They travelled on for another six days. On the morningof the seventh day, they spotted dark clouds in thedistance.

　　"Is that a storm brewing?" Chen asked.

　　The girl studied the horizon. "They're not rainclouds," she said. "It's dust from the ground.""How could there be so much?""I don't know. Let's go and look!" They spurred theirhorses forward, and as the swirling dust cloud rosebefore them, they began to hear the sound of metalclashing with metal drifting over towards them. Chenreined in his horse.

　　"It's an army," he said. "We must get out of the wayquickly." They turned and rode off east, but after awhile, another dust cloud arose in front of them and acolumn of mounted troops appeared. Amidst the dust,Chen saw a huge flag inscribed with the name ofGeneral Zhao. Having already clashed once with Zhao'sarmoured troops at the Yellow River crossing, he knewthem to be formidable fighters, and he motioned to thegirl with his hand and galloped off southwards.

　　Luckily, both their horses were swift, and after amoment's hard riding, the armoured column had droppedfar behind.

　　The girl looked anxious. "I hope our army will be ableto hold their own," she said. Chen was just about tosay something comforting when horns sounded in front,and rank upon rank of soldiers appeared over a rise.

　　To the left, there was a thundrous ground-shaking roarand a vast carpet of cavalry moved across the hillstowards them. With one sweep of his left arm, Chenswung the girl onto his horse and took out his shieldto protect her.

　　"Don't be afraid," he said. The girl, still huggingthe little deer, looked round at him and nodded. "Ifyou say there's no need to be afraid, then I won'tbe," she said. As she spoke, her soft, orchid-likefragrance, enveloped him, and feelings of tendernessrose within him despite the danger of their situation.

　　With enemy troops advancing from the east, north andsouth, Chen urged the white horse westwards as herchestnut horse followed along behind. After a while,they spotted Manchu troops ahead of them once more.

　　Very worried, Chen spurred the horse up onto highground to get a better idea of the Manchu positionsand to look for a gap through which they could escape.

　　But he could see at a glance that they were completelysurrounded by the Manchu army. To the west, beyond thethousands of Manchu foot soldiers in close ranksprotected on both flanks by cavalry, was the Muslimarmy, also an imposing force with a forest of spearsand scimitars rising above the striped gowns of thewarriors. The two sides had halted, obviously inpreparation for battle, and Manchu officers rode backand forth making final prepartions. The huge armygradually became deathly quiet. Chen and the girl hadby this time been noticed, and several soldiersapproached to question them.

　　"The gods have conspired to deliver us into the handsof the Manchus," Chen thought. But the idea of dyingwith the girl beside him gave him a strange pleasure.

　　He grasped the Pearl Strings in his right hand, thereins in his left, and shouted: "Let's go!"The horse galloped off towards the end of the Manchulines, and in the blink of an eye, had passed threecompanies of troops. Rank upon rank of armouredsoldiers, bows at the ready, passed before them, andChen knew that with one word from the Manchucommanders, he and the girl in his arms wouldimmediately become the repositories of a thousandspears and ten thousand arrows. He pulled the reins intightly and slowly cantered along, not even glancingat the soldiers.

　　The morning sun had just risen, and as they rodetowards it, the troops stared in shock at the girl'sglorious beauty, her hair, face, arms and gownsplashed with pale sunlight, and each one, whethergeneral or trooper, found his heart thumpingfuriously. They watched as the two gradually rode offinto the distance.

　　Even General Zhao, who was in personal command, wasovercome by a feeling of calm and peace, and he knewhe was in no mood for killing. Looking round, he foundall his officers and underlings likewise hadexpressions of serenity on their faces. They hadalready replaced their swords in their scabbards, andwere obviously awaiting the general's order to retire.

　　"Return to camp," Zhao said in a far-away voice. Theorder was relayed back, and the tens of thousands ofsoldiers turned and went back to their camp site morethan ten miles away beside the Black Water River.

　　Chen was covered in a cold sweat and his hands shookwith fear, but the girl looked un-worried, apparentlyunaware of the great danger they had passed through.

　　She smiled at him and leapt over onto the back of thechestnut horse.

　　"That is our army in front," she said. Chen put awayhis shield and galloped towards the Muslim lines. Asmall detail of cavalrymen rode out to meet them,shouting and cheering as they came, then jumped offtheir horses and bowed before the girl. The officer incharge walked over to Chen and bowed before him too.

　　"Brother, you have endured great hardship. May Allahthe true God protect you," he said.

　　Chen bowed in return and thanked him. The girl rodestraight into the Muslim ranks without waiting forChen. She obviously commanded a degree of respect, forwherever the chestnut horse went, the soldiers madeway for it with cheers.

　　A brigade commander invited Chen to the barracks toeat and rest, and Chen told him he wanted to see thetribe's leader, Master Muzhuolun.

　　"The Master has gone to observe the enemy's strength,"the commander replied. "When he returns, I willimmediately inform him." Following the long journeyand the tense encounter with the Manchu army, Chenfelt worn out, and after he had been shown to a smalltent, he immediately slept.

　　Some time after noon, the commander returned to saythat Muzhuolun was now not expected to return untilevening. Chen asked him who the white-gowned girl was.

　　The commander smiled. "How could anyone be morebeautiful than she?" he said. "We are having alove-match meeting tonight. Why don't you come along,brother? You will be able to meet our leader there."Chen did not press him furt............