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-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***

-

-

-

-

-

-                         FOLK TALES FROM TIBET

-

-                 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY A TIBETAN ARTIST

-                AND SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS

-

-

-                        COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED

-                                   BY

-                      CAPT. W. F. O’CONNOR, C.I.E.

-        Secretary and Interpreter of the Mission to Lhasa (1904)

-

-

-

-                                 LONDON

-                        HURST AND BLACKETT, LTD.

-                        182, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.

-

-                                  1906

-

-                          All rights reserved

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-PREFACE.

-

-

-In presenting these little stories to the public, it may perhaps be of

-interest if I describe how I came by them.

-

-During two years spent in Tibet, at Gyantse, Lhasa, and elsewhere, I

-have made many friends amongst all classes of Tibetans—high and low,

-rich and poor—and have conversed with all sorts of persons upon all

-sorts of topics. In the course of my wanderings I learned that there

-exists amongst this fascinating and little-known people a wealth of

-folk-lore, hitherto inaccessible to the outside world, and I made

-efforts to collect as many of their stories as I could.

-

-For certain special reasons this quest proved more difficult than I had

-anticipated. In the first place, I found that many of the best known

-stories had been imported bodily from India [1] or China, and possess

-but little of that local colouring which is one of the chief charms of

-folk-lore. Secondly, some of the very best and most characteristic

-stories are unfit for publication in such a book as this. [2] And,

-thirdly, human nature being much the same all the world over, it was

-not always possible to find a suitable raconteur in a suitable mood for

-story-telling. A story told by a nervous or reluctant narrator loses

-half its charm. A good story must be natural, and necessitates sympathy

-on the part both of teller and of hearer. Armed diplomatic missions and

-an official position, apart from all questions of difference of

-language and nationality, do not tend to elicit the ideal sentiments

-necessary for the establishment of complete mutual confidence.

-

-But patience, and the growth of kindly feelings on both sides, helped

-me to some extent to overcome the shyness and reluctance of the simple

-folk who have supplied me with my material; and, as time went on, I was

-able to coax a story from many unlikely sources. Village headmen,

-monks, servants, local government officials, peasants, traders—these

-and many others have contributed to my store. Shyly and haltingly at

-starting, with many bashful apologies and disclaimers, the story-teller

-will begin his tale. But a Tibetan audience is one of the best

-imaginable, and their open sympathy and appreciation soon melt the

-frosts of reserve, and the words flow freely. Presently all sense of

-constraint is lost, and I have known a story interrupted for ten

-minutes at a time by the uncontrollable merriment aroused by some comic

-incident.

-

-Some of the stories, then, I have been obliged, reluctantly enough, to

-discard altogether for the present; others require further revision or

-elucidation. But the rest of my little store I give here, and with this

-one apology: that I have made no attempt to ornament or improve upon

-them. I have written them down just as I heard them, and have

-translated them, as accurately as I could, from the Tibetan idiom into

-ours. As to their origin or scientific bearing I say nothing, and put

-forward no theories. I leave the Tales to speak for themselves; but

-would invite, and shall cordially welcome, the criticisms and surmises

-of all students of folk-lore who are in a position to give an expert

-opinion upon such points, and to shed a light upon obscure corners into

-which I have been unable to penetrate.

-

-I have added to the stories a few verses taken at random from popular

-Tibetan love-songs, as a sample of the wealth of imagery and genuine

-poetic sentiment which is to be found amongst the inhabitants of this

-strange country. Owing to the extremely idiomatic form and severe

-compression of Tibetan metrical compositions, the translation of these

-songs into anything even distantly resembling poetry, without

-altogether destroying the characteristics of the original, presents

-peculiar difficulties; and I must crave indulgence for their crudeness

-and lack of artistic finish.

-

-The pictures are the maiden effort at book illustration of a Tibetan

-artist, resident at Gyantse, and are, I fear, somewhat weak in details,

-as owing to my absence from Gyantse during the time they were in

-progress I was unable personally to superintend their execution. For

-the excellent photograph which appears as the frontispiece I am

-indebted to my friend and companion at Gyantse, Capt. R. Steen, of the

-Indian Medical Service.

-

-In conclusion, I must express my grateful acknowledgments to Mr.

-Perceval Landon, to whose suggestion the collection and publication of

-these Tales, as well as their illustration by a native artist, is in a

-great measure due; and I must thank him, moreover, for many valuable

-hints and much kindly sympathy and assistance.

-

-

-    W. F. O’Connor, Capt.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-CONTENTS.

-

-

-                                                             PAGE

-        I.—How the Hare got his Lip Split                       1

-       II.—The Story of the Tiger and the Man                   6

-      III.—The Story of Good Faith                             12

-       IV.—The Story of the Two Neighbours                     20

-        V.—The Story of the Cat and the Mice                   26

-       VI.—The Story of the Foolish Young Mussulman            30

-      VII.—The Kyang, the Fox, the Wolf and the Hare           43

-     VIII.—The Frog and the Crow                               48

-       IX.—The Hare and the Lions                              51

-        X.—The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare          56

-       XI.—The Story of how the Hare made a Fool of the Wolf   60

-      XII.—The Mouse’s Three Children                          68

-     XIII.—The Jackals and the Tiger                           76

-      XIV.—The Story of the Three Thieves                      80

-       XV.—The Story of the Boy with the Deformed Head         92

-      XVI.—The Prince and the Ogre’s Castle                   103

-     XVII.—The Story of the Stone Lion                        116

-    XVIII.—The Story of the Lama’s Servant                    124

-      XIX.—The Country of the Mice                            133

-       XX.—The Story of the Tortoise and the Monkey           141

-      XXI.—The Story of Room Bacha and Baki                   147

-     XXII.—The Story of the Home-bred Boy                     158

-           The Story of the Home-bred Boy (continued)         166

-           The Story of the Home-bred Boy (continued)         172

-           Some Verses from Tibetan Love-songs                175

-

-

-

-

-

-LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

-

-

-  One of the Story-tellers, with his Family and Servants   Frontispiece

-  The Hare and the Tiger                                    Facing p. 2

-  The Wicked Neighbour removing Young Sparrow from Nest              22

-  “Worthy Father, I am turned into this”                             25

-  The Young Mussulman pursued by his own Shadow                      35

-  The Crow and the Frog in the Gutter                                48

-  The Hare conversing with the Wolf                                  58

-  The Tiger and the Monkey approaching the Jackal’s Den              79

-  The Dragon attacking the Griffon’s Nest                            98

-  The Stone Lion vomiting Gold                                      121

-  The Mice Crossing the Stream                                      137

-  The Monkey calling into the Tortoise’s Cave                       145

-  The Glass Pillars dancing for the Ogre                            147

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-FOLK TALES FROM TIBET.

-

-

-STORY No. I.

-

-HOW THE HARE GOT HIS SPLIT LIP.

-

-

-A hare was going along a road one day, when suddenly, on turning a

-corner, he came upon a large Tiger. The Tiger at once seized the Hare,

-and said that he was going to eat him.

-

-“Please, please, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, holding up his thumbs in

-supplication, “please don’t eat me, I am only a very small beast, and

-will make a very insufficient meal for a great big animal like you. And

-if you will spare my life I will take you to where you can find a much

-bigger, fatter creature than me for your supper.”

-

-“Very well,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that. But if you don’t show me

-a much bigger animal than you are, I shall certainly be obliged to eat

-you.”

-

-So he released the Hare, and the two walked off along the road

-together.

-

-As they went along night began to fall, and when it was quite dark the

-Hare began smacking his chops and making sounds as if he was eating

-something very nice.

-

-“What are you eating, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.

-

-“I am eating my eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare. “I have taken it

-out and eaten it; it is very nice, and it soon grows again.”

-

-The Tiger was rather surprised at hearing this, but being very hungry

-he proceeded to scrape out his own eye and eat it up. After going a

-little further the Hare again began smacking his lips, as if he was

-eating something.

-

-“What are you eating now, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.

-

-“I am eating my other eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare; “it is even

-better than the first.”

-

-The foolish Tiger on hearing this proceeded to scrape out his other eye

-and eat that.

-

-The Tiger was now quite blind, and the Hare led him along to the brink

-of a deep gulf, where he advised the Tiger to sit down and rest for a

-while. And after the Tiger was seated, the Hare said:

-

-“Don’t you find it cold, Uncle Tiger? shall I light you a fire?”

-

-“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Tiger, “I think a fire would be

-very pleasant.”

-

-So the Hare lighted a fire just in front of the Tiger, and when it was

-blazing up he kept putting the sticks nearer and nearer the Tiger, so

-that the Tiger was obliged to keep edging further and further away,

-when all of a sudden he toppled over backwards into the gulf behind.

-Now it happened that half-way down the gulf a tree was growing from a

-cleft in the precipice, and as he passed this the Tiger seized one of

-the boughs with his teeth, and so arrested his fall. The Hare, peeping

-over the edge, saw what had happened, and he called out:

-

-“Oh, Uncle Tiger, Uncle Tiger, are you safe?”

-

-The Tiger was afraid to open his mouth to reply, and all he could do

-was to growl, “M—m—m——”

-

-“Oh, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, “is that all you can say? I am afraid

-you must be very badly hurt. Do just say ‘Ah!’ and I shall know that

-you are all right.”

-

-The Tiger, anxious to please the Hare, opened his mouth to say “Ah!”

-and was instantly precipitated to the bottom of the gulf, where he fell

-upon some rocks and was killed.

-

-Next morning the Hare went hopping down the road when he met a Man

-driving along a lot of Horses.

-

-“Good morning, Father Man,” said he to the driver. “Would you like to

-know where you can find a good Tiger’s skin?”

-

-“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Man, thinking he would sell the

-skin and make a lot of money.

-

-So the Hare pointed out to him where the dead Tiger lay in the ravine,

-and the Man hastened off to skin it, after first asking the Hare to

-take care of his Horses while he was away.

-

-As soon as he was out of sight the Hare saw two Ravens sitting in a

-tree overhead. He called out to them:

-

-“Brothers Raven, look here! Here are a lot of Horses with no one in

-charge. Why don’t you come down and feed on the sores on their backs?”

-

-The Ravens thought this was a good idea, and flying down, they perched

-on the Horses’ backs, and began to dig their beaks into the sore

-places. The poor Horses, in fear and pain, soon stampeded, and galloped

-about all over the country.

-

-The Hare then hopped on a little further down the road and came upon a

-Boy tending Sheep.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Boy,” said the Hare, “would you like to know

-where there is a fine Raven’s nest, full of eggs?”

-

-“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Boy, thinking he would climb the

-tree and take the Raven’s eggs. So the Hare pointed out to him the tree

-where the Raven’s nest was, and the Boy ran off to get the eggs, after

-first asking the Hare to take charge of the Sheep for him while he was

-away.

-

-The Hare soon espied a Wolf on the hill-side not far off, so he went up

-to him and said:

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Wolf, do you know that there is a fine flock of

-Sheep quite unguarded down there, and I should advise you to take

-advantage of this opportunity of killing some of them.”

-

-The Wolf at once rushed down the hill into the middle of the flock of

-Sheep, scattering them all in every direction, and killing as many as

-he thought he required for his own use.

-

-Meanwhile the Hare proceeded to the top of a high hill whence he could

-survey the whole country. From there he was able to discern the dead

-Tiger lying in the ravine, with the Man stripping off its skin; the

-Horses careering all over the country, with the Ravens pecking at the

-sores on their backs; the Boy robbing the Raven’s nest; and the Sheep,

-pursued by the Wolf, scattered to the four quarters of the compass.

-

-The sight so amused the Hare that he leaned back on a handy stone, and

-laughed to such an extent that he actually split his upper lip. And it

-has remained split to this very day.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. II.

-

-THE STORY OF THE TIGER AND THE MAN.

-

-

-Once upon a time there were two Tigers who lived in a certain forest

-and had a family of three children. The Father Tiger grew old and began

-to fail, and just before his death he sent for his three children and

-addressed them as follows:

-

-“Remember, my children,” said he, “that the Tiger is Lord of the

-jungle; he roams about at his will and makes a prey of the other

-animals as he wishes, and none can gainsay him. But there is one animal

-against whom you must be on your guard. He alone is more powerful and

-cunning than the Tiger. That animal is Man, and I warn you solemnly

-before I die to beware of Man, and on no account to try to hunt or to

-kill him.”

-

-So saying, the old Tiger turned on his side and died.

-

-The three young Tigers listened respectfully to the words of their

-dying parent and promised to obey; and the elder brothers, who were

-obedient sons, were careful to follow his advice. They confined their

-attentions to the slaughter of deer, pigs, and other denizens of the

-forest, and were careful, whenever they came within sight or scent of

-any human being, to clear off as fast as they could from so dangerous a

-neighbourhood. But the youngest Tiger was of an independent and

-inquisitive disposition. As he grew older and stronger he began to

-chafe against the restriction that had been imposed upon him.

-

-“What, after all,” thought he to himself, “can be this creature Man

-that I should not slay him if I wish. I am told that he is but a

-defenceless creature, that his strength cannot be compared to mine, and

-that his claws and teeth are quite contemptible. I can pull down the

-largest stag or tackle the fiercest boar with impunity. Why, then,

-should not I be able to kill and eat Man also?”

-

-So after a while, in his conceit and folly, he determined to quit his

-own part of the forest and to venture forth towards the open country in

-search of a Man as his prey. His two brothers and his mother tried to

-reason with him and to persuade him to remember the words of his dying

-father, but with no avail; and finally, one fine morning, in spite of

-their prayers and entreaties, he set off alone on his search.

-

-He had not proceeded very far when he met an old, worn-out

-pack-Bullock, thin and emaciated, and with the marks of many ancient

-scars on his back. The young Tiger had never seen a Bullock before, and

-he regarded the creature with some curiosity. Walking up to it he said:

-

-“What sort of animal are you, pray? Are you a Man by any chance?”

-

-“No, indeed,” replied the creature; “I am only a poor Bullock.”

-

-“Ah!” said the Tiger. “Well, perhaps you can tell me what sort of an

-animal Man is, for I am just going out to find and kill one.”

-

-“Beware of Man, young Tiger,” replied the Bullock; “he is a dangerous

-and a faithless creature. Just look at me for example. From the time

-when I was very young I was Man’s servant. I carried loads for him on

-my back, as you may see by these scars, and for many years I slaved for

-him faithfully and well. While I was young and strong he cared for me

-and valued me highly; but as soon as I became old and weak, and was no

-longer able to do his work, he turned me out into this wild jungle to

-seek my food as best I might, and gave no thought for me in my old age.

-I warn you solemnly to leave him alone and not to try and kill him. He

-is very cunning and dangerous.”

-

-But the young Tiger only laughed at the warning and went on his way.

-Soon afterwards he came across an ancient Elephant wandering by itself

-on the outskirts of the forest, and feeding with its trunk on the

-grasses and foliage which it loves. The old animal had a wrinkled skin

-and a small and bleary eye, and behind its huge ears were many cuts and

-ancient scars, showing where the goad had been so frequently applied.

-

-The young Tiger eyed this strange animal with some surprise, and going

-up to it he said:

-

-“What sort of an animal are you, please? You are not a Man, I suppose?”

-

-“No, indeed,” replied the Elephant; “I am only a poor old worn-out

-Elephant.”

-

-“Is that so?” answered the Tiger. “Perhaps you can tell me, however,

-what sort of a creature Man is, as I am now hunting for one in order to

-kill and eat him.”

-

-“Beware how you hunt Man, young Tiger,” replied the old Elephant; “he

-is a faithless and dangerous animal. Look at my case. Although I am the

-Lord of the jungle, Man tamed me, and trained me, and made me his

-servant for many years. He put a saddle on my back and made stirrups of

-my ears, and he used to strike me over my head with an iron goad. While

-I was young and strong he valued me highly. Food was brought to me, as

-much as I could eat every day, and I had a special attendant who used

-to wash and groom me, and to see to all my wants. But when I became old

-and too infirm for further work, he turned me out into the jungle to

-fend for myself as best I could. If you will take my advice you will

-leave Man alone, or it will be the worse for you in the end.”

-

-But the young Tiger laughed contemptuously and went on his way. After

-proceeding for some little distance he heard the sound of some one

-chopping wood, and creeping near he saw that it was a Woodcutter

-engaged in felling a tree. After watching him for some time the Tiger

-emerged from the jungle, and going up to the Man, he asked what sort of

-an animal he was. The Woodcutter replied:

-

-“Why, what an ignorant Tiger you are; can’t you see that I am a Man?”

-

-“Oh, are you,” replied the Tiger, “what a piece of luck for me. I was

-just looking for a Man in order to kill and eat him, and you will do

-nicely.”

-

-On hearing this the Woodcutter began to laugh. “Kill and eat me,” he

-replied; “why, don’t you know that Man is much too clever to be killed

-and eaten by a Tiger? Just come with me a little way and I will show

-you some things which only a Man knows, but which will be very useful

-for you to learn.”

-

-The Tiger thought that this was a good idea, so he followed the Man

-through the jungle until they came to the Man’s house, which was

-strongly built of timber and heavy logs.

-

-“What is that place?” said the Tiger when he saw it.

-

-“That is called a house,” replied the Man. “I will show you how we use

-it.”

-

-And so saying he went inside and shut the door.

-

-“Now,” said he, speaking from the inside to the Tiger, “you see what a

-foolish creature a Tiger is compared to a Man. You poor animals live in

-a hole in the forest, exposed to wind, rain, cold and heat; and all

-your strength is of no value to make a house like this. Whereas I,

-although I am so much weaker than you, can build myself a fine house,

-where I live at my ease, indifferent to the weather and secure from the

-attacks of wild animals.”

-

-On hearing this the young Tiger flew into a violent passion.

-

-“What right,” said he, “has an ugly, defenceless creature like you to

-possess such a lovely house? Look at me, with my beautiful stripes, and

-my great teeth and claws, and my long tail. I am far more worthy than

-you of a house. Come out at once, and give your house over to me.”

-

-“Oh, very well,” said the Man, and he came out of the house leaving the

-door open, and the Tiger stalked in.

-

-“Now, look at me,” called out the conceited young Tiger from inside,

-“don’t I look nice in my fine house?”

-

-“Very nice indeed,” replied the Man, and bolting the door outside he

-walked off with his axe, leaving the Tiger to starve to death.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. III.

-

-THE STORY OF GOOD FAITH.

-

-

-The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his

-way out; but the house was too strongly built for him to be able to

-make any impression upon the walls, so he gave it up in despair and

-soon began to suffer severely from hunger and thirst. Two or three days

-passed away and the Tiger was in a sorry state, when, as he was peering

-through a chink in the logs he saw a little Musk Deer, which had come

-down to drink at the stream which was close by. When the Tiger saw the

-Deer he called out to her:

-

-“Oh, Sister Deer, will you please come and open the door of this house.

-I am shut up inside, and as I have nothing to eat and drink I am afraid

-of starving to death.”

-

-The Deer was a good deal frightened when she heard the Tiger’s voice,

-but when she understood how matters were she was reassured, and

-replied:

-

-“Oh, Uncle Tiger, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. But I am

-afraid if I open the door and let you out you will kill and eat me.”

-

-“No, no, I won’t,” replied the Tiger, “you can rely upon me. I promise

-you faithfully that if you will release me I will let you go free.”

-

-Accordingly, the Deer came up to the house and unbolted the door from

-the outside, and the Tiger sprang out joyfully. As soon as he got

-outside he seized upon the Deer and said:

-

-“I am very sorry for you, Sister Deer, but the fact is I am so famished

-that really I have no alternative but to eat you immediately.”

-

-“This is really too bad,” replied the Deer; “after promising faithfully

-that you would not eat me, and after the benefit which I have conferred

-upon you, you should certainly keep faith with me.”

-

-“Faith!” said the Tiger. “What is faith? I don’t believe there is any

-such thing as good faith.”

-

-“Is there not?” answered the Deer. “Well now, let us make a bargain. We

-will ask the first three living things we meet whether or no there is

-such a thing as good faith. If they say there is not, then you are

-welcome to kill and eat me; but if they say there is such a thing, then

-you shall let me go free.”

-

-“Very good,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that; that is a bargain.”

-

-So the two set off together side by side, and after proceeding a short

-distance down the road they came upon a large Tree growing by the

-roadside.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Tree,” said the Musk Deer, “we want to refer a

-question to you for your decision.”

-

-The Tree waved its branches in the air and replied in a gentle voice:

-

-“What is your question, Sister Deer? I am ready to do my best to help

-you.”

-

-“The case is this,” replied the Musk Deer, “a short while ago I found

-this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut in the forest, unable to get

-out. He called out to me asking me to open the door of the hut,

-promising me, if I did so, that he would let me go free. So I opened

-the door and let him out. No sooner was he released than he seized upon

-me and threatened to kill and eat me; and when I reproached him of

-breaking his faith, he said he did not believe that there was such a

-thing as good faith in the world. So we made a bargain that we would

-ask the first three living things we met whether or no there is such a

-thing as good faith in this world. If they say there is not, then the

-Tiger is to kill and eat me; but if they say that there is such a

-thing, then I am to go free. Will you please give us an opinion as to

-whether such a thing as good faith exists or not.”

-

-On hearing this story the great Tree moved its branches slowly in the

-breeze and replied as follows:

-

-“I am much interested in your story, Sister Deer, and would gladly help

-you if I could; but I am bound to answer you honestly in accordance

-with my own experience of life. Now consider my own case. I grow here

-by the roadside and spread my branches over the dusty highway ready to

-give shelter to man and beast in their shade. Travellers passing

-constantly up and down the road avail themselves of this cool retreat,

-and they come themselves and they bring their poor beasts of burden to

-rest in my shadow. And then what happens? Are they grateful to me for

-the comfort which I afford them? Does my example inspire them with any

-consideration for others? Far from it. When they have rested and

-refreshed themselves enough, they proceed on their way, and not only do

-they not thank me for my hospitality, but they break off my tender

-branches and use them as whips, further to goad and distress their

-weary animals. Can such conduct as that be called good faith? No, I am

-bound to say that my experience of life leads me to believe that there

-is no such thing as good faith in this world.”

-

-The poor Musk Deer was much cast down on hearing these words, and she

-and the Tiger moved on together till, a little farther along the road,

-they caught sight of a Cow Buffalo and her Calf grazing quietly in a

-field of succulent grass. They noticed that the old Cow contented

-herself with the driest and smallest patches of grass, whilst showing

-her Calf where to find the richest and most luxuriant pasture, and that

-she willingly deprived herself of any comfort in order to afford

-pleasure to the youngster. The Tiger and the Deer approached the old

-Cow, and the Deer, addressing her, said:

-

-“Good-morning, Aunt Buffalo! This Tiger and I have a small matter which

-we wish to refer to you for an opinion.”

-

-The Buffalo gazed at them with her big eyes, and after ruminating for a

-while she replied slowly:

-

-“Say on, Sister Deer, I am ready to give you my opinion for what it is

-worth.”

-

-“Well,” said the Deer, “this Tiger was shut up in a hut in the forest,

-and being unable to open the door, he was in danger of starving to

-death. I happened to pass by, and he called to me, asking me to let him

-out, promising that if I did so he would spare my life. So I opened the

-door and released him. But no sooner was he free than he seized upon me

-and said that he would kill and eat me; and when I reproached him with

-his bad faith, he replied that he did not believe that such a thing as

-good faith existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first

-three living things we met whether or no they believed that there is

-such a thing as good faith. If they say there is not, then the Tiger is

-to eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing, I am to go free.

-Now, will you please give us your opinion on the matter.”

-

-On hearing this statement the old Buffalo continued to chew the cud for

-some minutes, and then replied gravely:

-

-“I would gladly help you in the matter, Sister Deer, if I could; but I

-must regard it from the point of view of my own experience in life. I

-am considering the case of myself and my Calf. While the Calf is young

-and tender, I do all in my power to nourish and care for it. I first

-give it my milk, and later on, as you see, I encourage it to browse

-upon the best of the herbage, whilst I gladly stint myself in order

-that it may have plenty of the best of everything. But what happens

-later on, when the Calf grows strong and lusty? Does it remember its

-old mother with gratitude, and fend for her in her old age? Far from

-it. As soon as it is big enough it will push me away from the places

-where I am grazing and take the best for itself, and will drive me away

-altogether from the pastures if it can. Can that be called keeping

-faith with its mother? No; my experience makes me believe that there is

-no such thing as good faith in this world.”

-

-When the Musk Deer heard this she was much downhearted, and fully

-expected to be killed and eaten without further delay; but she begged

-the Tiger to give her one more chance, saying that she was fully

-prepared to abide by the opinion of the third person whom they met.

-

-The Tiger consented to this, and after going on a little farther

-together they met a Hare, hopping quietly down the road towards them.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” called out the Musk Deer; “could you

-spare us a few moments to give us an opinion upon a point of difference

-which has arisen between this Tiger and myself?”

-

-“Certainly,” replied the Hare, stopping short in the roadway. “I shall

-be delighted to do the best I can for you.”

-

-“Well,” replied the Musk Deer, “the facts are as follows: I was

-drinking just now at a stream in the forest when I noticed this Tiger

-shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut. The door was bolted outside, and he was

-unable to come out, and was in danger of starving to death, so he

-called out to me, asking me to release him, promising me, if I did so,

-that he would spare my life. I accordingly opened the door; but no

-sooner did the Tiger come out, than he seized upon me, saying that he

-was so hungry that he had really no alternative but to devour me on the

-spot. And when I reproached him for his bad faith, he replied that he

-did not know what good faith was, and, in fact, did not believe that

-such a thing existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first

-three living creatures we met whether or no there is such a thing as

-good faith in this world. If they say there is, then I am to go free;

-but if they say there is not, then the Tiger is at liberty to kill and

-eat me. We have already consulted two persons in the matter, and they

-are both of opinion that there is no such thing as good faith. You are

-the third and last, and on your decision depends my life.”

-

-“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “this is a very strange story, and before

-giving an opinion on so momentous a matter it is necessary that I

-should understand exactly how it all happened. Let me see. You say that

-you were shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”

-

-“No, no,” broke in the Tiger; “it was I who was shut up in the

-Woodcutter’s hut.”

-

-“Oh! I see,” said the Hare; “then the Musk Deer must have shut you in?”

-

-“Oh! no,” interrupted the Musk Deer. “You don’t seem to understand at

-all; that was not how it happened.”

-

-“Well,” said the Hare, “it is such a complicated story that it is

-difficult to follow it exactly. So before giving a decision I propose

-that we all adjourn to the scene of action, and there you can explain

-to me precisely what occurred.”

-

-The Tiger and the Musk Deer agreed to this, and the three set off

-together until they arrived at the Woodcutter’s hut in the forest.

-

-“Now,” said the Hare, “will you please explain to me exactly what

-happened. Where, for instance, were you, Sister Deer, at the time the

-Tiger spoke to you?”

-

-“I was down here drinking at the stream, so,” replied the Deer, going

-off to the place in question.

-

-“And where were you, Uncle Tiger?” said the Hare.

-

-“Well, I was inside the hut, thus,” replied the Tiger, going inside the

-house.

-

-“And the door, I presume, must have been shut, so?” said the Hare. And

-so saying he shut the door and bolted it; and he and the Deer went on

-their way safely, leaving the Tiger shut up inside, where he shortly

-after starved to death.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. IV.

-

-THE STORY OF THE TWO NEIGHBOURS.

-

-

-Once upon a time there were two Neighbours living in two houses, side

-by side, in the same village. One of these was rich, and the other one

-poor. The rich man, whose name was Tse-ring, was proud, arrogant, and

-stingy; whilst the poor man, whose name was Cham-ba, was a kind-hearted

-man, who was generous to all as far as his means allowed.

-

-Now it happened that a pair of Sparrows came and built their nest in

-the eaves over the doorway of the poor man’s house, where, in the

-course of time, the young birds were hatched out. One day, before the

-young birds had learnt to fly, the two old Sparrows were away hunting

-for food, and one of the young ones fell out of its nest on to the poor

-man’s door-step, and broke its leg. Shortly after the poor man coming

-into his house saw the young Sparrow lying helpless on his door-step,

-so he picked it up to see what was wrong, and found that its leg was

-broken. So he carried it into the house, and very carefully bound up

-its leg with a piece of thread; and then took it up to the roof, and

-put it back in the nest.

-

-Now this Sparrow, although the poor man did not know it, was really a

-fairy in disguise, and later on, when it had grown up, it flew out one

-day and returned with its beak full of grain. The poor man was sitting

-in his house when the little Sparrow flew in and perched on the table

-in front of him. It dropped the grain on the table, and after giving

-one or two chirps it said to the man:

-

-“This grain is in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your

-garden and see what comes up,” and so saying it flew away.

-

-The poor man was very much surprised at hearing the Sparrow speak, and

-he thought to himself:

-

-“Well, this is not a very valuable present, but still it shows how

-grateful even a little bird can be for a kindness done to him; and any

-way I will plant the grain in my garden as it directed.”

-

-So he planted the grain just in front of his house, and soon forgot all

-about the incident.

-

-A month or two later the grain grew, and soon attained its full height;

-and one day the poor man, going to look at it, was astonished to find

-that, instead of grain, each ear of corn contained a valuable jewel. He

-was very much delighted at this discovery, and having collected all the

-jewels, he carried them away to a neighbouring town, where he was able

-to sell them for a large sum of money, and thus found himself in a

-condition of great comfort and prosperity.

-

-Soon after this the rich Neighbour, having observed the change which

-had taken place in the poor man’s circumstances, came over one day in

-order to try and find out how Cham-ba had become so rich and

-prosperous. He carried over with him a jug of beer, and, on the

-pretence of conviviality, he offered his Neighbour a drink, and during

-the course of the conversation which followed he asked Cham-ba to tell

-him the secret of his new wealth. Cham-ba, who was of a very

-unsuspicious nature, related to him the whole story of the Sparrow, the

-grain, and the jewels, and having learnt the secret the rich man

-returned to his own house, pondering deeply how he could turn this

-story to his own advantage.

-

-Now it happened that a Sparrow had hatched out her young in a nest just

-over his house door also. So next day he went up on to the roof, and

-leaning out over the parapet he picked out a young Sparrow from the

-nest with a pair of chop-sticks, and dropped it on to the ground below,

-where the poor little bird broke its leg. He then went down, picked up

-the young Sparrow, bound up its leg with a piece of thread, and put it

-back into its nest, saying as he did so that he hoped it would remember

-his kindness.

-

-Sure enough, when the Sparrow grew up it flew into his house one day,

-and perched on the table before him. It dropped some grain from its

-beak, and after a few preliminary chirps it said:

-

-“This grain is a present in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in

-your garden and see what grows up.”

-

-The rich man was greatly delighted on hearing this, and thought to

-himself that he would soon be the possessor of beautiful jewels like

-his Neighbour. He prepared a bed very carefully in his garden, and

-planted the grain in the richest part of the soil. Every day he used to

-go and watch the spot, carefully examining the young shoots to see how

-they were getting on.

-

-The seeds sprouted and grew very fast, and one morning, when he went

-out as usual to see how his crop was doing, to his astonishment he

-found that instead of a few stalks of barley, as he had expected, a

-great fierce-looking man, with a bundle of papers under his arm, was

-standing in the middle of the bed. The rich man was very frightened at

-seeing this truculent-looking stranger, and asked who he was.

-

-“I was a creditor of yours in one of your former existences,” replied

-the Apparition. “You were then heavily in my debt, and I have come back

-here with all the necessary documents to claim what you owed me.”

-

-So saying, the Stranger seized upon the rich man’s house, his cattle,

-his sheep, his lands, and all his possessions, and reduced the rich man

-to the position of a slave in his household.

-

-Some months after, Cham-ba, now rich and prosperous, started off on a

-journey, and before going he asked Tse-ring to take charge of a bag of

-gold-dust for him, and to keep it until he returned. Tse-ring undertook

-the charge of the gold, but in his new state of poverty and dependence

-he was unable to resist the temptation of spending some of it, and at

-last he found that the whole of the gold left in his charge was

-exhausted. Not knowing what to do he filled the bag with sand, and

-awaited his Neighbour’s return with some trepidation.

-

-A few days after Cham-ba came back from his journey, and called upon

-his Neighbour, and asked for his bag of gold. Tse-ring produced the bag

-and handed it over to Cham-ba without saying anything, and when Cham-ba

-opened it to see whether the gold was all right he found that it

-contained sand instead of gold.

-

-“How is this?” said he. “I entrusted to you a bag of gold-dust, and you

-have given me back only sand.”

-

-The dishonest Neighbour had no reply to make. He pretended to look very

-surprised, and all he could say was:

-

-“My friend, it has turned into this! My friend, it has turned into

-this!”

-

-Cham-ba said nothing more, but carried off the bag to his own house.

-

-Soon afterwards Cham-ba announced his intention of starting a school

-for little boys, where they would be taught free, and Tse-ring,

-thinking that a free education for his Son was not to be neglected,

-sent over his young Son to attend the school. A few days later he found

-it necessary to make a short journey to a neighbouring town, and before

-starting he entrusted his little Son to his neighbour, Cham-ba, and

-asked him to look after the boy until his return.

-

-As soon as he was gone Cham-ba procured a tame Monkey and taught it to

-say the following words.

-

-“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into

-this!”

-

-When Tse-ring returned from his journey he walked over to the

-school-house one day to see how his Son was getting on, and he found

-Cham-ba seated there teaching the boys their lessons. Tse-ring looked

-round to see his Son, but could not detect him anywhere, but to his

-surprise he noticed a Monkey seated on one of the benches.

-

-“Where is my son?” asked Tse-ring, “and how is he getting on?”

-

-Cham-ba said nothing, but picked up the Monkey and carried it to him.

-

-“What do you mean by this?” said Tse-ring. “This is not my Son. Where

-is the boy whom I entrusted to your care?”

-

-Whereupon the Monkey spoke up and said:

-

-“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into

-this!”

-

-The father flew into a violent rage and stormed at his neighbour,

-Cham-ba, for some time, but without producing any impression. Finally,

-on thinking the matter over, he decided it was better to pay up the

-gold he had stolen, on condition of having his proper Son restored to

-him.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. V.

-

-THE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE MICE.

-

-

-Once upon a time there was a Cat who lived in a large farm-house in

-which there was a great number of Mice. For many years the Cat found no

-difficulty in catching as many Mice as she wanted to eat, and she lived

-a very peaceful and pleasant life. But as time passed on she found that

-she was growing old and infirm, and that it was becoming more and more

-difficult for her to catch the same number of Mice as before; so after

-thinking very carefully what was the best thing to do, she one day

-called all the Mice together, and after promising not to touch them,

-she addressed them as follows:

-

-“Oh! Mice,” said she, “I have called you together in order to say

-something to you. The fact is that I have led a very wicked life, and

-now, in my old age, I repent of having caused you all so much

-inconvenience and annoyance. So I am going for the future to turn over

-a new leaf. It is my intention now to give myself up entirely to

-religious contemplation and no longer to molest you, so henceforth you

-are at liberty to run about as freely as you will without fear of me.

-All I ask of you is that twice every day you should all file past me in

-procession and each one make an obeisance as you pass me by, as a token

-of your gratitude to me for my kindness.”

-

-When the Mice heard this they were greatly pleased, for they thought

-that now, at last, they would be free from all danger from their former

-enemy, the Cat. So they very thankfully promised to fulfil the Cat’s

-conditions, and agreed that they would file past her and make a salaam

-twice every day.

-

-So when evening came the Cat took her seat on a cushion at one end of

-the room, and the Mice all went by in single file, each one making a

-profound salaam as it passed.

-

-Now the cunning old Cat had arranged this little plan very carefully

-with an object of her own; for, as soon as the procession had all

-passed by with the exception of one little Mouse, she suddenly seized

-the last Mouse in her claws without anybody else noticing what had

-happened, and devoured it at her leisure. And so twice every day, she

-seized the last Mouse of the series, and for a long time lived very

-comfortably without any trouble at all in catching her Mice, and

-without any of the Mice realising what was happening.

-

-Now it happened that amongst these Mice there were two friends, whose

-names were Rambé and Ambé, who were very much attached to one another.

-Now these two were much cleverer and more cunning than most of the

-others, and after a few days they noticed that the number of Mice in

-the house seemed to be decreasing very much, in spite of the fact that

-the Cat had promised not to kill any more. So they laid their heads

-together and arranged a little plan for future processions. They agreed

-that Rambé was always to walk at the very front of the procession of

-the Mice, and that Ambé was to bring up the rear, and that all the time

-the procession was passing, Rambé was to call to Ambé, and Ambé to

-answer Rambé at frequent intervals. So next evening, when the

-procession started as usual, Rambé marched along in front, and Ambé

-took up his position last of all. As soon as Rambé had passed the

-cushion where the Cat was seated and had made his salaam, he called out

-in a shrill voice.

-

-“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”

-

-“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” squeaked the other from the rear of the

-procession. And so they went on calling and answering one another until

-they had all filed past the Cat, who had not dared to touch Ambé as

-long as his brother kept calling to him.

-

-The Cat was naturally very much annoyed at having to go hungry that

-evening, and felt very cross all night. But she thought it was only an

-accident which had brought the two friends, one in front and one in

-rear of the procession, and she hoped to make up for her enforced

-abstinence by finding a particularly fat Mouse at the end of the

-procession next morning. What, then, was her amazement and disgust when

-she found that on the following morning the very same arrangement had

-been made, and that Rambé called to Ambé, and Ambé answered Rambé until

-all the Mice had passed her by, and so, for the second time, she was

-foiled of her meal. However, she disguised her feelings of anger and

-decided to give the Mice one more trial; so in the evening she took her

-seat as usual on the cushion and waited for the Mice to appear.

-

-Meanwhile, Rambé and Ambé had warned the other Mice to be on the

-lookout, and to be ready to take flight the moment the Cat showed any

-appearance of anger. At the appointed time the procession started as

-usual, and as soon as Rambé had passed the Cat he squeaked out:

-

-“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”

-

-“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” came the shrill voice from the rear.

-

-This was more than the Cat could stand. She made a fierce leap right

-into the middle of the Mice, who, however, were thoroughly prepared for

-her, and in an instant they scuttled off in every direction to their

-holes. And before the Cat had time to catch a single one the room was

-empty and not a sign of a Mouse was to be seen anywhere.

-

-After this the Mice were very careful not to put any further trust in

-the treacherous Cat, who soon after died of starvation owing to her

-being unable to procure any of her customary food; whilst Rambé and

-Ambé lived for many years, and were held in high honour and esteem by

-all the other Mice in the community.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. VI.

-

-THE STORY OF THE FOOLISH YOUNG MUSSULMAN.

-

-

-There was once a young Mussulman, who lived with his poor mother in a

-small cottage on the outskirts of a large town. As the Boy grew up, it

-was found that he was rather weak-minded, and that he was continually

-getting himself into scrapes, owing to his own folly and carelessness;

-and the naughty boys of the neighbourhood used to take advantage of the

-poor young fellow, and were constantly teasing him and telling him all

-sorts of absurd stories.

-

-It chanced one day that he went for a walk in a large meadow, where

-there were a number of yellow flowers, and presently sitting down to

-rest, he began to gather a nosegay, when a young man passing by called

-out to him:

-

-“Hullo! what are you doing there? Do you know that the soles of your

-feet are all yellow, and that is a sure sign that you are going to die

-at once?”

-

-The poor young fellow was greatly frightened at hearing this, and he

-thought to himself:

-

-“Well, if I am going to die, I had better have a grave ready.”

-

-So he set to work, and soon scraped out for himself a shallow grave in

-the soft soil. As soon as it was ready, he lay down in it and resigned

-himself to death.

-

-A few minutes later one of the King’s Servants, who happened to be

-passing by carrying an earthen jar full of oil for the King’s palace,

-noticed the Boy lying on his back in the shallow grave, so he stopped

-and asked him what he was doing. The Boy replied:

-

-“The soles of my feet are turning yellow, and that, as you know, is a

-sure sign that I am going to die; so I have prepared myself a grave,

-and am just waiting here till death comes.”

-

-“Oh, nonsense!” replied the Servant; “you could not talk like that if

-you were really dying. Come, get up, and help me to carry this jar of

-oil for the King, and I will give you a hen for yourself.”

-

-So the foolish Boy got up out of his grave, and taking the jar of oil

-on his back, he walked along the road with the King’s Servant towards

-the palace. As they went along, he kept thinking to himself what he

-should do with his hen when he got it.

-

-“As soon as I have got some eggs,” thought he to himself, “I shall set

-the hen to hatch them. And then I shall have a nice lot of chickens.

-And when the chickens grow up into cocks and hens I shall sell them in

-the market. And with the money I get I shall buy a cow. And presently

-the cow will have a calf. And when the calf grows big I shall sell both

-the cow and the calf. And with the money I get I shall buy a nice

-little house. And when I have settled down in my house I shall marry a

-wife. And after a time we shall have a child. And as the child grows

-big I shall have to take its education in hand. And I shall be very

-firm and judicious with it. And if it is a good child and does what I

-tell it, I shall be very kind to it. And if it is naughty and does not

-do what it is told, I shall be very stern and stamp my foot, so!”

-

-And thus thinking he stamped his foot so violently that the jar of oil

-slipped off his back and was smashed to pieces on the ground. When he

-saw this, the King’s Servant became very angry, and asked him what on

-earth he meant by stamping his foot like that, and breaking a valuable

-jar of oil, which was intended for the King. The Boy tried to explain

-how it occurred, but the Servant would not listen, and dragged him off

-by force into the King’s presence.

-

-When the King saw them coming in together, he asked his Servant what he

-wanted, and why he was bringing in a strange Boy with him. The Servant

-replied that he had entrusted the Boy with a jar of oil intended for

-the King, and as they were walking along the road quite quietly

-together, the Boy all of a sudden began to stamp his feet like a

-maniac, and the jar of oil slipped off his back and got broken. The

-King asked the Boy what he meant by his conduct, and the Boy replied:

-

-“Well, Your Majesty, your Servant said that if I would carry this jar

-of oil, he would give me a hen, and it seemed to me quite natural to

-consider within myself what I should do with my hen when I got it. So I

-soon saw that by selling the chickens I could buy a cow, and that later

-on by selling the cow and her calf, I could get a wife and set up a

-house of my own, and that presently we should have a child; and I was

-thinking to myself how I should keep my child in order, and if it was

-naughty I should be obliged to stamp my foot very firmly, in order to

-show it that I was not to be trifled with.”

-

-On hearing this ridiculous story the King was much amused, and laughed

-very heartily; and he gave the foolish Boy a piece of gold, and told

-him to go home to his Mother.

-

-So the Boy went off towards his own home, and as he got near to the

-house he saw a strange dog sneaking out of the door, carrying in his

-mouth a purse full of money, which he had just picked up inside. On

-seeing this the Boy became very much excited, and began calling aloud

-to his Mother that a dog was making off with her purse. The Mother,

-when she found what was up, was afraid that he would attract the

-attention of the neighbours to the loss of the purse, and that in the

-excitement some one else would chase the dog and get the money; so

-hastily running up on to the flat roof of the house she sprinkled some

-sugar over the roof, and then called to the Boy to come up as quickly

-as he could.

-

-“Look!” she said, as soon as he arrived; “what a curious thing! It has

-been raining sugar all over the roof of the house.”

-

-Her son, who was very fond of sugar, at once set to work to pick up all

-that he saw; and while he was so engaged, the good woman slipped away

-and soon found the dog and recovered her purse.

