This story concerns(有關(guān))a spider(蜘蛛)and a certain general of ancient times who had lost a battle and， in the company of(在……陪同下)a faithful(忠誠的)servant， was trying to escape(逃脫)from the enemy. Both were extremely(極度，非常)tired， and both were hungry and thirsty， but they did not dare to go into any town for fear of (擔心，害怕)being discovered and captured(捉)by the enemy. Toward evening they arrived at a mountain where there was a small cave.

“Let us hide here ，”said the servant.“Perhaps if those who are following us lose our trail(足跡，行蹤)，we shall be able to escape.”

“I rather think that the hate(仇恨)which they feel toward us will make them more alert(機警，警惕)and that they will find us wherever we are.”

But they entered deep into the cave and remained there. In the morning they heard steps nearby. Some enemy soldiers were approaching(靠近)the entrance to the cave.

“Let’s look in here，”said one of the soldiers， getting ready to enter the cave.

“Don’t be foollish，”said another，“No one has entered here.”

“How do you know?”

“Don’t you have eyes?”said the other，“Don’t you see the large spider’s wed that covers the entrance from one side to the other? How could anyone enter?”

Everyone then looked and saw that there was really a spider’s wed which comptetely covered the entrance.

“It’s true，”they said. And they continued on their way.

The general and his servant looked at each other with great surprise. The entire thing seemed to be miracle(奇跡). They were both alive and they owed their lives to the spider， which had woven a wed completely across the entrance to their cave during the night.