　found　Wei　Yan　leading　his　oft…defeated　troops　once　more　against　the　rattan…protected　foe。　King　Wutu　Gu　on　his　white　elephant　was　well　in　the　forefront。　He　had　on　a　cap　with　symbols　of　the　sun　and　moon　and　streamers　of　wolf's　beard；　a　fringed　garment　studded　with　gems；　which　allowed　the　plates　or　scales　of　his　cuirass　to　appear；　and　his　eyes　seemed　to　flash　fire。　He　pointed　the　finger　of　scorn　at　Wei　Yan　and　began　to　revile　him。

Wei　Yan　whipped　up　his　steed　and　fled。　The　Mangs　pressed　after　him。　Wei　Yan　made　for　the　Coiled　Serpent　Valley；　for　he　saw　a　white　flag　calling　him　thither。　Wutu　Gu　followed　in　hot　haste；　and　as　he　saw　only　bare　hills　without　a　sign　of　vegetation；　he　felt　quite　confident　that　no　ambush　was　laid。　So　he　followed　into　the　valley。　There　he　saw　some　score　of　black　painted　carts　in　the　road。

The　soldiers　said　to　each　other；　〃The　carts　must　be　the　missariat　wagons　of　the　enemy；　abandoned　in　their　hasty　flight　when　they　heard　of　the　ing　of　Your　Majesty。〃

This　only　urged　the　King　to　greater　speed；　and　he　went　on　toward　the　other　mouth　of　the　valley；　for　the　soldiers　of　Shu　had　disappeared。　However；　he　saw　piles　of　timber　being　tumbled　down　across　the　track　and　great　boulders　rolled　down　the　hill　side　into　the　road。　The　pursuers　cleared　away　the　obstacles。　When　they　had　done　so　and　advanced　a　little；　they　saw　certain　wheeled　vehicles　in　the　road；　some　large；　some　small；　laden　with　wood　and　straw；　which　was　burning。　Wutu　Gu　was　suddenly　frightened　and　ordered　a　retreat。

But　he　heard　much　sho