-

-Some time afterwards the Boy’s Mother arranged with a rich family, who

-lived some miles away, and who were not acquainted with her son’s

-failings, that the Boy should marry the daughter of the house; and

-that, in accordance with Tibetan custom, he should become a member of

-the Bride’s family. When all the preliminaries had been satisfactorily

-arranged, a party of horsemen arrived from the Bride’s house to greet

-the Bridegroom and to bring him home. The Boy dressed himself up in his

-best clothes, and, after feasting the wedding party in the usual

-manner, he begged them all to go on ahead of him, saying that he would

-follow as soon as he had said good-bye to his Mother.

-

-Towards evening he set out by himself on horseback. It was a moonlight

-night, and as he rode down the road he could see his own shadow

-travelling along beside him. He could not make out what the shadow was,

-but thought it must be some ghost or demon, which wanted to do him an

-injury, so he urged his horse into a gallop, in order to try and get

-away from it. But the faster he galloped the faster went the shadow,

-and he soon saw that it was no good trying to escape. So in order to

-frighten the strange object he took off his puggaree and flung it at

-it. As this produced no effect, he followed up the puggaree with his

-cloak, and, finally, with all the clothes he had on, but without in any

-way frightening the shadow, which still continued to follow him

-closely. So thinking to give it the slip, he jumped off his horse and

-ran along the road on foot, until he got into the shade of a big

-poplar-tree growing near the road-side.

-

-Here he stopped to take breath, and he noticed to his great joy that

-the shadow had disappeared; but on peeping out from the shadow of the

-tree he was annoyed to find that on whichever side he looked the shadow

-immediately showed itself also. So thinking that the shade of the tree

-was the safest place to stay in, he climbed into the upper branches and

-very soon fell fast asleep.

-

-A short while after a party of travellers happened to be passing by

-this road from the same direction, and as they came along they were

-surprised to find a number of garments scattered about the roadway. So

-they picked them up as they came along, and presently they found a

-horse grazing beside the road. Him, too, they brought along with them,

-and when they arrived in the shade of the poplar-tree, they all stopped

-and sat down on the ground to divide the spoil amongst them.

-

-Just then the Boy woke up, and looking down he saw what was going on

-below, so he called out in a loud voice:

-

-“I say, I want my share too, you know.”

-

-On hearing this voice emerging from the upper branches of the tree, the

-travellers were greatly alarmed. They thought it must certainly be a

-demon, who lived in the tree, and who wanted his share of the spoils,

-so they took to their heels and made off as fast as they could, leaving

-the horse and all the clothes behind them. The Boy then climbed down

-from the tree, put on his own clothes, and, mounting his horse, rode

-off to his Bride’s house.

-

-When he arrived at the house the parents of his Bride hurried out to

-greet him, and after asking him why he was so late, they led him to the

-room where the wedding feast was laid out. All the friends and

-neighbours from round about were gathered there ready to share in the

-feast, and to offer their congratulations to the Bride and Bridegroom.

-

-During the progress of the feast the young Mussulman, who was of a very

-kindly disposition, and very fond of his Mother, kept thinking to

-himself how he could save something nice for her to eat from amongst so

-much plenty. So he picked from the table a narrow-mouthed copper vessel

-and concealed it in his lap, and whilst eating his food he every now

-and then dropped into it some particularly succulent dainty, which he

-thought his Mother would enjoy. Presently, however, he inadvertently

-thrust his hand right into the vessel, and to his horror he found that

-he was unable to withdraw it again. In this awkward predicament he was

-unable to eat anything, and the Bride’s parents noticing that he no

-longer partook of any food, kept pressing him to have a little more.

-The young Man was still hungry, but was obliged to refuse all their

-offers, saying that he had already eaten enough.

-

-Towards evening, when the feast was completed, the guests withdrew, and

-the Boy was left alone with his Bride; and she began asking him what

-the matter was, and why he had been behaving so strangely during the

-banquet.

-

-He was at first too shy to tell her what had happened, but after much

-coaxing she elicited from him the fact that his right hand was confined

-in the neck of the copper vessel.

-

-“Never mind,” said she; “there is a large white stone lying at the foot

-of the staircase. You had better slip down stairs in the dark, and by

-beating the vessel against the stone you will soon succeed in freeing

-yourself.”

-

-The young fellow thought this was a good idea, and he went off quietly

-down the staircase, until he detected what he thought was a white stone

-lying near the foot of the steps. So, creeping up to it, he raised his

-arm and brought down the copper vessel with great force upon the white

-object, shattering the vessel and leaving his hand free. But to his

-horror the stone, instead of being hard, gave way, and a muffled groan

-issued from it; and on examining the spot, he found that instead of

-striking a stone, he had delivered a violent blow upon the grey head of

-his Bride’s father, who, overcome by his potations during the wedding

-feast, had fallen asleep at the foot of the stairs.

-

-The young Man was terrified at what he had done, and feeling sure that

-he must have killed the old man, he decided to flee from the house; so

-he opened the door and ran off into the night. After running for some

-distance he reached a neighbouring farm, where, as it happened, a large

-honeycomb had been left lying in the corner of the courtyard. The Boy,

-not knowing what it was, lay down upon this and fell fast asleep, and

-soon smeared himself all over with honey. Later in the night he woke up

-feeling very cold, and creeping into a shed close by, which was used as

-a storage for wool, he lay down upon the wool and slept until morning.

-

-He woke with the first gleam of dawn, and in the early morning light he

-saw that he was all white and woolly, and in his simplicity he believed

-that, as a punishment for his wickedness in killing his father-in-law,

-he had been turned into a sheep. So under this impression, he ran out

-of the courtyard and joined a flock of sheep, which were grazing on a

-neighbouring hillside. He wandered about with the sheep all day,

-feeling very miserable, and trying to accommodate himself to the

-manners and customs of his new companions, and when evening came he

-accompanied them into the fold where they always spent the night.

-

-About midnight some robbers came to the fold, and getting in amongst

-the sheep felt about for a good fat heavy one; and finally finding that

-the Boy was the heaviest of them all, they proceeded to carry him off.

-One of them hoisted him up on to his back, and they carried him along

-for some distance until they reached the banks of a small stream. Here

-they halted, and, laying him down upon the ground, they began to make

-preparations for cutting his throat. This trial proved rather too much

-for the nerves of the young Man, and forgetting his rôle of sheep, he

-called out in a shrill voice:

-

-“Please don’t kill me, kind robbers.”

-

-On hearing this the robbers were very much frightened, and ran off as

-fast as they could; and the Boy, thankful to have escaped from this

-danger, and being thoroughly worn out by the exertions and exposure of

-the last twenty-four hours, returned to his Bride’s house. There he

-found that the old man, though sorely hurt, was not dead, and having

-explained all the circumstances of the case, he was freely forgiven,

-and taken back into the household.

-

-After living for some years very happily with his Bride, he thought

-that he would like to make a little money for himself by trading, so

-having procured a good stock of merchandise he set off for India, in

-the hope of making a good profit on his goods. On the way he halted one

-evening at a large house. The Landlord received him very hospitably,

-and made him quite comfortable, and during the conversation which

-followed their evening meal the Master of the house began telling some

-very tall stories. Some of these stories being rather too wonderful for

-belief, the young Man bluntly said that he could not believe them.

-Thereupon the Landlord replied:

-

-“I can prove to you that I am telling the truth by showing you a

-stranger thing than anything which I have hitherto related. I will bet

-you that when night falls a lantern will be carried into this room by a

-cat instead of by a servant.”

-

-The young Man was amused at his Host’s boasting, and he said:

-

-“Very well, I am prepared to bet you anything you like that this will

-not happen.”

-

-“Very good,” said the Landlord. “If this does not happen, I will hand

-you over my house, my merchandise, and everything I possess; but if it

-does, you will forfeit all your baggage, animals and merchandise to

-me.” And so the bet was arranged.

-

-Now this was a regular trick of the Landlord’s, who had a tame cat

-which had been taught to carry in a lantern in her mouth every evening

-just at dusk, and he was accustomed to practise this deceit upon unwary

-travellers, and by this means to secure their goods and whatever

-property they possessed.

-

-Sure enough, just at dusk a large white cat entered the sitting-room,

-holding a lighted lantern in its mouth, and the unfortunate young Man

-was obliged to hand over to his Host everything he possessed in the

-world; and finding himself without money or goods he decided to stay on

-in the house as a servant.

-

-After the lapse of one or two months his Wife grew anxious about him,

-and knowing that from the infirmity of his mind he was likely to get

-himself into some scrape or another, she decided to set out herself to

-see what had become of him. So she disguised herself as a man, and

-taking with her a few ponies laden with wool, she started off to follow

-in the tracks of her Husband.

-

-After several days she arrived at the house where her Husband was now

-employed as a servant, and, meeting him in the courtyard, she learnt

-from him all that had happened. So she bade him hold his tongue, and

-she herself entered the inn, and asked for a night’s lodging. During

-the evening the Host got talking, and in the course of the conversation

-he made her the same wager as he had done to her Husband some time

-before.

-

-“Well,” said she, “that sounds a very strange story. I can scarcely

-believe it possible you can have a cat so well trained as to be able to

-carry in a lantern. But I will think over what you say to-night, and we

-will see about making the bet to-morrow morning.”

-

-Next morning at breakfast she said to her Host:

-

-“I have thought over what you said to me yesterday, and I am now

-prepared to make a bet with you that the cat will not carry a lantern

-into this room at dusk this evening.”

-

-So the bet was concluded upon the same terms as before, and the Lady

-privately told her Husband what he was to do. So in accordance with the

-instructions she had given him, he caught three mice, and concealed

-them in a little box, which he placed in the bosom of his robe. When

-evening approached, the Landlord and the Lady seated themselves in the

-supper room, waiting to see whether or no the cat would appear as

-expected, whilst the Husband hid himself in a corner of the courtyard,

-just outside the door near where the cat was accustomed to pass.

-

-Just at dusk the cat, carrying the lantern in its mouth, began to cross

-the courtyard towards the door of the room where it was expected to

-bring the light, and when about half way across the yard the Husband

-released one of the mice from the box which he had hidden in his robe.

-The mouse scampered off across the courtyard, and the cat gave a

-violent start, and was on the point of pursuing it, when its training

-overcame its natural instincts, and it allowed the mouse to escape.

-

-It reluctantly continued its way towards the house, and scarcely had it

-started to go on, when the Husband released a second mouse, which also

-scampered off right in front of the cat. This time it was all the cat

-could do to refrain from following so tempting an opportunity. It

-paused with great indecision, but again, its training standing it in

-good stead, it pursued its way towards the house.

-

-Just as it was reaching the door of the house the third mouse was

-released. This was more than the cat could stand. It dropped the

-lantern upon the threshold, bounded across the courtyard, and seized

-the mouse just as it was entering its hole.

-

-Meanwhile the Landlord and the Lady having waited until long after

-dark, the Landlord was reluctantly obliged to own that he had lost his

-bet. So he handed over to the disguised merchant, not only his own

-property, but also the merchandise, which he had previously won from

-her Husband; and the two, carrying their possessions with them,

-returned to their own home, where they lived happily ever afterwards.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. VII.

-

-THE KYANG, THE FOX, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.

-

-

-One day a hungry Wolf was roaming about in search of something to eat

-in the upper part of a Tibetan valley far beyond the level of

-cultivation, [3] when he came across a young Kyang [4] about a year

-old. The Wolf at once proceeded to stalk the Kyang, thinking that he

-would make an excellent meal off him, and just as he was about to seize

-upon him the Kyang, noticing his approach, addressed him as follows:

-

-“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” said he, “it is no good your eating me now; this is

-the spring time and after the hard winter I am still very thin. If you

-will wait for a few months until next autumn you will find that I shall

-be twice as fat as I am now and will make you a much better feast.”

-

-“Very well,” said the Wolf, “I will wait until then, on condition that

-you meet me on this very spot in six months’ time.”

-

-And so saying he galloped off in search of some other prey.

-

-When autumn came the Wolf started off one morning to meet the Kyang at

-the appointed place, and as he was going across the hills he came

-across a Fox.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Wolf,” said the Fox. “Where are you going to?”

-

-“Oh!” replied the Wolf, “I am going into the valley to meet a young

-Kyang by appointment, as I have arranged to catch him and eat him this

-very day.”

-

-“That is very pleasant for you, Brother Wolf,” answered the Fox; “but

-as a Kyang is such a large animal you will scarcely be able to eat him

-all by yourself. I hope you will allow me to come too and share in the

-spoil.”

-

-“Certainly, Brother Fox,” replied the Wolf. “I shall be very glad of

-your company.”

-

-And so saying the two went on together. After proceeding a short

-distance they came across a Hare.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Wolf and Brother Fox,” said the Hare; “where are

-you two going this fine morning?”

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf; “I am just going off to

-yonder valley to keep an appointment with a fat Kyang, whom I have

-arranged to kill and eat this very day, and Brother Fox is coming with

-me to share in the spoil.”

-

-“Oh! really, Brother Wolf,” said the Hare, “I wish you would allow me

-to come too. A Kyang is such a large animal that you can scarcely eat

-him all yourselves, and I am sure you will allow a small creature like

-me to have a little bit of the spoil.”

-

-“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “We shall be glad if you

-will accompany us.”

-

-And so the three animals went along together towards the appointed

-spot. When they got near the place they saw the young Kyang waiting for

-them. During the summer months he had eaten a quantity of grass and had

-now become very fat and sleek, and was about twice as big as he had

-been in the spring. When the Wolf caught sight of him he was much

-pleased and began to lick his chops in anticipation.

-

-“Well, Brother Kyang,” said he, “here I am according to agreement,

-ready to kill and eat you, and I am glad to see you look so plump and

-well. And here are Brother Fox and Brother Hare who have come along

-with me to have a bit too.”

-

-And so saying the Wolf crouched down ready to spring upon the Kyang and

-kill him.

-

-“Oh, Brother Wolf,” called out the Hare at this moment, “just wait one

-moment, for I have a suggestion to make to you. Don’t you think it

-would be a pity to kill this fine young Kyang in the ordinary way by

-seizing his throat, for if you do so a great deal of his blood will be

-wasted? I would suggest to you, instead, that it would be a very much

-better plan if you would strangle him, as in that case no blood would

-be lost, and we should derive the full benefit from his carcase.”

-

-The Wolf thought this was a good idea and he said to the Hare:

-

-“Very well, Brother Hare, I think that is an excellent idea of yours,

-but how is it to be done?”

-

-“Oh! easily enough,” answered the Hare. “There is a shepherd’s

-encampment over there where we can borrow a rope, and then all we have

-to do is to make a slip-knot in the rope, put it over the Kyang’s neck,

-and pull as hard as we can.”

-

-So they agreed that this should be done, and the Fox went off to the

-encampment near by and borrowed a rope from the shepherd, which he

-carried back to where the three other animals were standing.

-

-“Now,” said the Hare, “leave it all to me; I will show you exactly how

-it is to be done.”

-

-So he took the rope and made a large slip-knot at one end and two

-smaller slip-knots at the other end.

-

-“Now,” said he, “this is the way we must proceed: we will put this

-large slip-knot over the Kyang’s neck, and as he is such a large heavy

-animal the only way to strangle him will be for us three to pull

-together at the other end of the rope. So you, Brother Wolf, and you,

-Brother Fox, can put your heads through these smaller loops, and I will

-seize the loose end of the rope with my teeth, and when I give the

-signal we will all pull together.”

-

-The other two thought this was a very good plan, and so they threw the

-slip-knot over the Kyang’s neck, and the Wolf and the Fox put their

-heads through the smaller loops. When they were all ready the Hare took

-up his position at the end of the rope and caught hold of it with his

-teeth.

-

-“Now,” said he, “are you all ready?”

-

-“Yes, quite ready,” replied the Wolf and the Fox.

-

-“Well, then, pull,” said the Hare.

-

-So they began to pull as hard as they could.

-

-When the Kyang felt the pull on the rope he walked forward a few paces,

-much to the surprise of the Wolf and the Fox, who found themselves

-being dragged along the ground.

-

-“Pull, can’t you!” shrieked the Wolf, as the rope began to tighten

-round his neck.

-

-“Pull yourself!” shrieked the Fox, who was now beginning to feel very

-uncomfortable.

-

-“Pull, all of you,” called out the Hare, and so saying he let go of the

-end of the rope and the Kyang galloped off dragging the Wolf and the

-Fox after him. In a few minutes they were both strangled, and the

-Kyang, shaking off the rope from his neck, proceeded to graze quietly

-on his usual pastures, and the Hare scampered off home, feeling that he

-had done a good day’s work.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. VIII.

-

-THE FROG AND THE CROW.

-

-

-A Crow once caught a fine fat Frog, and taking him in her bill she flew

-with him to the roof of a neighbouring house in order to devour him at

-her leisure. As she alighted on the roof of the house the Frog gave an

-audible chuckle.

-

-“What are you laughing at, Brother Frog?” said the Crow.

-

-“Oh, nothing, Sister Crow,” said the Frog; “never mind me. I was just

-thinking to myself that, as it fortunately happens, my Father lives

-close by here, on this very roof, and as he is an exceedingly fierce,

-strong man, he will certainly avenge my death if anyone injures me.”

-

-The Crow did not quite like this, and thinking it as well to be on the

-safe side she hopped off to another corner of the roof near to where a

-gutter led away the rain water by means of a small hole in the parapet

-and a wooden spout. She paused here for a moment and was just about to

-begin to swallow the Frog when the Frog gave another chuckle.

-

-“What are you laughing at this time, Brother Frog?” asked the Crow.

-

-“Oh, it’s only a small matter, Sister Crow, hardly worth mentioning,”

-replied the Frog, “but it just occurred to me that my Uncle, who is

-even a stronger and fiercer man than my Father, lives in this very

-gutter, and that if anybody was to do me an injury here they would have

-a very small chance of escaping from his clutches.”

-

-The Crow was somewhat alarmed at hearing this, and she thought that, on

-the whole, it would be safer to leave the roof altogether; so again

-picking up the Frog in her bill she flew off to the ground below, and

-alighted near the edge of a well. Here she placed the Frog upon the

-ground and was just about to eat him when the Frog said:

-

-“Oh, Sister Crow, I notice your bill seems rather blunt. Before you

-begin to eat me don’t you think it would be a good thing to sharpen it

-a little. You can strop it very nicely on that flat stone over there.”

-

-The Crow, thinking this was a good idea, took two or three hops towards

-the stone, and began sharpening her bill. As soon as she had turned her

-back the Frog gave one desperate jump, and dived into the well.

-

-As soon as the Crow had made her bill nice and sharp she returned from

-the stone, and looked about for the Frog. Not finding him where she had

-left him she hopped to the edge of the well and peeped over, craning

-her head from side to side. Presently she spied the Frog in the water,

-and called out to him:

-

-“Oh, Brother Frog, I was afraid you were lost. My bill is quite nice

-and sharp now, so come along up and be eaten.”

-

-“I am so sorry, Sister Crow,” replied the Frog, “but the fact is, I

-cannot get up the sides of this well. The best thing would be for you

-to come down here to eat me.”

-

-And so saying he dived to the bottom of the well.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. IX.

-

-THE HARE AND THE LIONS.

-

-

-Once upon a time there lived a Lion and a Lioness who inhabited a den

-amongst some rocks on the slopes of a mountain. They were both very

-fine, well-grown animals, and they used to prey upon all the smaller

-beasts in that part of the country; until at last they became so

-powerful that no other animal was safe from their clutches, and the

-wild beasts of the neighbourhood lived in a continual state of terror.

-

-It chanced one day that while the Lion was hunting for something to

-eat, he came across a Hare sleeping behind a boulder; and seizing the

-Hare in his great paws he was just about to devour him, when the Hare

-spoke as follows:

-

-“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said he, “before eating me I just want to tell you

-about another animal who lives in that pond down there in the valley.

-He is very big and fierce, and I think he must be even stronger than

-you are. But if you will allow me to do so I will show you where he

-lives, and if you can succeed in killing him he will make a very much

-better meal for you than a poor little beast like me.”

-

-On hearing this the Lion was very indignant.

-

-“What!” said he, “do you mean to tell me that there is any animal in

-this country stronger and more powerful than I am? Don’t you know that

-I am the Lord of this district, and that I should never allow anyone

-else to dispute the mastery with me. Show me at once where this

-creature lives, and I will show you how I shall deal with him.”

-

-“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “let me beg you to be careful. You

-have no idea what a big, strong creature this is; you must on no

-account allow yourself to be injured by fighting with him. Think what a

-grief it would be to us all if you were to come to any harm.”

-

-This remark of the Hare’s made the Lion more angry than before, and he

-insisted that the Hare should at once lead him down and show him where

-the other animal lived. So the Hare, after again begging him to be

-careful of himself, preceded him down the hill until they arrived at

-the edge of a square-built stone tank, which was nearly full of water.

-

-“Now, Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “if you will go to the edge of that

-tank and look down into the water you will see the animal I speak of.”

-

-So saying he moved on one side, and the Lion, stalking to the edge,

-peered down into the tank. The water was very smooth, and on the clear

-surface he saw his own head reflected.

-

-“There he is,” called out the Hare from the background; “there he is,

-Uncle Lion, I can see him quite plainly in the water. You see how

-fierce he is looking; please be careful not to start fighting with

-him.”

-

-These remarks made the Lion more angry than ever, and he moved up and

-down on the brink of the tank, glaring fiercely at his own reflection

-in the water, and growling and showing his teeth at it.

-

-“That’s right, Uncle Lion,” called out the Hare; “I am so glad you are

-taking good care of yourself. Don’t on any account come to grips with

-that beast in the water or he might do you an injury. You are certainly

-much safer on the bank, and no doubt you will frighten him if you

-continue to growl and show your teeth.”

-

-These last observations of the Hare goaded the Lion to desperation, and

-with a fierce roar he sprang straight at the image in the water. Once

-in the tank he was unable to get out, for its sides were built of

-masonry, and it was impossible for him to climb them. So he swam about

-for some time in the tank, whilst the Hare, sitting on the bank, threw

-stones at him and made nasty remarks; and finally, when quite wearied

-out, he sank to the bottom and was drowned.

-

-The Hare was very pleased at having accomplished the destruction of the

-Lion, and he now turned his attention to the Lioness. It happened that

-near by there was a thick wall standing, which was part of the remains

-of a ruined castle; and in one portion of the wall there was a hole,

-very large at one end and tapering down to quite a small opening at the

-other. The Hare, having studied his ground, went off next morning to

-find the Lioness. He soon came across her stalking up and down near her

-den, very much perturbed at the disappearance of her lord and master.

-

-“Good-morning, Aunt Lioness,” said the Hare, going up cautiously

-towards her; “what is the matter with you this morning? How is it I

-find you pacing here in front of your den instead of hunting your prey

-as usual on the hillside?”

-

-The Lioness took no notice of the Hare, except to growl at him in an

-angry manner, and to lash her sides with her tail.

-

-“I suppose,” went on the Hare, “you are anxious about Mr. Lion, but I

-am sorry to tell you that you are not likely to see him again for some

-time. The fact is, he and I had a little argument yesterday, in which

-we both lost our tempers. It ended in our having a free fight, and I

-regret to say that I was obliged to injure Mr. Lion rather severely

-before I could make him see reason, and he is now lying in a dying

-state in the valley below.”

-

-This impudence so enraged the Lioness that she sprang towards the Hare

-and endeavoured to seize him; but he eluded her and galloped off down

-the hill hotly pursued by the angry beast. The Hare made straight for

-the ruined wall, and entering the breach in the wall at the large end

-he emerged safely at the other side by the smaller recess, which was

-just large enough for him to pass through. The Lioness, following

-closely at his heels, was so blind with rage that she did not see that

-she was being led into a trap; so she rushed head-foremost into the

-opening in the wall, and before she had time to stop herself was wedged

-tightly in the tapering hole. She struggled violently, trying to

-extricate herself, but all in vain.

-

-Meanwhile the Hare, having cantered round to the other side, took up

-its position in rear of the Lioness, and began pelting her with stones

-and calling her all the bad names he could think of. When he was tired

-of this he went off home very pleased with himself, and the Lioness,

-being unable to free herself from the trap she was in, shortly

-afterwards starved to death.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. X.

-

-THE SHEEP, THE LAMB, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.

-

-

-Once upon a time there lived an old Sheep in a low-lying valley of

-Tibet, and every year she, with her Lamb, [5] were in the habit of

-leaving the valley during the early months of summer, and going up on

-to the great northern plateau, where grass is plentiful, and where many

-Sheep and Goats graze throughout the summer.

-

-One spring the Sheep, in accordance with her annual custom, set out for

-the north, and one day, as she was strolling sedately along the path,

-while her little Lamb skipped about beside her, she suddenly came face

-to face with a large, fierce-looking Wolf.

-

-“Good-morning, Aunty Sheep,” said the Wolf; “where are you going to?”

-

-“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” replied the trembling Sheep, “we are doing no harm; I

-am just taking my Lamb to graze on the rich grass of the great northern

-plateau.”

-

-“Well,” said the Wolf, “I am really very sorry for you; but the fact

-is, I am hungry, and it will be necessary for me to eat you both on the

-spot.”

-

-“Please, please, Uncle Wolf, don’t do that,” replied the Sheep. “Please

-don’t eat us now; but if you will wait till the autumn, when we shall

-both be very much fatter than we are now, you can eat us with much more

-benefit to yourself on our return journey.”

-

-The Wolf thought this was a good idea.

-

-“Very well, Aunty Sheep,” said he, “that is a bargain. I will spare

-your lives now, but only on condition that you meet me at this very

-spot on your return journey from the north in the autumn.”

-

-So saying, he galloped off, and the Sheep and the Lamb continued on

-their way towards the north, and soon forgot all about their encounter

-with the Wolf.

-

-All the summer they grazed about on the succulent grass of the great

-plateau, and when autumn was approaching both were as fat as fat could

-be, and the little Lamb had grown into a fine young Sheep.

-

-When the time came for returning to the south, the Sheep remembered her

-bargain with the Wolf, and every day as they drew farther and farther

-south she grew more and more downhearted.

-

-One day, as they were approaching the place where they had met the

-Wolf, it chanced that a Hare came hopping along the road towards them.

-The Hare stopped to say good-morning to the Sheep, and noticing that

-she was looking very sad, he said:

-

-“Good-morning, Sister Sheep, how is it that you, who are so fat and

-have so fine a Lamb, are looking so sad this morning?”

-

-“Oh! Brother Hare,” replied the Sheep, “mine is a very sad story. The

-fact is that last spring, as I and my Lamb were coming up this very

-road, we met an ugly-looking Wolf, who said he was going to eat us; but

-I begged him to spare our lives, explaining to him that we should both

-be much larger and fatter in the autumn, and that he would get much

-better value from us if he waited till then. The Wolf agreed to this,

-and said that we must meet him at the same spot in the autumn. We are

-now very near the appointed place, and I very much fear that in another

-day or two we shall both be killed by the Wolf.”

-

-So saying, the poor Sheep broke down altogether and burst into tears.

-

-“Dear me! dear me!” replied the Hare; “this is indeed a sad story; but

-cheer up, Sister Sheep, you may leave it to me, and I think I can

-answer for it that I know how to manage the Wolf.”

-

-So saying, the Hare made the following arrangements. He dressed himself

-up in his very best clothes, in a new robe of woollen cloth, with a

-long ear-ring in his left ear, and a fashionable hat on his head, and

-strapped a small saddle on to the back of the Sheep. He then prepared

-two small bundles, which he slung across the Lamb, and tied them on

-with a rope. When these preparations were complete, he took a large

-sheet of paper in his hand, and, with a pen thrust behind his ear, he

-mounted upon the back of the Sheep, and the little procession started

-off down the path.

-

-Soon after, they arrived at the place where they were to meet the Wolf,

-and sure enough there was the Wolf waiting for them at the appointed

-spot.

-

-As soon as they came within earshot of where the Wolf was standing the

-Hare called out in a sharp tone of authority:

-

-“Who are you, and what are you doing there?”

-

-“I am the Wolf,” was the reply; “and I have come here to eat this Sheep

-and its Lamb, in accordance with a regular arrangement. Who may you be,

-pray?”

-

-“I am Lomden, the Hare,” that animal replied, “and I have been deputed

-to India on a special mission by the Emperor of China. And, by the way,

-I have a commission to bring ten Wolf skins as a present to the King of

-India. What a fortunate thing it is that I should have met you here!

-Your skin will do for one, anyway.”

-

-So saying, the Hare produced his sheet of paper, and, taking his pen in

-his hand, he wrote down the figure “1” very large.

-

-The Wolf was so frightened on hearing this that he turned tail and fled

-away ignominiously; while the Sheep and the Lamb, after thanking the

-Hare heartily for his kind offices, continued their journey safely to

-their own home.

-

-

-

-[This story is a satire on the assumption and arrogance of Tibetan and

-Chinese officials, and the timidity and submissiveness of the Tibetan

-peasants. It illustrates how the meanest Government clerk, more

-especially when armed with pen and paper, can strike terror into the

-heart of the boldest and strongest countryman.]

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XI.

-

-THE STORY OF HOW THE HARE MADE A FOOL OF THE WOLF.

-

-

-[This story is really the continuation of Number X., which is sometimes

-told of “the Sheep and the Goat,” instead of “the Sheep and the Lamb.”

-The first part of the story is exactly the same as Number X. They

-experience the same adventures with the Wolf and are extricated in

-exactly the same manner by the aid of the Hare. But the end of the

-story is different.]

-

-

-

-When the Wolf ran away, Da-gye the Sheep and Pen-dzong the Goat were so

-elated that they could not refrain from vaingloriously galloping after

-him until they saw him dive hastily into his earth some distance away;

-they then sat themselves down at the mouth of the hole and remained

-there for some time chaffing the Wolf and telling him to hurry up and

-come out to be skinned, whilst the foolish Wolf lay cowering and

-trembling within.

-

-Presently the Sheep grew rather hungry and thirsty, so she went off to

-eat and drink, leaving the Goat to watch the earth. After sitting for a

-short while the Goat began rubbing his horns on a stone, and the Wolf

-hearing the grating sound squeaked out very humbly:

-

-“Oh! Brother Goat, what are you doing now?”

-

-“Sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Goat.

-

-And the Wolf cowered into the furthest recesses of his den trembling

-with fear.

-

-A few minutes later some rain began to fall, and the Wolf hearing the

-sound of the pattering raindrops called out:

-

-“What is happening now, pray, Brother Goat?”

-

-“I am collecting the water to cook you in,” answered the Goat gruffly.

-

-Presently the Goat began to scrape the earth with one hoof and the Wolf

-asked:

-

-“What is that scraping noise, Brother Goat?”

-

-“I am preparing a fireplace to boil the water at,” answered the Goat.

-“It will soon be time to finish you off.”

-

-Just then the Sheep came back from grazing and said to the Goat:

-

-“Now, Brother Goat, it is time for you to go and refresh yourself. I

-will stay here and look after the Wolf while you are away.”

-

-The Goat thanked the Sheep for her offer and told her how he had been

-acting during her absence, and after advising her to behave in the same

-manner and on no account to show any signs of fear, he went off to get

-something to eat and drink.

-

-When the Sheep found herself left alone at the mouth of the Wolf’s den,

-her natural timidity asserted itself, and she began to feel very

-nervous, but in order to keep up appearances she started to rub her

-horns against a stone, just as the Goat had advised her to do. As soon

-as he heard this noise the Wolf called out as before, asking what was

-happening.

-

-“I am sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Sheep, but she

-was so nervous that the Wolf at once noticed the terrified sound of her

-voice and began to suspect that he had been made a fool of.

-

-“Is that you, Sister Sheep?” said the Wolf; “I thought it was Brother

-Goat.”

-

-“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone

-away to get himself something to eat and drink.”

-

-“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.

-

-“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.

-

-On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the

-poor Sheep he quickly slew her.

-

-The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and

-the Goat and became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat,

-vowing vengeance against him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the

-Wolf coming along in the distance he guessed what had happened, and

-fled as fast as he could across the hills with the Wolf after him. They

-soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed his

-footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking

-his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over

-the crevice and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.

-

-For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice,

-when by chance a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him

-moaning and came to see what was wrong.

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the

-cleft. “What has happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”

-

-“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune.

-I am Pen-dzong the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a

-Wolf into his lair this morning and tried to frighten him by telling

-him that we were going to skin him; and while I was away getting myself

-something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den and killed my

-poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I, as

-you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable

-to move, and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has

-gone right away. I have one dying request to make to you, however. I

-beg you when I am dead to strip off my skin and to hand it over to my

-young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return for this service

-you can have my flesh for yourself.”

-

-The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to

-do as he asked. So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped

-off his skin, and set off with it to hand it over to the Goat’s young

-ones. As he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced

-to come across a Hare.

-

-“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and

-what is that you have on your back?”

-

-“Good-day, Brother Hare,” replied the Fox. “This is the skin of

-Pen-dzong the Goat, whom I found lying in a cleft between two rocks

-with a broken leg. He and his friend Da-gye the Sheep have both been

-killed by a Wolf, and he begged me after his death to strip off his

-skin and to take it as a last present from him to his young ones.”

-

-“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “that no doubt must be the same Goat and

-the same Sheep whom I rescued so recently from that very Wolf. What

-foolish creatures they are to have got themselves into so much trouble

-after I had freed them from all their difficulties. But, nevertheless,

-I am not going to let the Wolf get the best of me like this, and kill

-my friends with impunity. Come along with me and we will see what we

-can do to avenge Da-gye and Pen-dzong.”

-

-The Fox agreed to this, and he and the Hare set off together to hunt

-for the Wolf. They travelled a long way without coming across him, but

-at length, as they were crossing a high pass they found him feeding

-upon the carcase of a dead Horse.

-

-“Good-day, Uncle Wolf,” called out the Hare genially. “I am so glad to

-have met you. The fact is, there is a wedding feast going on at that

-big house over yonder, where Brother Fox and I expect to find plenty to

-eat and drink. If you care to come along with us too we shall be very

-glad, and I think we can promise you some better refreshment than that

-old Horse you are devouring here. So come along and see what we can

-find.”

-

-The Wolf was very pleased at this invitation, so he joined the Hare and

-the Fox, and all three went off together to the big house where the

-wedding feast was being held. They studied the premises carefully

-before approaching too near, and they soon ascertained that the whole

-of the wedding party were busy feasting in the central room, and that

-the larder, full of good things to eat and drink, was quite unguarded.

-So they jumped in through a narrow window and began to enjoy themselves

-thoroughly, eating and drinking anything which took their fancy. When

-they were as full as could be the Hare said:

-

-“What I advise now is as follows: let us each take some provisions, as

-much as we can carry, and bring them with us to our own homes, so that

-we may have something to go on with when we next feel hungry. I myself

-shall take some cheese; Brother Fox no doubt would like some cold fowl;

-and I should advise you, Brother Wolf, to carry off that jar of wine.”

-

-The Fox and the Wolf both agreed with the Hare’s proposals, and they

-began to load themselves with the provisions they proposed to take with

-them. The Fox and the Hare had no difficulty in making up a bundle of

-cheese and cold fowl, but the Wolf found that it would be very

-difficult for him to carry off the jar of wine. So the Hare explained

-to him that the best plan would be for him to slip his head through the

-handle of the jar, in which case it would be quite easy for him to drag

-the jar along with him. So the Wolf put his head through the handle of

-the jar, and all three made ready to start.

-

-“Well now, Brother Fox and Brother Wolf,” said the Hare in a genial

-tone of voice, “it is nearly time for us to be off. How are you both

-feeling? Have you had a good dinner? Are your bellies full?”

-

-“Couldn’t be fuller,” replied the Wolf, rubbing his stomach with one

-paw. “I have done very well.”

-

-“Well, then,” said the Hare, “as we have feasted well and feel happy

-and contented, let’s have a song before starting.”

-

-“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “Will you begin?”

-

-“I would with pleasure,” answered the Hare, “but really, the fact is, I

-can’t recollect a single song at this moment. Perhaps Brother Fox will

-oblige us.”

-

-“I am very sorry, Brother Hare,” answered the Fox, “but I am afraid I

-don’t know any songs. I am sure Brother Wolf sings beautifully.”

-

-“Yes,” joined in the Hare. “Pray, Brother Wolf, let us hear you sing?”

-

-“No, no, please,” said the Wolf modestly, scratching his ear with one

-paw. “I am a very poor singer, you really must excuse me.”

-

-But the Fox and the Hare pressed him, and presently he began to sing.

-At the first sound of his voice the men in the next room stopped their

-feasting, and saying to one another, “There is a Wolf in the house,”

-they rushed towards the larder.

-

-As soon as they heard the disturbance the Hare and the Fox, carrying

-their provisions with them, hopped quietly out of the window and made

-off quickly for their homes. The Wolf, too, made a leap towards the

-window, but the great jar round his neck was too broad to go through

-the narrow opening, and he fell back into the room below. Again he

-jumped and again he fell back; and he was still jumping and falling

-when the people of the house rushed in and soon despatched him with

-sticks and stones.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XII.

-

-THE MOUSE’S THREE CHILDREN.

-

-

-Many years ago, in the kingdom of Nepal, there was a little Mouse, who

-lived with her husband in a snug nest not far from the King’s palace.

-

-Finding that she was about to be delivered of a child, the Mouse prayed

-to the gods that her offspring might be very strong; and when the child

-was born it appeared in the form of a young Tiger. The Tiger soon grew

-up, and one day he said to the Mouse:

-

-“Mother, I must now go off into the jungle and live there with my

-brother Tigers. But if at any time you want my help, all you need do is

-to go into yonder thicket, and throw a handful of my hair into the air,

-and call my name three times.”

-

-So saying, he gave the Mouse a handful of his hair, and went off into

-the forest.

-

-Shortly afterwards the Mouse was again with child, and this time she

-prayed that her offspring might be very beautiful. When the child was

-born, instead of a young Mouse, she found that she had given birth to a

-Peacock. The Peacock soon grew into a large and beautiful bird, and

-when he had reached his full growth he one day said to his mother:

-

-“Mother, it is now time for me to go and seek my own livelihood with my

-brothers in the forest. But if at any time you should require my

-assistance, all you have to do is to go to the top of that hill over

-there, and to throw a handful of my feathers into the air, and call my

-name three times.”

-

-So saying, he gave the little Mouse a handful of his feathers, and flew

-away into the jungle.

-

-Presently the Mouse found herself a third time with child, and this

-time she prayed to the gods that her child might become wise, wealthy

-and powerful; and when the child appeared she saw that it was a young

-man child. As the Boy grew up the mother was afraid that he, too, like

-his brothers, would want to leave his nest and go out into the world to

-live with his fellow-men. So she told him the story of his two elder

-brothers, and explained to him that he was a man child, and could not

-wander away into the jungle like they did, but must stay in the nest.

-The Boy promised to do so, and every day he used to sit and play about

-at the mouth of the nest.

-

-Now it happened that in that country there lived a Mussulman, who made

-his living as a barber and by paring people’s nails. This man, who was

-very clever at his work, was often employed in the King’s palace, and

-one day, as he was going to his work in the palace, he passed near to

-the Mouse’s nest. There he saw the Boy seated on the ground, and, going

-up to him, he asked him whether he would like his hair cut and his

-nails pared.

-

-The Boy said, “Yes,” and the Barber proceeded to cut his hair. To the

-Barber’s astonishment, each hair, as it fell to the ground, immediately

-turned into diamonds, pearls, and other jewels; and when he proceeded

-to pare the Boy’s nails, each paring, as it touched the ground, became

-a beautiful turquoise.

-

-The Barber then went on to the palace, and as he was cutting the King’s

-hair, he told him about the miraculous child, whose hair and nails

-turned into jewels. The King, who was a greedy and unscrupulous man,

-determined to gain possession of so valuable a Boy, so he sent out some

-of his servants to bring the Boy up to the palace. When the Boy

-arrived, he was brought before the King, and the King told him that as

-he had been found trespassing in the royal forests, he intended to kill

-the mother, and to keep the Boy as a slave, unless the Boy could

-furnish him at once with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates

-of the palace, in which case he would marry the Boy to his daughter and

-would give him half his kingdom.

-

-The poor Boy went in great grief to Mother Mouse, and related to her

-the whole of his interview with the King. The Mouse told him not to vex

-himself, and she gave him a handful of Tiger’s hair and sent him out

-into the jungle with full directions as to what he should do.

-

-The Boy went off into the heart of a dense thicket in the jungle, and

-throwing the Tiger’s hair into the air, he called out at the same time:

-

-“Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger!”

-

-Scarcely had the words left his lips when he heard a low, deep growl

-just beside him, and a great Tiger stalked out of the thicket, licking

-his chops.

-

-“Here I am, Brother,” said the Tiger. “What do you want?”

-

-“Oh! Brother Tiger,” said the Boy, “the King has said that if I do not

-immediately provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four

-gates of his palace he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”

-

-On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.

-

-“Is that all?” said he. “That is easily arranged. I can get you a

-hundred Tigers.”

-

-So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful

-roars; and in a few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of

-Tigers, hastening up from all directions. When they were all ready, the

-first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back, and so, with the

-Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession, they

-all went off in a body to the King’s palace.

-

-As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran

-hither and thither, and the guards were called to arms. And when the

-King was told what was happening he was greatly alarmed himself, but he

-seated himself on his throne, and gave orders for the Boy and the

-Tigers to be admitted.

-

-The Boy rode in on the Tiger’s back to the royal presence, followed by

-all the other Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:

-

-“Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the

-forest. You can take your pick of any four you like.”

-

-The King was very much astonished at this, and having selected four of

-the finest Tigers, he allowed the others to go away. But he still

-hankered after the jewels, and in a few days’ time he again summoned

-the Boy before him, and told him that unless he at once furnished four

-Peacocks to sit one on each of the four golden pinnacles of his palace

-roof, he should kill his mother and keep the Boy as a slave.

-

-The poor Boy was very down-hearted on hearing this, and went sadly back

-to his mother with the news; but the little Mouse told him that it was

-all right, and giving him a handful of Peacock’s feathers, she

-instructed him how to proceed. So the Boy went off to the top of a high

-hill, and, throwing the feathers into the air, he called aloud:

-

-“Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock!”

-

-Immediately a fluttering sound was heard, and a magnificent Peacock

-dropped to the ground in front of him from the branch of a neighbouring

-tree.

-

-“Here I am, Brother,” said the Peacock. “What do you want with me?”

-

-“Oh! Brother Peacock,” said the Boy, “the King says that if I cannot at

-once provide him with four Peacocks to sit on the four golden pinnacles

-of his palace, he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”

-

-“Never mind,” said the Peacock, “we can easily arrange that.”

-

-So he fluttered back to the top of a high tree, and called the loud,

-shrill call of the Peacocks.

-

-In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks

-flying in from all directions.

-

-“Now,” said the first Peacock, “come along to the palace.”

-

-So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their

-claws, and they all flew together over the tops of the trees to the

-King’s palace.

-

-When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King,

-and the King seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready

-to receive them.

-

-The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King’s

-throne, and arranged themselves in rows behind him, with their tails

-spread.

-

-“Here, oh King!” said the Boy, “are all the finest Peacocks I could

-find in the forest. You can have your pick of any four of them.”

-

-The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected

-the four best Peacocks, and sent away the rest.

-

-But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few

-days later, he sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his

-Mother Mouse could fight single-handed with the King’s state Elephant

-and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the Boy a slave.

-

-The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it

-possible that the little Mouse could compete successfully with the

-King’s great Elephant; so he went home very sadly and told his mother

-the whole story. But the Mouse told him he was not to be alarmed, and

-she directed him to smear her body all over with poison, and to tie a

-long string to her tail. As soon as she was ready the Boy placed her in

-the sleeve of his coat, and carried her along to the palace.

-

-In the courtyard of the palace everything had been made ready for the

-fight. Seats had been prepared behind a barrier for the King and his

-nobles, whilst the roofs and the windows were crowded with hundreds of

-people who had come to see the show. At one end of the enclosure the

-King’s great tusker stood ready, still chained by the leg; and the Boy,

-with the Mouse in his sleeve, took up his stand at the other end of the

-arena, face to face with the angry Elephant.

-

-At a given signal the Elephant’s chain was loosed, and with a bellow of

-rage he rushed towards where the Boy was standing. As he came on,

-holding his trunk high in the air, the little Mouse jumped to the

-ground and ran to meet him. The Elephant caught sight of this small

-object, and stopped for a moment to see what it was, and the Mouse

-hopped on to his foot. The Elephant at once put down his trunk to feel

-what was there, and in a twinkling the Mouse jumped into the open end

-of the trunk, and scuttled up it as fast as she could till she reached

-the head. She soon found herself inside the Elephant’s brain, and there

-she ran round and round, smearing poison all over the brain of the

-great beast.

-

-The Elephant, not knowing what had happened, rushed round the arena,

-bellowing with rage and pain, and smashing everything within reach of

-his trunk. But presently, the poison taking effect, he fell to the

-ground stone dead, and the Boy, pulling the string which was attached

-to the Mouse’s tail, guided her out of the Elephant’s trunk till she

-reached the open air.

-

-The King could no longer hesitate to fulfil his promise to the Boy, so

-he gave him his daughter in marriage, and presented him with half his

-kingdom. And on the King’s death the Boy succeeded to the kingdom, and

-he and his mother lived happily ever afterwards.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XIII.

-

-THE JACKALS AND THE TIGER.

-

-

-Once upon a time there was a family of Jackals, consisting of a Father,

-Mother, and five young ones. After living for some time very

-comfortably near a large village, they found that the dogs of the

-village were becoming so numerous and so troublesome that they

-considered it necessary to change their place of abode. So one fine

-evening they started off and travelled away across the country, keeping

-a sharp look-out for some desirable spot in which they might settle

-down.

-

-After a while they came to the edge of a forest, and having travelled

-for some little distance into the thickest part of the wood, they

-arrived all of a sudden at a Tiger’s den. The young Jackals were a good

-deal frightened at the smell of the Tiger’s den, but Father Jackal

-reassured them, and said that he thoroughly understood Tigers, and knew

-how to deal with them. So he went forward alone, and, peeping in, he

-found that the Tiger was out, but that he had left a large quantity of

-deer’s flesh lying in one corner, which apparently he had not had time

-to consume. So he called Mrs. Jackal and the children, and told them to

-go inside and to have a good feed, and to make themselves quite

-comfortable. After making a good meal himself off the deer’s flesh, he

-said to Mrs. Jackal:

-

-“You and the children can now go to sleep; I shall go on to the roof of

-the den and keep a look-out for the Tiger. When I see him coming I

-shall rap on the roof, and you must at once wake up the children and

-make them begin to cry, and when I ask you what they are crying about,

-you must say that they are getting impatient for their supper.”

-

-Accordingly Mr. Jackal went up on the roof, while his family settled

-down to sleep in the snuggest corner of the Tiger’s den. Shortly after

-Father Jackal heard a slight crackling amongst the dry leaves of the

-forest; and in the dim morning light he discerned the form of a great

-Tiger approaching his den through the tree-stems.

-

-According to the arrangement he had made, he rapped with a loose stone

-upon the roof of the den, and Mrs. Jackal immediately woke up the young

-Jackals and made them cry.

-

-“What are those children crying about?” called out Father Jackal.

-

-“They are very hungry, and getting impatient for their supper,” was the

-reply.

-

-“Tell them they won’t have long to wait now,” said Father Jackal; “the

-Tiger will probably be home very soon, and we shall all be eating hot

-Tiger’s meat before long.”

-

-On hearing this the Tiger was very much alarmed, and thought to

-himself:

-

-“What kind of strange animal can this be which has entered my den, and

-is waiting to cook and eat me on my return; it must certainly be a very

-fierce and terrible creature.”

-

-So without waiting to investigate the matter any further, he turned

-tail and ran off as fast as he could through the forest. After running

-some way, he came across an old Baboon, with a great fringe of white

-hair all round his face.

-

-“Where are you running to, Uncle Tiger?” asked the Baboon.

-

-“Well,” said the Tiger, “the fact is, that a family of strange animals,

-who call themselves Jackals, are at this moment in occupation of my

-den. As I was approaching my den, after a long night’s hunting, one of

-the creatures was actually sitting on the roof, looking out for me, and

-as I got close up I heard him tell his young ones that they were to

-have hot Tiger’s meat for supper. Fortunately for me, he hadn’t seen

-me, so I thought the best thing I could do was to make off as fast as I

-could, in order to avoid being eaten.”

-

-On hearing this the Baboon was very much amused, and set to work to

-laugh very heartily.

-

-“Why,” said he, “what a foolish Tiger you are! Have you never heard of

-a Jackal before? Don’t you know that it is you should eat the Jackals,

-and not the Jackals you? You come along with me, and I will soon show

-you how to deal with people like that.”

-

-The Tiger was somewhat reassured on hearing what the Baboon had to say,

-but, even so, he was at first very reluctant to return again and to

-incur the danger of being eaten; but the Monkey encouraged him, and

-finally they set off together, the Monkey twisting his tail round the

-Tiger’s, in order to give him a feeling of support and confidence.

-

-As they came nearer to the den, the Tiger grew more and more timorous,

-and would only advance very slowly, ready to take flight at any moment.

-However, they went on together, tail-in-tail, until presently Father

-Jackal on the roof of the den caught sight of the pair, and called out:

-

-“That is right, Brother Monkey, bring him along quickly; we are all

-half starved. But what do you mean by only bringing one of them? I had

-expected you would bring us at least two or three.”

-

-On hearing this, the Tiger at once suspected that the Baboon was in the

-Jackal’s employ, and that he was being led into a trap. Without a

-moment’s hesitation he turned about and fled precipitately into the

-depths of the forest. The unfortunate Baboon, whose tail was tightly

-twisted round the Tiger’s, was unable to free himself, and was dragged

-and bumped hither and thither in the Tiger’s rush through the thickest

-and thorniest parts of the jungle. When at length the Tiger paused,

-many miles away, to take breath, he looked back at his flanks, and all

-he saw of the Monkey was a bit of its tail which had broken off and was

-still twisted round his own.

-

-He never again returned to his den, which was occupied henceforth by

-the Jackals, who lived there for many years in peace and comfort.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XIV.

-

-THE STORY OF THE THREE THIEVES.

-

-

-Once upon a time there lived within the dominions of the Emperor of

-China three very clever Thieves. These men, owing to their skill and

-cunning, were quite at the head of their profession, and by sleight of

-hand and dexterity were able to accomplish feats of trickery which the

-ordinary thieves could not emulate. The first was so clever that he was

-able to withdraw eggs from under a sitting hen without in any way

-disturbing her, and without her being aware that the theft had been

-accomplished. The second was able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as

-he walked along the road without the victim knowing that he had been

-robbed. And the third was able to eat his fill off a man’s plate during

-dinner without the man who was robbed, or his friend opposite, being

-able to detect where the victuals had gone to.

-

-Now it happened one day that these three Thieves met together in a

-country inn, and entering into conversation with one another, began to

-exchange confidences.

-

-“May I ask what you do for a living?” asked the first Thief of the

-second.

-

-“Oh, I am a Thief,” answered the man who was addressed.

-

-“Very good,” replied the other men, “we also are Thieves. Can you tell

-us, please, if there is any particular line in which you excel?”

-

-“Yes,” said the second Thief; “I am able to cut the soles off a man’s

-boots as he walks across the road without his being aware of what has

-happened. What can you two do, pray?”

-

-“I,” replied the first Thief, “can withdraw the eggs from under a

-sitting hen without disturbing her.”

-

-“And I,” said the third, “can steal another man’s dinner from off his

-plate, and eat my fill as he sits at table, without the victim, or the

-man sitting opposite, being able to detect me.”

-

-So the three Thieves, having struck up a friendship on the ground of

-their unusual skill, set off together to the court of the Emperor of

-China, in order to see whether they could not succeed in making their

-fortunes there.

-

-On arriving at the court they consulted together and came to the

-conclusion that in order to make any headway in China it was necessary

-to attract the attention of the Emperor. So they agreed to separate for

-twenty-four hours, and to meet next day in the courtyard of the palace,

-each bringing some gift to the Emperor which would please him, and

-prove to him that they were men of no usual calibre. Accordingly, they

-parted in different directions, and the following day at noon, they met

-together in the courtyard of the palace, and each one proceeded to

-relate his adventures during the preceding twenty-four hours.

-

-“As soon as I left you yesterday,” began the first Thief, “I went into

-the royal farm adjoining the palace, and there I found one of the

-Emperor’s pea-hens sitting upon her nest, and hatching a clutch of

-eggs, which was calculated to produce a breed of the very finest

-peacocks. By the Emperor’s orders this nest was watched by an attendant

-night and day, in order that no one should interfere with the eggs, and

-the pea-hen herself was so cross that she would not allow anyone to

-approach her except the man who fed her. But such obstacles as these

-were nothing to me, and I had no difficulty in evading the watchers and

-abstracting the eggs from under the hen, without even disturbing her,

-or her being aware of the loss. Now here they are in my wallet, and

-when the loss is discovered presently, as it is sure to be, and a

-reward offered for their discovery, I propose to present them to the

-Emperor.”

-

-The other two Thieves applauded their comrade for his skill and

-ingenuity, and the second Thief then proceeded to relate his story as

-follows:

-

-“When we separated yesterday, I at once entered the Emperor’s

-antechamber, and mingled with the nobles and officials who were

-awaiting an audience with His Majesty, and amongst the others I soon

-noticed the Prime Minister. He was a very stout man, dressed in his

-finest robes, and with a new pair of boots on his feet. As he passed to

-and fro in the crowd, I succeeded in cutting the soles off his new

-boots without his having any idea of what had happened. Shortly

-afterwards he was summoned to the Emperor’s presence, and when he knelt

-down to kow-tow before His Majesty, it was observed that he had no

-soles to his boots. The Emperor, thinking that the Minister had

-committed this serious breach of etiquette on purpose, fell into a

-violent passion, and ordered him to be imprisoned at once. It was no

-use for the wretched man to protest his innocence or to plead for

-mercy. The Emperor’s orders are that, unless a satisfactory explanation

-is given to him before six o’clock this evening and the missing soles

-produced, the Minister is to be beheaded. Here are the soles of the

-Prime Minister’s boots in my wallet, and I propose to present them to

-His Majesty this afternoon during his public audience. I shall thus

-earn the gratitude of the Prime Minister and appease the wrath of the

-Emperor.”

-

-The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their

-comrade on his successful manœuvre, and the third Thief proceeded to

-relate his adventures as follows:

-

-“When we parted yesterday,” said he, “I entered the palace, and after

-wandering about for some time I found myself in the chamber where the

-Emperor’s dinner was being prepared, and where all the chief officials

-of the palace were assembled to superintend the arrangements for the

-royal meal. There were the Head Chamberlain and the Under Chamberlains,

-the Head Usher and the Under Ushers, the Head Waiter and the Under

-Waiters, and many other officials of minor degree. I mingled with the

-servants, who were standing about, without attracting any attention,

-and remained in the room until the Emperor himself entered and seated

-himself with great ceremony to partake of his mid-day meal. The Chief

-Cook and the Chief Chamberlain placed themselves in front of the

-Emperor, in order to see that the service of his food was properly

-conducted, whilst the other high officials took their stand on either

-side of his chair and assisted in bringing in the dishes. In spite of

-all these precautions, however, I was able by my skill to take the food

-from each dish as it was placed upon the table, before the Emperor had

-time to partake of more than a very few mouthfuls. As the meal

-proceeded the Emperor grew more and more annoyed, and complained of the

-insufficiency of the food which had been prepared for him. Such a thing

-as this had never occurred before in the palace. The Head Cook and all

-the Under Cooks, the Head Chamberlain and all the Under Chamberlains,

-the Head Usher and all the Under Ushers, and all the officials of lower

-degree, were thrown into a dreadful state of confusion and alarm at the

-event. They rushed hither and thither, between the kitchens and

-dining-halls, upbraiding the scullions and other domestics for their

-carelessness, and preparing the most elaborate and copious dishes for

-the Emperor’s table. But after some time the Emperor, wearied by the

-confusion, and unable, in spite of everything, to make a satisfactory

-meal, gave orders that the whole of the Cooks and other attendants

-responsible for his table-service should be imprisoned, and that unless

-a satisfactory explanation of their negligence could be given before

-this evening they should be beheaded. I have here, in my wallet, the

-whole of the viands which yesterday were placed before the Emperor for

-his consumption, and I propose at the audience to present them to him,

-and inform him what really happened. He will undoubtedly pardon me when

-he hears the story, and I shall earn the undying gratitude of all the

-disgraced officials by procuring their release.”

-

-The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their

-comrade warmly upon his daring and success, and the three entered the

-Emperor’s antechamber together, and awaited the time for public

-audience.

-

-A few minutes later the great doors leading to the audience chamber

-were thrown open, and a herald appearing upon the threshold proclaimed

-“Silence.” He then gave notice that, on the previous day, the eggs had

-all been stolen from under the Emperor’s favourite pea-hen, and that

-any person who could find the eggs or give any information concerning

-their loss should receive a reward; secondly, that for a breach of

-etiquette the Prime Minister had been imprisoned, and that unless he

-could explain his offence before six o’clock that evening he was to be

-beheaded, and that any person who could offer assistance in the matter

-would be well paid and otherwise rewarded by the Emperor; thirdly, that

-owing to bad attendance during the Emperor’s repast the previous day,

-all the domestic officials of the palace had been imprisoned, and would

-be beheaded at six o’clock that evening unless they could give a

-satisfactory explanation; and that any person who could assist in the

-matter would be well rewarded for his pains.

-

-So saying the Herald retired, and the public audience began. When the

-three Thieves were admitted to the Emperor’s presence, they went in

-together and made a simultaneous obeisance before the Emperor’s throne.

-

-“Who are you three men?” asked the Emperor, “and what do you want from

-me?”

-

-“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the first Thief, “I have ventured

-to bring a small gift for you.”

-

-And so saying he took from his wallet the pea-hen’s eggs, and laid them

-on the throne.

-

-When the Emperor heard that these were his pea-hen’s eggs he was very

-much pleased, and gave orders that they should at once be taken back to

-the nest, and the hatching continued; and telling the first Thief to

-stand back, he enquired of the second what he wished to say.

-

-“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the second Thief, “I also have a

-small gift to make to you.”

-

-And so saying he took the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots out of

-his wallet and laid them on the steps of the throne.

-

-When the Emperor found that these were the soles of his Prime

-Minister’s boots, and how they had been removed, he was very much

-amused, and laughed heartily. He at once sent orders for his Prime

-Minister to be released, and handed over to him the soles of his boots,

-and told him to watch them more carefully for the future. The Prime

-Minister was delighted at being reinstated in the royal favour, and

-expressed his gratitude to the Thief for his services in the matter.

-

-When the third Thief was asked what he had to say he replied:

-

-“I, too, have a small gift for Your Majesty.”

-

-And so saying he produced a plate from his wallet, and laid upon it the

-various viands which had been cooked for the Emperor’s dinner the

-previous day.

-

-When the Emperor understood that this was the dinner which had been

-prepared for him, and which he ought to have eaten, he was greatly

-astonished; but seeing that it was no fault of his Cooks, Chamberlains,

-or other servants, he ordered them all to be released, and to resume

-their former functions.

-

-Having issued these various commands, the Emperor again summoned the

-three Thieves before him, and addressed them as follows:

-

-“Although,” said he, “I am very pleased at finding such a satisfactory

-explanation for the disappearance of the eggs, the misdemeanour of my

-Prime Minister, and the insufficiency of my dinner, I cannot overlook

-the fact that you three men have behaved in a very unusual manner. So

-before rewarding you in accordance with my promise, I desire to put

-your skill to a further test. If you succeed in this trial to my

-satisfaction you shall all three be well rewarded, and receive rank and

-lands in my country; but if you fail, you must take the consequences of

-your rashness, and you shall all three be put to death.”

-

-When the three Thieves heard these words they were greatly frightened,

-and bowing down before the Emperor they awaited his commands.

-

-“The test which I have in store for you,” continued the Emperor, “is as

-follows: you must know that in my Treasury I have a great number of

-jewels and precious objects of all kinds; and the Treasury is enclosed

-within a treble wall ten fathoms in height, closed by iron gates, and

-is guarded night and day by companies of my most faithful soldiers. If

-you can produce, before six o’clock to-morrow evening, three of the

-pearls from my Treasury, you shall be pardoned and rewarded; but if you

-fail to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”

-

-On hearing these words the three thieves consulted together for a few

-moments, and replied as follows:

-

-“We will do our best to carry out Your Majesty’s commands and to

-succeed in this test which you have given us, but we would call your

-royal attention to one matter; it is this: supposing we produce before

-to-morrow evening three pearls as you command, how shall we be able to

-satisfy you that they come from the Royal Treasury? All pearls look

-very much alike, and it would be impossible for us to prove to you

-whence they came. We would, therefore, venture to suggest that, before

-putting us to this test, you should have a complete enumeration made of

-all the jewels in your Treasury; then, when we produce the three pearls

-in question, it will be easy to ascertain whether there are in the

-Treasury three pearls less than there were when the enumeration was

-made.”

-

-The Emperor, seeing that this was a reasonable request, agreed to act

-as the Thieves had suggested. So summoning his Treasurer before him, he

-gave orders that a complete enumeration of all the jewels and other

-precious objects in his Treasury should be made before nightfall that

-evening; and having issued his commands he dismissed the audience.

-

-The Chief Treasurer was much perturbed on receiving these orders, for

-owing to the enormous quantity of jewels and other objects in the

-Treasury, he foresaw that it would be a difficult matter to have the

-enumeration complete before evening. The only way in which it could be

-done was to call in the assistance of all the officials of the palace,

-and having allotted a section of the Treasure Chamber to each, to order

-them to make a complete inventory each of his own part. Accordingly, he

-called together all the officials of the palace to the number of many

-hundreds, and they proceeded in a body to the Royal Treasury. The three

-Thieves, who had anticipated this action on the part of the Treasurer,

-meanwhile dressed themselves up in the complete robes which are proper

-for a palace official, and mingling unnoticed in the crowd, they

-followed the Treasurer to the gates of the Royal Treasury. By the

-Treasurer’s orders, the gates were at once thrown open, and the

-officials, entering the treasury, began the enumeration. The three

-thieves, in common with the rest, were allotted each a section of the

-Treasury Chamber, of which they were to make a complete inventory, and

-whilst so employed they had no difficulty in each one secreting a large

-pearl after first placing it upon their list. By nightfall the

-enumeration was complete, the lists were all handed over to the Chief

-Treasurer, and the Treasury was left locked and guarded as before.

-

-Next day, at six o’clock, the Emperor seated himself in his Hall of

-Audience, and summoned the three Thieves before him.

-

-“Well,” said he, “have you been able to fulfil the conditions which I

-set you? If you can now produce three pearls from my Treasury, you

-shall be rewarded in accordance with my promise; but if you are unable

-to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”

-

-The Thieves bowed themselves humbly before the Emperor, and without

-making any reply each one produced a pearl and laid it on the steps of

-the throne. When the Emperor saw these pearls he was much astonished;

-but in order to make certain that they came from his own Treasury, he

-summoned his Chief Treasurer before him, and ordered him to compare the

-jewels in the Treasury with the inventory which had been made on the

-previous evening. The Treasurer hurried off to do so, and after a short

-while he reappeared, and informed the Emperor that, having carefully

-counted all the jewels, and having compared the numbers in the Treasury

-with the numbers on the inventory, he found that three pearls were

-indeed missing.

-

-On hearing this the Emperor no longer hesitated in fulfilling his

-promise to the three Thieves. He raised them at once to high rank, and

-presented them with lands and money sufficient to uphold their new

-status, and they lived happily ever afterwards, enjoying the confidence

-of the Emperor and the friendship of the numerous officials whom they

-had saved from imprisonment and death.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XV.

-

-THE STORY OF THE BOY WITH THE DEFORMED HEAD.

-

-

-Once upon a time there lived a poor man and his wife who had only one

-child, and this Boy, as it happened, was born with a deformed head,

-which projected in front and behind, and gave him a very ugly

-appearance. The parents, although much grieved at their son’s

-deformity, were, nevertheless, very fond of him and brought him up very

-carefully. Every day, when he grew big enough, he used to drive the

-cows out to pasture, and all day long he sat about on the hillsides

-watching the cattle graze. And so he passed his life very happily

-until, when he reached the age of fifteen, he began to think he should

-like to marry a wife as other young men did, but he feared that owing

-to his deformity no girl would ever look at him.

-

-One day it chanced that he drove his cows to graze on the rich pasture

-on the edge of a small lake, and as he was sitting near the shore of

-the lake all of a sudden he saw a large white Drake descend from the

-sky, and light upon the surface of the water. As soon as it was seated

-upon the water it swam round the lake three times to the right and then

-three times to the left, and having done so it flew away again and

-disappeared into the sky.

-

-The Boy watched the behaviour of this Drake with some interest. He had

-never before seen so large and beautiful a bird, nor one that behaved

-so strangely. So next day he again sat down in the same place, and kept

-a sharp look-out for the bird. At the same hour as on the previous day

-the Drake again appeared in the sky, and descending upon the lake,

-acted in precisely the same manner as before. And it continued to do so

-for several days, the Boy always watching its behaviour with increased

-interest.

-

-At last he determined that he would try to catch this Drake for

-himself, so he wove himself a long rope of yaks’ hair, big enough to

-completely encircle the lake, and he laid this upon the shore in a loop

-extending right round the lake; and at short intervals along the rope

-he fastened loops made of the finest horse hair, the loose ends of

-which he left floating in the water.

-

-Next day the Drake came as usual and began to swim round the lake to

-the right. It had not gone very far when it put its foot into one of

-the loops and was caught. The Boy at once ran down to the shore of the

-lake, and taking the Drake in his hands, he tied its wings and legs

-together, and set it down on the grass beside him.

-

-“Now,” thought he to himself, “what shall I do with this fine white

-Drake? I will take him home and kill him, and he will make a nice

-dinner for father and mother and me.”

-

-Just as he was thinking this, to his intense surprise, the Drake spoke

-to him as follows:

-

-“I beg of you not to kill me, my good boy,” said he, “for you must know

-I am not in reality a Drake as I appear to be, but I am a fairy King

-just come from the region of the gods. It is my habit every day to

-descend to this lake in the form of a white Drake, and to amuse myself

-by swimming round and round. If you will now consent to let me go I

-will reward you liberally. You shall have gold and silver and jewels

-and coral, as much as you wish, and sumptuous food every day for the

-rest of your life.”

-

-On hearing this the Boy laughed, and replied:

-

-“You should not tell me such stories as these. How am I to know that

-you are really a fairy? It seems to me that all you are in a position

-to give me is your feathers.”

-

-“I hope you will not disbelieve my word,” replied the Drake very

-earnestly; “I assure you I can do all this, and even more, if you will

-release me.”

-

-“Well,” said the Boy, “if that is really so I will make a bargain with

-you. I do not care at all for your gold or your jewels, but what I

-really want is a wife. If you can promise to supply me with a wife I

-will let you go.”

-

-“Well,” said the Drake, “that, too, can be arranged. I have three

-daughters living in my kingdom in the skies, and I will give you as

-wife any one of them whom you desire. Would you prefer the eldest, or

-the youngest, or the middle one?”

-

-The Boy was greatly pleased on hearing this offer of the Drake’s, and

-he thought to himself:

-

-“I will not take the eldest girl, for fear she should be too old, nor

-the youngest, for fear she should be too young. I will select the

-middle one.”

-

-So he told the Drake that he would like his middle daughter.

-

-“Very well,” said the Drake, “I will arrange the matter accordingly,

-and I will meet you here to-morrow with my middle daughter. But there

-is one condition which always attaches to the marriage of a mortal with

-a fairy, and that is that she can only live with you for nine years. At

-the conclusion of that time she is bound to return to her home in the

-heavens.”

-

-The Boy agreed to this condition, and when all the details had been

-satisfactorily arranged he cut the cords which bound the Drake and let

-him go. The bird spread his wings and flew up into the sky; and after

-circling for a few minutes he flew straight upwards and disappeared

-from sight, whilst the Boy went home to his father and mother.

-

-The Drake flew far up into the blue sky until he arrived at the country

-of the gods, where he changed at once into the form and raiment of the

-King of the Fairies. Seating himself upon his throne, he summoned his

-three daughters before him and informed them of what had occurred; and

-he gave orders to his middle daughter to prepare herself forthwith to

-go and marry a mortal. The girl wept bitterly on hearing this, but

-nevertheless she prepared to carry out her father’s orders, and got

-ready a large stock of beautiful clothes and much gold and silver and

-jewels to take with her.

-

-Next day, at the appointed hour, the Boy went down to the lake as

-usual, and seated himself in his usual place; and not long afterwards

-he saw the white Drake and a white Duck flying towards him from the

-sky. They descended swiftly until they touched the ground, where they

-were at once transformed into the Fairy King and his beautiful

-daughter. The boy was overcome with joy when he saw the lovely wife

-that had been brought to him; but the girl was horrified at his ugly

-appearance, and begged her father to take her back to her abode in the

-skies. The Fairy King, however, insisted upon her carrying out her

-share of the bargain, so leaving his daughter with the Boy, he again

-turned himself into a Drake and, flying up into the sky, he disappeared

-from view.

-

-The Boy now led his bride home to his father and mother, and next day

-the marriage was duly completed. The Fairy wife, by means of her magic,

-was able to erect a magnificent palace, and to furnish it in the most

-luxurious manner with everything necessary for comfort; and she

-supplied, moreover, horses and servants, and everything else that a

-married couple could desire. So the two took up their abode in this

-fine house and, together with the old father and mother, they lived

-there happily for several years; and as time passed away the fairy wife

-became accustomed to her husband’s forbidding appearance, and year by

-year became more and more attached to him.

-

-So the time slipped by and at last the nine years of the Fairy wife’s

-abode upon earth came to an end. The young Man, however, had become so

-accustomed to her presence that he could hardly believe that the Fairy

-King’s words would come true and that he should really be deprived of

-his wife when the appointed time arrived. So on the last night of the

-ninth year he went to bed as usual in his magnificent chamber, clothed

-in rich silks, and surrounded by all the evidences of wealth and

-luxury.

-

-He slept soundly all night, and when he awoke in the morning and sat up

-and looked about him, what was his astonishment and horror to discover

-that, instead of lying upon his fine couch in his magnificent palace,

-with troops of servants ready to wait upon him, he was reposing upon

-the bare ground under the open sky, on a bleak hillside near to the

-spot where he had first conversed with the Fairy King. His palace, his

-servants, his horses, his furniture, and, worst of all, his beautiful

-wife, had all disappeared utterly and completely, and nothing remained

-of them but a memory. Half distracted with grief and chagrin, the young

-Man ran frantically across the country, thinking to find some trace of

-his lost happiness.

-

-For some days he wandered on and on, scarcely conscious of what he was

-doing, and at length, having passed beyond the part of the country

-which he knew, he arrived one day about noon on the shores of a vast

-expanse of water which stretched before him as far as he could see. By

-the side of this lake there arose a jagged cliff, and about half-way up

-the cliff on a broad ledge he noticed an immense nest, in which

-appeared some young birds of unusual size. At first he was unable to

-detect what sort of birds these were, but after examining them

-attentively for some time he saw that they were three young Gryphons,

-whose parents apparently had gone off in search of food.

-

-As he stood upon the beach watching the young birds they suddenly began

-to manifest every sign of terror and confusion, chattering and

-squealing wildly to one another, and flapping their puny wings; and on

-turning towards the lake in order to ascertain what was the cause of

-their alarm, he perceived an immense Dragon—whose head, at the end of

-its long neck, towered high above the water—making its way rapidly

-across the lake, with the evident intention of devouring the young

-Gryphons. The young Man, who was of a courageous and kindly

-disposition, determined to save the young Gryphons from the maw of this

-monster; so, drawing his sword, he waited till the Dragon had set foot

-upon dry land, and then, attacking him fiercely, he engaged

-single-handed in a desperate conflict. For some time the issue was

-doubtful, but the young man at length succeeded with one well-delivered

-blow in severing the Dragon’s head from its neck, and the monster fell

-dead upon the beach.

-

-Scarcely had the Dragon breathed its last when the air was darkened by

-the wings of some great creature passing overhead, and, looking up, he

-observed, flying just above him, the forms of the two parent Gryphons

-now returning to their nest. As soon as they had arrived the young

-Gryphons proceeded to relate to them at full length the terrible danger

-they had just escaped, and the gallant conduct of the young Man in

-slaying their would-be destroyer. The parent Gryphons were very pleased

-when they heard this story, and, looking towards the young Man with

-some curiosity, they began to remark upon his appearance.

-

-“Have you ever, Mother Gryphon,” asked the male bird, “seen any

-creature of that description before?”

-

-“No, Father Gryphon, I never have,” she replied; “but it seems to be

-both brave and well-intentioned. I observe, moreover, that it has

-neither beak nor claws, so I propose that we invite it into the nest,

-and receive it hospitably in return for a good service which it has

-rendered to our children.”

-

-Father Gryphon agreed to this proposal, and he at once flew down to the

-beach, and addressing the young Man he invited him to enter the nest.

-The youth accepted the invitation, and having explained that he was

-unable to fly, he mounted upon the Gryphon’s back and was speedily

-carried up the cliff, and deposited with the young Gryphons in the

-nest. After making a good dinner off the food which the parent Gryphons

-had just provided for their young ones, the young Man related to the

-family all his various adventures since the time when he had first made

-the acquaintance of the Fairy King.

-

-“Yours,” said Father Gryphon, “is a very sad story, and in my opinion

-you have not been treated at all well; but if you desire it, I may

-perhaps be of some assistance to you. What I propose is that you should

-mount upon my back, and I will then carry you through the air to the

-kingdom of the gods, where you can represent your case to the King of

-the Fairies in person, and where you will, at any rate, have the

-opportunity of persuading your wife to accompany you back to earth.”

-

-The young Man gladly assented to this proposition, and mounted on the

-Gryphon’s back; and the great bird, spreading his wings, soared upwards

-straight into the blue sky, carrying the youth with him. Up and up they

-flew, whilst the earth seemed to recede into the distance and to grow

-smaller and smaller, until at length it disappeared from view

-altogether. Still they flew on until, towards nightfall, they arrived

-at the country of the gods. The Gryphon, with the young Man upon his

-back, flew straight in through the great golden gates, and deposited

-the youth in the centre of a vast courtyard round which were sitting

-numbers of gods, fairies and other denizens of the sky.

-

-When the gods saw that a human being had been deposited in their midst

-they rose in great wrath, and began bitterly to reproach the Gryphon

-for what he had done.

-

-“How is it,” said they, “that you have dared, unordered, to bring into

-our presence an inhabitant of the human world? Do you not know that

-human beings are of a coarser essence than ourselves and are repugnant

-and abhorrent to us? How dare you so defile the sacred country of the

-gods?”

-

-But the Gryphon was not at all frightened at their anger, and he

-answered them boldly and firmly:

-

-“This young man,” said he, “is a valiant and kind-hearted youth. He

-saved my young ones from destruction by attacking, single-handed, and

-killing a Dragon who was on the point of devouring them. He then

-related to me his story of how, after nine years of happiness, he was

-deprived by the King of the Fairies of his wife, his house, his wealth,

-and everything which he had possessed. I consider, therefore, that he

-has been treated in a shameful and unjustifiable manner, and so I have

-brought him here to plead his cause in person and to claim redress.”

-

-While this conversation was in progress the young man’s Fairy wife had

-been hiding in a corner, too nervous to show herself before her husband

-and all the assembly of the gods. But she could now contain herself no

-longer, and, rushing forward, she threw herself into her husband’s

-arms, crying out that she loved him and would return with him to earth.

-

-When her father heard this he did not know how to act, but it was

-decided that a conclave should be held, and the matter debated at

-length. So the celestial powers met together in a great council, and,

-having discussed the matter in all its bearings, they decided that, as

-the Fairy Princess desired to return to earth of her own free will,

-they would not stand in her way; but that if she did so, she must take

-the consequence of her own action, and that as the result of mating

-with an unclean creature like a human being she must herself become

-mortal and lose her Fairy nature.

-

-On hearing this decision the girl joyfully agreed. So she and her

-husband mounted together upon the broad back of the Gryphon, and the

-great beast, spreading his wings, sailed through the golden gates of

-the palace and swept downwards through the blue heavens to the earth

-below. He soon deposited the youth and his wife on the ground near

-their old home, where he bade them farewell and returned to his own

-nest. And henceforward, although the Fairy had lost her magic powers,

-the two lived happily together, and grew to a good old age in

-prosperous and comfortable circumstances.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XVI.

-

-THE PRINCE AND THE OGRE’S CASTLE.

-

-

-Once upon a time there lived an old King and Queen, who, although they

-had been married for many years, had no children to brighten their old

-age or to inherit their kingdom; and in the King’s possession, as it

-happened, were a favourite mare and dog, who also had no offspring. Now

-both the King and the Queen were very anxious to have children of their

-own, and also to perpetuate the fine breed represented by the mare and

-the dog; so the King posted a notice all over his kingdom, offering a

-very large reward to any Lama or other holy personage who could secure

-to him and to his horse and dog the birth of children.

-

-In response to this notice many Lamas and recluses presented themselves

-at the palace, and by means of prayers and religious ceremonies they

-endeavoured to obtain from the gods what the King and Queen desired;

-but all their efforts were in vain, and the years passed by without any

-offspring being born.

-

-Now it chanced that in a neighbouring country there lived a terrible

-Ogre, who was an expert in magic and all the black arts; and it came to

-his ears that this King had offered a large reward if anyone could

-secure to him the birth of children for himself, his horse and his dog.

-So he disguised himself as a holy Lama, and coming up to the palace one

-day on foot, he asked for an interview with the King. The King, who had

-almost lost faith in Lamas of any kind, received him courteously, and

-asked him what he could do to help in the matter.

-

-“Oh, King!” replied the supposed Lama, “I, you must know, am a great

-recluse, and as the result of many years of solitary meditation, I have

-become proficient in all the magic arts. I will undertake to secure for

-you and your horse and dog the birth of offspring as you desire. But I

-can only do so on one condition, which is as follows: three children

-will be born to you, three to the horse and three to the dog. They will

-all be of a miraculous nature, and will grow to their full powers in

-the course of three years. At the end of three years I will return

-here, and will claim from you one of each to follow me and serve me and

-to obey my orders in all matters.”

-

-The King gladly agreed to this condition, and asked the Lama how he

-should proceed in order to secure the desired result. The Lama replied:

-

-“Here, oh King, are nine pills; three of these must be administered to

-the Queen, three to the horse and three to the dog. In three months’

-time a child will be born to each, to be followed by two others at

-intervals of one month.”

-

-So saying, he handed the pills to the King and forthwith took his

-departure. The King accordingly administered the pills as directed, and

-after three months the Queen gave birth to a boy, the mare to a foal,

-and the dog to a pup, and these were followed by two others at

-intervals of one month as the Lama had predicted.

-

-All the young ones grew apace, and at the end of the three years they

-had all attained to their full growth and powers, and punctually at the

-conclusion of the third year the Ogre, still disguised as a Lama,

-returned to the palace to demand his due.

-

-The King and Queen, though reluctant to part with any of their

-children, resolved to abide by their bargain, and they consulted

-together as to which of the young Princes should be handed over to the

-Lama. After some consideration they decided that it would not be

-advisable to part with the eldest son, as he was heir to the throne,

-nor with the second, who would have to succeed to the kingdom should

-any accident or mischance befall his elder brother; so they resolved to

-send the youngest son, and with him the youngest horse and the youngest

-dog. These three accordingly were handed over to the Lama, who ordered

-the Prince to follow him, and started off at once to his own country.

-

-After travelling for some considerable distance they arrived at the top

-of a high pass, whence the Ogre, pointing down to a great castle

-standing in the valley below, said to the young Prince:

-

-“That is my house below there; I shall leave you here and you must go

-on down to the house. When you arrive there you will find a goat tied

-up near the door of the courtyard, and a bundle of straw lying near by.

-You must pick up the bundle of straw and place it within reach of the

-goat. Then you must go into the farmyard, where you will find many

-fowls, and in one corner you will see an earthenware jar full of soaked

-grain, and you must sprinkle this grain for the fowls to eat. These two

-tasks I give you to-day, and you are on no account to enter my castle

-until I rejoin you in the evening.”

-

-So saying the Ogre went off in another direction, whilst the young

-Prince, riding on his horse and followed by his dog, went down to the

-Ogre’s castle. When he reached the gateway he found, as the Ogre had

-predicted, a goat tied up and a bundle of straw lying in a corner of

-the courtyard. So he dismounted from his horse, and, picking up the

-bundle, he carried it near the goat and placed it on the ground.

-Scarcely had the bundle touched the ground when it became transformed

-into three great wolves, who, leaping upon the goat, devoured it in an

-instant, and then fled away to the hills.

-

-The young Prince was very much astonished at seeing this, but being of

-a courageous spirit he did not allow the incident to frighten him, and

-proceeded to finish the remainder of his task. So he entered the yard

-where the poultry were kept, and proceeding to the corner where stood

-the jar of soaked barley, he took out a handful and scattered it

-amongst the fowls. As the grain touched the ground it was transformed

-instantly into three wild cats, who leapt fiercely upon the cocks and

-hens, and in a few moments, having destroyed them all, fled away into

-the hills.

-

-The Prince’s curiosity was now thoroughly aroused, and he determined,

-in spite of the Ogre’s warning, to enter the house itself, and to

-discover what sort of place he had come to, so he pushed open the door

-of the castle and began wandering about all over the house. For some

-time he found nothing to interest him. The rooms were all well

-furnished and in good order, but he could find no trace and hear no

-sound of any living creature.

-

-At last, after having explored the greater part of the building, he

-suddenly turned a corner in a passage, and saw in front of him a room

-whose walls were composed entirely of glass. Entering this room he saw

-in one corner a beautiful lady lying asleep on a couch with a flower

-behind her ear. The Prince was pleased at finding a human being in this

-desolate and mysterious castle, and, approaching the lady, he

-endeavoured to arouse her from her slumber. But all his efforts were in

-vain; she appeared to be in a sort of trance, and all he could do did

-not succeed in waking her.

-

-At last in despair he took away the flower which was placed behind her

-ear, and as he did so she woke and sat up upon her couch, rubbing her

-eyes. As soon as she perceived the young Prince she was much

-astonished, and asked him what he was doing in the Ogre’s castle. The

-Prince told her the whole story of his miraculous birth through the

-magic of the holy Lama, and how he was condemned to serve the Lama as

-his servant through the agreement which the King his father had made,

-and how he had carried out the two tasks which the Lama had given him

-that day.

-

-On hearing this story the lady was very indignant, and spoke to him as

-follows:

-

-“You must know, oh Prince,” said she, “that the person whom you suppose

-to be a Lama is in reality a fearful and wicked Ogre. The only food of

-which he partakes is men’s hearts, and this house is full of the

-lifeless bodies of his numerous victims. He, however, is unable to

-obtain any power over the body of a human being unless that being

-directly disobeys his orders. Thus it is his practice upon obtaining a

-fresh servant to set him strange tasks which terrify and repel him.

-These tasks grow daily more difficult and more odious, until at last

-one day the servant disobeys his orders, and forthwith his body is at

-the mercy of the Ogre, who devours the heart and places the lifeless

-body in a large chamber at the back of this house. The process has

-evidently begun with you to-day. You have fulfilled all of his tasks

-without allowing yourself to be terrified by the strange portents which

-you have observed, but on his return he will no doubt set you further

-and more disagreeable duties to perform. I, you should know, am a

-Princess in my own country, and I was handed over to the Ogre by my

-parents about a year ago in circumstances very similar to your own. But

-when he had brought me to his castle, instead of destroying me as he

-does his other victims, he fell in love with me, and I have remained

-here as his wife ever since. But he is of a very jealous disposition,

-and never allows me to leave his castle; and for fear I should make my

-escape during his absence, he invariably, before going out, places an

-enchanted flower behind my ear which makes me fall into a trance, and I

-cannot awake until the flower is removed.”

-

-The young Prince was very much interested on hearing this story, and he

-begged the Princess to give him some further information about the

-Ogre’s habits, in order that he might not unawares fall into his power,

-and might eventually be able to bring about the destruction of the

-monster.

-

-“It is very difficult,” replied the Princess, “for any human being to

-kill the Ogre, for he is of a supernatural nature, and even if you were

-to cut off his head he would come to life again at once, unless you

-could also destroy his ‘mascot’ [6]—that is to say, the object upon the

-preservation of which his life in this world depends. Now the Ogre’s

-mascot is very carefully concealed, and its existence and whereabouts

-are known to no person except myself. I, however, have discovered where

-it is, and I will reveal the secret to you later, but first I will tell

-you the method by which you may destroy the Ogre’s body. You must know,

-then, that it is only possible for a human being to strike a mortal

-blow at the Ogre when his face is turned away. He knows this very well,

-and will never in any circumstances turn his back upon a man.

-Similarly, if he can make you turn your back to him he may be able to

-do you a mischief. When he comes in this evening and finds that you

-have fulfilled both the tasks he has set you, the first thing he will

-order you to do will be to walk three times round a great stove which

-stands in the centre of the kitchen; and if you obey his orders he will

-follow you from behind and will possibly do you some harm while your

-back is turned towards him. When he gives you these orders, then, you

-must not disobey, but you must tell the Ogre that it is so dark in the

-kitchen that you cannot see your way clearly, and you must ask him to

-precede you. This he is bound to do, and while he is going round the

-stove you may perhaps find an opportunity for stabbing him. If,

-however, you cannot succeed in doing so, and you both pass through this

-ordeal successfully, he will set you no further task to-night, and I

-will ascertain from him during the evening what trial he has in store

-for you to-morrow.”

-

-The Prince thanked the young lady for all her good advice, which he

-promised to follow faithfully in every respect, and she then said to

-him:

-

-“It is now near the time for the Ogre’s return. I will lie down on the

-couch, and you must place the flower behind my ear just as it was

-before; and when I fall into a trance you must at once go out into the

-courtyard and wait the return of the Ogre, and mind you are careful not

-to let him know that you have been inside the castle.”

-

-So saying, the Princess lay down upon her couch, and the young man

-having placed the flower behind her ear she instantly fell into a deep

-trance. The Prince then went out into the courtyard and shortly after

-the Ogre arrived. He had now discarded his lama costume and appeared in

-his proper form, and riding up to the Prince he asked him in an angry

-tone whether he had carried out the orders he had received, and on the

-Prince replying in the affirmative, the Ogre ordered him to come into

-the kitchen. On entering the kitchen the Ogre pointed to a great stove

-standing in the centre, and said to the Prince:

-

-“You must now walk three times round that stove.”

-

-“It is so dark in here,” replied the Prince, “that I cannot see my way

-at all clearly. Will you please precede me and show me the way?”

-

-The Ogre was very angry at hearing this, but he was unable to refuse,

-so he started off and ran round the stove three times, the Prince

-following closely at his heels. But he went so fast that the Prince,

-although he had his knife ready in his hand, was unable to catch him;

-and the Ogre, seeing that the Prince was not to be outwitted by this

-stratagem, went upstairs to his wife, leaving the young man locked up

-in the kitchen, where he spent the night alone.

-

-Next morning the Ogre started off soon after daylight on his own

-business, and as soon as he was gone the Prince ran upstairs to the

-glass room, where he found the lady lying in a trance as before. He

-took the flower from behind her ear, and she immediately woke up and

-looked about her.

-

-“Good-morning, Prince,” said she. “How did you succeed last night? I

-hope you followed the instructions which I gave you.”

-

-The Prince described to her what had occurred, and she said:

-

-“I have ascertained what the Ogre proposes to do when he returns this

-evening. He will seat himself in his chair of state in his great hall

-of audience and will order you to kow-tow to him three times, and if

-you do so he will seize an opportunity whilst you are lying on your

-face before him to do you some injury. It will not do, however,

-absolutely to disobey his orders; but you must explain to him that,

-being a Prince, you have never had to kow-tow to anybody and do not

-exactly know how to do it, and you must ask him to show you the proper

-way to proceed. He cannot refuse your request, and you must take the

-opportunity of stabbing him or cutting off his head whilst he is lying

-on his face before you. If you succeed in this come at once to me, and

-I will show you what else is necessary in order to bring about his

-complete destruction.”

-

-The Prince promised to obey the lady’s orders, and after again sending

-her into a trance by placing the magic flower behind her ear, he

-returned to the courtyard and awaited the Ogre’s return. Just before

-dusk the Ogre came back and as the Princess had predicted he proceeded

-at once to the great audience hall, and seated himself on his chair of

-state.

-

-“Now,” said he to the Prince, “you must kow-tow to me three times.”

-

-“I am very sorry,” answered the Prince, “that I do not know how to do

-so. Being a Prince myself, I have never had to kow-tow to anybody; but

-if you will show me the proper manner in which to proceed I will do my

-best.”

-

-This reply made the Ogre very angry, but he was unable to refuse to do

-as the Prince had asked him. So the Prince took his seat on the Ogre’s

-chair and the Ogre kneeling on the ground before him proceeded to

-kow-tow three times in the orthodox manner. As the Ogre’s face touched

-the ground the first time the Prince drew his sword; as it touched the

-ground the second time he raised the sword above his head; and as it

-touched the ground the third and last time the Prince delivered a

-violent blow, completely severing the Ogre’s head from his body.

-Leaving the body where it lay, the Prince ran up to the glass room as

-fast as he could, and having awakened the lady from her sleep, he told

-her what had happened.

-

-“Well done!” said she. “The first part of your task is now

-accomplished; but as I told you before, it is still necessary to

-destroy the Ogre’s mascot, or he will come to life again in a short

-time. What you must do now, therefore, is as follows: you must descend

-into the vaults below the castle, and having traversed nine dark

-subterranean chambers, you will come to a blank stone wall. You must

-rap three times on this wall with the hilt of your sword, exclaiming

-with each rap, ‘Open, blank wall’; and as you pronounce these words for

-the third time the wall will fly asunder, and you will find yourself

-entering another subterranean chamber. In the centre of this chamber

-you will see a beautiful boy seated with a goblet of crystal liquid in

-his hand. This boy is the Ogre’s mascot, and upon his existence depends

-the Ogre’s life in this world. You must at once slay the boy, and

-taking the goblet very carefully in your hand, carry it upstairs to me.

-But be careful not to spill any of the liquid, as each drop means a

-man’s life.”

-

-On receiving these instructions the Prince went down into the vaults at

-the basement of the castle, and having traversed nine great

-subterranean chambers, he found his progress stopped by a blank wall.

-Raising his sword he rapped three times with the hilt on the wall,

-exclaiming each time as he did so, “Open, blank wall.” As he pronounced

-these words for the third time a grating sound was heard, and with a

-hollow clang the wall gave way for him.

-

-Advancing a few paces the Prince found himself in a small dungeon,

-lighted only by the glimmer which issued from a goblet of crystal

-liquid held in the hand of a beautiful young boy, who was seated in the

-centre of the chamber. Without a moment’s hesitation the Prince thrust

-his sword through the heart of the boy, and taking the goblet in his

-hand, he carried it upstairs to the Princess, being very careful on the

-way not to allow a single drop to be spilt.

-

-When the Princess saw him entering her room with the goblet in his hand

-she was very much delighted.

-

-“Now,” said she, “the Ogre is effectually destroyed, and can never more

-come to life in this world. All that now remains to be done is to

-restore to life his previous victims.”

-

-So saying she ordered the Prince, still carrying the goblet, to follow

-her, and she proceeded by many winding passages and staircases to a

-remote part of the great castle. Presently, opening a huge door, she

-entered a long, low, gloomy chamber, lighted only by a narrow window

-which looked out over the back part of the castle. When the Prince

-entered this chamber he was horrified to see that down both sides of it

-were stretched the bodies of many scores of men, women and children,

-who lay there fully dressed, but to all appearance quite lifeless.

-

-“These,” said the lady, “are the bodies of the Ogre’s victims; he has

-eaten their hearts, but the bodies, as you see, remain unharmed, while

-the spirit of each one is compressed into a drop of crystal liquor with

-which that goblet is filled. You must now sprinkle the bodies with the

-liquid, giving one drop to each.”

-

-Accordingly the Prince passed down the rows of lifeless bodies,

-dropping as he went one drop of the magic liquid on each body; and as

-the liquor touched the body the life returned, and each person, as if

-awakened from a long sleep, moved and yawned, and finally sat up and

-began to talk and walk. In a few moments the transformation was

-complete, and the Ogre’s victims, after thanking the Prince and

-Princess heartily for their good offices, returned to their own homes.

-The Prince himself bade farewell to the lady, and leaving her in

-possession of the Ogre’s castle and all its belongings, he himself

-mounted upon his horse, and with his dog following at his heels, set

-out in search of further adventures.

-

-

-

-[This is only the first instalment of the Prince’s adventures, which

-continue to an interminable length. I have given this section as a

-sample of the whole.]

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XVII.

-

-THE STORY OF THE STONE LION.

-

-

-Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father was dead, and who

-lived alone with their mother in a big house in a well-cultivated

-valley.

-

-Now the elder of these brothers was a smart, clever man, but was of a

-very selfish, cold-hearted disposition; and the younger brother was

-simple and kind, but rather dull. The consequence was that after the

-death of their father the elder brother conducted most of the business

-of the family himself, and entirely supported his brother and his

-mother; whilst the younger brother, although quite willing to do his

-best, was not clever enough to be of any assistance in the household.

-

-After a time the elder brother decided in his mind that he could no

-longer endure this state of affairs, so he one day called his young

-brother aside, and told him plainly that he would no longer continue to

-support such a lout, and that it would be better for him to go out into

-the world and seek his own fortune alone. The poor boy was much grieved

-on hearing this decision from his brother; but he was quite unable to

-protest or dispute, so, having packed up his few belongings, he went to

-say good-bye to his mother, and told her what had occurred. The good

-woman was very angry when she heard the news, and she said to her son:

-

-“Very well, if your hard-hearted brother insists on turning you out of

-the house, I will accompany you. I cannot consent to remain any longer

-with such an unnatural and cruel son.”

-

-So next day the mother and her younger son left the house and set off

-together to seek some means of livelihood on their own account. After

-travelling for some little distance they reached an empty hut situated

-at the foot of a large hill, not far from a populous town; and finding

-that the place was apparently deserted and that the owner, whoever he

-was, had left nothing to show that he proposed to return, they took

-possession of the hut, and slept there during the night.

-

-Next morning early the boy, taking an axe with him, went out on to the

-hillside and began chopping wood. By evening he had chopped a fine big

-bundle of wood, and taking it down into the town he sold it in the

-market for a good sum of money. Greatly elated at the success of his

-labours he returned to his mother in the hut, and showing her the money

-he had earned, he told her that she need no longer have any anxiety

-regarding the future, for he would now be able to support her without

-any difficulty. Next morning, shouldering his axe, he started off

-again, and as before, began to chop wood. He had done a good morning’s

-work, and was walking a little further up the hill in order to search

-for some better timber, when, in a sheltered part of the hillside he

-suddenly found himself face to face with a large life-sized Lion carved

-out of the stone.

-

-“Now,” thought he to himself, on seeing the Lion, “this, no doubt, is

-the guardian deity of this mountain, and to him must be due my good

-fortune in so easily obtaining a means of livelihood. I will certainly

-make him some offering to-morrow.”

-

-So that evening, after selling his wood, he purchased two candles in

-the town, and on the following day he went straight to where the stone

-Lion stood, and lighting the candles, he placed one upon each side of

-the image, and prostrating himself humbly upon the ground before it, he

-prayed for renewed good fortune. Suddenly, to his surprise and alarm,

-the Lion opened its mouth, and asked him what he was doing there.

-

-The young man replied that having been driven from his home by his

-proud and hard-hearted brother, he was now engaged in earning his

-livelihood by chopping wood upon that hill; and that, thinking that the

-Lion must be the guardian deity of the mountain, he had considered it

-right to make him some sort of an offering, and to request his

-continued patronage and assistance.

-

-“Very good,” replied the Lion in a guttural tone of voice, “come again

-at this time to-morrow, and bring with you a large bucket, and I will

-furnish you at once with what wealth you require.”

-

-The boy thanked the Lion for his kindness, and carrying his load of

-firewood down to the village he sold it for a good price, and with the

-proceeds he purchased himself a large wooden bucket.

-

-Next morning he went up onto the hill again, carrying his bucket, and

-arriving near the stone Lion, he again prostrated himself upon the

-ground and announced his presence.

-

-“Very good,” replied the Lion, “you must now act as follows: hold the

-bucket under my mouth, and I will vomit gold into it. But as soon as

-the bucket is nearly full you must tell me, as on no account must a

-single morsel of gold fall to the ground.”

-

-The young man proceeded to do as the Lion had instructed him. He held

-the bucket below the Lion’s mouth, and the Lion forthwith began to

-vomit into it a stream of gold pieces. When the bucket was nearly full

-the young man informed the Lion of the fact, and forthwith the stream

-of gold came to an end; and the youth, having thanked the Lion most

-heartily for his munificent gift, carried off his bucket of gold in

-triumph to his mother. The poor woman was at first quite frightened at

-seeing so much wealth, but her son, having explained to her how he had

-come by it, she became greatly excited, and pleased.

-

-Next day the widow and her son set about placing themselves in more

-comfortable circumstances. They purchased a large farm-house in the

-neighbourhood, and a large stock of cattle and sheep, and settled down

-in their new abode, and henceforward they began to live in a very

-comfortable and prosperous manner.

-

-The news of the changed condition of life of his mother and younger

-brother soon reached the ears of the eldest son, and overcome with

-curiosity as to how this result had been brought about, he decided to

-call upon them, and to ascertain the cause of their prosperity. So,

-accompanied by his wife, and carrying with him a very small piece of

-cloth as a present, he set out to pay them a visit. When he reached the

-house his younger brother was away engaged upon his farm business, but

-the mother received her elder son and his wife very kindly and made

-them as comfortable as she could. In the evening, when the younger

-brother returned, he greeted his brother heartily, and being of a most

-kind-hearted and forgiving disposition, he related to him fully the

-manner in which he had come by his wealth, and strongly recommended his

-brother to act in a similar way.

-

-The elder brother and his wife, as they returned home together that

-evening, talked the matter over between them, and decided that so good

-an opportunity of making money so easily was not to be lost. So next

-day the husband proceeded to the town, and after a prolonged search

-purchased the largest bucket which was to be had in the whole place.

-Carrying this with him, and bringing also a couple of candles, he

-proceeded to the hillside, and following the directions he had received

-from his brother, he soon found himself face to face with the stone

-Lion. He at once lighted his candles and placed them one on each side

-of the Lion, while he prostrated himself upon the ground, and prayed to

-the Lion for good fortune.

-

-“Who are you?” said the Lion in a gruff voice; “and what do you want?”

-

-“I,” replied the elder brother, “am the brother of the young man who

-was here the other day, and to whom you gave so much gold; and,

-following his advice, I have now come to ask you for a similar benefit

-for myself.”

-

-“Very well,” said the Lion, “place your bucket under my mouth and I

-will vomit gold into it; but as soon as the bucket is nearly full you

-must inform me of the fact, as on no account must a single piece of

-gold fall to the ground. If this should happen, you will meet with

-misfortune.”

-

-So the elder brother, trembling with eagerness, held his bucket as

-directed, and forthwith a stream of gold pieces began to pour from the

-Lion’s mouth into the bucket. The covetous fellow shook the bucket

-slightly from time to time in order to make the gold lie well together

-and so to obtain a larger quantity; and, overcome by greed, he could

-not bring himself to inform the Lion that the bucket was nearly full

-until it brimmed over and a piece of gold, slipping off the heap, fell

-to the ground. As it touched the ground the stream of gold suddenly

-ceased, and the Lion, in a hoarse voice, said:

-

-“The largest piece of gold of all has stuck in my throat. Put your hand

-into my mouth and pull it out.”

-

-The elder brother, on hearing this, immediately thrust his hand into

-the Lion’s mouth, hoping to secure a large lump of gold; and no sooner

-had he done so than the Lion, closing his jaws, held him fast. It was

-in vain that he struggled and wrenched his arm to and fro, endeavouring

-to release it; the stone jaws of the Lion gripped him so tight that he

-was totally unable to effect his escape, and the Lion, deaf to all

-prayers and entreaties, had relapsed apparently into an insensible

-figure of stone. And worst of all, when he glanced at his bucket of

-gold he saw, to his horror, that instead of gold it held nothing but

-stones and earth.

-

-Towards evening the elder brother’s wife grew anxious concerning her

-husband’s absence, and knowing the direction in which he had gone, she

-set forth to the hillside to seek him. After hunting for some time she

-suddenly came across him, and asked him what he was doing and why he

-did not come home.

-

-“Oh, wife,” said he, “a terrible thing has happened to me. I put my

-hand into the Lion’s mouth in order to extract a lump of gold which was

-stuck in his throat, when all of a sudden he closed his jaws, and

-gripped my arm, and now I am unable to effect my escape.”

-

-The poor woman, on hearing this, wept and wailed, but all her

-entreaties to the Lion proved of no avail, and she went off to her

-home, and soon returned carrying her husband some food. Every day, for

-many days after, she returned to her husband, bringing him such

-provisions as he required to keep him alive; but as she had now no one

-to work for her, and was obliged to support her husband and her child

-entirely by her own exertions, she became gradually poorer and poorer,

-and was soon obliged to sell her household goods to procure the

-necessary food.

-

-Some months passed away and the poor woman, falling ill, was at length

-reduced to such complete destitution that she had not even a morsel of

-bread to bring to her husband, and one morning she came weeping up the

-hill, and addressed him as follows:

-

-“I have sold everything in the house, and have now no money to buy any

-food. There is not a scrap left to eat anywhere, and now nothing

-remains but for us to starve to death.”

-

-On hearing this the Lion was so tickled that he could not refrain from

-laughing.

-

-“Ha, ha!” said he, and opened his great jaws.

-

-As quickly as he could, and before the Lion had time to close his mouth

-again, the man withdrew his arm, and, finding himself free, he at once

-hastened down the hill with his wife. Then, taking their child with

-them, they proceeded straight to the house of the younger brother, and

-having related to him the whole of their story, begged some relief from

-their misery. The young man reproached his brother for his greedy

-conduct in trying to obtain an extra supply of gold from the Lion in

-spite of his warning; but being of a very forgiving nature, he

-consented at last to supply his brother with a sum of money sufficient

-for him to take a small farm in the neighbourhood. Here the proud

-brother and his wife settled down in very humble circumstances, whilst

-the younger son lived for many years very happily with his mother and

-prospered exceedingly in all he undertook.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XVIII.

-

-THE STORY OF THE LAMA’S SERVANT.

-

-

-There was once an old Lama who lived in a small house at the very top

-of a hill in a lonely part of Tibet. He was a very holy man and spent

-his time entirely in religious contemplation, and the only person whom

-he allowed about his house was a certain young man of low birth, who

-acted as his Servant and used to cook his meals and perform other

-household duties. This man was a great character in his way. He was an

-amusing fellow and very fond of his joke, but was quite unreliable and

-incapable of performing any regular work.

-

-Now the old Lama’s diet, in accordance with the tenets of his religion,

-was a very small one, and he refrained entirely from taking the life of

-any living creature. So his food consisted chiefly of barley-flour,

-butter, and so on, and he abstained from meat of any kind. This mode of

-life, however, was not at all pleasing to the Servant, Rin-dzin, who

-had a healthy appetite and greatly missed his daily dish of meat, and

-he was constantly trying to persuade the Lama to allow him to kill a

-sheep or a goat in order that he might have a satisfactory meal. This,

-however, the Lama always sternly refused to do, and forbade his Servant

-on any account to destroy the life of a living being.

-

-One day the Servant noticed a fine fat sheep, which, having become

-separated from the rest of the flock, was wandering about near the

-Lama’s house. So he pursued it and caught it, and carrying it into the

-ground floor of the house, he went up into the room above, and letting

-down a rope through a hole in the floor he hitched a slip-knot at the

-other end of the rope round the sheep’s neck. Having made these

-arrangements he went into the next room, where the Lama, as usual, was

-sitting alone wrapt in religious contemplation, deaf to all mundane

-affairs.

-

-“Oh! Lama,” said the Servant, addressing the old man, “I have come to

-tell you that I have just found a sheep belonging to our neighbours,

-who live in the valley below, wandering about near the house; so, for

-fear he should be eaten by wolves, I have caught him and tied him up in

-a room below. But he is a very violent sheep and is struggling

-desperately to escape. Will you be so kind as to hold the rope for a

-short time while I go and inform the owner where his sheep is?”

-

-The old Lama, who never refused a reasonable request, at once proceeded

-to do as he was asked, and, rising from his seat, he followed the

-Servant into the next room.

-

-“Pray hold this rope,” said the Servant, handing the Lama the loose end

-of the rope to which the sheep was secured, “and if the sheep begins to

-struggle, pull it as hard as you can to prevent him from escaping.”

-

-The Lama accordingly took hold of the rope, and the Servant went down

-into the lower storey as if he intended to leave the house. Instead of

-doing so, however, he went into the room where the sheep was tied and

-began to poke the animal with a sharp stick, and the sheep began to

-struggle violently, trying to escape from its tormentor. The more the

-sheep struggled below the more the Lama pulled above, and at last, when

-the tug-of-war had lasted for some minutes, the sheep was strangled by

-the slip-knot round its neck.

-

-After the lapse of an hour or two the Servant returned to the Lama in

-the upper room and informed him that the sheep had died a natural death

-while he had been away seeking for its owner, and, in the

-circumstances, he supposed that they might as well cut it up and cook

-it for food. The unsuspecting old Lama agreed to this, and for several

-days the Servant was able to eat his fill of excellent mutton.

-

-It chanced, however, that the shepherd boy who was in charge of the

-sheep had come to the Lama’s house looking for the one which was lost,

-and peeping in through the window had seen all that had happened. He

-told the story to his parents, who were very angry, and came to

-complain to the Lama of the conduct of his Servant. The old Lama was

-very much incensed at the treachery and wickedness of his attendant,

-and dismissed him on the spot, telling him to go away and never come

-back again. So Master Rin-dzin, with his few belongings on his back,

-marched off into the world to try and make his fortune.

-

-He was a good deal cast down at first, but being naturally a volatile,

-light-hearted fellow he soon recovered his spirits and marched along

-the road singing blithely, and keeping a sharp look-out for anything

-that might turn up. He had not proceeded very far when he fell in with

-another young man going in the same direction as himself, and the two,

-joining company, fell into conversation. Rin-dzin soon related to his

-young friend all his recent adventures, and informed him that he was

-anxious to make a little money.

-

-“Very good, brother,” replied the Stranger, “I am the very man to help

-you, for you must know I am a thief by profession, and I am always on

-the look-out for what fortune may bring me. So we will join company,

-and it will indeed be bad luck if we cannot succeed in hitting upon

-something profitable before many days have passed.”

-

-So they went along together and towards evening they came upon a large

-house standing in a fertile valley. The Thief went forward alone to

-make enquiries, and he soon returned to Rin-dzin with the information

-he had gathered. The servants of the house had told him that the owner

-had died the day before, and was now awaiting burial in his own room.

-His only relation was his daughter, who was heiress to the whole of the

-property, and she was now mourning for her father all alone in the big

-house. Further, the Thief had learned that the old man had once had a

-son, who had run away from home many years before and had never been

-heard of again.

-

-“Now,” said he to Rin-dzin, “I have a plan to propose to you. Do you

-climb in through the window into the room where the old man’s body lies

-awaiting burial, and conceal yourself somewhere. As soon as you are

-ready I will go to the young lady of the house and inform her that I am

-her brother, who has returned home after many years’ wandering. She

-will probably disbelieve my story, and I will propose that we should

-consult the corpse of her father on the matter. When we come into the

-room where the corpse lies I will address it, and ask whether I am not

-the long-lost son, whereupon you must reply that I am. On this evidence

-I shall secure at least one-half of the property, which, of course, I

-shall share with you. But be careful on no account to leave the room

-before morning, otherwise you are sure to be detected by the dogs which

-roam about the house by night.”

-

-Rin-dzin agreed to this proposition, and climbed in by the window into

-the dead man’s room, and, concealing himself near the corpse, he

-awaited the arrival of his friend. Meanwhile the Thief went boldly up

-to the front door and gave a loud knock; and being admitted by the

-servants, he went straight to the chamber of the young lady of the

-house.

-

-“Who are you?” said she; “and what do you want?”

-

-“Oh! sister,” he replied, “I am your long-lost brother; do you not

-recognise me?”

-

-“No,” said she, “it would be impossible for me to recognise you, as I

-was only a little child when you ran away. No one but my father could

-know you and he, alas! died yesterday.”

-

-“That is very sad,” replied the Thief, “for indeed it will be difficult

-for me to prove the truth of my story. Let us, however, go into the

-room where my father’s corpse is lying, and ask it whether or no I am

-his long-lost son.”

-

-The girl agreed to this, and the two went together into the chamber

-where the old man’s corpse was sitting trussed-up for burial, in

-accordance with the Tibetan custom.

-

-“Are you there, father,” said the Thief, as he entered the darkened

-room; and Rin-dzin, in a sepulchral voice replied, “Ah.”

-

-“I have come to ask you,” went on the Thief, “whether or no I am your

-long-lost son.”

-

-“You are,” replied Rin-dzin.

-

-And on hearing this the Thief at once retired, followed by the young

-girl, who was now completely convinced of his identity.

-

-“Now, sister,” said the Thief, addressing her when they were alone

-together, “you see that my story is true, but, unfortunately, I am

-unable to stay here as I am called away this very night on urgent

-business. I will therefore make over to you the house and the whole of

-the landed property, and all I ask from you as my share of the estate

-is a bag of gold, as big as I can carry with me.”

-

-The girl accepted these conditions, and handed over to the Thief a

-heavy bag of gold. He then bade her farewell and started off with his

-booty as fast as he could, leaving Rin-dzin behind him in the same room

-as the corpse.

-

-Early next morning Rin-dzin climbed down from the window, and coming

-round to the front of the house he asked the lady where her brother

-was.

-

-“Oh!” said she, “I gave him a big bag of gold last night, and he at

-once started off with it as fast as he could.”

-

-When Rin-dzin heard this he was very angry indeed at the Thief’s

-treachery, and was determined to follow and punish him. So, borrowing a

-horse from the lady of the house, he galloped off down the road as fast

-as he could. About mid-day, as he was galloping along, he saw the Thief

-some distance ahead, sitting under the shade of a tree resting; for not

-knowing that Rin-dzin had a horse, he did not consider it necessary to

-go very fast.

-

-When Rin-dzin caught sight of the Thief, he first thought that he would

-at once go up to him and demand his share of the gold, but on second

-thoughts he remembered that while he himself was unarmed, the thief

-possessed both a sword and a musket, so that if it came to a quarrel

-between them he would probably get the worst of it. So, leaning down

-over his horse’s neck, he pretended not to see the Thief, and galloped

-past him down the road, as if in mad pursuit. As soon as he was out of

-sight of the place where the Thief was sitting he pulled his horse up

-to a wall, and taking a new boot out of the bundle on his back, he

-dropped it in the middle of the road, and then pursued his way for some

-little distance further, when he took the fellow boot out of his bundle

-and dropped it also in the middle of the road. Having done this he

-turned aside from the roadway and concealed himself and his horse in a

-thicket near by.

-

-As soon as Rin-dzin had galloped out of sight, the Thief congratulated

-himself at not having been seen, took up his bag of gold and continued

-his journey. After walking some little way, he came upon a new boot

-lying in the centre of the road.

-

-“Ah!” thought he, “that foolish fellow has dropped one of his boots in

-his haste. But one boot isn’t worth picking up; it is of no use at all.

-What a pity it is he did not drop them both.”

-

-So leaving the boot where it lay, he resumed his journey. The sun was

-now very hot, and the Thief, carrying his heavy bag of gold, was

-getting pretty tired, and by the time he reached the place where the

-other boot was lying he was nearly worn out.

-

-“Hallo,” said he to himself, when he caught sight of the second boot,

-“here is the other boot. This is really too good a chance to be lost; I

-must certainly go back at once and pick up the first boot, and then I

-shall have a pair of new boots for nothing. But I can’t carry this

-heavy bag of gold all the way back with me.”

-

-So thinking, he concealed the bag of gold under a tuft of grass by the

-roadside, and started off to retrace his steps to pick up the first

-boot. No sooner was he out of sight than Rin-dzin emerged from his

-hiding-place, and picking up the bag of gold, strapped it to his saddle

-and rode on his way.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XIX.

-

-THE COUNTRY OF THE MICE.

-

-

-Once upon a time there was a King who ruled over a large tract of

-country in which there lived a great number of Mice. Generally the Mice

-were very prosperous and had plenty to eat, but it happened one year

-that the crops of the country were very poor, and the Mice, who

-subsisted chiefly on the spare grains left after the harvest, found

-that their stores were running short before the end of the winter. So

-the King of the Mice decided that he would make a petition to the King

-of the country, to lend the Mice what grain they required on condition

-that they repaid the whole amount the following year.

-

-So he dressed himself up in his best clothes and set off one morning to

-the King’s palace. When he got to the door of the palace the

-door-keeper asked him where he was going.

-

-“Oh!” replied the Mouse, “I wish to see the King of the country, as I

-have a petition to make to him.”

-

-When the King heard that a Mouse wanted to see him he was very much

-amused, and he ordered that the little animal should be admitted.

-

-When the Mouse entered the King’s presence he walked slowly up the Hall

-of Audience, carrying in his hand a little silk thread, which he

-presented to the King, instead of the usual ceremonial scarf. [7]

-

-“Good-morning, Brother Mouse,” said the King, “what can I do for you?”

-

-“Oh! King,” replied the Mouse, “you must know that this year our crops

-have fallen short, and we are threatened with a famine unless we can

-borrow sufficient grain to carry us through the winter; so I, who am

-King of the Mice, have come here to ask you if you can help us in this

-matter. If you can lend us the grain we require, we will repay you

-faithfully with interest at the next harvest.”

-

-“Well,” said the King, “how much grain do you want?”

-

-“I think that we shall require,” said the Mouse, “one of your big barns

-full.”

-

-“But,” said the King, “if I were to give you a barn full of grain how

-would you carry it away?”

-

-“Leave it to me,” said the Mouse; “if you will give us the grain we

-will undertake to carry it off.”

-

-So the King agreed to present the Mice with one of his great granaries

-full of barley, and he ordered his officers to throw open the doors,

-and to let the Mice carry away as much as they wanted.

-

-That night the King of the Mice summoned all his subjects together, and

-to the number of many hundreds of thousands they invaded the barn, and

-each one picked up as much grain as he could carry in his mouth, on his

-back, and curled up in his tail, and when they had all finished the

-barn was empty, and not a single grain of barley was left.

-

-Next morning, when the King went out to look at his barn, he was very

-much astonished to find that the Mice had been able to empty it so

-effectually, and he conceived a very high opinion of their powers; and

-when, in the following spring, the King of the Mice redeemed his

-promise by repaying with interest the loan he had taken from the King

-of the country, the latter saw that they were trustworthy as well as

-clever.

-

-Now it happened shortly after this that the King of the country went to

-war with a neighbouring kingdom, which lay on the opposite side of the

-river forming the frontier between the two countries. This other

-country was far more wealthy and powerful than the country where the

-Mice lived, and its King soon assembled a huge army on the opposite

-bank of the river and began making preparations for invasion.

-

-When the Mice heard what was happening, they were much distressed, for

-they feared that if the enemy entered their country and destroyed their

-friend the King, they themselves would suffer considerable hardships

-under a strange ruler; so the King of the Mice set out again to visit

-the King of the country, and when he reached the palace he demanded an

-interview with His Majesty. This was at once accorded to him, and

-finding the King looking very depressed, he addressed him as follows:

-

-“I have come to you a second time, Oh King, in order to see whether I

-can be of any use to you. The last time I was here you did me and my

-people a great favour, for which we shall ever be grateful, and if it

-is now in our power to assist you in any way, we shall be very glad to

-do our best.”

-

-The King, in spite of his grief, was much amused on hearing these words

-from the Mouse.

-

-“Why,” said he, “what could the Mice do to help me in my present

-predicament? We are threatened with invasion by a foreign army,

-outnumbering mine by many thousands, and all the men I can muster will

-not be sufficient to enable me to repel the enemy. I don’t see how the

-Mice can help me.”

-

-“Do you remember, Oh King!” replied the Mouse, “that on the last

-occasion I was here you doubted our ability to carry away the grain you

-had given us, or to repay you the loan? And yet we proved ourselves

-able to do both. All we ask you now is to trust us again, and if you

-will undertake to do one or two things which we ask of you, we on our

-part will undertake to rid you of the invading army.”

-

-The King was a good deal struck by this remark of the Mouse, and he

-replied:

-

-“Very well, what you say is quite true; and if you will inform me what

-you wish me to do, I will undertake to carry out my share of the

-bargain.”

-

-“Well, then,” answered the Mouse, “all we wish you to do is to provide

-us by to-morrow evening with one hundred thousand sticks, each about a

-foot long, [8] and to have them laid in rows on the bank of the river.

-If you will undertake to do this, we on our side will undertake to

-stave off the threatened invasion and to put the opposing army into a

-state of confusion and panic. And if we succeed in carrying out all we

-promise, we will ask you for the future to safeguard us against the two

-principal dangers which threaten the existence of the Mice who live in

-your country.”

-

-“I will gladly do what I can,” replied the King, “to safeguard you

-against these dangers if you will tell me how to proceed.”

-

-“The two dangers to which I refer,” continued the Mouse, “are flood and

-Cats. You see the majority of our burrows are in the low-lying land

-near the river, and whenever the river rises a little it overflows this

-level country and floods our nests. What we would suggest to you is

-that you should build a strong dam all down the river bank so as to

-ensure that the water cannot overflow into our nests. And as to the

-Cats they are always the persecutors of Mice, and we ask you to banish

-them altogether from your kingdom.”

-

-“Very well,” replied the King, “if you can succeed in averting the

-danger which now threatens us, I will undertake to do all that you ask

-of me in this respect.”

-

-On hearing this, the King of the Mice salaamed profoundly to the King,

-and returned as fast as he could to his own subjects.

-

-On the following evening he marshalled all the full-grown Mice of his

-kingdom, and about dusk, he led down a large army numbering several

-hundreds of thousands to the edge of the river, where he found the

-sticks all laid out as had been arranged with the King. In accordance

-with instructions they had received, the Mice at once proceeded to

-launch these sticks on the river, and they themselves embarked upon

-them two or three at a time; and so, pushing off from the bank, they

-sailed across the river and soon landed on the opposite side.

-

-It was now quite dark, and the enemy’s soldiers were all asleep in

-their camp, some lying in tents and some in the open air, with their

-arms beside them ready for any alarm. The Mice on a word of command

-from their King, scattered themselves without delay through the

-sleeping camp, and each one began to do as much destruction as he

-possibly could in the shortest possible space of time. Some nibbled at

-the bowstrings and the slings of the soldiers’ muskets; others gnawed

-the slow-match and fuses; whilst others bit off the clothes and

-pigtails of the sleeping men. In fact, they attacked fiercely anything

-upon which their teeth could make an impression, and tents, stores,

-grain, and provisions of all kinds were soon reduced to shreds or

-scattered in confusion in every direction; and after a couple of hours’

-work they all collected upon the river bank, and, embarking again on

-their sticks, they sailed quietly over to their own shore without

-having been detected by the enemy, or even having caused any alarm.

-

-Next morning at daybreak, a great outcry arose from the enemy’s camp.

-Each man as he rose from his sleep found himself in a woeful plight—his

-clothes in rags, his pigtail cut off, his bow without a string, his

-rifle without a sling, and with no fuse or slow-match to fire it, and

-no provisions for breakfast. Each one began to accuse the other of

-theft and treachery, and before many minutes had passed the whole camp

-was in a state of wild confusion, comrade quarrelling with comrade, or

-accusing their officers of dishonesty and ill-faith.

-

-In the midst of this uproar the sound of bugles was heard on the

-opposite bank, and a few shots were fired; and terrified at the thought

-of being taken unawares, the whole army took to flight, and in a few

-minutes not a man was to be seen.

-

-When the King of the country of the Mice saw what had happened he was

-greatly elated, and, sending for the King of the Mice, he thanked him

-very sincerely for his good offices. And, in accordance with the

-bargain they had made, he at once had a strong embankment constructed

-all down his own side of the river to guard against floods, and he

-issued an edict forbidding all persons, on pain of death, to keep a cat

-of any kind henceforth within the frontiers of his country, and so the

-Mice lived securely and happily ever afterwards.

-

-And in order to insure against any more attempts at invasion from the

-side of the neighbouring kingdom, the King sent a herald across the

-river to the ruler of that country, to say that, on this occasion, he

-had only considered it worth while to employ his Mice to defeat his

-enemies; but that if he was again threatened, he was ready to employ

-first all the domestic animals of the country; and if they did not

-succeed, he would have to have recourse to the wild beasts; and in the

-event of their failing, he was prepared to come himself with his

-warriors in order to produce the desired results.

-

-When the ruler of the other country heard this message he considered it

-wiser at once to make a treaty of peace, as he could not hope to defeat

-the warriors and wild beasts of a country whose Mice had shown such

-skill and courage. So the two countries remained on friendly terms for

-many years after; and the Mice, secured against flood and Cats, lived

-happily and safely, and received every year from the King of the

-country a barnful of grain as a free gift in thankful recognition of

-the services which they had rendered in time of need.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XX.

-

-THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE MONKEY.

-

-

-There was once an old Tortoise who lived with his wife and family in a

-large lake, on the borders of which grew an extensive jungle; and in

-the forest there were many wild beasts, more especially Monkeys, who

-swarmed in great numbers all along the shores of the lake.

-

-It happened one day that the Tortoise came out of the lake and went for

-a stroll amongst the trees which grew near the water. After walking for

-some distance he became hungry, and looking up into a cocoanut-tree,

-near which he found himself, he thought how much he should like to get

-one of the cocoanuts which were growing near the top. He made several

-awkward attempts to climb the tree, but the stem was so straight and so

-smooth that he was quite unable to succeed; and he was just about to

-give up the attempt in despair when he espied a large Monkey sitting

-among the branches. The Monkey, who had been watching the Tortoise’s

-attempts to climb the tree with some curiosity, felt rather sorry at

-his failure, and noticing that the Tortoise was a fine, well-grown

-fellow with a very handsome shell, he thought he would do him a

-kindness, so breaking off one or two of the cocoanuts, he threw them

-down to the Tortoise, who gratefully ate the fruit.

-

-The two animals now entered into conversation with one another, and

-soon striking up quite a friendship, the Monkey led away the Tortoise

-into the jungle, and showed him a comfortable cave where he could spend

-the night. The Tortoise was so interested with all he saw and so

-pleased with his friend the Monkey, that he remained for several days

-in the forest, moving about during the day and sleeping with the Monkey

-in the cave every night.

-

-Meanwhile Mrs. Tortoise was becoming rather anxious concerning her

-husband’s prolonged absence. He had never been away from home for so

-long before, so finally she despatched one of the young Tortoises to

-find out where his father was and how he was getting on. The young

-Tortoise accordingly swam to land, and after hunting about for some

-time in the forest he came across his father near the cave.

-

-“Good-morning, Father,” said he, “Mother has sent me to find out where

-you are and how you are getting on.”

-

-“Oh, I am all right, my boy,” replied Father Tortoise; “tell Mother she

-need not trouble about me. My friend, Brother Monkey, and I are just

-having a good time in the forest, and I will be home in a few days. Now

-run off to your Mother.”

-

-So the young Tortoise went back to his mother and told her what had

-happened. Mrs. Tortoise was not at all pleased at her husband’s

-conduct.

-

-“It is quite time,” thought she, “that he should return to his wife and

-family, instead of amusing himself with a vulgar Monkey in the forest.”

-

-So she sent the boy back again to his father, with a message to say

-that Mrs. Tortoise was very ill, and that her physician had told her

-that the only thing to cure her was a Monkey’s heart. So he must return

-at once to his home and bring a Monkey along with him.

-

-The young Tortoise accordingly proceeded to hunt out his father again,

-and as soon as he met him he gave him Mrs. Tortoise’s message. On

-hearing the news of his wife’s illness, Mr. Tortoise became much

-alarmed, and reproached himself for having stayed away for so long; and

-in order to secure the necessary medicine for his wife he informed his

-friend the Monkey that he was obliged to return home at once on urgent

-business, and he invited the Monkey to come and spend a few days at his

-house. The Monkey accepted his friend’s invitation, and the two set off

-together to the shores of the lake.

-

-When the Monkey understood that it would be necessary for him to enter

-the lake, he became rather alarmed, and remarked to the Tortoise that

-never having been in the water, he was afraid it would be difficult for

-him to reach the Tortoise’s home.

-

-“Never fear about that, Brother Monkey,” said the Tortoise; “I can

-arrange that quite simply. If you will mount upon my back, I will swim

-with you wherever we want to go.”

-

-So the Monkey mounted upon the Tortoise’s back, and the Tortoise set

-out to swim to his house.

-

-As they went across the lake the Tortoise began telling the Monkey

-about his wife’s illness, and in doing so he foolishly let out that the

-only medicine to cure her was a Monkey’s heart. On hearing this the

-Monkey became very much alarmed, and saw that he was being led into a

-trap.

-

-“Dear me, Brother Tortoise,” said he, “I am very much grieved to hear

-of your wife’s illness, but if she is as bad as all that I do not think

-that one Monkey’s heart will be enough. I should think that three or

-four at least would be required in order to effect a cure. If you like,

-I can easily get several other Monkeys from amongst my friends to

-accompany us to your home.”

-

-The Tortoise thought that this was a good idea, and agreed to carry the

-Monkey back to the shore and await him there while he went off to fetch

-some other Monkeys. So he turned round and swam back through the lake

-till he reached the edge, where he waddled out on to the beach.

-

-As soon as he found himself on dry land the Monkey skipped off the

-Tortoise’s back as fast as he could, and climbed to the top of the

-tallest tree he could find in a twinkling. On reaching the top of the

-tree he began reviling the Tortoise, and calling out every bad name he

-could think of.

-

-“You are a nice sort of friend,” said he, “to ask me to pay a visit to

-your home in order to kill me and use my heart as medicine for your

-ugly wife. Do you call that a proper return for all my attention to

-you, and for showing you all over the jungle? However, I have been too

-clever for you this time, and you will have to do without my heart for

-many a long day to come. And as to the hearts of those other Monkeys

-that I promised to you—well, you can just wait till you find them for

-yourself.” [9]

-

-The Tortoise, on hearing these words, fell into a violent passion, and

-made several efforts to climb the tree in order to punish the Monkey,

-but being quite unable to climb at all, he soon gave up his attempt and

-determined to get even with the Monkey in some other way. So he hid

-himself in the water until evening, and as soon as it was dusk he came

-out on the land and proceeded very quietly to the cave where he and the

-Monkey had lived together, and concealed himself in the darkest corner

-of it waiting till the Monkey should come in.

-

-The Monkey, however, was a good deal too clever to be caught in a

-simple trap like this. When his usual bedtime arrived, he came to the

-mouth of the cave and, looking in, he called out in a loud voice:

-

-“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-

-The Tortoise lay low in his dark corner and gave no sign of life.

-

-After a few moments’ silence the Monkey again called out:

-

-“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-

-Still the Tortoise lay low and gave no sign.

-

-“Curious thing,” said the Monkey to himself in an audible tone of

-voice, “very curious! There used always to be an echo in this cave, but

-I can’t hear the slightest echo to-night. There must be something

-wrong,” and saying this he again called out:

-

-“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-

-The foolish Tortoise, thinking that if he simulated an echo the Monkey

-would enter the cave as usual, hereupon gave answer from his dark

-corner:

-

-“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-

-On hearing this the Monkey chuckled to himself at the simplicity of the

-Tortoise, and went off to sleep in some other part of the forest.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XXI.

-

-THE STORY OF ROOM BACHA AND BAKI.

-

-

-Once upon a time, in the country of Room, there lived a King called

-Bacha, who, having married a young Princess from a neighbouring

-kingdom, lived with her for a short time very happily. But it happened

-that both the King and Queen were of a very argumentative turn of mind,

-and were constantly disputing with one another about all sorts of

-trifles, and as neither would ever give way to the other, it generally

-ended in their quarrelling. The King, who was a proud and head-strong

-man, was not at all pleased that his wife should venture to maintain

-her opinion against his, and gradually became very much incensed

-against her.

-

-One night, as the two were sitting together after dinner, a fox began

-to bark in the palace grounds outside.

-

-“Ah!” said the King, “do you hear that tiger roaring?”

-

-“My dear,” replied the Queen, “that is not a tiger, it is a fox.”

-

-“Certainly not!” said the King. “Do you think I don’t know a tiger when

-I hear him? There can be no question but that it is a tiger.”

-

-The Queen again contradicted him, and a heated argument ensued, in

-which neither convinced the other. At length, the King said that he

-could not stand this argument any longer, but would submit the question

-for decision to his council on the following day. If the council agreed

-that he was in the wrong, he should be sent adrift on a log of wood on

-the great river that flowed past the palace; but if the Queen should be

-found to be in the wrong, she should suffer this fate.

-

-So next day the King summoned a council, composed of all his wisest

-ministers and men of science. When they were all seated in the council

-chamber, he addressed them as follows:

-

-“Last night,” said he, “some beast began to bark outside the palace. I

-maintained that it was a tiger; the Queen affirmed that it was a fox. I

-desire to submit the question to you for decision. If you decide that

-it was a fox, I agree to be sent adrift upon a log of wood on the great

-river which flows past my palace; but if you think that the animal was

-a tiger, then the Queen is to suffer this penalty.”

-

-So saying, the King withdrew, leaving his ministers to decide the

-question. The counsellors, after weighing the matter for some time,

-summoned to their presence several peasants living in the

-neighbourhood, and these being all agreed that no tiger ever came

-within many miles of the palace, whereas foxes prowled there nightly,

-it was clear to the council that the King was in the wrong. Before any

-decision was given, however, the oldest counsellor rose and addressed

-the meeting as follows:

-

-“It appears to me,” said he, “that the King is undoubtedly in the wrong

-in this matter; but I wish to point out to you that if we announce our

-decision to that effect, the consequence will be that we shall be left

-without our King, and with only a Queen to reign over us. This, as you

-know, is a most undesirable state of affairs. I propose, therefore,

-that in spite of our real opinion in the matter we should make a public

-announcement to the effect that the King was right in his argument.”

-

-The others agreed to these words of wisdom, and the counsellors

-proceeded in a body to the King’s throne-room and informed him publicly

-that after due deliberation they had come to the conclusion that he was

-undoubtedly in the right. The King was greatly pleased at hearing his

-opinion confirmed, and at once gave orders that the Queen should be

-sent adrift on the river astride a log of wood. So the poor Queen was

-taken down to the river bank, and placing herself astride of a log of

-wood, she floated off down the great river.

-

-After floating along for several hours the current at length carried

-her to the opposite bank, many miles away from her own country, and as

-soon as she arrived in shallow water she waded ashore and looked about

-her. As far as she could see, the whole country appeared to be one

-great plain, covered with high grass, through which it was almost

-impossible for anyone to force their way; but after hunting about for a

-time, she discerned a small opening in the grass, which led her to a

-narrow winding path, along which she walked for some considerable

-distance. After going some way she came suddenly upon an open clearing

-in the grass, in the middle of which a very old man, with a white beard

-reaching almost to his waist, was seated before a small fire cooking

-himself some food.

-

-“Good-morning, sir,” said the Queen, when she saw him; “can you give me

-a morsel of food, for I am very hungry.”

-

-“Certainly, Madam,” replied the old man; “you are welcome to all I

-have,” and so saying, he handed over to her the whole of his

-provisions.

-

-When the Queen had made a good meal, the old man addressed her as

-follows:

-

-“You must know,” said he, “that I am a magician, living in this

-prairie, and you must carefully follow the directions which I shall now

-give you. You must first follow the path, which will lead you to the

-top of a small hill, and when you arrive there a son will be born to

-you. This boy is not an ordinary human child, but is the incarnation of

-a very holy Lama, with miraculous qualities, and he will from his birth

-be able to walk and talk. His name is Baki, and you must follow him

-wherever he leads.”

-

-The Queen thanked the old man for his advice, and following the narrow

-path, it soon led her to the top of a small hill; and here she was

-delivered of a child, who, as the magician had predicted, was of a

-miraculous nature, and was at once able to walk and talk. The boy

-without any hesitation went forward along the path, followed by his

-mother, and after travelling for some distance they emerged from the

-great grass jungle into an open cultivated country.

-

-Now it happened that on that day the three sons of the King of that

-country were out hunting together, and as they rode along looking out

-for game they suddenly came upon the Queen and her son. Having heard

-her story, they mounted her and the boy upon a horse and carried them

-off to the King’s palace. The King at once took them under his

-protection, and gave orders that the boy should be brought up with his

-own sons, and he and his mother lodged in apartments in the palace.

-

-Baki grew rapidly in beauty and stature, and soon became an expert in

-all sports and games. One day he and the King’s three sons were out

-hunting together, when by chance they suddenly came upon a beautiful

-snow-white doe, who jumped up before them and galloped off towards the

-mountains. The four young men at once started off in pursuit; but the

-horses upon which the King’s sons were riding gradually tired, and one

-after another they dropped out of the hunt, leaving Baki to continue

-alone. As the chase continued the poor doe began to show signs of

-exhaustion, and Baki, who was close upon her heels, was feeling

-confident that he would soon catch her. All at once the deer galloped

-straight up to what appeared to be a precipitous rock, and touching the

-rock with her muzzle, it flew asunder, revealing the entrance to a

-great cave within; and as she crossed the threshold of the cave her

-skin fell from her, and she appeared in the form of a beautiful young

-woman. Baki, who was of a very courageous disposition, did not hesitate

-for a moment, but, leaping from his horse, he followed the lady into

-the cave, and scarcely had he entered when the rock doors closed behind

-him with a loud crash. Following the form of the lady along a narrow

-passage, he emerged presently into a great lofty apartment, hollowed

-out in the centre of the rock, luxuriously furnished and brilliantly

-lighted, and with a row of great glass pillars running down the centre.

-

-The girl meanwhile had seated herself upon a couch in one corner of the

-room, and addressing the young man, she asked him who he was, and what

-he meant by thus thrusting himself upon the privacy of a lady. The

-young Prince apologised, and explained the circumstances of the case as

-best he could, whereupon the girl addressed him as follows:

-

-“You must know,” said she, “that the place where you now find yourself

-is the abode of a terrible and blood-thirsty Ogre, and that I, who am

-human like yourself, was captured by him some time ago, and he proposes

-shortly to make me his wife. Meanwhile he has taught me certain magic

-spells, which enable me to transform myself into any animal I please,

-and to come and go at my pleasure; but without the assistance of some

-human being it is impossible for me to escape from his clutches. But we

-will talk further regarding these matters to-morrow. It is now near the

-time for the Ogre’s return, and if he finds you here he will certainly

-kill you without the least hesitation, so you must hide now before he

-returns.”

-

-So saying she went over to the central glass pillar and, unscrewing a

-portion of it, she showed him a cavity inside, within which he

-concealed himself.

-

-Scarcely was he securely hidden within the pillar when the door of the

-cave flew open, and a huge Ogre entered the central chamber. Calling

-the young lady to him, he commanded her to bring his dinner, and after

-making a sumptuous repast he sat down on some cushions and began

-playing the guitar. At the first sound of the music all the pillars in

-the room, with the exception of the one in which Baki was concealed,

-began a slow and stately dance, his pillar alone remaining firm and

-unshaken. When the Ogre saw that one of the pillars was not dancing as

-usual he grew very angry, and seizing a huge hammer in his hand, he

-advanced upon it, threatening to shatter it into a thousand fragments;

-but the young lady, seizing him by the arm, begged him to spare it.

-

-“Look,” said she “at the position of the pillar. It is the most central

-and the largest of them all. No doubt it feels some sense of dignity

-and wishes to be distinguished from the remainder. Spare it at any rate

-to-night, and it will probably dance as usual to-morrow.”

-

-The Ogre agreed to this, and shortly after retired to rest.

-

-Next morning at daybreak he set off about his business, and as soon as

-he was gone the girl opened the pillar and released Baki, and after

-giving him a good breakfast, she spoke to him as follows:

-

-“It is a very difficult thing,” said she, “for a human being to kill an

-Ogre, for whatever damage you may do to his body is of no avail unless

-you can also destroy the object with which his spirit is bound up. Now

-this particular Ogre’s existence depends upon the life of a green

-Parrot, which is carefully hidden from human view, but I have

-ascertained where it is kept, and will explain to you how you may find

-it. Behind the rock in which we are now living you will find another

-great rock standing by itself. You must go up to this, and, kicking it

-three times with your right foot, you must exclaim at each kick, ‘Great

-Raven, open the door.’ As you pronounce these words for the third time

-the door will open, disclosing a large cave, in the centre of which,

-seated upon a red stone, you will see a green Parrot. If you can kill

-this Parrot you will also destroy the Ogre without any danger to

-yourself.”

-

-On hearing this Baki at once promised to follow the lady’s directions,

-and she released him from the cavern. Going round to the back of the

-rock, he found himself face to face with another great rock standing by

-itself. Kicking this rock three times with his right foot, he

-pronounced the magic words, and as he said them for the third time two

-rocky doors flew open, disclosing a cave inside. Entering the cave he

-saw a green Parrot seated on a red stone in the centre, and he at once

-seized the bird and wrung its neck. As soon as he had accomplished this

-he ran hastily back to the main cavern, and as he approached the

-entrance he saw the Ogre, who had just been returning to his home,

-lying across the threshold stone dead, with his neck all twisted. The

-young lady was greatly rejoiced at the successful issue of their

-adventure, and the two, leaving the Ogre’s body behind them, proceeded

-forthwith to the capital of the country, where the King’s palace was

-situated.

-

-On arriving at the capital Baki decided to hire a small house, where he

-could lodge the young lady and change his own dress before proceeding

-to pay his respects to the King; so having taken a house in the

-suburbs, he left the lady there while he went out himself into the

-streets to hear the news. He soon found out that during his absence the

-King had announced his intention of marrying Baki’s mother, and the

-poor lady, now that she had no son to protect her, had protested in

-vain, saying that she was already the wife of another. Baki was very

-indignant when he heard of this treacherous conduct on the part of the

-King, and determined to foil his plans. So returning to the young lady,

-he related to her all that he had heard.

-

-“Do not be anxious,” said she. “If you will follow my advice I will

-show you how you may yet get the better of the King.”

-

-And she forthwith instructed him in certain magic spells, which she had

-learned from the Ogre.

-

-Armed with these, Baki proceeded at once to the palace. When he arrived

-in the courtyard he sat himself down upon the King’s mounting-block,

-and muttering the necessary spell, he was at once transformed into a

-large cowrie-shell. After lying on the mounting-block for some time it

-chanced that one of the grooms of the palace passed by, and, seeing the

-shell, he paused to look at it, and remarked to himself:

-

-“What a beautiful cowrie-shell!”

-

-“Yes, I am a very handsome shell,” replied the cowrie, to the terror

-and astonishment of the groom.

-

-“Why,” said he, “what sort of a shell are you? What can you know about

-cowries, or anything else?”

-

-“I know a great deal,” said the shell. “For instance, I could tell the

-King something about Prince Baki, which perhaps he would not like to

-hear.”

-

-When the groom heard this he ran straight into the palace and informed

-the Prime Minister all that the shell had said. The Minister, having

-told the King of the matter, the King gave orders that the shell should

-at once be brought into his presence and placed upon a table before

-him. When this had been done the King addressed the shell, saying:

-

-“What are you, and what do you know about Prince Baki?”

-

-“I can tell you this,” replied the shell, “that if you attempt to marry

-Prince Baki’s mother you will find yourself in a very unpleasant

-position.”

-

-On hearing this the King was very much incensed, and he ordered one of

-his servants to bring in a big hammer to smash the shell to fragments,

-saying that he would not be browbeaten by a wretched little object like

-a shell. So one of the servants, bringing up a hammer, struck the shell

-a violent blow and broke it to pieces. In an instant each piece of the

-shell turned into an armed man, and Prince Baki himself appeared

-amongst them in his proper form.

-

-Great confusion now arose amongst the courtiers; some fled in one

-direction and some in another, whilst others, drawing their swords,

-prepared to fight with the strangers. Meanwhile the armed men, who were

-in reality demons, placed temporarily under the command of Prince Baki,

-looked fiercely around them, and waving their swords, shouted to the

-Prince, “Whom shall we kill? Whom shall we kill?”

-

-Baki now pointed to the King, and in a moment the band of armed men

-fell upon him, cut him to pieces, and disappeared with shouts of

-triumph through the roof of the palace. When the courtiers saw what had

-happened, they hastened to prostrate themselves before the feet of so

-powerful a magician, and installed Baki as their new king.

-

-As soon as he was seated upon his throne he sent for the young lady

-whom he had rescued from the Ogre’s cave, and, having married her, they

-lived happily for many years. And the Queen, his mother, soon after

-returned to King Bacha, and having agreed with him never more to argue

-on trivial matters, they had no more disputes or quarrels, and long

-reigned together over a contented and prosperous kingdom.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-STORY No. XXII.

-

-THE STORY OF THE HOME-BRED BOY.

-

-HOW HE FOUND THE LOST TURQUOISE.

-

-

-There was once an old woman living in Tibet whose husband had died and

-left her alone with her only son.

-

-As the Boy grew up, his Mother grew more and more fond of him, and

-disliked parting from him even for a moment. She was afraid that if he

-left her house and began wandering about by himself some accident might

-happen to him, and she would be left desolate in her old age. So the

-older he grew the more careful she became, until at last she saw that

-it was impossible to restrain the Boy any longer, and it would be

-necessary for him to go out into the world to seek his fortune, just as

-other young men of his age had to do. So when he had reached the age of

-fifteen she waited till the fifteenth day of the sixth month, which is

-a very auspicious date, and calling the Boy to her, she presented him

-with a new suit of clothes, a horse, a dog, a gun and a sword; and she

-told him that he was now at liberty to leave his home and to go out

-into the world to seek his fortune.

-

-The Boy was greatly delighted at receiving these gifts and with the

-prospect of meeting with some adventures, so after saying farewell to

-his Mother, he mounted his horse, and with the dog trotting at his

-heels he started away down the road. All day he rode quietly along by

-himself without meeting with any adventures, and towards evening he

-reached a high plateau near the top of a range of mountains. As he was

-crossing the plateau a fox jumped up in front of him and ran off

-towards the mountains. The dog, on seeing the fox, started to chase it;

-while the young Man, thinking he was to have some fun at last, galloped

-after the dog as fast as he could.

-

-After running for some distance the fox suddenly disappeared into his

-earth, and the Boy, riding up, dismounted at the mouth of the hole, and

-began to scheme how he was to catch the fox when he came out. So he

-took off his cloak [10] and fastened it to the saddle with his sword

-and his gun, and then placed his horse a little to one side of the

-fox’s earth, whilst his dog stood ready at the other side; and he

-himself took off his hat and put it over the mouth of the hole, and

-taking a large stone in his hand, he crouched down ready to slay the

-fox when it came out.

-

-After sitting waiting for some time the fox all of a sudden darted out

-of its earth, and ran off towards the hills, with the Boy’s hat

-sticking over its head. It came so suddenly that he had no time to hit

-it with his stone, or to interrupt its flight. The dog, on seeing the

-fox go off, at once started in full pursuit; and the horse, excited by

-the dog’s cries, galloped off after the pair, and in a few moments all

-three were lost to sight in the gathering darkness. The poor Boy found

-himself in a moment bereft of all his possessions—his horse, his dog,

-his gun, his sword, his hat, and even his outer robe, which he had

-strapped on his saddle, had all disappeared. After running after his

-horse for some distance he gave it up in despair, and lay down to pass

-the night as best he could under a big poplar-tree.

-

-He woke towards dawn, and, looking up into the branches of the tree, he

-saw a large Raven’s nest, on which an old Raven was sitting hatching

-her eggs, whilst Father Raven perched on a branch near by. When day

-broke the two Ravens began talking to one another.

-

-“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the old bird on the nest, “who is

-this sleeping under our tree?”

-

-“That,” replied Father Raven, “is a foolish home-bred Boy who has no

-experience of the world. In trying to catch a fox last night he lost

-his horse, his gun, his sword, his dog, and even his clothes, and now

-he has not the least idea where to find them.”

-

-“Yes, so I see,” replied Mother Raven, “but it is clear, nevertheless,

-that all he has to do is to go towards the villages which lie towards

-the east from here—there he will meet with good fortune.”

-

-On hearing this the Boy at once started off towards the east, and

-proceeding for some little distance, he met an old Beggar Man, to whom

-he related the whole of his story, and asked him if by any chance he

-had seen the missing property. The old Man, seeing before him only a

-poor Boy, without even a hat or a cloak, did not believe a word of this

-story, so he only laughed at him and mocked him; and finally, when the

-Boy grew angry, gave him a sound beating, and left him to go on his way

-disconsolate.

-

-Wandering on a little further, he came to a big house where a wedding

-feast was being celebrated. Coming timidly up to the door of the house,

-he peeped in at the guests, and presently one of the servants happening

-to pass by, he related his sad story. But just then the Bridegroom

-caught sight of him, and called out in a rough voice:

-

-“Who are you who come crying here at my wedding feast? We want no

-woebegone faces here to-day to bring us bad luck. Go away, you

-ill-omened creature.”

-

-So the poor Boy slank away sadly, and after wandering about till

-nightfall he reached another large house further towards the east.

-After the reception he had received from the wedding party he was

-afraid to go in or to knock at the door, so creeping into the backyard

-he dug himself a nest in the manure heap, and crouched down in this for

-warmth, all hidden except his head. Thus he spent the night comfortably

-enough.

-

-Early next morning the pigs belonging to the place began to poke about

-the yard and the manure heap, and several of them, as they passed,

-rooted at his head with their snouts to see if he was anything good to

-eat.

-

-He could not stand this very long, so finally, screwing up his courage,

-he went to the back door of the house, and asked one of the servants to

-lend him a knife, saying that he wanted it to cut up the dry meat which

-formed his breakfast. The servant lent him a knife, and as soon as he

-had got it he enticed one of the pigs away to a quiet corner, where he

-killed it and cut off its head; and taking with him some strips of its

-flesh, he returned to his nest in the manure, and hid himself there

-again, together with the pig’s head, waiting to see what would turn up.

-

-Towards noon the Lady of the house came out into the yard, and as she

-was moving about superintending the various farming operations, it

-happened that a large and valuable turquoise fell out of her headdress

-without her noticing it. When, after a few minutes, she went back into

-the house, leaving the turquoise lying in the middle of the yard, the

-Boy thought that this would be a good opportunity of getting the

-turquoise for himself, but he was afraid to leave his nest for fear of

-being noticed; so picking up a piece of rag from amongst the manure he

-threw it over the turquoise, concealing it from sight.

-

-Shortly after, one of the maid-servants came out of the house, and

-seeing a piece of rag lying in the middle of the yard, she picked it

-up, and the turquoise with it, and thrust them both into a crevice in

-the wall.

-

-Just then a great uproar arose from the house, where the Lady had

-discovered the loss of her turquoise. The whole household was summoned,

-and set to work to search for the missing jewel. For some time great

-bustle prevailed, everyone searching hither and thither, and ransacking

-every hole and corner; but no one thought of examining the piece of

-dirty rag thrust carelessly into a crevice of the farmyard wall.

-

-Finding that all their efforts were of no avail, the Lady of the house

-sent off in hot haste to summon all the most famous diviners,

-magicians, and lamas of the neighbourhood, and these, when they

-arrived, began practising all kinds of spells and casting auguries in

-the hope of discovering what had become of the turquoise; but all in

-vain, and when nightfall arrived, they were no better off than they

-were before.

-

-Towards evening they packed up their various magical instruments and

-spells, and went away very downhearted; and as soon as they were gone

-the Boy emerged from his hiding-place, and going boldly to the house,

-he said that he was a famous magician and could find the turquoise for

-them; and he asked that on the following morning all the diviners and

-lamas should again be summoned, as well as the inhabitants of all the

-neighbouring houses. The Lady of the house was at first inclined to

-ridicule the idea of this disreputable-looking beggar being able to

-accomplish what none of these famous sorcerers could do; but thinking

-it worth while to give the Boy a chance, she decided to do what he

-suggested, and meanwhile ordered her servants to let him have a good

-supper, of which he stood badly in need.

-

-Next morning, about ten o’clock, a large crowd of people assembled in

-the courtyard of the house. In addition to the magicians and lamas of

-the day before, a great many of the neighbours had obeyed the summons,

-and amongst them were the people who had treated the poor Boy so badly

-during their wedding feast, and the Beggar who had reviled and beaten

-him. As soon as they were all seated in rows ready to see what was

-going to happen, the Boy, holding the pig’s head under his arm,

-presented himself before them all, and addressed them as follows:

-

-“Now,” said he, “I hope in a few minutes to be able to discover the

-missing turquoise, for I am possessed of magic qualities of unusual

-power. In my search I shall be assisted by this enchanted pig’s head

-which I hold under my arm. Owing to the spell I have cast upon it, it

-is able at once to detect a thief or a dishonest person, and also to

-discover stolen property.”

-

-So saying he took the pig’s head in both hands, and holding its snout

-towards the company, he went round from person to person, halting for a

-moment in front of each. Presently he arrived in front of the

-Bridegroom, who had been so rude to him some days before, and the pig’s

-head at once became violently agitated, and kept poking itself towards

-this man.

-

-“Ah!” said the Boy, “here is evidently a dishonest man; it is no good

-our proceeding any further in our search until he has been beaten and

-turned out of here.”

-

-The other people at once seized upon the wretched man, and after giving

-him a severe thrashing, they turned him out of the place. Next to him

-was sitting the Beggar who had so insulted the Boy, and who had

-disbelieved his story. Here, again, the pig’s head became violently

-agitated, and the Beggar, too, was well beaten and turned out. Having

-got rid of these two persons, the Boy now began to walk round the yard,

-the pig’s snout apparently sniffing carefully at every part of the wall

-in the farm buildings. Presently, coming to the crevice into which the

-rag had been thrust by the servant-maid, he moved the pig’s head

-violently to and fro.

-

-“Ah!” cried he, “the missing turquoise must be somewhere near here.”

-

-On hearing this everyone began to search about in that neighbourhood,

-and in a few minutes the turquoise was found inside the rag thrust into

-the crevice of the wall.

-

-The Mistress of the house on recovering her turquoise was greatly

-elated. She took the Boy into the house, and having presented him with

-a new suit of clothes, and given him all he wanted to eat and drink,

-she handed him a large sum of money, and he went on his way in a far

-better plight than when he had first arrived there.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-THE HOME-BRED BOY.

-

-HOW HE DISLODGED THE SPIDER.

-

-

-After leaving the house where he had found the turquoise, the home-bred

-Boy wandered along until, towards nightfall, he arrived at the same

-poplar-tree where he had previously stayed the night, and, lying down

-under its branches, he fell fast asleep, and did not wake up until

-towards morning.

-

-As day was dawning the two Ravens overhead began talking to one another

-as before, and the boy overheard their conversation.

-

-“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the hen bird on the nest. “What kept

-you so late last night?”

-

-“Well,” replied Father Raven, “the fact is, I was visiting a farmhouse

-down yonder, where the mistress of the house, as it happens, is very

-ill. She is suffering from a severe pain in her left ear, which drives

-her almost distracted, and no one about the place knows what it is nor

-how to cure it. They have consulted all of the most famous doctors and

-lamas in the neighbourhood without, however, affording her any relief

-at all. Indeed, no one knows what is the cause of the disease except

-myself. I have ascertained that the pain in her ear is due to the fact

-that some days ago a large Spider effected an entrance during her

-sleep, and that the Spider and her young ones have now taken up their

-abode inside the Lady’s head. It is impossible to dislodge them except

-by a stratagem. As you are aware, Spiders are in the habit of sleeping

-all through the winter months, and only wake up and emerge from their

-retreat in the spring. If it were possible to make the Spiders believe

-that spring had arrived, they would come out of the ear at once;

-otherwise they will remain there all through the winter.”

-

-“Indeed,” replied Mother Raven, “that is very interesting; but how

-would it be possible to make the Spider believe that spring had come?”

-

-“There is a very simple stratagem, which I have often seen employed,”

-replied Father Raven, “which is as follows: a piece of green cloth must

-first be spread upon a table and well sprinkled with water, and the

-Lady must bend her ear over this so that the Spiders can see it. It

-will appear to them to be a green field, wet with the spring rains, and

-they will imagine it is time to come out; and then, if they still

-display any reluctance to emerge, it is only necessary to beat a drum

-to simulate thunder. Thunderstorms, as you know, only occur in the

-spring, and the Spiders on hearing this noise will feel convinced that

-spring has really come, and will emerge without any further hesitation.

-The moment they come out on the table they must be wrapped up in the

-cloth with the greatest expedition and carried away and killed, for if

-this is not done, they will always be ready at the slightest alarm to

-climb back into the ear by the threads which they have left suspended

-behind them.”

-

-Mother Raven thanked Father Raven for his information, and she then

-said:

-

-“But you yourself are not looking at all well this morning, what is the

-matter with you?”

-

-“Well,” said he, “I am sorry to say I over-ate myself yesterday. The

-people of the house kept praying to the gods, and were all day long

-occupied in making offerings of rice and flour. Most of these offerings

-were thrown out into the garden, and I was able to eat as much as I

-wanted. In fact, I ate a great deal too much, and I fear that I am

-going to die. If I do, you must faithfully promise to remain in

-mourning for me, in accordance with Tibetan custom, for three years,

-three months and three days.”

-

-Mother Raven, on hearing this, was greatly affected, and solemnly vowed

-to carry out the wishes of her husband, and poor old Father Raven,

-getting into the nest, shortly after breathed his last.

-

-As soon as he was dead Mother Raven remarked to herself that she had a

-great deal too much to do in looking after her family and household

-duties to think for a moment of following so absurd a custom as

-mourning for a dead bird for any period at all. So she pushed old

-Father Raven’s body out of the nest with her bill and let it fall to

-the ground below, while she herself flew off to find food for the young

-ravens, which had just been hatched out.

-

-Meanwhile the Boy, who had listened attentively to the colloquy of the

-Ravens overhead, went straight off to hunt for the house where the Lady

-was suffering from pains in her ear, and he decided in his own mind to

-make this another opportunity for displaying his magical powers. He

-soon arrived at the house in question, and found the whole family in

-great grief, and the poor mistress of the house suffering torments with

-the pain in her ear. Going to the house he asked what was the matter,

-and on hearing the cause of their sorrow he at once announced that he

-was possessed of very wonderful magic powers, and was prepared to

-effect a cure. The people of the house who had seen him on the previous

-day, when he had found the turquoise, were inclined to believe him, and

-asked him what they should do to procure relief for their mistress.

-

-“All that is necessary,” replied he, “is a square piece of green cloth,

-some clean water in a jug and a couple of drums.”

-

-When these things had been made ready he spread the piece of green

-cloth on the table and sprinkled some water over it, and he then told

-the Lady of the house to lean across the table so that her painful ear

-should come above the patch of green cloth. No sooner had she done so

-than the Spiders inside, seeing the green expanse with water still

-lying upon it, thought that the spring had come and began moving about,

-and the old Mother Spider at once let herself down by a thread to see

-if it was really spring.

-

-The people of the house were greatly astonished at seeing the Spider

-emerge, but the Boy ordered them not to touch her; and having satisfied

-herself that there was really water on the cloth, she climbed again up

-her thread, and went back into the Lady’s ear to impart the good news

-to her family. The Boy now ordered the drums to be beaten, and on

-hearing this sound the whole of the spider family, thinking that the

-noise was thunder, and that spring had undoubtedly arrived, hastily

-emerged from the Lady’s ear and let themselves down, one after another,

-on to the green cloth. As soon as they were all, to the number of

-seven, arrived upon the table, the Boy snatched up the piece of cloth,

-and wrapping up the spiders inside it, he carried them all outside and

-destroyed them.

-

-The Lady of the house was now completely cured and overwhelmed the Boy

-with gifts and compliments, and he left the house carrying with him a

-large sum of gold, in addition to that which he had received the day

-before. He now bent his steps towards his Mother’s house, and as he was

-going along the road to his home he suddenly came face to face with the

-old Beggar who had previously insulted him, and whom he had had beaten

-and turned out when he was looking for the turquoise. The old man, who

-was of a very jealous and vindictive temper, was very much incensed

-against the Boy, and had determined to avenge himself upon him. As the

-Boy came down the road the old Beggar suddenly emerged from behind a

-clump of bushes, holding a sword in his right hand and a fly in the

-hollow of his left fist.

-

-“Now,” said he, “I believe you to be an impostor. You have twice made

-pretence to magical powers, which in reality you do not possess, and I

-am about to put you to a final test. If you can tell me what I hold in

-my left hand I shall let you go free; but if you fail to do so, I shall

-immediately kill you with this sword.”

-

-The poor Boy was greatly alarmed at hearing these words, and having no

-weapon himself he was completely at the old man’s mercy. So at a loss

-to know what to say, he replied:

-

-“Well, then, you can kill me if you like, for I am as much in your

-power as though I were a fly which you hold in your left hand and which

-you can crush at your pleasure.”

-

-The old man was so much astonished at hearing this reply, which he

-looked upon as a proof of the Boy’s supernatural powers, that he

-forthwith became one of his most ardent admirers; and as he had seen

-where the Boy’s horse, dog, and other belongings had disappeared to on

-the occasion when they had all followed the fox, he was able to lead

-the boy to a distant valley, where he found his horse and dog together.

-Here having recovered his sword and his gun, his clothing and other

-possessions, he mounted upon his horse and followed by his dog he

-returned to his Mother’s house a very much richer Boy than when he had

-left it.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-THE HOME-BRED BOY.

-

-HOW HE DEFEATED THE ENEMY.

-

-

-On his return to his home the home-bred Boy found that he was now

-famous far and wide for his supposed magical powers, and he was

-constantly consulted by people of all classes, who wanted his

-assistance in their various affairs.

-

-It happened not long afterwards that a war broke out with a

-neighbouring country, and the King sent for the Boy, and asked him

-whether he would be able to give any assistance in the campaign against

-the enemy. The Boy was rather alarmed at this request of the King’s,

-for he did not in the least know how he should set about defeating the

-foe, but he allowed no sign of hesitation to appear in his manner, and

-he answered boldly that he was prepared to undertake the job; whereupon

-the King presented him with a magnificent charger and begged him to do

-his best.

-

-Now as it happened, the Boy was in reality a very bad rider, and did

-not at all fancy the idea of riding about on a spirited horse, but for

-very shame he could not refuse the King’s gift. So early next morning,

-when he mounted his horse with the intention of riding out and

-reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, in order to see what could be done, he

-made his servant tie his feet together with a rope under the horse’s

-belly, so that he should not fall off if it ran away or played any

-pranks with him. Having ridden for some distance he reached the top of

-a hill, whence he could obtain a clear view of the enemy’s camp, and as

-he was sitting on his horse watching the scene below a trumpet suddenly

-sounded. The noise of the trumpet frightened the horse, which, after

-giving one or two preliminary plunges, dashed off down the hill at full

-gallop straight towards the enemy’s camp.

-

-The poor Boy was much terrified at this untoward event, and did all he

-could to stop his horse by pulling the bridle and speaking to it, but

-with no avail. Just before reaching the camp the horse carried him

-under a dead tree, and the Boy, raising his arms, seized one of the

-branches with both hands in the hope of checking the horse’s mad

-career; but the rotten bough broke in his grasp, and the horse

-continued its gallop right into the camp, with the Boy holding in his

-hands a huge branch of the tree.

-

-Hither and thither rushed the horse amongst the tents of the enemy,

-trampling the frightened soldiers underfoot, whilst the Boy in his

-struggles to maintain his balance, swept his great branch to and fro

-with equally disastrous effect. During his gallop his hair had become

-loosened, and was now flying wildly in the air, and his shouts and

-adjurations to his horse increased the terror of his appearance. The

-enemy’s soldiers had never seen such a terrific-looking object before,

-and one and all came to the conclusion that he must undoubtedly be a

-demon that was attacking them, and that he would soon compass their

-entire destruction. So instead of opposing him they tried to soothe and

-conciliate him, offering him silken scarfs and other presents as he

-galloped to and fro. But he made no reply to them, and continued to

-shout fiercely at his horse.

-

-These shouts were taken by the soldiers to be threats of vengeance

-against themselves, [11] and, finally, the General and all the

-principal officers, coming out in a body with scarfs, begged him to

-make peace and to allow them to go away quietly. The Boy, who heard

-what they said, was quite willing to agree, but was totally unable to

-control his horse, so he shouted to them that he accepted their

-submission on condition that they were able to stop his horse. So

-running on either side of him, they seized the bridle and soon brought

-the animal to a standstill, when the Boy formally accepted their

-surrender, and dictated to them terms of peace; and they on their part

-were only too thankful to have escaped from such a danger, and gladly

-consented to withdraw at once to their own country.

-

-When the King heard what had happened, he sent for the Boy and thanked

-him very heartily for his services; and as a reward for what he had

-done, he raised him to the highest rank, and presented him with lands

-and gold, and the young Man and his Mother lived happily ever

-afterwards.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS.

-

-

-A woman sings to a man whose affection for her is waning:

-

-

-    “As a great mountain, with its cooling streams,

-    Nourishes the little fields far down below,

-    Do you, my lover, with a stream of love,

-    Nourish the heart of her who loves you so.”

-

-

-The man replies to the woman:

-

-

-    “When autumn chills destroy the honeyed flowers,

-    The bees must do without their favourite food;

-    So when my passion cools, and dies my love,

-    You should submit to this my changéd mood.”

-

-

-A man sings to a woman:

-

-

-    “Up every rocky cliff some path exists,

-    If one can find a guide to show the way;

-    So to your heart some avenue must lead,

-    Teach me, forthwith, that path of love, I pray.”

-

-

-The woman replies:

-

-

-    “Were I inclined to grant this fruit [12] to you,

-    The gift were thine at once—to-day, to-morrow.

-    But oh! I fear that lurking at your back,

-    Are demons red [13] to bring me endless sorrow.”

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-LOVE SONG.

-

-

-    Could I but win the maiden

-      For whom my heart doth pine,

-    I’d prize her as a jewel

-      From depths of ocean brine.

-

-    I’d guard her fragrant body,

-      Like white turquoise so rare.

-    My wanderings all behind me,

-      I’d know no earthly care.

-

-    As luscious fruit well ripened,

-      Hangs tempting on the tree;

-    So is thy beauty, maiden,

-      Temptation sore to me.

-

-    From longing for thy beauty,

-      How can I sleep at night?

-    By day I seek thee vainly,

-      My heart is tired quite.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-NOTES

-

-

-[1] Compare, for example, “Tibetan Tales derived from Indian Sources,”

-translated from the Tibetan of the Kah Gyur into German by F. Anton von

-Schiefner. Done into English from the German by R. W. S. Ralston.

-

-[2] But I am preserving such of these as appear to me to possess any

-scientific interest.

-

-[3] Such a locality is described in the Tibetan language by a single

-word—a monosyllable.

-

-[4] The Kyang is the wild ass of Tibet.

-

-[5] This story is also told of a Sheep and a Goat, instead of a Sheep

-and a Lamb. See accompanying illustration.

-

-[6] Known as “La” in the Tibetan tongue. It is difficult to find an

-equivalent word in the English language, but the Princess describes its

-meaning. See also the story of “Room Bacha and Baki,” where the same

-superstition occurs.

-

-[7] This is in accordance with Tibetan custom, whereby a scarf is

-invariably presented upon all occasions of ceremony.

-

-[8] Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks’ dung instead

-of sticks—see accompanying illustration.

-

-[9] The Monkey’s actual words, I regret to say, cannot be reported

-verbatim.

-

-[10] In Tibetan “chu-ba,” the outer garment, like a dressing-gown, worn

-by all Tibetans.

-

-[11] There is a play on the words of the Tibetan original here which

-explains this point, but which is incapable of adequate translation

-into English.

-

-[12] I.e., her heart. She compares her heart ripe with love to a ripe

-fruit.

-

-[13] Presumably she means the man’s passions. She compares them to the

-terrific demons (red is the angry colour) of Tibetan Lamaist mythology.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***

+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+                         FOLK TALES FROM TIBET
+
+                 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY A TIBETAN ARTIST
+                AND SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS
+
+
+                        COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED
+                                   BY
+                      CAPT. W. F. O’CONNOR, C.I.E.
+        Secretary and Interpreter of the Mission to Lhasa (1904)
+
+
+
+                                 LONDON
+                        HURST AND BLACKETT, LTD.
+                        182, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.
+
+                                  1906
+
+                          All rights reserved
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In presenting these little stories to the public, it may perhaps be of
+interest if I describe how I came by them.
+
+During two years spent in Tibet, at Gyantse, Lhasa, and elsewhere, I
+have made many friends amongst all classes of Tibetans—high and low,
+rich and poor—and have conversed with all sorts of persons upon all
+sorts of topics. In the course of my wanderings I learned that there
+exists amongst this fascinating and little-known people a wealth of
+folk-lore, hitherto inaccessible to the outside world, and I made
+efforts to collect as many of their stories as I could.
+
+For certain special reasons this quest proved more difficult than I had
+anticipated. In the first place, I found that many of the best known
+stories had been imported bodily from India [1] or China, and possess
+but little of that local colouring which is one of the chief charms of
+folk-lore. Secondly, some of the very best and most characteristic
+stories are unfit for publication in such a book as this. [2] And,
+thirdly, human nature being much the same all the world over, it was
+not always possible to find a suitable raconteur in a suitable mood for
+story-telling. A story told by a nervous or reluctant narrator loses
+half its charm. A good story must be natural, and necessitates sympathy
+on the part both of teller and of hearer. Armed diplomatic missions and
+an official position, apart from all questions of difference of
+language and nationality, do not tend to elicit the ideal sentiments
+necessary for the establishment of complete mutual confidence.
+
+But patience, and the growth of kindly feelings on both sides, helped
+me to some extent to overcome the shyness and reluctance of the simple
+folk who have supplied me with my material; and, as time went on, I was
+able to coax a story from many unlikely sources. Village headmen,
+monks, servants, local government officials, peasants, traders—these
+and many others have contributed to my store. Shyly and haltingly at
+starting, with many bashful apologies and disclaimers, the story-teller
+will begin his tale. But a Tibetan audience is one of the best
+imaginable, and their open sympathy and appreciation soon melt the
+frosts of reserve, and the words flow freely. Presently all sense of
+constraint is lost, and I have known a story interrupted for ten
+minutes at a time by the uncontrollable merriment aroused by some comic
+incident.
+
+Some of the stories, then, I have been obliged, reluctantly enough, to
+discard altogether for the present; others require further revision or
+elucidation. But the rest of my little store I give here, and with this
+one apology: that I have made no attempt to ornament or improve upon
+them. I have written them down just as I heard them, and have
+translated them, as accurately as I could, from the Tibetan idiom into
+ours. As to their origin or scientific bearing I say nothing, and put
+forward no theories. I leave the Tales to speak for themselves; but
+would invite, and shall cordially welcome, the criticisms and surmises
+of all students of folk-lore who are in a position to give an expert
+opinion upon such points, and to shed a light upon obscure corners into
+which I have been unable to penetrate.
+
+I have added to the stories a few verses taken at random from popular
+Tibetan love-songs, as a sample of the wealth of imagery and genuine
+poetic sentiment which is to be found amongst the inhabitants of this
+strange country. Owing to the extremely idiomatic form and severe
+compression of Tibetan metrical compositions, the translation of these
+songs into anything even distantly resembling poetry, without
+altogether destroying the characteristics of the original, presents
+peculiar difficulties; and I must crave indulgence for their crudeness
+and lack of artistic finish.
+
+The pictures are the maiden effort at book illustration of a Tibetan
+artist, resident at Gyantse, and are, I fear, somewhat weak in details,
+as owing to my absence from Gyantse during the time they were in
+progress I was unable personally to superintend their execution. For
+the excellent photograph which appears as the frontispiece I am
+indebted to my friend and companion at Gyantse, Capt. R. Steen, of the
+Indian Medical Service.
+
+In conclusion, I must express my grateful acknowledgments to Mr.
+Perceval Landon, to whose suggestion the collection and publication of
+these Tales, as well as their illustration by a native artist, is in a
+great measure due; and I must thank him, moreover, for many valuable
+hints and much kindly sympathy and assistance.
+
+
+    W. F. O’Connor, Capt.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                             PAGE
+        I.—How the Hare got his Lip Split                       1
+       II.—The Story of the Tiger and the Man                   6
+      III.—The Story of Good Faith                             12
+       IV.—The Story of the Two Neighbours                     20
+        V.—The Story of the Cat and the Mice                   26
+       VI.—The Story of the Foolish Young Mussulman            30
+      VII.—The Kyang, the Fox, the Wolf and the Hare           43
+     VIII.—The Frog and the Crow                               48
+       IX.—The Hare and the Lions                              51
+        X.—The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare          56
+       XI.—The Story of how the Hare made a Fool of the Wolf   60
+      XII.—The Mouse’s Three Children                          68
+     XIII.—The Jackals and the Tiger                           76
+      XIV.—The Story of the Three Thieves                      80
+       XV.—The Story of the Boy with the Deformed Head         92
+      XVI.—The Prince and the Ogre’s Castle                   103
+     XVII.—The Story of the Stone Lion                        116
+    XVIII.—The Story of the Lama’s Servant                    124
+      XIX.—The Country of the Mice                            133
+       XX.—The Story of the Tortoise and the Monkey           141
+      XXI.—The Story of Room Bacha and Baki                   147
+     XXII.—The Story of the Home-bred Boy                     158
+           The Story of the Home-bred Boy (continued)         166
+           The Story of the Home-bred Boy (continued)         172
+           Some Verses from Tibetan Love-songs                175
+
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+  One of the Story-tellers, with his Family and Servants   Frontispiece
+  The Hare and the Tiger                                    Facing p. 2
+  The Wicked Neighbour removing Young Sparrow from Nest              22
+  “Worthy Father, I am turned into this”                             25
+  The Young Mussulman pursued by his own Shadow                      35
+  The Crow and the Frog in the Gutter                                48
+  The Hare conversing with the Wolf                                  58
+  The Tiger and the Monkey approaching the Jackal’s Den              79
+  The Dragon attacking the Griffon’s Nest                            98
+  The Stone Lion vomiting Gold                                      121
+  The Mice Crossing the Stream                                      137
+  The Monkey calling into the Tortoise’s Cave                       145
+  The Glass Pillars dancing for the Ogre                            147
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+FOLK TALES FROM TIBET.
+
+
+STORY No. I.
+
+HOW THE HARE GOT HIS SPLIT LIP.
+
+
+A hare was going along a road one day, when suddenly, on turning a
+corner, he came upon a large Tiger. The Tiger at once seized the Hare,
+and said that he was going to eat him.
+
+“Please, please, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, holding up his thumbs in
+supplication, “please don’t eat me, I am only a very small beast, and
+will make a very insufficient meal for a great big animal like you. And
+if you will spare my life I will take you to where you can find a much
+bigger, fatter creature than me for your supper.”
+
+“Very well,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that. But if you don’t show me
+a much bigger animal than you are, I shall certainly be obliged to eat
+you.”
+
+So he released the Hare, and the two walked off along the road
+together.
+
+As they went along night began to fall, and when it was quite dark the
+Hare began smacking his chops and making sounds as if he was eating
+something very nice.
+
+“What are you eating, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.
+
+“I am eating my eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare. “I have taken it
+out and eaten it; it is very nice, and it soon grows again.”
+
+The Tiger was rather surprised at hearing this, but being very hungry
+he proceeded to scrape out his own eye and eat it up. After going a
+little further the Hare again began smacking his lips, as if he was
+eating something.
+
+“What are you eating now, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.
+
+“I am eating my other eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare; “it is even
+better than the first.”
+
+The foolish Tiger on hearing this proceeded to scrape out his other eye
+and eat that.
+
+The Tiger was now quite blind, and the Hare led him along to the brink
+of a deep gulf, where he advised the Tiger to sit down and rest for a
+while. And after the Tiger was seated, the Hare said:
+
+“Don’t you find it cold, Uncle Tiger? shall I light you a fire?”
+
+“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Tiger, “I think a fire would be
+very pleasant.”
+
+So the Hare lighted a fire just in front of the Tiger, and when it was
+blazing up he kept putting the sticks nearer and nearer the Tiger, so
+that the Tiger was obliged to keep edging further and further away,
+when all of a sudden he toppled over backwards into the gulf behind.
+Now it happened that half-way down the gulf a tree was growing from a
+cleft in the precipice, and as he passed this the Tiger seized one of
+the boughs with his teeth, and so arrested his fall. The Hare, peeping
+over the edge, saw what had happened, and he called out:
+
+“Oh, Uncle Tiger, Uncle Tiger, are you safe?”
+
+The Tiger was afraid to open his mouth to reply, and all he could do
+was to growl, “M—m—m——”
+
+“Oh, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, “is that all you can say? I am afraid
+you must be very badly hurt. Do just say ‘Ah!’ and I shall know that
+you are all right.”
+
+The Tiger, anxious to please the Hare, opened his mouth to say “Ah!”
+and was instantly precipitated to the bottom of the gulf, where he fell
+upon some rocks and was killed.
+
+Next morning the Hare went hopping down the road when he met a Man
+driving along a lot of Horses.
+
+“Good morning, Father Man,” said he to the driver. “Would you like to
+know where you can find a good Tiger’s skin?”
+
+“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Man, thinking he would sell the
+skin and make a lot of money.
+
+So the Hare pointed out to him where the dead Tiger lay in the ravine,
+and the Man hastened off to skin it, after first asking the Hare to
+take care of his Horses while he was away.
+
+As soon as he was out of sight the Hare saw two Ravens sitting in a
+tree overhead. He called out to them:
+
+“Brothers Raven, look here! Here are a lot of Horses with no one in
+charge. Why don’t you come down and feed on the sores on their backs?”
+
+The Ravens thought this was a good idea, and flying down, they perched
+on the Horses’ backs, and began to dig their beaks into the sore
+places. The poor Horses, in fear and pain, soon stampeded, and galloped
+about all over the country.
+
+The Hare then hopped on a little further down the road and came upon a
+Boy tending Sheep.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Boy,” said the Hare, “would you like to know
+where there is a fine Raven’s nest, full of eggs?”
+
+“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Boy, thinking he would climb the
+tree and take the Raven’s eggs. So the Hare pointed out to him the tree
+where the Raven’s nest was, and the Boy ran off to get the eggs, after
+first asking the Hare to take charge of the Sheep for him while he was
+away.
+
+The Hare soon espied a Wolf on the hill-side not far off, so he went up
+to him and said:
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Wolf, do you know that there is a fine flock of
+Sheep quite unguarded down there, and I should advise you to take
+advantage of this opportunity of killing some of them.”
+
+The Wolf at once rushed down the hill into the middle of the flock of
+Sheep, scattering them all in every direction, and killing as many as
+he thought he required for his own use.
+
+Meanwhile the Hare proceeded to the top of a high hill whence he could
+survey the whole country. From there he was able to discern the dead
+Tiger lying in the ravine, with the Man stripping off its skin; the
+Horses careering all over the country, with the Ravens pecking at the
+sores on their backs; the Boy robbing the Raven’s nest; and the Sheep,
+pursued by the Wolf, scattered to the four quarters of the compass.
+
+The sight so amused the Hare that he leaned back on a handy stone, and
+laughed to such an extent that he actually split his upper lip. And it
+has remained split to this very day.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. II.
+
+THE STORY OF THE TIGER AND THE MAN.
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two Tigers who lived in a certain forest
+and had a family of three children. The Father Tiger grew old and began
+to fail, and just before his death he sent for his three children and
+addressed them as follows:
+
+“Remember, my children,” said he, “that the Tiger is Lord of the
+jungle; he roams about at his will and makes a prey of the other
+animals as he wishes, and none can gainsay him. But there is one animal
+against whom you must be on your guard. He alone is more powerful and
+cunning than the Tiger. That animal is Man, and I warn you solemnly
+before I die to beware of Man, and on no account to try to hunt or to
+kill him.”
+
+So saying, the old Tiger turned on his side and died.
+
+The three young Tigers listened respectfully to the words of their
+dying parent and promised to obey; and the elder brothers, who were
+obedient sons, were careful to follow his advice. They confined their
+attentions to the slaughter of deer, pigs, and other denizens of the
+forest, and were careful, whenever they came within sight or scent of
+any human being, to clear off as fast as they could from so dangerous a
+neighbourhood. But the youngest Tiger was of an independent and
+inquisitive disposition. As he grew older and stronger he began to
+chafe against the restriction that had been imposed upon him.
+
+“What, after all,” thought he to himself, “can be this creature Man
+that I should not slay him if I wish. I am told that he is but a
+defenceless creature, that his strength cannot be compared to mine, and
+that his claws and teeth are quite contemptible. I can pull down the
+largest stag or tackle the fiercest boar with impunity. Why, then,
+should not I be able to kill and eat Man also?”
+
+So after a while, in his conceit and folly, he determined to quit his
+own part of the forest and to venture forth towards the open country in
+search of a Man as his prey. His two brothers and his mother tried to
+reason with him and to persuade him to remember the words of his dying
+father, but with no avail; and finally, one fine morning, in spite of
+their prayers and entreaties, he set off alone on his search.
+
+He had not proceeded very far when he met an old, worn-out
+pack-Bullock, thin and emaciated, and with the marks of many ancient
+scars on his back. The young Tiger had never seen a Bullock before, and
+he regarded the creature with some curiosity. Walking up to it he said:
+
+“What sort of animal are you, pray? Are you a Man by any chance?”
+
+“No, indeed,” replied the creature; “I am only a poor Bullock.”
+
+“Ah!” said the Tiger. “Well, perhaps you can tell me what sort of an
+animal Man is, for I am just going out to find and kill one.”
+
+“Beware of Man, young Tiger,” replied the Bullock; “he is a dangerous
+and a faithless creature. Just look at me for example. From the time
+when I was very young I was Man’s servant. I carried loads for him on
+my back, as you may see by these scars, and for many years I slaved for
+him faithfully and well. While I was young and strong he cared for me
+and valued me highly; but as soon as I became old and weak, and was no
+longer able to do his work, he turned me out into this wild jungle to
+seek my food as best I might, and gave no thought for me in my old age.
+I warn you solemnly to leave him alone and not to try and kill him. He
+is very cunning and dangerous.”
+
+But the young Tiger only laughed at the warning and went on his way.
+Soon afterwards he came across an ancient Elephant wandering by itself
+on the outskirts of the forest, and feeding with its trunk on the
+grasses and foliage which it loves. The old animal had a wrinkled skin
+and a small and bleary eye, and behind its huge ears were many cuts and
+ancient scars, showing where the goad had been so frequently applied.
+
+The young Tiger eyed this strange animal with some surprise, and going
+up to it he said:
+
+“What sort of an animal are you, please? You are not a Man, I suppose?”
+
+“No, indeed,” replied the Elephant; “I am only a poor old worn-out
+Elephant.”
+
+“Is that so?” answered the Tiger. “Perhaps you can tell me, however,
+what sort of a creature Man is, as I am now hunting for one in order to
+kill and eat him.”
+
+“Beware how you hunt Man, young Tiger,” replied the old Elephant; “he
+is a faithless and dangerous animal. Look at my case. Although I am the
+Lord of the jungle, Man tamed me, and trained me, and made me his
+servant for many years. He put a saddle on my back and made stirrups of
+my ears, and he used to strike me over my head with an iron goad. While
+I was young and strong he valued me highly. Food was brought to me, as
+much as I could eat every day, and I had a special attendant who used
+to wash and groom me, and to see to all my wants. But when I became old
+and too infirm for further work, he turned me out into the jungle to
+fend for myself as best I could. If you will take my advice you will
+leave Man alone, or it will be the worse for you in the end.”
+
+But the young Tiger laughed contemptuously and went on his way. After
+proceeding for some little distance he heard the sound of some one
+chopping wood, and creeping near he saw that it was a Woodcutter
+engaged in felling a tree. After watching him for some time the Tiger
+emerged from the jungle, and going up to the Man, he asked what sort of
+an animal he was. The Woodcutter replied:
+
+“Why, what an ignorant Tiger you are; can’t you see that I am a Man?”
+
+“Oh, are you,” replied the Tiger, “what a piece of luck for me. I was
+just looking for a Man in order to kill and eat him, and you will do
+nicely.”
+
+On hearing this the Woodcutter began to laugh. “Kill and eat me,” he
+replied; “why, don’t you know that Man is much too clever to be killed
+and eaten by a Tiger? Just come with me a little way and I will show
+you some things which only a Man knows, but which will be very useful
+for you to learn.”
+
+The Tiger thought that this was a good idea, so he followed the Man
+through the jungle until they came to the Man’s house, which was
+strongly built of timber and heavy logs.
+
+“What is that place?” said the Tiger when he saw it.
+
+“That is called a house,” replied the Man. “I will show you how we use
+it.”
+
+And so saying he went inside and shut the door.
+
+“Now,” said he, speaking from the inside to the Tiger, “you see what a
+foolish creature a Tiger is compared to a Man. You poor animals live in
+a hole in the forest, exposed to wind, rain, cold and heat; and all
+your strength is of no value to make a house like this. Whereas I,
+although I am so much weaker than you, can build myself a fine house,
+where I live at my ease, indifferent to the weather and secure from the
+attacks of wild animals.”
+
+On hearing this the young Tiger flew into a violent passion.
+
+“What right,” said he, “has an ugly, defenceless creature like you to
+possess such a lovely house? Look at me, with my beautiful stripes, and
+my great teeth and claws, and my long tail. I am far more worthy than
+you of a house. Come out at once, and give your house over to me.”
+
+“Oh, very well,” said the Man, and he came out of the house leaving the
+door open, and the Tiger stalked in.
+
+“Now, look at me,” called out the conceited young Tiger from inside,
+“don’t I look nice in my fine house?”
+
+“Very nice indeed,” replied the Man, and bolting the door outside he
+walked off with his axe, leaving the Tiger to starve to death.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. III.
+
+THE STORY OF GOOD FAITH.
+
+
+The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his
+way out; but the house was too strongly built for him to be able to
+make any impression upon the walls, so he gave it up in despair and
+soon began to suffer severely from hunger and thirst. Two or three days
+passed away and the Tiger was in a sorry state, when, as he was peering
+through a chink in the logs he saw a little Musk Deer, which had come
+down to drink at the stream which was close by. When the Tiger saw the
+Deer he called out to her:
+
+“Oh, Sister Deer, will you please come and open the door of this house.
+I am shut up inside, and as I have nothing to eat and drink I am afraid
+of starving to death.”
+
+The Deer was a good deal frightened when she heard the Tiger’s voice,
+but when she understood how matters were she was reassured, and
+replied:
+
+“Oh, Uncle Tiger, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. But I am
+afraid if I open the door and let you out you will kill and eat me.”
+
+“No, no, I won’t,” replied the Tiger, “you can rely upon me. I promise
+you faithfully that if you will release me I will let you go free.”
+
+Accordingly, the Deer came up to the house and unbolted the door from
+the outside, and the Tiger sprang out joyfully. As soon as he got
+outside he seized upon the Deer and said:
+
+“I am very sorry for you, Sister Deer, but the fact is I am so famished
+that really I have no alternative but to eat you immediately.”
+
+“This is really too bad,” replied the Deer; “after promising faithfully
+that you would not eat me, and after the benefit which I have conferred
+upon you, you should certainly keep faith with me.”
+
+“Faith!” said the Tiger. “What is faith? I don’t believe there is any
+such thing as good faith.”
+
+“Is there not?” answered the Deer. “Well now, let us make a bargain. We
+will ask the first three living things we meet whether or no there is
+such a thing as good faith. If they say there is not, then you are
+welcome to kill and eat me; but if they say there is such a thing, then
+you shall let me go free.”
+
+“Very good,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that; that is a bargain.”
+
+So the two set off together side by side, and after proceeding a short
+distance down the road they came upon a large Tree growing by the
+roadside.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Tree,” said the Musk Deer, “we want to refer a
+question to you for your decision.”
+
+The Tree waved its branches in the air and replied in a gentle voice:
+
+“What is your question, Sister Deer? I am ready to do my best to help
+you.”
+
+“The case is this,” replied the Musk Deer, “a short while ago I found
+this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut in the forest, unable to get
+out. He called out to me asking me to open the door of the hut,
+promising me, if I did so, that he would let me go free. So I opened
+the door and let him out. No sooner was he released than he seized upon
+me and threatened to kill and eat me; and when I reproached him of
+breaking his faith, he said he did not believe that there was such a
+thing as good faith in the world. So we made a bargain that we would
+ask the first three living things we met whether or no there is such a
+thing as good faith in this world. If they say there is not, then the
+Tiger is to kill and eat me; but if they say that there is such a
+thing, then I am to go free. Will you please give us an opinion as to
+whether such a thing as good faith exists or not.”
+
+On hearing this story the great Tree moved its branches slowly in the
+breeze and replied as follows:
+
+“I am much interested in your story, Sister Deer, and would gladly help
+you if I could; but I am bound to answer you honestly in accordance
+with my own experience of life. Now consider my own case. I grow here
+by the roadside and spread my branches over the dusty highway ready to
+give shelter to man and beast in their shade. Travellers passing
+constantly up and down the road avail themselves of this cool retreat,
+and they come themselves and they bring their poor beasts of burden to
+rest in my shadow. And then what happens? Are they grateful to me for
+the comfort which I afford them? Does my example inspire them with any
+consideration for others? Far from it. When they have rested and
+refreshed themselves enough, they proceed on their way, and not only do
+they not thank me for my hospitality, but they break off my tender
+branches and use them as whips, further to goad and distress their
+weary animals. Can such conduct as that be called good faith? No, I am
+bound to say that my experience of life leads me to believe that there
+is no such thing as good faith in this world.”
+
+The poor Musk Deer was much cast down on hearing these words, and she
+and the Tiger moved on together till, a little farther along the road,
+they caught sight of a Cow Buffalo and her Calf grazing quietly in a
+field of succulent grass. They noticed that the old Cow contented
+herself with the driest and smallest patches of grass, whilst showing
+her Calf where to find the richest and most luxuriant pasture, and that
+she willingly deprived herself of any comfort in order to afford
+pleasure to the youngster. The Tiger and the Deer approached the old
+Cow, and the Deer, addressing her, said:
+
+“Good-morning, Aunt Buffalo! This Tiger and I have a small matter which
+we wish to refer to you for an opinion.”
+
+The Buffalo gazed at them with her big eyes, and after ruminating for a
+while she replied slowly:
+
+“Say on, Sister Deer, I am ready to give you my opinion for what it is
+worth.”
+
+“Well,” said the Deer, “this Tiger was shut up in a hut in the forest,
+and being unable to open the door, he was in danger of starving to
+death. I happened to pass by, and he called to me, asking me to let him
+out, promising that if I did so he would spare my life. So I opened the
+door and released him. But no sooner was he free than he seized upon me
+and said that he would kill and eat me; and when I reproached him with
+his bad faith, he replied that he did not believe that such a thing as
+good faith existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first
+three living things we met whether or no they believed that there is
+such a thing as good faith. If they say there is not, then the Tiger is
+to eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing, I am to go free.
+Now, will you please give us your opinion on the matter.”
+
+On hearing this statement the old Buffalo continued to chew the cud for
+some minutes, and then replied gravely:
+
+“I would gladly help you in the matter, Sister Deer, if I could; but I
+must regard it from the point of view of my own experience in life. I
+am considering the case of myself and my Calf. While the Calf is young
+and tender, I do all in my power to nourish and care for it. I first
+give it my milk, and later on, as you see, I encourage it to browse
+upon the best of the herbage, whilst I gladly stint myself in order
+that it may have plenty of the best of everything. But what happens
+later on, when the Calf grows strong and lusty? Does it remember its
+old mother with gratitude, and fend for her in her old age? Far from
+it. As soon as it is big enough it will push me away from the places
+where I am grazing and take the best for itself, and will drive me away
+altogether from the pastures if it can. Can that be called keeping
+faith with its mother? No; my experience makes me believe that there is
+no such thing as good faith in this world.”
+
+When the Musk Deer heard this she was much downhearted, and fully
+expected to be killed and eaten without further delay; but she begged
+the Tiger to give her one more chance, saying that she was fully
+prepared to abide by the opinion of the third person whom they met.
+
+The Tiger consented to this, and after going on a little farther
+together they met a Hare, hopping quietly down the road towards them.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” called out the Musk Deer; “could you
+spare us a few moments to give us an opinion upon a point of difference
+which has arisen between this Tiger and myself?”
+
+“Certainly,” replied the Hare, stopping short in the roadway. “I shall
+be delighted to do the best I can for you.”
+
+“Well,” replied the Musk Deer, “the facts are as follows: I was
+drinking just now at a stream in the forest when I noticed this Tiger
+shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut. The door was bolted outside, and he was
+unable to come out, and was in danger of starving to death, so he
+called out to me, asking me to release him, promising me, if I did so,
+that he would spare my life. I accordingly opened the door; but no
+sooner did the Tiger come out, than he seized upon me, saying that he
+was so hungry that he had really no alternative but to devour me on the
+spot. And when I reproached him for his bad faith, he replied that he
+did not know what good faith was, and, in fact, did not believe that
+such a thing existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first
+three living creatures we met whether or no there is such a thing as
+good faith in this world. If they say there is, then I am to go free;
+but if they say there is not, then the Tiger is at liberty to kill and
+eat me. We have already consulted two persons in the matter, and they
+are both of opinion that there is no such thing as good faith. You are
+the third and last, and on your decision depends my life.”
+
+“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “this is a very strange story, and before
+giving an opinion on so momentous a matter it is necessary that I
+should understand exactly how it all happened. Let me see. You say that
+you were shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”
+
+“No, no,” broke in the Tiger; “it was I who was shut up in the
+Woodcutter’s hut.”
+
+“Oh! I see,” said the Hare; “then the Musk Deer must have shut you in?”
+
+“Oh! no,” interrupted the Musk Deer. “You don’t seem to understand at
+all; that was not how it happened.”
+
+“Well,” said the Hare, “it is such a complicated story that it is
+difficult to follow it exactly. So before giving a decision I propose
+that we all adjourn to the scene of action, and there you can explain
+to me precisely what occurred.”
+
+The Tiger and the Musk Deer agreed to this, and the three set off
+together until they arrived at the Woodcutter’s hut in the forest.
+
+“Now,” said the Hare, “will you please explain to me exactly what
+happened. Where, for instance, were you, Sister Deer, at the time the
+Tiger spoke to you?”
+
+“I was down here drinking at the stream, so,” replied the Deer, going
+off to the place in question.
+
+“And where were you, Uncle Tiger?” said the Hare.
+
+“Well, I was inside the hut, thus,” replied the Tiger, going inside the
+house.
+
+“And the door, I presume, must have been shut, so?” said the Hare. And
+so saying he shut the door and bolted it; and he and the Deer went on
+their way safely, leaving the Tiger shut up inside, where he shortly
+after starved to death.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. IV.
+
+THE STORY OF THE TWO NEIGHBOURS.
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two Neighbours living in two houses, side
+by side, in the same village. One of these was rich, and the other one
+poor. The rich man, whose name was Tse-ring, was proud, arrogant, and
+stingy; whilst the poor man, whose name was Cham-ba, was a kind-hearted
+man, who was generous to all as far as his means allowed.
+
+Now it happened that a pair of Sparrows came and built their nest in
+the eaves over the doorway of the poor man’s house, where, in the
+course of time, the young birds were hatched out. One day, before the
+young birds had learnt to fly, the two old Sparrows were away hunting
+for food, and one of the young ones fell out of its nest on to the poor
+man’s door-step, and broke its leg. Shortly after the poor man coming
+into his house saw the young Sparrow lying helpless on his door-step,
+so he picked it up to see what was wrong, and found that its leg was
+broken. So he carried it into the house, and very carefully bound up
+its leg with a piece of thread; and then took it up to the roof, and
+put it back in the nest.
+
+Now this Sparrow, although the poor man did not know it, was really a
+fairy in disguise, and later on, when it had grown up, it flew out one
+day and returned with its beak full of grain. The poor man was sitting
+in his house when the little Sparrow flew in and perched on the table
+in front of him. It dropped the grain on the table, and after giving
+one or two chirps it said to the man:
+
+“This grain is in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your
+garden and see what comes up,” and so saying it flew away.
+
+The poor man was very much surprised at hearing the Sparrow speak, and
+he thought to himself:
+
+“Well, this is not a very valuable present, but still it shows how
+grateful even a little bird can be for a kindness done to him; and any
+way I will plant the grain in my garden as it directed.”
+
+So he planted the grain just in front of his house, and soon forgot all
+about the incident.
+
+A month or two later the grain grew, and soon attained its full height;
+and one day the poor man, going to look at it, was astonished to find
+that, instead of grain, each ear of corn contained a valuable jewel. He
+was very much delighted at this discovery, and having collected all the
+jewels, he carried them away to a neighbouring town, where he was able
+to sell them for a large sum of money, and thus found himself in a
+condition of great comfort and prosperity.
+
+Soon after this the rich Neighbour, having observed the change which
+had taken place in the poor man’s circumstances, came over one day in
+order to try and find out how Cham-ba had become so rich and
+prosperous. He carried over with him a jug of beer, and, on the
+pretence of conviviality, he offered his Neighbour a drink, and during
+the course of the conversation which followed he asked Cham-ba to tell
+him the secret of his new wealth. Cham-ba, who was of a very
+unsuspicious nature, related to him the whole story of the Sparrow, the
+grain, and the jewels, and having learnt the secret the rich man
+returned to his own house, pondering deeply how he could turn this
+story to his own advantage.
+
+Now it happened that a Sparrow had hatched out her young in a nest just
+over his house door also. So next day he went up on to the roof, and
+leaning out over the parapet he picked out a young Sparrow from the
+nest with a pair of chop-sticks, and dropped it on to the ground below,
+where the poor little bird broke its leg. He then went down, picked up
+the young Sparrow, bound up its leg with a piece of thread, and put it
+back into its nest, saying as he did so that he hoped it would remember
+his kindness.
+
+Sure enough, when the Sparrow grew up it flew into his house one day,
+and perched on the table before him. It dropped some grain from its
+beak, and after a few preliminary chirps it said:
+
+“This grain is a present in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in
+your garden and see what grows up.”
+
+The rich man was greatly delighted on hearing this, and thought to
+himself that he would soon be the possessor of beautiful jewels like
+his Neighbour. He prepared a bed very carefully in his garden, and
+planted the grain in the richest part of the soil. Every day he used to
+go and watch the spot, carefully examining the young shoots to see how
+they were getting on.
+
+The seeds sprouted and grew very fast, and one morning, when he went
+out as usual to see how his crop was doing, to his astonishment he
+found that instead of a few stalks of barley, as he had expected, a
+great fierce-looking man, with a bundle of papers under his arm, was
+standing in the middle of the bed. The rich man was very frightened at
+seeing this truculent-looking stranger, and asked who he was.
+
+“I was a creditor of yours in one of your former existences,” replied
+the Apparition. “You were then heavily in my debt, and I have come back
+here with all the necessary documents to claim what you owed me.”
+
+So saying, the Stranger seized upon the rich man’s house, his cattle,
+his sheep, his lands, and all his possessions, and reduced the rich man
+to the position of a slave in his household.
+
+Some months after, Cham-ba, now rich and prosperous, started off on a
+journey, and before going he asked Tse-ring to take charge of a bag of
+gold-dust for him, and to keep it until he returned. Tse-ring undertook
+the charge of the gold, but in his new state of poverty and dependence
+he was unable to resist the temptation of spending some of it, and at
+last he found that the whole of the gold left in his charge was
+exhausted. Not knowing what to do he filled the bag with sand, and
+awaited his Neighbour’s return with some trepidation.
+
+A few days after Cham-ba came back from his journey, and called upon
+his Neighbour, and asked for his bag of gold. Tse-ring produced the bag
+and handed it over to Cham-ba without saying anything, and when Cham-ba
+opened it to see whether the gold was all right he found that it
+contained sand instead of gold.
+
+“How is this?” said he. “I entrusted to you a bag of gold-dust, and you
+have given me back only sand.”
+
+The dishonest Neighbour had no reply to make. He pretended to look very
+surprised, and all he could say was:
+
+“My friend, it has turned into this! My friend, it has turned into
+this!”
+
+Cham-ba said nothing more, but carried off the bag to his own house.
+
+Soon afterwards Cham-ba announced his intention of starting a school
+for little boys, where they would be taught free, and Tse-ring,
+thinking that a free education for his Son was not to be neglected,
+sent over his young Son to attend the school. A few days later he found
+it necessary to make a short journey to a neighbouring town, and before
+starting he entrusted his little Son to his neighbour, Cham-ba, and
+asked him to look after the boy until his return.
+
+As soon as he was gone Cham-ba procured a tame Monkey and taught it to
+say the following words.
+
+“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into
+this!”
+
+When Tse-ring returned from his journey he walked over to the
+school-house one day to see how his Son was getting on, and he found
+Cham-ba seated there teaching the boys their lessons. Tse-ring looked
+round to see his Son, but could not detect him anywhere, but to his
+surprise he noticed a Monkey seated on one of the benches.
+
+“Where is my son?” asked Tse-ring, “and how is he getting on?”
+
+Cham-ba said nothing, but picked up the Monkey and carried it to him.
+
+“What do you mean by this?” said Tse-ring. “This is not my Son. Where
+is the boy whom I entrusted to your care?”
+
+Whereupon the Monkey spoke up and said:
+
+“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into
+this!”
+
+The father flew into a violent rage and stormed at his neighbour,
+Cham-ba, for some time, but without producing any impression. Finally,
+on thinking the matter over, he decided it was better to pay up the
+gold he had stolen, on condition of having his proper Son restored to
+him.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. V.
+
+THE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE MICE.
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a Cat who lived in a large farm-house in
+which there was a great number of Mice. For many years the Cat found no
+difficulty in catching as many Mice as she wanted to eat, and she lived
+a very peaceful and pleasant life. But as time passed on she found that
+she was growing old and infirm, and that it was becoming more and more
+difficult for her to catch the same number of Mice as before; so after
+thinking very carefully what was the best thing to do, she one day
+called all the Mice together, and after promising not to touch them,
+she addressed them as follows:
+
+“Oh! Mice,” said she, “I have called you together in order to say
+something to you. The fact is that I have led a very wicked life, and
+now, in my old age, I repent of having caused you all so much
+inconvenience and annoyance. So I am going for the future to turn over
+a new leaf. It is my intention now to give myself up entirely to
+religious contemplation and no longer to molest you, so henceforth you
+are at liberty to run about as freely as you will without fear of me.
+All I ask of you is that twice every day you should all file past me in
+procession and each one make an obeisance as you pass me by, as a token
+of your gratitude to me for my kindness.”
+
+When the Mice heard this they were greatly pleased, for they thought
+that now, at last, they would be free from all danger from their former
+enemy, the Cat. So they very thankfully promised to fulfil the Cat’s
+conditions, and agreed that they would file past her and make a salaam
+twice every day.
+
+So when evening came the Cat took her seat on a cushion at one end of
+the room, and the Mice all went by in single file, each one making a
+profound salaam as it passed.
+
+Now the cunning old Cat had arranged this little plan very carefully
+with an object of her own; for, as soon as the procession had all
+passed by with the exception of one little Mouse, she suddenly seized
+the last Mouse in her claws without anybody else noticing what had
+happened, and devoured it at her leisure. And so twice every day, she
+seized the last Mouse of the series, and for a long time lived very
+comfortably without any trouble at all in catching her Mice, and
+without any of the Mice realising what was happening.
+
+Now it happened that amongst these Mice there were two friends, whose
+names were Rambé and Ambé, who were very much attached to one another.
+Now these two were much cleverer and more cunning than most of the
+others, and after a few days they noticed that the number of Mice in
+the house seemed to be decreasing very much, in spite of the fact that
+the Cat had promised not to kill any more. So they laid their heads
+together and arranged a little plan for future processions. They agreed
+that Rambé was always to walk at the very front of the procession of
+the Mice, and that Ambé was to bring up the rear, and that all the time
+the procession was passing, Rambé was to call to Ambé, and Ambé to
+answer Rambé at frequent intervals. So next evening, when the
+procession started as usual, Rambé marched along in front, and Ambé
+took up his position last of all. As soon as Rambé had passed the
+cushion where the Cat was seated and had made his salaam, he called out
+in a shrill voice.
+
+“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”
+
+“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” squeaked the other from the rear of the
+procession. And so they went on calling and answering one another until
+they had all filed past the Cat, who had not dared to touch Ambé as
+long as his brother kept calling to him.
+
+The Cat was naturally very much annoyed at having to go hungry that
+evening, and felt very cross all night. But she thought it was only an
+accident which had brought the two friends, one in front and one in
+rear of the procession, and she hoped to make up for her enforced
+abstinence by finding a particularly fat Mouse at the end of the
+procession next morning. What, then, was her amazement and disgust when
+she found that on the following morning the very same arrangement had
+been made, and that Rambé called to Ambé, and Ambé answered Rambé until
+all the Mice had passed her by, and so, for the second time, she was
+foiled of her meal. However, she disguised her feelings of anger and
+decided to give the Mice one more trial; so in the evening she took her
+seat as usual on the cushion and waited for the Mice to appear.
+
+Meanwhile, Rambé and Ambé had warned the other Mice to be on the
+lookout, and to be ready to take flight the moment the Cat showed any
+appearance of anger. At the appointed time the procession started as
+usual, and as soon as Rambé had passed the Cat he squeaked out:
+
+“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”
+
+“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” came the shrill voice from the rear.
+
+This was more than the Cat could stand. She made a fierce leap right
+into the middle of the Mice, who, however, were thoroughly prepared for
+her, and in an instant they scuttled off in every direction to their
+holes. And before the Cat had time to catch a single one the room was
+empty and not a sign of a Mouse was to be seen anywhere.
+
+After this the Mice were very careful not to put any further trust in
+the treacherous Cat, who soon after died of starvation owing to her
+being unable to procure any of her customary food; whilst Rambé and
+Ambé lived for many years, and were held in high honour and esteem by
+all the other Mice in the community.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. VI.
+
+THE STORY OF THE FOOLISH YOUNG MUSSULMAN.
+
+
+There was once a young Mussulman, who lived with his poor mother in a
+small cottage on the outskirts of a large town. As the Boy grew up, it
+was found that he was rather weak-minded, and that he was continually
+getting himself into scrapes, owing to his own folly and carelessness;
+and the naughty boys of the neighbourhood used to take advantage of the
+poor young fellow, and were constantly teasing him and telling him all
+sorts of absurd stories.
+
+It chanced one day that he went for a walk in a large meadow, where
+there were a number of yellow flowers, and presently sitting down to
+rest, he began to gather a nosegay, when a young man passing by called
+out to him:
+
+“Hullo! what are you doing there? Do you know that the soles of your
+feet are all yellow, and that is a sure sign that you are going to die
+at once?”
+
+The poor young fellow was greatly frightened at hearing this, and he
+thought to himself:
+
+“Well, if I am going to die, I had better have a grave ready.”
+
+So he set to work, and soon scraped out for himself a shallow grave in
+the soft soil. As soon as it was ready, he lay down in it and resigned
+himself to death.
+
+A few minutes later one of the King’s Servants, who happened to be
+passing by carrying an earthen jar full of oil for the King’s palace,
+noticed the Boy lying on his back in the shallow grave, so he stopped
+and asked him what he was doing. The Boy replied:
+
+“The soles of my feet are turning yellow, and that, as you know, is a
+sure sign that I am going to die; so I have prepared myself a grave,
+and am just waiting here till death comes.”
+
+“Oh, nonsense!” replied the Servant; “you could not talk like that if
+you were really dying. Come, get up, and help me to carry this jar of
+oil for the King, and I will give you a hen for yourself.”
+
+So the foolish Boy got up out of his grave, and taking the jar of oil
+on his back, he walked along the road with the King’s Servant towards
+the palace. As they went along, he kept thinking to himself what he
+should do with his hen when he got it.
+
+“As soon as I have got some eggs,” thought he to himself, “I shall set
+the hen to hatch them. And then I shall have a nice lot of chickens.
+And when the chickens grow up into cocks and hens I shall sell them in
+the market. And with the money I get I shall buy a cow. And presently
+the cow will have a calf. And when the calf grows big I shall sell both
+the cow and the calf. And with the money I get I shall buy a nice
+little house. And when I have settled down in my house I shall marry a
+wife. And after a time we shall have a child. And as the child grows
+big I shall have to take its education in hand. And I shall be very
+firm and judicious with it. And if it is a good child and does what I
+tell it, I shall be very kind to it. And if it is naughty and does not
+do what it is told, I shall be very stern and stamp my foot, so!”
+
+And thus thinking he stamped his foot so violently that the jar of oil
+slipped off his back and was smashed to pieces on the ground. When he
+saw this, the King’s Servant became very angry, and asked him what on
+earth he meant by stamping his foot like that, and breaking a valuable
+jar of oil, which was intended for the King. The Boy tried to explain
+how it occurred, but the Servant would not listen, and dragged him off
+by force into the King’s presence.
+
+When the King saw them coming in together, he asked his Servant what he
+wanted, and why he was bringing in a strange Boy with him. The Servant
+replied that he had entrusted the Boy with a jar of oil intended for
+the King, and as they were walking along the road quite quietly
+together, the Boy all of a sudden began to stamp his feet like a
+maniac, and the jar of oil slipped off his back and got broken. The
+King asked the Boy what he meant by his conduct, and the Boy replied:
+
+“Well, Your Majesty, your Servant said that if I would carry this jar
+of oil, he would give me a hen, and it seemed to me quite natural to
+consider within myself what I should do with my hen when I got it. So I
+soon saw that by selling the chickens I could buy a cow, and that later
+on by selling the cow and her calf, I could get a wife and set up a
+house of my own, and that presently we should have a child; and I was
+thinking to myself how I should keep my child in order, and if it was
+naughty I should be obliged to stamp my foot very firmly, in order to
+show it that I was not to be trifled with.”
+
+On hearing this ridiculous story the King was much amused, and laughed
+very heartily; and he gave the foolish Boy a piece of gold, and told
+him to go home to his Mother.
+
+So the Boy went off towards his own home, and as he got near to the
+house he saw a strange dog sneaking out of the door, carrying in his
+mouth a purse full of money, which he had just picked up inside. On
+seeing this the Boy became very much excited, and began calling aloud
+to his Mother that a dog was making off with her purse. The Mother,
+when she found what was up, was afraid that he would attract the
+attention of the neighbours to the loss of the purse, and that in the
+excitement some one else would chase the dog and get the money; so
+hastily running up on to the flat roof of the house she sprinkled some
+sugar over the roof, and then called to the Boy to come up as quickly
+as he could.
+
+“Look!” she said, as soon as he arrived; “what a curious thing! It has
+been raining sugar all over the roof of the house.”
+
+Her son, who was very fond of sugar, at once set to work to pick up all
+that he saw; and while he was so engaged, the good woman slipped away
+and soon found the dog and recovered her purse.
+
+Some time afterwards the Boy’s Mother arranged with a rich family, who
+lived some miles away, and who were not acquainted with her son’s
+failings, that the Boy should marry the daughter of the house; and
+that, in accordance with Tibetan custom, he should become a member of
+the Bride’s family. When all the preliminaries had been satisfactorily
+arranged, a party of horsemen arrived from the Bride’s house to greet
+the Bridegroom and to bring him home. The Boy dressed himself up in his
+best clothes, and, after feasting the wedding party in the usual
+manner, he begged them all to go on ahead of him, saying that he would
+follow as soon as he had said good-bye to his Mother.
+
+Towards evening he set out by himself on horseback. It was a moonlight
+night, and as he rode down the road he could see his own shadow
+travelling along beside him. He could not make out what the shadow was,
+but thought it must be some ghost or demon, which wanted to do him an
+injury, so he urged his horse into a gallop, in order to try and get
+away from it. But the faster he galloped the faster went the shadow,
+and he soon saw that it was no good trying to escape. So in order to
+frighten the strange object he took off his puggaree and flung it at
+it. As this produced no effect, he followed up the puggaree with his
+cloak, and, finally, with all the clothes he had on, but without in any
+way frightening the shadow, which still continued to follow him
+closely. So thinking to give it the slip, he jumped off his horse and
+ran along the road on foot, until he got into the shade of a big
+poplar-tree growing near the road-side.
+
+Here he stopped to take breath, and he noticed to his great joy that
+the shadow had disappeared; but on peeping out from the shadow of the
+tree he was annoyed to find that on whichever side he looked the shadow
+immediately showed itself also. So thinking that the shade of the tree
+was the safest place to stay in, he climbed into the upper branches and
+very soon fell fast asleep.
+
+A short while after a party of travellers happened to be passing by
+this road from the same direction, and as they came along they were
+surprised to find a number of garments scattered about the roadway. So
+they picked them up as they came along, and presently they found a
+horse grazing beside the road. Him, too, they brought along with them,
+and when they arrived in the shade of the poplar-tree, they all stopped
+and sat down on the ground to divide the spoil amongst them.
+
+Just then the Boy woke up, and looking down he saw what was going on
+below, so he called out in a loud voice:
+
+“I say, I want my share too, you know.”
+
+On hearing this voice emerging from the upper branches of the tree, the
+travellers were greatly alarmed. They thought it must certainly be a
+demon, who lived in the tree, and who wanted his share of the spoils,
+so they took to their heels and made off as fast as they could, leaving
+the horse and all the clothes behind them. The Boy then climbed down
+from the tree, put on his own clothes, and, mounting his horse, rode
+off to his Bride’s house.
+
+When he arrived at the house the parents of his Bride hurried out to
+greet him, and after asking him why he was so late, they led him to the
+room where the wedding feast was laid out. All the friends and
+neighbours from round about were gathered there ready to share in the
+feast, and to offer their congratulations to the Bride and Bridegroom.
+
+During the progress of the feast the young Mussulman, who was of a very
+kindly disposition, and very fond of his Mother, kept thinking to
+himself how he could save something nice for her to eat from amongst so
+much plenty. So he picked from the table a narrow-mouthed copper vessel
+and concealed it in his lap, and whilst eating his food he every now
+and then dropped into it some particularly succulent dainty, which he
+thought his Mother would enjoy. Presently, however, he inadvertently
+thrust his hand right into the vessel, and to his horror he found that
+he was unable to withdraw it again. In this awkward predicament he was
+unable to eat anything, and the Bride’s parents noticing that he no
+longer partook of any food, kept pressing him to have a little more.
+The young Man was still hungry, but was obliged to refuse all their
+offers, saying that he had already eaten enough.
+
+Towards evening, when the feast was completed, the guests withdrew, and
+the Boy was left alone with his Bride; and she began asking him what
+the matter was, and why he had been behaving so strangely during the
+banquet.
+
+He was at first too shy to tell her what had happened, but after much
+coaxing she elicited from him the fact that his right hand was confined
+in the neck of the copper vessel.
+
+“Never mind,” said she; “there is a large white stone lying at the foot
+of the staircase. You had better slip down stairs in the dark, and by
+beating the vessel against the stone you will soon succeed in freeing
+yourself.”
+
+The young fellow thought this was a good idea, and he went off quietly
+down the staircase, until he detected what he thought was a white stone
+lying near the foot of the steps. So, creeping up to it, he raised his
+arm and brought down the copper vessel with great force upon the white
+object, shattering the vessel and leaving his hand free. But to his
+horror the stone, instead of being hard, gave way, and a muffled groan
+issued from it; and on examining the spot, he found that instead of
+striking a stone, he had delivered a violent blow upon the grey head of
+his Bride’s father, who, overcome by his potations during the wedding
+feast, had fallen asleep at the foot of the stairs.
+
+The young Man was terrified at what he had done, and feeling sure that
+he must have killed the old man, he decided to flee from the house; so
+he opened the door and ran off into the night. After running for some
+distance he reached a neighbouring farm, where, as it happened, a large
+honeycomb had been left lying in the corner of the courtyard. The Boy,
+not knowing what it was, lay down upon this and fell fast asleep, and
+soon smeared himself all over with honey. Later in the night he woke up
+feeling very cold, and creeping into a shed close by, which was used as
+a storage for wool, he lay down upon the wool and slept until morning.
+
+He woke with the first gleam of dawn, and in the early morning light he
+saw that he was all white and woolly, and in his simplicity he believed
+that, as a punishment for his wickedness in killing his father-in-law,
+he had been turned into a sheep. So under this impression, he ran out
+of the courtyard and joined a flock of sheep, which were grazing on a
+neighbouring hillside. He wandered about with the sheep all day,
+feeling very miserable, and trying to accommodate himself to the
+manners and customs of his new companions, and when evening came he
+accompanied them into the fold where they always spent the night.
+
+About midnight some robbers came to the fold, and getting in amongst
+the sheep felt about for a good fat heavy one; and finally finding that
+the Boy was the heaviest of them all, they proceeded to carry him off.
+One of them hoisted him up on to his back, and they carried him along
+for some distance until they reached the banks of a small stream. Here
+they halted, and, laying him down upon the ground, they began to make
+preparations for cutting his throat. This trial proved rather too much
+for the nerves of the young Man, and forgetting his rôle of sheep, he
+called out in a shrill voice:
+
+“Please don’t kill me, kind robbers.”
+
+On hearing this the robbers were very much frightened, and ran off as
+fast as they could; and the Boy, thankful to have escaped from this
+danger, and being thoroughly worn out by the exertions and exposure of
+the last twenty-four hours, returned to his Bride’s house. There he
+found that the old man, though sorely hurt, was not dead, and having
+explained all the circumstances of the case, he was freely forgiven,
+and taken back into the household.
+
+After living for some years very happily with his Bride, he thought
+that he would like to make a little money for himself by trading, so
+having procured a good stock of merchandise he set off for India, in
+the hope of making a good profit on his goods. On the way he halted one
+evening at a large house. The Landlord received him very hospitably,
+and made him quite comfortable, and during the conversation which
+followed their evening meal the Master of the house began telling some
+very tall stories. Some of these stories being rather too wonderful for
+belief, the young Man bluntly said that he could not believe them.
+Thereupon the Landlord replied:
+
+“I can prove to you that I am telling the truth by showing you a
+stranger thing than anything which I have hitherto related. I will bet
+you that when night falls a lantern will be carried into this room by a
+cat instead of by a servant.”
+
+The young Man was amused at his Host’s boasting, and he said:
+
+“Very well, I am prepared to bet you anything you like that this will
+not happen.”
+
+“Very good,” said the Landlord. “If this does not happen, I will hand
+you over my house, my merchandise, and everything I possess; but if it
+does, you will forfeit all your baggage, animals and merchandise to
+me.” And so the bet was arranged.
+
+Now this was a regular trick of the Landlord’s, who had a tame cat
+which had been taught to carry in a lantern in her mouth every evening
+just at dusk, and he was accustomed to practise this deceit upon unwary
+travellers, and by this means to secure their goods and whatever
+property they possessed.
+
+Sure enough, just at dusk a large white cat entered the sitting-room,
+holding a lighted lantern in its mouth, and the unfortunate young Man
+was obliged to hand over to his Host everything he possessed in the
+world; and finding himself without money or goods he decided to stay on
+in the house as a servant.
+
+After the lapse of one or two months his Wife grew anxious about him,
+and knowing that from the infirmity of his mind he was likely to get
+himself into some scrape or another, she decided to set out herself to
+see what had become of him. So she disguised herself as a man, and
+taking with her a few ponies laden with wool, she started off to follow
+in the tracks of her Husband.
+
+After several days she arrived at the house where her Husband was now
+employed as a servant, and, meeting him in the courtyard, she learnt
+from him all that had happened. So she bade him hold his tongue, and
+she herself entered the inn, and asked for a night’s lodging. During
+the evening the Host got talking, and in the course of the conversation
+he made her the same wager as he had done to her Husband some time
+before.
+
+“Well,” said she, “that sounds a very strange story. I can scarcely
+believe it possible you can have a cat so well trained as to be able to
+carry in a lantern. But I will think over what you say to-night, and we
+will see about making the bet to-morrow morning.”
+
+Next morning at breakfast she said to her Host:
+
+“I have thought over what you said to me yesterday, and I am now
+prepared to make a bet with you that the cat will not carry a lantern
+into this room at dusk this evening.”
+
+So the bet was concluded upon the same terms as before, and the Lady
+privately told her Husband what he was to do. So in accordance with the
+instructions she had given him, he caught three mice, and concealed
+them in a little box, which he placed in the bosom of his robe. When
+evening approached, the Landlord and the Lady seated themselves in the
+supper room, waiting to see whether or no the cat would appear as
+expected, whilst the Husband hid himself in a corner of the courtyard,
+just outside the door near where the cat was accustomed to pass.
+
+Just at dusk the cat, carrying the lantern in its mouth, began to cross
+the courtyard towards the door of the room where it was expected to
+bring the light, and when about half way across the yard the Husband
+released one of the mice from the box which he had hidden in his robe.
+The mouse scampered off across the courtyard, and the cat gave a
+violent start, and was on the point of pursuing it, when its training
+overcame its natural instincts, and it allowed the mouse to escape.
+
+It reluctantly continued its way towards the house, and scarcely had it
+started to go on, when the Husband released a second mouse, which also
+scampered off right in front of the cat. This time it was all the cat
+could do to refrain from following so tempting an opportunity. It
+paused with great indecision, but again, its training standing it in
+good stead, it pursued its way towards the house.
+
+Just as it was reaching the door of the house the third mouse was
+released. This was more than the cat could stand. It dropped the
+lantern upon the threshold, bounded across the courtyard, and seized
+the mouse just as it was entering its hole.
+
+Meanwhile the Landlord and the Lady having waited until long after
+dark, the Landlord was reluctantly obliged to own that he had lost his
+bet. So he handed over to the disguised merchant, not only his own
+property, but also the merchandise, which he had previously won from
+her Husband; and the two, carrying their possessions with them,
+returned to their own home, where they lived happily ever afterwards.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. VII.
+
+THE KYANG, THE FOX, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.
+
+
+One day a hungry Wolf was roaming about in search of something to eat
+in the upper part of a Tibetan valley far beyond the level of
+cultivation, [3] when he came across a young Kyang [4] about a year
+old. The Wolf at once proceeded to stalk the Kyang, thinking that he
+would make an excellent meal off him, and just as he was about to seize
+upon him the Kyang, noticing his approach, addressed him as follows:
+
+“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” said he, “it is no good your eating me now; this is
+the spring time and after the hard winter I am still very thin. If you
+will wait for a few months until next autumn you will find that I shall
+be twice as fat as I am now and will make you a much better feast.”
+
+“Very well,” said the Wolf, “I will wait until then, on condition that
+you meet me on this very spot in six months’ time.”
+
+And so saying he galloped off in search of some other prey.
+
+When autumn came the Wolf started off one morning to meet the Kyang at
+the appointed place, and as he was going across the hills he came
+across a Fox.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Wolf,” said the Fox. “Where are you going to?”
+
+“Oh!” replied the Wolf, “I am going into the valley to meet a young
+Kyang by appointment, as I have arranged to catch him and eat him this
+very day.”
+
+“That is very pleasant for you, Brother Wolf,” answered the Fox; “but
+as a Kyang is such a large animal you will scarcely be able to eat him
+all by yourself. I hope you will allow me to come too and share in the
+spoil.”
+
+“Certainly, Brother Fox,” replied the Wolf. “I shall be very glad of
+your company.”
+
+And so saying the two went on together. After proceeding a short
+distance they came across a Hare.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Wolf and Brother Fox,” said the Hare; “where are
+you two going this fine morning?”
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf; “I am just going off to
+yonder valley to keep an appointment with a fat Kyang, whom I have
+arranged to kill and eat this very day, and Brother Fox is coming with
+me to share in the spoil.”
+
+“Oh! really, Brother Wolf,” said the Hare, “I wish you would allow me
+to come too. A Kyang is such a large animal that you can scarcely eat
+him all yourselves, and I am sure you will allow a small creature like
+me to have a little bit of the spoil.”
+
+“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “We shall be glad if you
+will accompany us.”
+
+And so the three animals went along together towards the appointed
+spot. When they got near the place they saw the young Kyang waiting for
+them. During the summer months he had eaten a quantity of grass and had
+now become very fat and sleek, and was about twice as big as he had
+been in the spring. When the Wolf caught sight of him he was much
+pleased and began to lick his chops in anticipation.
+
+“Well, Brother Kyang,” said he, “here I am according to agreement,
+ready to kill and eat you, and I am glad to see you look so plump and
+well. And here are Brother Fox and Brother Hare who have come along
+with me to have a bit too.”
+
+And so saying the Wolf crouched down ready to spring upon the Kyang and
+kill him.
+
+“Oh, Brother Wolf,” called out the Hare at this moment, “just wait one
+moment, for I have a suggestion to make to you. Don’t you think it
+would be a pity to kill this fine young Kyang in the ordinary way by
+seizing his throat, for if you do so a great deal of his blood will be
+wasted? I would suggest to you, instead, that it would be a very much
+better plan if you would strangle him, as in that case no blood would
+be lost, and we should derive the full benefit from his carcase.”
+
+The Wolf thought this was a good idea and he said to the Hare:
+
+“Very well, Brother Hare, I think that is an excellent idea of yours,
+but how is it to be done?”
+
+“Oh! easily enough,” answered the Hare. “There is a shepherd’s
+encampment over there where we can borrow a rope, and then all we have
+to do is to make a slip-knot in the rope, put it over the Kyang’s neck,
+and pull as hard as we can.”
+
+So they agreed that this should be done, and the Fox went off to the
+encampment near by and borrowed a rope from the shepherd, which he
+carried back to where the three other animals were standing.
+
+“Now,” said the Hare, “leave it all to me; I will show you exactly how
+it is to be done.”
+
+So he took the rope and made a large slip-knot at one end and two
+smaller slip-knots at the other end.
+
+“Now,” said he, “this is the way we must proceed: we will put this
+large slip-knot over the Kyang’s neck, and as he is such a large heavy
+animal the only way to strangle him will be for us three to pull
+together at the other end of the rope. So you, Brother Wolf, and you,
+Brother Fox, can put your heads through these smaller loops, and I will
+seize the loose end of the rope with my teeth, and when I give the
+signal we will all pull together.”
+
+The other two thought this was a very good plan, and so they threw the
+slip-knot over the Kyang’s neck, and the Wolf and the Fox put their
+heads through the smaller loops. When they were all ready the Hare took
+up his position at the end of the rope and caught hold of it with his
+teeth.
+
+“Now,” said he, “are you all ready?”
+
+“Yes, quite ready,” replied the Wolf and the Fox.
+
+“Well, then, pull,” said the Hare.
+
+So they began to pull as hard as they could.
+
+When the Kyang felt the pull on the rope he walked forward a few paces,
+much to the surprise of the Wolf and the Fox, who found themselves
+being dragged along the ground.
+
+“Pull, can’t you!” shrieked the Wolf, as the rope began to tighten
+round his neck.
+
+“Pull yourself!” shrieked the Fox, who was now beginning to feel very
+uncomfortable.
+
+“Pull, all of you,” called out the Hare, and so saying he let go of the
+end of the rope and the Kyang galloped off dragging the Wolf and the
+Fox after him. In a few minutes they were both strangled, and the
+Kyang, shaking off the rope from his neck, proceeded to graze quietly
+on his usual pastures, and the Hare scampered off home, feeling that he
+had done a good day’s work.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. VIII.
+
+THE FROG AND THE CROW.
+
+
+A Crow once caught a fine fat Frog, and taking him in her bill she flew
+with him to the roof of a neighbouring house in order to devour him at
+her leisure. As she alighted on the roof of the house the Frog gave an
+audible chuckle.
+
+“What are you laughing at, Brother Frog?” said the Crow.
+
+“Oh, nothing, Sister Crow,” said the Frog; “never mind me. I was just
+thinking to myself that, as it fortunately happens, my Father lives
+close by here, on this very roof, and as he is an exceedingly fierce,
+strong man, he will certainly avenge my death if anyone injures me.”
+
+The Crow did not quite like this, and thinking it as well to be on the
+safe side she hopped off to another corner of the roof near to where a
+gutter led away the rain water by means of a small hole in the parapet
+and a wooden spout. She paused here for a moment and was just about to
+begin to swallow the Frog when the Frog gave another chuckle.
+
+“What are you laughing at this time, Brother Frog?” asked the Crow.
+
+“Oh, it’s only a small matter, Sister Crow, hardly worth mentioning,”
+replied the Frog, “but it just occurred to me that my Uncle, who is
+even a stronger and fiercer man than my Father, lives in this very
+gutter, and that if anybody was to do me an injury here they would have
+a very small chance of escaping from his clutches.”
+
+The Crow was somewhat alarmed at hearing this, and she thought that, on
+the whole, it would be safer to leave the roof altogether; so again
+picking up the Frog in her bill she flew off to the ground below, and
+alighted near the edge of a well. Here she placed the Frog upon the
+ground and was just about to eat him when the Frog said:
+
+“Oh, Sister Crow, I notice your bill seems rather blunt. Before you
+begin to eat me don’t you think it would be a good thing to sharpen it
+a little. You can strop it very nicely on that flat stone over there.”
+
+The Crow, thinking this was a good idea, took two or three hops towards
+the stone, and began sharpening her bill. As soon as she had turned her
+back the Frog gave one desperate jump, and dived into the well.
+
+As soon as the Crow had made her bill nice and sharp she returned from
+the stone, and looked about for the Frog. Not finding him where she had
+left him she hopped to the edge of the well and peeped over, craning
+her head from side to side. Presently she spied the Frog in the water,
+and called out to him:
+
+“Oh, Brother Frog, I was afraid you were lost. My bill is quite nice
+and sharp now, so come along up and be eaten.”
+
+“I am so sorry, Sister Crow,” replied the Frog, “but the fact is, I
+cannot get up the sides of this well. The best thing would be for you
+to come down here to eat me.”
+
+And so saying he dived to the bottom of the well.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. IX.
+
+THE HARE AND THE LIONS.
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a Lion and a Lioness who inhabited a den
+amongst some rocks on the slopes of a mountain. They were both very
+fine, well-grown animals, and they used to prey upon all the smaller
+beasts in that part of the country; until at last they became so
+powerful that no other animal was safe from their clutches, and the
+wild beasts of the neighbourhood lived in a continual state of terror.
+
+It chanced one day that while the Lion was hunting for something to
+eat, he came across a Hare sleeping behind a boulder; and seizing the
+Hare in his great paws he was just about to devour him, when the Hare
+spoke as follows:
+
+“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said he, “before eating me I just want to tell you
+about another animal who lives in that pond down there in the valley.
+He is very big and fierce, and I think he must be even stronger than
+you are. But if you will allow me to do so I will show you where he
+lives, and if you can succeed in killing him he will make a very much
+better meal for you than a poor little beast like me.”
+
+On hearing this the Lion was very indignant.
+
+“What!” said he, “do you mean to tell me that there is any animal in
+this country stronger and more powerful than I am? Don’t you know that
+I am the Lord of this district, and that I should never allow anyone
+else to dispute the mastery with me. Show me at once where this
+creature lives, and I will show you how I shall deal with him.”
+
+“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “let me beg you to be careful. You
+have no idea what a big, strong creature this is; you must on no
+account allow yourself to be injured by fighting with him. Think what a
+grief it would be to us all if you were to come to any harm.”
+
+This remark of the Hare’s made the Lion more angry than before, and he
+insisted that the Hare should at once lead him down and show him where
+the other animal lived. So the Hare, after again begging him to be
+careful of himself, preceded him down the hill until they arrived at
+the edge of a square-built stone tank, which was nearly full of water.
+
+“Now, Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “if you will go to the edge of that
+tank and look down into the water you will see the animal I speak of.”
+
+So saying he moved on one side, and the Lion, stalking to the edge,
+peered down into the tank. The water was very smooth, and on the clear
+surface he saw his own head reflected.
+
+“There he is,” called out the Hare from the background; “there he is,
+Uncle Lion, I can see him quite plainly in the water. You see how
+fierce he is looking; please be careful not to start fighting with
+him.”
+
+These remarks made the Lion more angry than ever, and he moved up and
+down on the brink of the tank, glaring fiercely at his own reflection
+in the water, and growling and showing his teeth at it.
+
+“That’s right, Uncle Lion,” called out the Hare; “I am so glad you are
+taking good care of yourself. Don’t on any account come to grips with
+that beast in the water or he might do you an injury. You are certainly
+much safer on the bank, and no doubt you will frighten him if you
+continue to growl and show your teeth.”
+
+These last observations of the Hare goaded the Lion to desperation, and
+with a fierce roar he sprang straight at the image in the water. Once
+in the tank he was unable to get out, for its sides were built of
+masonry, and it was impossible for him to climb them. So he swam about
+for some time in the tank, whilst the Hare, sitting on the bank, threw
+stones at him and made nasty remarks; and finally, when quite wearied
+out, he sank to the bottom and was drowned.
+
+The Hare was very pleased at having accomplished the destruction of the
+Lion, and he now turned his attention to the Lioness. It happened that
+near by there was a thick wall standing, which was part of the remains
+of a ruined castle; and in one portion of the wall there was a hole,
+very large at one end and tapering down to quite a small opening at the
+other. The Hare, having studied his ground, went off next morning to
+find the Lioness. He soon came across her stalking up and down near her
+den, very much perturbed at the disappearance of her lord and master.
+
+“Good-morning, Aunt Lioness,” said the Hare, going up cautiously
+towards her; “what is the matter with you this morning? How is it I
+find you pacing here in front of your den instead of hunting your prey
+as usual on the hillside?”
+
+The Lioness took no notice of the Hare, except to growl at him in an
+angry manner, and to lash her sides with her tail.
+
+“I suppose,” went on the Hare, “you are anxious about Mr. Lion, but I
+am sorry to tell you that you are not likely to see him again for some
+time. The fact is, he and I had a little argument yesterday, in which
+we both lost our tempers. It ended in our having a free fight, and I
+regret to say that I was obliged to injure Mr. Lion rather severely
+before I could make him see reason, and he is now lying in a dying
+state in the valley below.”
+
+This impudence so enraged the Lioness that she sprang towards the Hare
+and endeavoured to seize him; but he eluded her and galloped off down
+the hill hotly pursued by the angry beast. The Hare made straight for
+the ruined wall, and entering the breach in the wall at the large end
+he emerged safely at the other side by the smaller recess, which was
+just large enough for him to pass through. The Lioness, following
+closely at his heels, was so blind with rage that she did not see that
+she was being led into a trap; so she rushed head-foremost into the
+opening in the wall, and before she had time to stop herself was wedged
+tightly in the tapering hole. She struggled violently, trying to
+extricate herself, but all in vain.
+
+Meanwhile the Hare, having cantered round to the other side, took up
+its position in rear of the Lioness, and began pelting her with stones
+and calling her all the bad names he could think of. When he was tired
+of this he went off home very pleased with himself, and the Lioness,
+being unable to free herself from the trap she was in, shortly
+afterwards starved to death.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. X.
+
+THE SHEEP, THE LAMB, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived an old Sheep in a low-lying valley of
+Tibet, and every year she, with her Lamb, [5] were in the habit of
+leaving the valley during the early months of summer, and going up on
+to the great northern plateau, where grass is plentiful, and where many
+Sheep and Goats graze throughout the summer.
+
+One spring the Sheep, in accordance with her annual custom, set out for
+the north, and one day, as she was strolling sedately along the path,
+while her little Lamb skipped about beside her, she suddenly came face
+to face with a large, fierce-looking Wolf.
+
+“Good-morning, Aunty Sheep,” said the Wolf; “where are you going to?”
+
+“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” replied the trembling Sheep, “we are doing no harm; I
+am just taking my Lamb to graze on the rich grass of the great northern
+plateau.”
+
+“Well,” said the Wolf, “I am really very sorry for you; but the fact
+is, I am hungry, and it will be necessary for me to eat you both on the
+spot.”
+
+“Please, please, Uncle Wolf, don’t do that,” replied the Sheep. “Please
+don’t eat us now; but if you will wait till the autumn, when we shall
+both be very much fatter than we are now, you can eat us with much more
+benefit to yourself on our return journey.”
+
+The Wolf thought this was a good idea.
+
+“Very well, Aunty Sheep,” said he, “that is a bargain. I will spare
+your lives now, but only on condition that you meet me at this very
+spot on your return journey from the north in the autumn.”
+
+So saying, he galloped off, and the Sheep and the Lamb continued on
+their way towards the north, and soon forgot all about their encounter
+with the Wolf.
+
+All the summer they grazed about on the succulent grass of the great
+plateau, and when autumn was approaching both were as fat as fat could
+be, and the little Lamb had grown into a fine young Sheep.
+
+When the time came for returning to the south, the Sheep remembered her
+bargain with the Wolf, and every day as they drew farther and farther
+south she grew more and more downhearted.
+
+One day, as they were approaching the place where they had met the
+Wolf, it chanced that a Hare came hopping along the road towards them.
+The Hare stopped to say good-morning to the Sheep, and noticing that
+she was looking very sad, he said:
+
+“Good-morning, Sister Sheep, how is it that you, who are so fat and
+have so fine a Lamb, are looking so sad this morning?”
+
+“Oh! Brother Hare,” replied the Sheep, “mine is a very sad story. The
+fact is that last spring, as I and my Lamb were coming up this very
+road, we met an ugly-looking Wolf, who said he was going to eat us; but
+I begged him to spare our lives, explaining to him that we should both
+be much larger and fatter in the autumn, and that he would get much
+better value from us if he waited till then. The Wolf agreed to this,
+and said that we must meet him at the same spot in the autumn. We are
+now very near the appointed place, and I very much fear that in another
+day or two we shall both be killed by the Wolf.”
+
+So saying, the poor Sheep broke down altogether and burst into tears.
+
+“Dear me! dear me!” replied the Hare; “this is indeed a sad story; but
+cheer up, Sister Sheep, you may leave it to me, and I think I can
+answer for it that I know how to manage the Wolf.”
+
+So saying, the Hare made the following arrangements. He dressed himself
+up in his very best clothes, in a new robe of woollen cloth, with a
+long ear-ring in his left ear, and a fashionable hat on his head, and
+strapped a small saddle on to the back of the Sheep. He then prepared
+two small bundles, which he slung across the Lamb, and tied them on
+with a rope. When these preparations were complete, he took a large
+sheet of paper in his hand, and, with a pen thrust behind his ear, he
+mounted upon the back of the Sheep, and the little procession started
+off down the path.
+
+Soon after, they arrived at the place where they were to meet the Wolf,
+and sure enough there was the Wolf waiting for them at the appointed
+spot.
+
+As soon as they came within earshot of where the Wolf was standing the
+Hare called out in a sharp tone of authority:
+
+“Who are you, and what are you doing there?”
+
+“I am the Wolf,” was the reply; “and I have come here to eat this Sheep
+and its Lamb, in accordance with a regular arrangement. Who may you be,
+pray?”
+
+“I am Lomden, the Hare,” that animal replied, “and I have been deputed
+to India on a special mission by the Emperor of China. And, by the way,
+I have a commission to bring ten Wolf skins as a present to the King of
+India. What a fortunate thing it is that I should have met you here!
+Your skin will do for one, anyway.”
+
+So saying, the Hare produced his sheet of paper, and, taking his pen in
+his hand, he wrote down the figure “1” very large.
+
+The Wolf was so frightened on hearing this that he turned tail and fled
+away ignominiously; while the Sheep and the Lamb, after thanking the
+Hare heartily for his kind offices, continued their journey safely to
+their own home.
+
+
+
+[This story is a satire on the assumption and arrogance of Tibetan and
+Chinese officials, and the timidity and submissiveness of the Tibetan
+peasants. It illustrates how the meanest Government clerk, more
+especially when armed with pen and paper, can strike terror into the
+heart of the boldest and strongest countryman.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XI.
+
+THE STORY OF HOW THE HARE MADE A FOOL OF THE WOLF.
+
+
+[This story is really the continuation of Number X., which is sometimes
+told of “the Sheep and the Goat,” instead of “the Sheep and the Lamb.”
+The first part of the story is exactly the same as Number X. They
+experience the same adventures with the Wolf and are extricated in
+exactly the same manner by the aid of the Hare. But the end of the
+story is different.]
+
+
+
+When the Wolf ran away, Da-gye the Sheep and Pen-dzong the Goat were so
+elated that they could not refrain from vaingloriously galloping after
+him until they saw him dive hastily into his earth some distance away;
+they then sat themselves down at the mouth of the hole and remained
+there for some time chaffing the Wolf and telling him to hurry up and
+come out to be skinned, whilst the foolish Wolf lay cowering and
+trembling within.
+
+Presently the Sheep grew rather hungry and thirsty, so she went off to
+eat and drink, leaving the Goat to watch the earth. After sitting for a
+short while the Goat began rubbing his horns on a stone, and the Wolf
+hearing the grating sound squeaked out very humbly:
+
+“Oh! Brother Goat, what are you doing now?”
+
+“Sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Goat.
+
+And the Wolf cowered into the furthest recesses of his den trembling
+with fear.
+
+A few minutes later some rain began to fall, and the Wolf hearing the
+sound of the pattering raindrops called out:
+
+“What is happening now, pray, Brother Goat?”
+
+“I am collecting the water to cook you in,” answered the Goat gruffly.
+
+Presently the Goat began to scrape the earth with one hoof and the Wolf
+asked:
+
+“What is that scraping noise, Brother Goat?”
+
+“I am preparing a fireplace to boil the water at,” answered the Goat.
+“It will soon be time to finish you off.”
+
+Just then the Sheep came back from grazing and said to the Goat:
+
+“Now, Brother Goat, it is time for you to go and refresh yourself. I
+will stay here and look after the Wolf while you are away.”
+
+The Goat thanked the Sheep for her offer and told her how he had been
+acting during her absence, and after advising her to behave in the same
+manner and on no account to show any signs of fear, he went off to get
+something to eat and drink.
+
+When the Sheep found herself left alone at the mouth of the Wolf’s den,
+her natural timidity asserted itself, and she began to feel very
+nervous, but in order to keep up appearances she started to rub her
+horns against a stone, just as the Goat had advised her to do. As soon
+as he heard this noise the Wolf called out as before, asking what was
+happening.
+
+“I am sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Sheep, but she
+was so nervous that the Wolf at once noticed the terrified sound of her
+voice and began to suspect that he had been made a fool of.
+
+“Is that you, Sister Sheep?” said the Wolf; “I thought it was Brother
+Goat.”
+
+“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone
+away to get himself something to eat and drink.”
+
+“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.
+
+“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.
+
+On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the
+poor Sheep he quickly slew her.
+
+The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and
+the Goat and became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat,
+vowing vengeance against him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the
+Wolf coming along in the distance he guessed what had happened, and
+fled as fast as he could across the hills with the Wolf after him. They
+soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed his
+footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking
+his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over
+the crevice and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.
+
+For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice,
+when by chance a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him
+moaning and came to see what was wrong.
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the
+cleft. “What has happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”
+
+“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune.
+I am Pen-dzong the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a
+Wolf into his lair this morning and tried to frighten him by telling
+him that we were going to skin him; and while I was away getting myself
+something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den and killed my
+poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I, as
+you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable
+to move, and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has
+gone right away. I have one dying request to make to you, however. I
+beg you when I am dead to strip off my skin and to hand it over to my
+young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return for this service
+you can have my flesh for yourself.”
+
+The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to
+do as he asked. So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped
+off his skin, and set off with it to hand it over to the Goat’s young
+ones. As he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced
+to come across a Hare.
+
+“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and
+what is that you have on your back?”
+
+“Good-day, Brother Hare,” replied the Fox. “This is the skin of
+Pen-dzong the Goat, whom I found lying in a cleft between two rocks
+with a broken leg. He and his friend Da-gye the Sheep have both been
+killed by a Wolf, and he begged me after his death to strip off his
+skin and to take it as a last present from him to his young ones.”
+
+“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “that no doubt must be the same Goat and
+the same Sheep whom I rescued so recently from that very Wolf. What
+foolish creatures they are to have got themselves into so much trouble
+after I had freed them from all their difficulties. But, nevertheless,
+I am not going to let the Wolf get the best of me like this, and kill
+my friends with impunity. Come along with me and we will see what we
+can do to avenge Da-gye and Pen-dzong.”
+
+The Fox agreed to this, and he and the Hare set off together to hunt
+for the Wolf. They travelled a long way without coming across him, but
+at length, as they were crossing a high pass they found him feeding
+upon the carcase of a dead Horse.
+
+“Good-day, Uncle Wolf,” called out the Hare genially. “I am so glad to
+have met you. The fact is, there is a wedding feast going on at that
+big house over yonder, where Brother Fox and I expect to find plenty to
+eat and drink. If you care to come along with us too we shall be very
+glad, and I think we can promise you some better refreshment than that
+old Horse you are devouring here. So come along and see what we can
+find.”
+
+The Wolf was very pleased at this invitation, so he joined the Hare and
+the Fox, and all three went off together to the big house where the
+wedding feast was being held. They studied the premises carefully
+before approaching too near, and they soon ascertained that the whole
+of the wedding party were busy feasting in the central room, and that
+the larder, full of good things to eat and drink, was quite unguarded.
+So they jumped in through a narrow window and began to enjoy themselves
+thoroughly, eating and drinking anything which took their fancy. When
+they were as full as could be the Hare said:
+
+“What I advise now is as follows: let us each take some provisions, as
+much as we can carry, and bring them with us to our own homes, so that
+we may have something to go on with when we next feel hungry. I myself
+shall take some cheese; Brother Fox no doubt would like some cold fowl;
+and I should advise you, Brother Wolf, to carry off that jar of wine.”
+
+The Fox and the Wolf both agreed with the Hare’s proposals, and they
+began to load themselves with the provisions they proposed to take with
+them. The Fox and the Hare had no difficulty in making up a bundle of
+cheese and cold fowl, but the Wolf found that it would be very
+difficult for him to carry off the jar of wine. So the Hare explained
+to him that the best plan would be for him to slip his head through the
+handle of the jar, in which case it would be quite easy for him to drag
+the jar along with him. So the Wolf put his head through the handle of
+the jar, and all three made ready to start.
+
+“Well now, Brother Fox and Brother Wolf,” said the Hare in a genial
+tone of voice, “it is nearly time for us to be off. How are you both
+feeling? Have you had a good dinner? Are your bellies full?”
+
+“Couldn’t be fuller,” replied the Wolf, rubbing his stomach with one
+paw. “I have done very well.”
+
+“Well, then,” said the Hare, “as we have feasted well and feel happy
+and contented, let’s have a song before starting.”
+
+“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “Will you begin?”
+
+“I would with pleasure,” answered the Hare, “but really, the fact is, I
+can’t recollect a single song at this moment. Perhaps Brother Fox will
+oblige us.”
+
+“I am very sorry, Brother Hare,” answered the Fox, “but I am afraid I
+don’t know any songs. I am sure Brother Wolf sings beautifully.”
+
+“Yes,” joined in the Hare. “Pray, Brother Wolf, let us hear you sing?”
+
+“No, no, please,” said the Wolf modestly, scratching his ear with one
+paw. “I am a very poor singer, you really must excuse me.”
+
+But the Fox and the Hare pressed him, and presently he began to sing.
+At the first sound of his voice the men in the next room stopped their
+feasting, and saying to one another, “There is a Wolf in the house,”
+they rushed towards the larder.
+
+As soon as they heard the disturbance the Hare and the Fox, carrying
+their provisions with them, hopped quietly out of the window and made
+off quickly for their homes. The Wolf, too, made a leap towards the
+window, but the great jar round his neck was too broad to go through
+the narrow opening, and he fell back into the room below. Again he
+jumped and again he fell back; and he was still jumping and falling
+when the people of the house rushed in and soon despatched him with
+sticks and stones.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XII.
+
+THE MOUSE’S THREE CHILDREN.
+
+
+Many years ago, in the kingdom of Nepal, there was a little Mouse, who
+lived with her husband in a snug nest not far from the King’s palace.
+
+Finding that she was about to be delivered of a child, the Mouse prayed
+to the gods that her offspring might be very strong; and when the child
+was born it appeared in the form of a young Tiger. The Tiger soon grew
+up, and one day he said to the Mouse:
+
+“Mother, I must now go off into the jungle and live there with my
+brother Tigers. But if at any time you want my help, all you need do is
+to go into yonder thicket, and throw a handful of my hair into the air,
+and call my name three times.”
+
+So saying, he gave the Mouse a handful of his hair, and went off into
+the forest.
+
+Shortly afterwards the Mouse was again with child, and this time she
+prayed that her offspring might be very beautiful. When the child was
+born, instead of a young Mouse, she found that she had given birth to a
+Peacock. The Peacock soon grew into a large and beautiful bird, and
+when he had reached his full growth he one day said to his mother:
+
+“Mother, it is now time for me to go and seek my own livelihood with my
+brothers in the forest. But if at any time you should require my
+assistance, all you have to do is to go to the top of that hill over
+there, and to throw a handful of my feathers into the air, and call my
+name three times.”
+
+So saying, he gave the little Mouse a handful of his feathers, and flew
+away into the jungle.
+
+Presently the Mouse found herself a third time with child, and this
+time she prayed to the gods that her child might become wise, wealthy
+and powerful; and when the child appeared she saw that it was a young
+man child. As the Boy grew up the mother was afraid that he, too, like
+his brothers, would want to leave his nest and go out into the world to
+live with his fellow-men. So she told him the story of his two elder
+brothers, and explained to him that he was a man child, and could not
+wander away into the jungle like they did, but must stay in the nest.
+The Boy promised to do so, and every day he used to sit and play about
+at the mouth of the nest.
+
+Now it happened that in that country there lived a Mussulman, who made
+his living as a barber and by paring people’s nails. This man, who was
+very clever at his work, was often employed in the King’s palace, and
+one day, as he was going to his work in the palace, he passed near to
+the Mouse’s nest. There he saw the Boy seated on the ground, and, going
+up to him, he asked him whether he would like his hair cut and his
+nails pared.
+
+The Boy said, “Yes,” and the Barber proceeded to cut his hair. To the
+Barber’s astonishment, each hair, as it fell to the ground, immediately
+turned into diamonds, pearls, and other jewels; and when he proceeded
+to pare the Boy’s nails, each paring, as it touched the ground, became
+a beautiful turquoise.
+
+The Barber then went on to the palace, and as he was cutting the King’s
+hair, he told him about the miraculous child, whose hair and nails
+turned into jewels. The King, who was a greedy and unscrupulous man,
+determined to gain possession of so valuable a Boy, so he sent out some
+of his servants to bring the Boy up to the palace. When the Boy
+arrived, he was brought before the King, and the King told him that as
+he had been found trespassing in the royal forests, he intended to kill
+the mother, and to keep the Boy as a slave, unless the Boy could
+furnish him at once with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates
+of the palace, in which case he would marry the Boy to his daughter and
+would give him half his kingdom.
+
+The poor Boy went in great grief to Mother Mouse, and related to her
+the whole of his interview with the King. The Mouse told him not to vex
+himself, and she gave him a handful of Tiger’s hair and sent him out
+into the jungle with full directions as to what he should do.
+
+The Boy went off into the heart of a dense thicket in the jungle, and
+throwing the Tiger’s hair into the air, he called out at the same time:
+
+“Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger!”
+
+Scarcely had the words left his lips when he heard a low, deep growl
+just beside him, and a great Tiger stalked out of the thicket, licking
+his chops.
+
+“Here I am, Brother,” said the Tiger. “What do you want?”
+
+“Oh! Brother Tiger,” said the Boy, “the King has said that if I do not
+immediately provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four
+gates of his palace he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”
+
+On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.
+
+“Is that all?” said he. “That is easily arranged. I can get you a
+hundred Tigers.”
+
+So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful
+roars; and in a few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of
+Tigers, hastening up from all directions. When they were all ready, the
+first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back, and so, with the
+Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession, they
+all went off in a body to the King’s palace.
+
+As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran
+hither and thither, and the guards were called to arms. And when the
+King was told what was happening he was greatly alarmed himself, but he
+seated himself on his throne, and gave orders for the Boy and the
+Tigers to be admitted.
+
+The Boy rode in on the Tiger’s back to the royal presence, followed by
+all the other Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:
+
+“Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the
+forest. You can take your pick of any four you like.”
+
+The King was very much astonished at this, and having selected four of
+the finest Tigers, he allowed the others to go away. But he still
+hankered after the jewels, and in a few days’ time he again summoned
+the Boy before him, and told him that unless he at once furnished four
+Peacocks to sit one on each of the four golden pinnacles of his palace
+roof, he should kill his mother and keep the Boy as a slave.
+
+The poor Boy was very down-hearted on hearing this, and went sadly back
+to his mother with the news; but the little Mouse told him that it was
+all right, and giving him a handful of Peacock’s feathers, she
+instructed him how to proceed. So the Boy went off to the top of a high
+hill, and, throwing the feathers into the air, he called aloud:
+
+“Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock!”
+
+Immediately a fluttering sound was heard, and a magnificent Peacock
+dropped to the ground in front of him from the branch of a neighbouring
+tree.
+
+“Here I am, Brother,” said the Peacock. “What do you want with me?”
+
+“Oh! Brother Peacock,” said the Boy, “the King says that if I cannot at
+once provide him with four Peacocks to sit on the four golden pinnacles
+of his palace, he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”
+
+“Never mind,” said the Peacock, “we can easily arrange that.”
+
+So he fluttered back to the top of a high tree, and called the loud,
+shrill call of the Peacocks.
+
+In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks
+flying in from all directions.
+
+“Now,” said the first Peacock, “come along to the palace.”
+
+So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their
+claws, and they all flew together over the tops of the trees to the
+King’s palace.
+
+When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King,
+and the King seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready
+to receive them.
+
+The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King’s
+throne, and arranged themselves in rows behind him, with their tails
+spread.
+
+“Here, oh King!” said the Boy, “are all the finest Peacocks I could
+find in the forest. You can have your pick of any four of them.”
+
+The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected
+the four best Peacocks, and sent away the rest.
+
+But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few
+days later, he sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his
+Mother Mouse could fight single-handed with the King’s state Elephant
+and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the Boy a slave.
+
+The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it
+possible that the little Mouse could compete successfully with the
+King’s great Elephant; so he went home very sadly and told his mother
+the whole story. But the Mouse told him he was not to be alarmed, and
+she directed him to smear her body all over with poison, and to tie a
+long string to her tail. As soon as she was ready the Boy placed her in
+the sleeve of his coat, and carried her along to the palace.
+
+In the courtyard of the palace everything had been made ready for the
+fight. Seats had been prepared behind a barrier for the King and his
+nobles, whilst the roofs and the windows were crowded with hundreds of
+people who had come to see the show. At one end of the enclosure the
+King’s great tusker stood ready, still chained by the leg; and the Boy,
+with the Mouse in his sleeve, took up his stand at the other end of the
+arena, face to face with the angry Elephant.
+
+At a given signal the Elephant’s chain was loosed, and with a bellow of
+rage he rushed towards where the Boy was standing. As he came on,
+holding his trunk high in the air, the little Mouse jumped to the
+ground and ran to meet him. The Elephant caught sight of this small
+object, and stopped for a moment to see what it was, and the Mouse
+hopped on to his foot. The Elephant at once put down his trunk to feel
+what was there, and in a twinkling the Mouse jumped into the open end
+of the trunk, and scuttled up it as fast as she could till she reached
+the head. She soon found herself inside the Elephant’s brain, and there
+she ran round and round, smearing poison all over the brain of the
+great beast.
+
+The Elephant, not knowing what had happened, rushed round the arena,
+bellowing with rage and pain, and smashing everything within reach of
+his trunk. But presently, the poison taking effect, he fell to the
+ground stone dead, and the Boy, pulling the string which was attached
+to the Mouse’s tail, guided her out of the Elephant’s trunk till she
+reached the open air.
+
+The King could no longer hesitate to fulfil his promise to the Boy, so
+he gave him his daughter in marriage, and presented him with half his
+kingdom. And on the King’s death the Boy succeeded to the kingdom, and
+he and his mother lived happily ever afterwards.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XIII.
+
+THE JACKALS AND THE TIGER.
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a family of Jackals, consisting of a Father,
+Mother, and five young ones. After living for some time very
+comfortably near a large village, they found that the dogs of the
+village were becoming so numerous and so troublesome that they
+considered it necessary to change their place of abode. So one fine
+evening they started off and travelled away across the country, keeping
+a sharp look-out for some desirable spot in which they might settle
+down.
+
+After a while they came to the edge of a forest, and having travelled
+for some little distance into the thickest part of the wood, they
+arrived all of a sudden at a Tiger’s den. The young Jackals were a good
+deal frightened at the smell of the Tiger’s den, but Father Jackal
+reassured them, and said that he thoroughly understood Tigers, and knew
+how to deal with them. So he went forward alone, and, peeping in, he
+found that the Tiger was out, but that he had left a large quantity of
+deer’s flesh lying in one corner, which apparently he had not had time
+to consume. So he called Mrs. Jackal and the children, and told them to
+go inside and to have a good feed, and to make themselves quite
+comfortable. After making a good meal himself off the deer’s flesh, he
+said to Mrs. Jackal:
+
+“You and the children can now go to sleep; I shall go on to the roof of
+the den and keep a look-out for the Tiger. When I see him coming I
+shall rap on the roof, and you must at once wake up the children and
+make them begin to cry, and when I ask you what they are crying about,
+you must say that they are getting impatient for their supper.”
+
+Accordingly Mr. Jackal went up on the roof, while his family settled
+down to sleep in the snuggest corner of the Tiger’s den. Shortly after
+Father Jackal heard a slight crackling amongst the dry leaves of the
+forest; and in the dim morning light he discerned the form of a great
+Tiger approaching his den through the tree-stems.
+
+According to the arrangement he had made, he rapped with a loose stone
+upon the roof of the den, and Mrs. Jackal immediately woke up the young
+Jackals and made them cry.
+
+“What are those children crying about?” called out Father Jackal.
+
+“They are very hungry, and getting impatient for their supper,” was the
+reply.
+
+“Tell them they won’t have long to wait now,” said Father Jackal; “the
+Tiger will probably be home very soon, and we shall all be eating hot
+Tiger’s meat before long.”
+
+On hearing this the Tiger was very much alarmed, and thought to
+himself:
+
+“What kind of strange animal can this be which has entered my den, and
+is waiting to cook and eat me on my return; it must certainly be a very
+fierce and terrible creature.”
+
+So without waiting to investigate the matter any further, he turned
+tail and ran off as fast as he could through the forest. After running
+some way, he came across an old Baboon, with a great fringe of white
+hair all round his face.
+
+“Where are you running to, Uncle Tiger?” asked the Baboon.
+
+“Well,” said the Tiger, “the fact is, that a family of strange animals,
+who call themselves Jackals, are at this moment in occupation of my
+den. As I was approaching my den, after a long night’s hunting, one of
+the creatures was actually sitting on the roof, looking out for me, and
+as I got close up I heard him tell his young ones that they were to
+have hot Tiger’s meat for supper. Fortunately for me, he hadn’t seen
+me, so I thought the best thing I could do was to make off as fast as I
+could, in order to avoid being eaten.”
+
+On hearing this the Baboon was very much amused, and set to work to
+laugh very heartily.
+
+“Why,” said he, “what a foolish Tiger you are! Have you never heard of
+a Jackal before? Don’t you know that it is you should eat the Jackals,
+and not the Jackals you? You come along with me, and I will soon show
+you how to deal with people like that.”
+
+The Tiger was somewhat reassured on hearing what the Baboon had to say,
+but, even so, he was at first very reluctant to return again and to
+incur the danger of being eaten; but the Monkey encouraged him, and
+finally they set off together, the Monkey twisting his tail round the
+Tiger’s, in order to give him a feeling of support and confidence.
+
+As they came nearer to the den, the Tiger grew more and more timorous,
+and would only advance very slowly, ready to take flight at any moment.
+However, they went on together, tail-in-tail, until presently Father
+Jackal on the roof of the den caught sight of the pair, and called out:
+
+“That is right, Brother Monkey, bring him along quickly; we are all
+half starved. But what do you mean by only bringing one of them? I had
+expected you would bring us at least two or three.”
+
+On hearing this, the Tiger at once suspected that the Baboon was in the
+Jackal’s employ, and that he was being led into a trap. Without a
+moment’s hesitation he turned about and fled precipitately into the
+depths of the forest. The unfortunate Baboon, whose tail was tightly
+twisted round the Tiger’s, was unable to free himself, and was dragged
+and bumped hither and thither in the Tiger’s rush through the thickest
+and thorniest parts of the jungle. When at length the Tiger paused,
+many miles away, to take breath, he looked back at his flanks, and all
+he saw of the Monkey was a bit of its tail which had broken off and was
+still twisted round his own.
+
+He never again returned to his den, which was occupied henceforth by
+the Jackals, who lived there for many years in peace and comfort.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XIV.
+
+THE STORY OF THE THREE THIEVES.
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived within the dominions of the Emperor of
+China three very clever Thieves. These men, owing to their skill and
+cunning, were quite at the head of their profession, and by sleight of
+hand and dexterity were able to accomplish feats of trickery which the
+ordinary thieves could not emulate. The first was so clever that he was
+able to withdraw eggs from under a sitting hen without in any way
+disturbing her, and without her being aware that the theft had been
+accomplished. The second was able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as
+he walked along the road without the victim knowing that he had been
+robbed. And the third was able to eat his fill off a man’s plate during
+dinner without the man who was robbed, or his friend opposite, being
+able to detect where the victuals had gone to.
+
+Now it happened one day that these three Thieves met together in a
+country inn, and entering into conversation with one another, began to
+exchange confidences.
+
+“May I ask what you do for a living?” asked the first Thief of the
+second.
+
+“Oh, I am a Thief,” answered the man who was addressed.
+
+“Very good,” replied the other men, “we also are Thieves. Can you tell
+us, please, if there is any particular line in which you excel?”
+
+“Yes,” said the second Thief; “I am able to cut the soles off a man’s
+boots as he walks across the road without his being aware of what has
+happened. What can you two do, pray?”
+
+“I,” replied the first Thief, “can withdraw the eggs from under a
+sitting hen without disturbing her.”
+
+“And I,” said the third, “can steal another man’s dinner from off his
+plate, and eat my fill as he sits at table, without the victim, or the
+man sitting opposite, being able to detect me.”
+
+So the three Thieves, having struck up a friendship on the ground of
+their unusual skill, set off together to the court of the Emperor of
+China, in order to see whether they could not succeed in making their
+fortunes there.
+
+On arriving at the court they consulted together and came to the
+conclusion that in order to make any headway in China it was necessary
+to attract the attention of the Emperor. So they agreed to separate for
+twenty-four hours, and to meet next day in the courtyard of the palace,
+each bringing some gift to the Emperor which would please him, and
+prove to him that they were men of no usual calibre. Accordingly, they
+parted in different directions, and the following day at noon, they met
+together in the courtyard of the palace, and each one proceeded to
+relate his adventures during the preceding twenty-four hours.
+
+“As soon as I left you yesterday,” began the first Thief, “I went into
+the royal farm adjoining the palace, and there I found one of the
+Emperor’s pea-hens sitting upon her nest, and hatching a clutch of
+eggs, which was calculated to produce a breed of the very finest
+peacocks. By the Emperor’s orders this nest was watched by an attendant
+night and day, in order that no one should interfere with the eggs, and
+the pea-hen herself was so cross that she would not allow anyone to
+approach her except the man who fed her. But such obstacles as these
+were nothing to me, and I had no difficulty in evading the watchers and
+abstracting the eggs from under the hen, without even disturbing her,
+or her being aware of the loss. Now here they are in my wallet, and
+when the loss is discovered presently, as it is sure to be, and a
+reward offered for their discovery, I propose to present them to the
+Emperor.”
+
+The other two Thieves applauded their comrade for his skill and
+ingenuity, and the second Thief then proceeded to relate his story as
+follows:
+
+“When we separated yesterday, I at once entered the Emperor’s
+antechamber, and mingled with the nobles and officials who were
+awaiting an audience with His Majesty, and amongst the others I soon
+noticed the Prime Minister. He was a very stout man, dressed in his
+finest robes, and with a new pair of boots on his feet. As he passed to
+and fro in the crowd, I succeeded in cutting the soles off his new
+boots without his having any idea of what had happened. Shortly
+afterwards he was summoned to the Emperor’s presence, and when he knelt
+down to kow-tow before His Majesty, it was observed that he had no
+soles to his boots. The Emperor, thinking that the Minister had
+committed this serious breach of etiquette on purpose, fell into a
+violent passion, and ordered him to be imprisoned at once. It was no
+use for the wretched man to protest his innocence or to plead for
+mercy. The Emperor’s orders are that, unless a satisfactory explanation
+is given to him before six o’clock this evening and the missing soles
+produced, the Minister is to be beheaded. Here are the soles of the
+Prime Minister’s boots in my wallet, and I propose to present them to
+His Majesty this afternoon during his public audience. I shall thus
+earn the gratitude of the Prime Minister and appease the wrath of the
+Emperor.”
+
+The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their
+comrade on his successful manœuvre, and the third Thief proceeded to
+relate his adventures as follows:
+
+“When we parted yesterday,” said he, “I entered the palace, and after
+wandering about for some time I found myself in the chamber where the
+Emperor’s dinner was being prepared, and where all the chief officials
+of the palace were assembled to superintend the arrangements for the
+royal meal. There were the Head Chamberlain and the Under Chamberlains,
+the Head Usher and the Under Ushers, the Head Waiter and the Under
+Waiters, and many other officials of minor degree. I mingled with the
+servants, who were standing about, without attracting any attention,
+and remained in the room until the Emperor himself entered and seated
+himself with great ceremony to partake of his mid-day meal. The Chief
+Cook and the Chief Chamberlain placed themselves in front of the
+Emperor, in order to see that the service of his food was properly
+conducted, whilst the other high officials took their stand on either
+side of his chair and assisted in bringing in the dishes. In spite of
+all these precautions, however, I was able by my skill to take the food
+from each dish as it was placed upon the table, before the Emperor had
+time to partake of more than a very few mouthfuls. As the meal
+proceeded the Emperor grew more and more annoyed, and complained of the
+insufficiency of the food which had been prepared for him. Such a thing
+as this had never occurred before in the palace. The Head Cook and all
+the Under Cooks, the Head Chamberlain and all the Under Chamberlains,
+the Head Usher and all the Under Ushers, and all the officials of lower
+degree, were thrown into a dreadful state of confusion and alarm at the
+event. They rushed hither and thither, between the kitchens and
+dining-halls, upbraiding the scullions and other domestics for their
+carelessness, and preparing the most elaborate and copious dishes for
+the Emperor’s table. But after some time the Emperor, wearied by the
+confusion, and unable, in spite of everything, to make a satisfactory
+meal, gave orders that the whole of the Cooks and other attendants
+responsible for his table-service should be imprisoned, and that unless
+a satisfactory explanation of their negligence could be given before
+this evening they should be beheaded. I have here, in my wallet, the
+whole of the viands which yesterday were placed before the Emperor for
+his consumption, and I propose at the audience to present them to him,
+and inform him what really happened. He will undoubtedly pardon me when
+he hears the story, and I shall earn the undying gratitude of all the
+disgraced officials by procuring their release.”
+
+The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their
+comrade warmly upon his daring and success, and the three entered the
+Emperor’s antechamber together, and awaited the time for public
+audience.
+
+A few minutes later the great doors leading to the audience chamber
+were thrown open, and a herald appearing upon the threshold proclaimed
+“Silence.” He then gave notice that, on the previous day, the eggs had
+all been stolen from under the Emperor’s favourite pea-hen, and that
+any person who could find the eggs or give any information concerning
+their loss should receive a reward; secondly, that for a breach of
+etiquette the Prime Minister had been imprisoned, and that unless he
+could explain his offence before six o’clock that evening he was to be
+beheaded, and that any person who could offer assistance in the matter
+would be well paid and otherwise rewarded by the Emperor; thirdly, that
+owing to bad attendance during the Emperor’s repast the previous day,
+all the domestic officials of the palace had been imprisoned, and would
+be beheaded at six o’clock that evening unless they could give a
+satisfactory explanation; and that any person who could assist in the
+matter would be well rewarded for his pains.
+
+So saying the Herald retired, and the public audience began. When the
+three Thieves were admitted to the Emperor’s presence, they went in
+together and made a simultaneous obeisance before the Emperor’s throne.
+
+“Who are you three men?” asked the Emperor, “and what do you want from
+me?”
+
+“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the first Thief, “I have ventured
+to bring a small gift for you.”
+
+And so saying he took from his wallet the pea-hen’s eggs, and laid them
+on the throne.
+
+When the Emperor heard that these were his pea-hen’s eggs he was very
+much pleased, and gave orders that they should at once be taken back to
+the nest, and the hatching continued; and telling the first Thief to
+stand back, he enquired of the second what he wished to say.
+
+“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the second Thief, “I also have a
+small gift to make to you.”
+
+And so saying he took the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots out of
+his wallet and laid them on the steps of the throne.
+
+When the Emperor found that these were the soles of his Prime
+Minister’s boots, and how they had been removed, he was very much
+amused, and laughed heartily. He at once sent orders for his Prime
+Minister to be released, and handed over to him the soles of his boots,
+and told him to watch them more carefully for the future. The Prime
+Minister was delighted at being reinstated in the royal favour, and
+expressed his gratitude to the Thief for his services in the matter.
+
+When the third Thief was asked what he had to say he replied:
+
+“I, too, have a small gift for Your Majesty.”
+
+And so saying he produced a plate from his wallet, and laid upon it the
+various viands which had been cooked for the Emperor’s dinner the
+previous day.
+
+When the Emperor understood that this was the dinner which had been
+prepared for him, and which he ought to have eaten, he was greatly
+astonished; but seeing that it was no fault of his Cooks, Chamberlains,
+or other servants, he ordered them all to be released, and to resume
+their former functions.
+
+Having issued these various commands, the Emperor again summoned the
+three Thieves before him, and addressed them as follows:
+
+“Although,” said he, “I am very pleased at finding such a satisfactory
+explanation for the disappearance of the eggs, the misdemeanour of my
+Prime Minister, and the insufficiency of my dinner, I cannot overlook
+the fact that you three men have behaved in a very unusual manner. So
+before rewarding you in accordance with my promise, I desire to put
+your skill to a further test. If you succeed in this trial to my
+satisfaction you shall all three be well rewarded, and receive rank and
+lands in my country; but if you fail, you must take the consequences of
+your rashness, and you shall all three be put to death.”
+
+When the three Thieves heard these words they were greatly frightened,
+and bowing down before the Emperor they awaited his commands.
+
+“The test which I have in store for you,” continued the Emperor, “is as
+follows: you must know that in my Treasury I have a great number of
+jewels and precious objects of all kinds; and the Treasury is enclosed
+within a treble wall ten fathoms in height, closed by iron gates, and
+is guarded night and day by companies of my most faithful soldiers. If
+you can produce, before six o’clock to-morrow evening, three of the
+pearls from my Treasury, you shall be pardoned and rewarded; but if you
+fail to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”
+
+On hearing these words the three thieves consulted together for a few
+moments, and replied as follows:
+
+“We will do our best to carry out Your Majesty’s commands and to
+succeed in this test which you have given us, but we would call your
+royal attention to one matter; it is this: supposing we produce before
+to-morrow evening three pearls as you command, how shall we be able to
+satisfy you that they come from the Royal Treasury? All pearls look
+very much alike, and it would be impossible for us to prove to you
+whence they came. We would, therefore, venture to suggest that, before
+putting us to this test, you should have a complete enumeration made of
+all the jewels in your Treasury; then, when we produce the three pearls
+in question, it will be easy to ascertain whether there are in the
+Treasury three pearls less than there were when the enumeration was
+made.”
+
+The Emperor, seeing that this was a reasonable request, agreed to act
+as the Thieves had suggested. So summoning his Treasurer before him, he
+gave orders that a complete enumeration of all the jewels and other
+precious objects in his Treasury should be made before nightfall that
+evening; and having issued his commands he dismissed the audience.
+
+The Chief Treasurer was much perturbed on receiving these orders, for
+owing to the enormous quantity of jewels and other objects in the
+Treasury, he foresaw that it would be a difficult matter to have the
+enumeration complete before evening. The only way in which it could be
+done was to call in the assistance of all the officials of the palace,
+and having allotted a section of the Treasure Chamber to each, to order
+them to make a complete inventory each of his own part. Accordingly, he
+called together all the officials of the palace to the number of many
+hundreds, and they proceeded in a body to the Royal Treasury. The three
+Thieves, who had anticipated this action on the part of the Treasurer,
+meanwhile dressed themselves up in the complete robes which are proper
+for a palace official, and mingling unnoticed in the crowd, they
+followed the Treasurer to the gates of the Royal Treasury. By the
+Treasurer’s orders, the gates were at once thrown open, and the
+officials, entering the treasury, began the enumeration. The three
+thieves, in common with the rest, were allotted each a section of the
+Treasury Chamber, of which they were to make a complete inventory, and
+whilst so employed they had no difficulty in each one secreting a large
+pearl after first placing it upon their list. By nightfall the
+enumeration was complete, the lists were all handed over to the Chief
+Treasurer, and the Treasury was left locked and guarded as before.
+
+Next day, at six o’clock, the Emperor seated himself in his Hall of
+Audience, and summoned the three Thieves before him.
+
+“Well,” said he, “have you been able to fulfil the conditions which I
+set you? If you can now produce three pearls from my Treasury, you
+shall be rewarded in accordance with my promise; but if you are unable
+to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”
+
+The Thieves bowed themselves humbly before the Emperor, and without
+making any reply each one produced a pearl and laid it on the steps of
+the throne. When the Emperor saw these pearls he was much astonished;
+but in order to make certain that they came from his own Treasury, he
+summoned his Chief Treasurer before him, and ordered him to compare the
+jewels in the Treasury with the inventory which had been made on the
+previous evening. The Treasurer hurried off to do so, and after a short
+while he reappeared, and informed the Emperor that, having carefully
+counted all the jewels, and having compared the numbers in the Treasury
+with the numbers on the inventory, he found that three pearls were
+indeed missing.
+
+On hearing this the Emperor no longer hesitated in fulfilling his
+promise to the three Thieves. He raised them at once to high rank, and
+presented them with lands and money sufficient to uphold their new
+status, and they lived happily ever afterwards, enjoying the confidence
+of the Emperor and the friendship of the numerous officials whom they
+had saved from imprisonment and death.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XV.
+
+THE STORY OF THE BOY WITH THE DEFORMED HEAD.
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor man and his wife who had only one
+child, and this Boy, as it happened, was born with a deformed head,
+which projected in front and behind, and gave him a very ugly
+appearance. The parents, although much grieved at their son’s
+deformity, were, nevertheless, very fond of him and brought him up very
+carefully. Every day, when he grew big enough, he used to drive the
+cows out to pasture, and all day long he sat about on the hillsides
+watching the cattle graze. And so he passed his life very happily
+until, when he reached the age of fifteen, he began to think he should
+like to marry a wife as other young men did, but he feared that owing
+to his deformity no girl would ever look at him.
+
+One day it chanced that he drove his cows to graze on the rich pasture
+on the edge of a small lake, and as he was sitting near the shore of
+the lake all of a sudden he saw a large white Drake descend from the
+sky, and light upon the surface of the water. As soon as it was seated
+upon the water it swam round the lake three times to the right and then
+three times to the left, and having done so it flew away again and
+disappeared into the sky.
+
+The Boy watched the behaviour of this Drake with some interest. He had
+never before seen so large and beautiful a bird, nor one that behaved
+so strangely. So next day he again sat down in the same place, and kept
+a sharp look-out for the bird. At the same hour as on the previous day
+the Drake again appeared in the sky, and descending upon the lake,
+acted in precisely the same manner as before. And it continued to do so
+for several days, the Boy always watching its behaviour with increased
+interest.
+
+At last he determined that he would try to catch this Drake for
+himself, so he wove himself a long rope of yaks’ hair, big enough to
+completely encircle the lake, and he laid this upon the shore in a loop
+extending right round the lake; and at short intervals along the rope
+he fastened loops made of the finest horse hair, the loose ends of
+which he left floating in the water.
+
+Next day the Drake came as usual and began to swim round the lake to
+the right. It had not gone very far when it put its foot into one of
+the loops and was caught. The Boy at once ran down to the shore of the
+lake, and taking the Drake in his hands, he tied its wings and legs
+together, and set it down on the grass beside him.
+
+“Now,” thought he to himself, “what shall I do with this fine white
+Drake? I will take him home and kill him, and he will make a nice
+dinner for father and mother and me.”
+
+Just as he was thinking this, to his intense surprise, the Drake spoke
+to him as follows:
+
+“I beg of you not to kill me, my good boy,” said he, “for you must know
+I am not in reality a Drake as I appear to be, but I am a fairy King
+just come from the region of the gods. It is my habit every day to
+descend to this lake in the form of a white Drake, and to amuse myself
+by swimming round and round. If you will now consent to let me go I
+will reward you liberally. You shall have gold and silver and jewels
+and coral, as much as you wish, and sumptuous food every day for the
+rest of your life.”
+
+On hearing this the Boy laughed, and replied:
+
+“You should not tell me such stories as these. How am I to know that
+you are really a fairy? It seems to me that all you are in a position
+to give me is your feathers.”
+
+“I hope you will not disbelieve my word,” replied the Drake very
+earnestly; “I assure you I can do all this, and even more, if you will
+release me.”
+
+“Well,” said the Boy, “if that is really so I will make a bargain with
+you. I do not care at all for your gold or your jewels, but what I
+really want is a wife. If you can promise to supply me with a wife I
+will let you go.”
+
+“Well,” said the Drake, “that, too, can be arranged. I have three
+daughters living in my kingdom in the skies, and I will give you as
+wife any one of them whom you desire. Would you prefer the eldest, or
+the youngest, or the middle one?”
+
+The Boy was greatly pleased on hearing this offer of the Drake’s, and
+he thought to himself:
+
+“I will not take the eldest girl, for fear she should be too old, nor
+the youngest, for fear she should be too young. I will select the
+middle one.”
+
+So he told the Drake that he would like his middle daughter.
+
+“Very well,” said the Drake, “I will arrange the matter accordingly,
+and I will meet you here to-morrow with my middle daughter. But there
+is one condition which always attaches to the marriage of a mortal with
+a fairy, and that is that she can only live with you for nine years. At
+the conclusion of that time she is bound to return to her home in the
+heavens.”
+
+The Boy agreed to this condition, and when all the details had been
+satisfactorily arranged he cut the cords which bound the Drake and let
+him go. The bird spread his wings and flew up into the sky; and after
+circling for a few minutes he flew straight upwards and disappeared
+from sight, whilst the Boy went home to his father and mother.
+
+The Drake flew far up into the blue sky until he arrived at the country
+of the gods, where he changed at once into the form and raiment of the
+King of the Fairies. Seating himself upon his throne, he summoned his
+three daughters before him and informed them of what had occurred; and
+he gave orders to his middle daughter to prepare herself forthwith to
+go and marry a mortal. The girl wept bitterly on hearing this, but
+nevertheless she prepared to carry out her father’s orders, and got
+ready a large stock of beautiful clothes and much gold and silver and
+jewels to take with her.
+
+Next day, at the appointed hour, the Boy went down to the lake as
+usual, and seated himself in his usual place; and not long afterwards
+he saw the white Drake and a white Duck flying towards him from the
+sky. They descended swiftly until they touched the ground, where they
+were at once transformed into the Fairy King and his beautiful
+daughter. The boy was overcome with joy when he saw the lovely wife
+that had been brought to him; but the girl was horrified at his ugly
+appearance, and begged her father to take her back to her abode in the
+skies. The Fairy King, however, insisted upon her carrying out her
+share of the bargain, so leaving his daughter with the Boy, he again
+turned himself into a Drake and, flying up into the sky, he disappeared
+from view.
+
+The Boy now led his bride home to his father and mother, and next day
+the marriage was duly completed. The Fairy wife, by means of her magic,
+was able to erect a magnificent palace, and to furnish it in the most
+luxurious manner with everything necessary for comfort; and she
+supplied, moreover, horses and servants, and everything else that a
+married couple could desire. So the two took up their abode in this
+fine house and, together with the old father and mother, they lived
+there happily for several years; and as time passed away the fairy wife
+became accustomed to her husband’s forbidding appearance, and year by
+year became more and more attached to him.
+
+So the time slipped by and at last the nine years of the Fairy wife’s
+abode upon earth came to an end. The young Man, however, had become so
+accustomed to her presence that he could hardly believe that the Fairy
+King’s words would come true and that he should really be deprived of
+his wife when the appointed time arrived. So on the last night of the
+ninth year he went to bed as usual in his magnificent chamber, clothed
+in rich silks, and surrounded by all the evidences of wealth and
+luxury.
+
+He slept soundly all night, and when he awoke in the morning and sat up
+and looked about him, what was his astonishment and horror to discover
+that, instead of lying upon his fine couch in his magnificent palace,
+with troops of servants ready to wait upon him, he was reposing upon
+the bare ground under the open sky, on a bleak hillside near to the
+spot where he had first conversed with the Fairy King. His palace, his
+servants, his horses, his furniture, and, worst of all, his beautiful
+wife, had all disappeared utterly and completely, and nothing remained
+of them but a memory. Half distracted with grief and chagrin, the young
+Man ran frantically across the country, thinking to find some trace of
+his lost happiness.
+
+For some days he wandered on and on, scarcely conscious of what he was
+doing, and at length, having passed beyond the part of the country
+which he knew, he arrived one day about noon on the shores of a vast
+expanse of water which stretched before him as far as he could see. By
+the side of this lake there arose a jagged cliff, and about half-way up
+the cliff on a broad ledge he noticed an immense nest, in which
+appeared some young birds of unusual size. At first he was unable to
+detect what sort of birds these were, but after examining them
+attentively for some time he saw that they were three young Gryphons,
+whose parents apparently had gone off in search of food.
+
+As he stood upon the beach watching the young birds they suddenly began
+to manifest every sign of terror and confusion, chattering and
+squealing wildly to one another, and flapping their puny wings; and on
+turning towards the lake in order to ascertain what was the cause of
+their alarm, he perceived an immense Dragon—whose head, at the end of
+its long neck, towered high above the water—making its way rapidly
+across the lake, with the evident intention of devouring the young
+Gryphons. The young Man, who was of a courageous and kindly
+disposition, determined to save the young Gryphons from the maw of this
+monster; so, drawing his sword, he waited till the Dragon had set foot
+upon dry land, and then, attacking him fiercely, he engaged
+single-handed in a desperate conflict. For some time the issue was
+doubtful, but the young man at length succeeded with one well-delivered
+blow in severing the Dragon’s head from its neck, and the monster fell
+dead upon the beach.
+
+Scarcely had the Dragon breathed its last when the air was darkened by
+the wings of some great creature passing overhead, and, looking up, he
+observed, flying just above him, the forms of the two parent Gryphons
+now returning to their nest. As soon as they had arrived the young
+Gryphons proceeded to relate to them at full length the terrible danger
+they had just escaped, and the gallant conduct of the young Man in
+slaying their would-be destroyer. The parent Gryphons were very pleased
+when they heard this story, and, looking towards the young Man with
+some curiosity, they began to remark upon his appearance.
+
+“Have you ever, Mother Gryphon,” asked the male bird, “seen any
+creature of that description before?”
+
+“No, Father Gryphon, I never have,” she replied; “but it seems to be
+both brave and well-intentioned. I observe, moreover, that it has
+neither beak nor claws, so I propose that we invite it into the nest,
+and receive it hospitably in return for a good service which it has
+rendered to our children.”
+
+Father Gryphon agreed to this proposal, and he at once flew down to the
+beach, and addressing the young Man he invited him to enter the nest.
+The youth accepted the invitation, and having explained that he was
+unable to fly, he mounted upon the Gryphon’s back and was speedily
+carried up the cliff, and deposited with the young Gryphons in the
+nest. After making a good dinner off the food which the parent Gryphons
+had just provided for their young ones, the young Man related to the
+family all his various adventures since the time when he had first made
+the acquaintance of the Fairy King.
+
+“Yours,” said Father Gryphon, “is a very sad story, and in my opinion
+you have not been treated at all well; but if you desire it, I may
+perhaps be of some assistance to you. What I propose is that you should
+mount upon my back, and I will then carry you through the air to the
+kingdom of the gods, where you can represent your case to the King of
+the Fairies in person, and where you will, at any rate, have the
+opportunity of persuading your wife to accompany you back to earth.”
+
+The young Man gladly assented to this proposition, and mounted on the
+Gryphon’s back; and the great bird, spreading his wings, soared upwards
+straight into the blue sky, carrying the youth with him. Up and up they
+flew, whilst the earth seemed to recede into the distance and to grow
+smaller and smaller, until at length it disappeared from view
+altogether. Still they flew on until, towards nightfall, they arrived
+at the country of the gods. The Gryphon, with the young Man upon his
+back, flew straight in through the great golden gates, and deposited
+the youth in the centre of a vast courtyard round which were sitting
+numbers of gods, fairies and other denizens of the sky.
+
+When the gods saw that a human being had been deposited in their midst
+they rose in great wrath, and began bitterly to reproach the Gryphon
+for what he had done.
+
+“How is it,” said they, “that you have dared, unordered, to bring into
+our presence an inhabitant of the human world? Do you not know that
+human beings are of a coarser essence than ourselves and are repugnant
+and abhorrent to us? How dare you so defile the sacred country of the
+gods?”
+
+But the Gryphon was not at all frightened at their anger, and he
+answered them boldly and firmly:
+
+“This young man,” said he, “is a valiant and kind-hearted youth. He
+saved my young ones from destruction by attacking, single-handed, and
+killing a Dragon who was on the point of devouring them. He then
+related to me his story of how, after nine years of happiness, he was
+deprived by the King of the Fairies of his wife, his house, his wealth,
+and everything which he had possessed. I consider, therefore, that he
+has been treated in a shameful and unjustifiable manner, and so I have
+brought him here to plead his cause in person and to claim redress.”
+
+While this conversation was in progress the young man’s Fairy wife had
+been hiding in a corner, too nervous to show herself before her husband
+and all the assembly of the gods. But she could now contain herself no
+longer, and, rushing forward, she threw herself into her husband’s
+arms, crying out that she loved him and would return with him to earth.
+
+When her father heard this he did not know how to act, but it was
+decided that a conclave should be held, and the matter debated at
+length. So the celestial powers met together in a great council, and,
+having discussed the matter in all its bearings, they decided that, as
+the Fairy Princess desired to return to earth of her own free will,
+they would not stand in her way; but that if she did so, she must take
+the consequence of her own action, and that as the result of mating
+with an unclean creature like a human being she must herself become
+mortal and lose her Fairy nature.
+
+On hearing this decision the girl joyfully agreed. So she and her
+husband mounted together upon the broad back of the Gryphon, and the
+great beast, spreading his wings, sailed through the golden gates of
+the palace and swept downwards through the blue heavens to the earth
+below. He soon deposited the youth and his wife on the ground near
+their old home, where he bade them farewell and returned to his own
+nest. And henceforward, although the Fairy had lost her magic powers,
+the two lived happily together, and grew to a good old age in
+prosperous and comfortable circumstances.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XVI.
+
+THE PRINCE AND THE OGRE’S CASTLE.
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived an old King and Queen, who, although they
+had been married for many years, had no children to brighten their old
+age or to inherit their kingdom; and in the King’s possession, as it
+happened, were a favourite mare and dog, who also had no offspring. Now
+both the King and the Queen were very anxious to have children of their
+own, and also to perpetuate the fine breed represented by the mare and
+the dog; so the King posted a notice all over his kingdom, offering a
+very large reward to any Lama or other holy personage who could secure
+to him and to his horse and dog the birth of children.
+
+In response to this notice many Lamas and recluses presented themselves
+at the palace, and by means of prayers and religious ceremonies they
+endeavoured to obtain from the gods what the King and Queen desired;
+but all their efforts were in vain, and the years passed by without any
+offspring being born.
+
+Now it chanced that in a neighbouring country there lived a terrible
+Ogre, who was an expert in magic and all the black arts; and it came to
+his ears that this King had offered a large reward if anyone could
+secure to him the birth of children for himself, his horse and his dog.
+So he disguised himself as a holy Lama, and coming up to the palace one
+day on foot, he asked for an interview with the King. The King, who had
+almost lost faith in Lamas of any kind, received him courteously, and
+asked him what he could do to help in the matter.
+
+“Oh, King!” replied the supposed Lama, “I, you must know, am a great
+recluse, and as the result of many years of solitary meditation, I have
+become proficient in all the magic arts. I will undertake to secure for
+you and your horse and dog the birth of offspring as you desire. But I
+can only do so on one condition, which is as follows: three children
+will be born to you, three to the horse and three to the dog. They will
+all be of a miraculous nature, and will grow to their full powers in
+the course of three years. At the end of three years I will return
+here, and will claim from you one of each to follow me and serve me and
+to obey my orders in all matters.”
+
+The King gladly agreed to this condition, and asked the Lama how he
+should proceed in order to secure the desired result. The Lama replied:
+
+“Here, oh King, are nine pills; three of these must be administered to
+the Queen, three to the horse and three to the dog. In three months’
+time a child will be born to each, to be followed by two others at
+intervals of one month.”
+
+So saying, he handed the pills to the King and forthwith took his
+departure. The King accordingly administered the pills as directed, and
+after three months the Queen gave birth to a boy, the mare to a foal,
+and the dog to a pup, and these were followed by two others at
+intervals of one month as the Lama had predicted.
+
+All the young ones grew apace, and at the end of the three years they
+had all attained to their full growth and powers, and punctually at the
+conclusion of the third year the Ogre, still disguised as a Lama,
+returned to the palace to demand his due.
+
+The King and Queen, though reluctant to part with any of their
+children, resolved to abide by their bargain, and they consulted
+together as to which of the young Princes should be handed over to the
+Lama. After some consideration they decided that it would not be
+advisable to part with the eldest son, as he was heir to the throne,
+nor with the second, who would have to succeed to the kingdom should
+any accident or mischance befall his elder brother; so they resolved to
+send the youngest son, and with him the youngest horse and the youngest
+dog. These three accordingly were handed over to the Lama, who ordered
+the Prince to follow him, and started off at once to his own country.
+
+After travelling for some considerable distance they arrived at the top
+of a high pass, whence the Ogre, pointing down to a great castle
+standing in the valley below, said to the young Prince:
+
+“That is my house below there; I shall leave you here and you must go
+on down to the house. When you arrive there you will find a goat tied
+up near the door of the courtyard, and a bundle of straw lying near by.
+You must pick up the bundle of straw and place it within reach of the
+goat. Then you must go into the farmyard, where you will find many
+fowls, and in one corner you will see an earthenware jar full of soaked
+grain, and you must sprinkle this grain for the fowls to eat. These two
+tasks I give you to-day, and you are on no account to enter my castle
+until I rejoin you in the evening.”
+
+So saying the Ogre went off in another direction, whilst the young
+Prince, riding on his horse and followed by his dog, went down to the
+Ogre’s castle. When he reached the gateway he found, as the Ogre had
+predicted, a goat tied up and a bundle of straw lying in a corner of
+the courtyard. So he dismounted from his horse, and, picking up the
+bundle, he carried it near the goat and placed it on the ground.
+Scarcely had the bundle touched the ground when it became transformed
+into three great wolves, who, leaping upon the goat, devoured it in an
+instant, and then fled away to the hills.
+
+The young Prince was very much astonished at seeing this, but being of
+a courageous spirit he did not allow the incident to frighten him, and
+proceeded to finish the remainder of his task. So he entered the yard
+where the poultry were kept, and proceeding to the corner where stood
+the jar of soaked barley, he took out a handful and scattered it
+amongst the fowls. As the grain touched the ground it was transformed
+instantly into three wild cats, who leapt fiercely upon the cocks and
+hens, and in a few moments, having destroyed them all, fled away into
+the hills.
+
+The Prince’s curiosity was now thoroughly aroused, and he determined,
+in spite of the Ogre’s warning, to enter the house itself, and to
+discover what sort of place he had come to, so he pushed open the door
+of the castle and began wandering about all over the house. For some
+time he found nothing to interest him. The rooms were all well
+furnished and in good order, but he could find no trace and hear no
+sound of any living creature.
+
+At last, after having explored the greater part of the building, he
+suddenly turned a corner in a passage, and saw in front of him a room
+whose walls were composed entirely of glass. Entering this room he saw
+in one corner a beautiful lady lying asleep on a couch with a flower
+behind her ear. The Prince was pleased at finding a human being in this
+desolate and mysterious castle, and, approaching the lady, he
+endeavoured to arouse her from her slumber. But all his efforts were in
+vain; she appeared to be in a sort of trance, and all he could do did
+not succeed in waking her.
+
+At last in despair he took away the flower which was placed behind her
+ear, and as he did so she woke and sat up upon her couch, rubbing her
+eyes. As soon as she perceived the young Prince she was much
+astonished, and asked him what he was doing in the Ogre’s castle. The
+Prince told her the whole story of his miraculous birth through the
+magic of the holy Lama, and how he was condemned to serve the Lama as
+his servant through the agreement which the King his father had made,
+and how he had carried out the two tasks which the Lama had given him
+that day.
+
+On hearing this story the lady was very indignant, and spoke to him as
+follows:
+
+“You must know, oh Prince,” said she, “that the person whom you suppose
+to be a Lama is in reality a fearful and wicked Ogre. The only food of
+which he partakes is men’s hearts, and this house is full of the
+lifeless bodies of his numerous victims. He, however, is unable to
+obtain any power over the body of a human being unless that being
+directly disobeys his orders. Thus it is his practice upon obtaining a
+fresh servant to set him strange tasks which terrify and repel him.
+These tasks grow daily more difficult and more odious, until at last
+one day the servant disobeys his orders, and forthwith his body is at
+the mercy of the Ogre, who devours the heart and places the lifeless
+body in a large chamber at the back of this house. The process has
+evidently begun with you to-day. You have fulfilled all of his tasks
+without allowing yourself to be terrified by the strange portents which
+you have observed, but on his return he will no doubt set you further
+and more disagreeable duties to perform. I, you should know, am a
+Princess in my own country, and I was handed over to the Ogre by my
+parents about a year ago in circumstances very similar to your own. But
+when he had brought me to his castle, instead of destroying me as he
+does his other victims, he fell in love with me, and I have remained
+here as his wife ever since. But he is of a very jealous disposition,
+and never allows me to leave his castle; and for fear I should make my
+escape during his absence, he invariably, before going out, places an
+enchanted flower behind my ear which makes me fall into a trance, and I
+cannot awake until the flower is removed.”
+
+The young Prince was very much interested on hearing this story, and he
+begged the Princess to give him some further information about the
+Ogre’s habits, in order that he might not unawares fall into his power,
+and might eventually be able to bring about the destruction of the
+monster.
+
+“It is very difficult,” replied the Princess, “for any human being to
+kill the Ogre, for he is of a supernatural nature, and even if you were
+to cut off his head he would come to life again at once, unless you
+could also destroy his ‘mascot’ [6]—that is to say, the object upon the
+preservation of which his life in this world depends. Now the Ogre’s
+mascot is very carefully concealed, and its existence and whereabouts
+are known to no person except myself. I, however, have discovered where
+it is, and I will reveal the secret to you later, but first I will tell
+you the method by which you may destroy the Ogre’s body. You must know,
+then, that it is only possible for a human being to strike a mortal
+blow at the Ogre when his face is turned away. He knows this very well,
+and will never in any circumstances turn his back upon a man.
+Similarly, if he can make you turn your back to him he may be able to
+do you a mischief. When he comes in this evening and finds that you
+have fulfilled both the tasks he has set you, the first thing he will
+order you to do will be to walk three times round a great stove which
+stands in the centre of the kitchen; and if you obey his orders he will
+follow you from behind and will possibly do you some harm while your
+back is turned towards him. When he gives you these orders, then, you
+must not disobey, but you must tell the Ogre that it is so dark in the
+kitchen that you cannot see your way clearly, and you must ask him to
+precede you. This he is bound to do, and while he is going round the
+stove you may perhaps find an opportunity for stabbing him. If,
+however, you cannot succeed in doing so, and you both pass through this
+ordeal successfully, he will set you no further task to-night, and I
+will ascertain from him during the evening what trial he has in store
+for you to-morrow.”
+
+The Prince thanked the young lady for all her good advice, which he
+promised to follow faithfully in every respect, and she then said to
+him:
+
+“It is now near the time for the Ogre’s return. I will lie down on the
+couch, and you must place the flower behind my ear just as it was
+before; and when I fall into a trance you must at once go out into the
+courtyard and wait the return of the Ogre, and mind you are careful not
+to let him know that you have been inside the castle.”
+
+So saying, the Princess lay down upon her couch, and the young man
+having placed the flower behind her ear she instantly fell into a deep
+trance. The Prince then went out into the courtyard and shortly after
+the Ogre arrived. He had now discarded his lama costume and appeared in
+his proper form, and riding up to the Prince he asked him in an angry
+tone whether he had carried out the orders he had received, and on the
+Prince replying in the affirmative, the Ogre ordered him to come into
+the kitchen. On entering the kitchen the Ogre pointed to a great stove
+standing in the centre, and said to the Prince:
+
+“You must now walk three times round that stove.”
+
+“It is so dark in here,” replied the Prince, “that I cannot see my way
+at all clearly. Will you please precede me and show me the way?”
+
+The Ogre was very angry at hearing this, but he was unable to refuse,
+so he started off and ran round the stove three times, the Prince
+following closely at his heels. But he went so fast that the Prince,
+although he had his knife ready in his hand, was unable to catch him;
+and the Ogre, seeing that the Prince was not to be outwitted by this
+stratagem, went upstairs to his wife, leaving the young man locked up
+in the kitchen, where he spent the night alone.
+
+Next morning the Ogre started off soon after daylight on his own
+business, and as soon as he was gone the Prince ran upstairs to the
+glass room, where he found the lady lying in a trance as before. He
+took the flower from behind her ear, and she immediately woke up and
+looked about her.
+
+“Good-morning, Prince,” said she. “How did you succeed last night? I
+hope you followed the instructions which I gave you.”
+
+The Prince described to her what had occurred, and she said:
+
+“I have ascertained what the Ogre proposes to do when he returns this
+evening. He will seat himself in his chair of state in his great hall
+of audience and will order you to kow-tow to him three times, and if
+you do so he will seize an opportunity whilst you are lying on your
+face before him to do you some injury. It will not do, however,
+absolutely to disobey his orders; but you must explain to him that,
+being a Prince, you have never had to kow-tow to anybody and do not
+exactly know how to do it, and you must ask him to show you the proper
+way to proceed. He cannot refuse your request, and you must take the
+opportunity of stabbing him or cutting off his head whilst he is lying
+on his face before you. If you succeed in this come at once to me, and
+I will show you what else is necessary in order to bring about his
+complete destruction.”
+
+The Prince promised to obey the lady’s orders, and after again sending
+her into a trance by placing the magic flower behind her ear, he
+returned to the courtyard and awaited the Ogre’s return. Just before
+dusk the Ogre came back and as the Princess had predicted he proceeded
+at once to the great audience hall, and seated himself on his chair of
+state.
+
+“Now,” said he to the Prince, “you must kow-tow to me three times.”
+
+“I am very sorry,” answered the Prince, “that I do not know how to do
+so. Being a Prince myself, I have never had to kow-tow to anybody; but
+if you will show me the proper manner in which to proceed I will do my
+best.”
+
+This reply made the Ogre very angry, but he was unable to refuse to do
+as the Prince had asked him. So the Prince took his seat on the Ogre’s
+chair and the Ogre kneeling on the ground before him proceeded to
+kow-tow three times in the orthodox manner. As the Ogre’s face touched
+the ground the first time the Prince drew his sword; as it touched the
+ground the second time he raised the sword above his head; and as it
+touched the ground the third and last time the Prince delivered a
+violent blow, completely severing the Ogre’s head from his body.
+Leaving the body where it lay, the Prince ran up to the glass room as
+fast as he could, and having awakened the lady from her sleep, he told
+her what had happened.
+
+“Well done!” said she. “The first part of your task is now
+accomplished; but as I told you before, it is still necessary to
+destroy the Ogre’s mascot, or he will come to life again in a short
+time. What you must do now, therefore, is as follows: you must descend
+into the vaults below the castle, and having traversed nine dark
+subterranean chambers, you will come to a blank stone wall. You must
+rap three times on this wall with the hilt of your sword, exclaiming
+with each rap, ‘Open, blank wall’; and as you pronounce these words for
+the third time the wall will fly asunder, and you will find yourself
+entering another subterranean chamber. In the centre of this chamber
+you will see a beautiful boy seated with a goblet of crystal liquid in
+his hand. This boy is the Ogre’s mascot, and upon his existence depends
+the Ogre’s life in this world. You must at once slay the boy, and
+taking the goblet very carefully in your hand, carry it upstairs to me.
+But be careful not to spill any of the liquid, as each drop means a
+man’s life.”
+
+On receiving these instructions the Prince went down into the vaults at
+the basement of the castle, and having traversed nine great
+subterranean chambers, he found his progress stopped by a blank wall.
+Raising his sword he rapped three times with the hilt on the wall,
+exclaiming each time as he did so, “Open, blank wall.” As he pronounced
+these words for the third time a grating sound was heard, and with a
+hollow clang the wall gave way for him.
+
+Advancing a few paces the Prince found himself in a small dungeon,
+lighted only by the glimmer which issued from a goblet of crystal
+liquid held in the hand of a beautiful young boy, who was seated in the
+centre of the chamber. Without a moment’s hesitation the Prince thrust
+his sword through the heart of the boy, and taking the goblet in his
+hand, he carried it upstairs to the Princess, being very careful on the
+way not to allow a single drop to be spilt.
+
+When the Princess saw him entering her room with the goblet in his hand
+she was very much delighted.
+
+“Now,” said she, “the Ogre is effectually destroyed, and can never more
+come to life in this world. All that now remains to be done is to
+restore to life his previous victims.”
+
+So saying she ordered the Prince, still carrying the goblet, to follow
+her, and she proceeded by many winding passages and staircases to a
+remote part of the great castle. Presently, opening a huge door, she
+entered a long, low, gloomy chamber, lighted only by a narrow window
+which looked out over the back part of the castle. When the Prince
+entered this chamber he was horrified to see that down both sides of it
+were stretched the bodies of many scores of men, women and children,
+who lay there fully dressed, but to all appearance quite lifeless.
+
+“These,” said the lady, “are the bodies of the Ogre’s victims; he has
+eaten their hearts, but the bodies, as you see, remain unharmed, while
+the spirit of each one is compressed into a drop of crystal liquor with
+which that goblet is filled. You must now sprinkle the bodies with the
+liquid, giving one drop to each.”
+
+Accordingly the Prince passed down the rows of lifeless bodies,
+dropping as he went one drop of the magic liquid on each body; and as
+the liquor touched the body the life returned, and each person, as if
+awakened from a long sleep, moved and yawned, and finally sat up and
+began to talk and walk. In a few moments the transformation was
+complete, and the Ogre’s victims, after thanking the Prince and
+Princess heartily for their good offices, returned to their own homes.
+The Prince himself bade farewell to the lady, and leaving her in
+possession of the Ogre’s castle and all its belongings, he himself
+mounted upon his horse, and with his dog following at his heels, set
+out in search of further adventures.
+
+
+
+[This is only the first instalment of the Prince’s adventures, which
+continue to an interminable length. I have given this section as a
+sample of the whole.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XVII.
+
+THE STORY OF THE STONE LION.
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father was dead, and who
+lived alone with their mother in a big house in a well-cultivated
+valley.
+
+Now the elder of these brothers was a smart, clever man, but was of a
+very selfish, cold-hearted disposition; and the younger brother was
+simple and kind, but rather dull. The consequence was that after the
+death of their father the elder brother conducted most of the business
+of the family himself, and entirely supported his brother and his
+mother; whilst the younger brother, although quite willing to do his
+best, was not clever enough to be of any assistance in the household.
+
+After a time the elder brother decided in his mind that he could no
+longer endure this state of affairs, so he one day called his young
+brother aside, and told him plainly that he would no longer continue to
+support such a lout, and that it would be better for him to go out into
+the world and seek his own fortune alone. The poor boy was much grieved
+on hearing this decision from his brother; but he was quite unable to
+protest or dispute, so, having packed up his few belongings, he went to
+say good-bye to his mother, and told her what had occurred. The good
+woman was very angry when she heard the news, and she said to her son:
+
+“Very well, if your hard-hearted brother insists on turning you out of
+the house, I will accompany you. I cannot consent to remain any longer
+with such an unnatural and cruel son.”
+
+So next day the mother and her younger son left the house and set off
+together to seek some means of livelihood on their own account. After
+travelling for some little distance they reached an empty hut situated
+at the foot of a large hill, not far from a populous town; and finding
+that the place was apparently deserted and that the owner, whoever he
+was, had left nothing to show that he proposed to return, they took
+possession of the hut, and slept there during the night.
+
+Next morning early the boy, taking an axe with him, went out on to the
+hillside and began chopping wood. By evening he had chopped a fine big
+bundle of wood, and taking it down into the town he sold it in the
+market for a good sum of money. Greatly elated at the success of his
+labours he returned to his mother in the hut, and showing her the money
+he had earned, he told her that she need no longer have any anxiety
+regarding the future, for he would now be able to support her without
+any difficulty. Next morning, shouldering his axe, he started off
+again, and as before, began to chop wood. He had done a good morning’s
+work, and was walking a little further up the hill in order to search
+for some better timber, when, in a sheltered part of the hillside he
+suddenly found himself face to face with a large life-sized Lion carved
+out of the stone.
+
+“Now,” thought he to himself, on seeing the Lion, “this, no doubt, is
+the guardian deity of this mountain, and to him must be due my good
+fortune in so easily obtaining a means of livelihood. I will certainly
+make him some offering to-morrow.”
+
+So that evening, after selling his wood, he purchased two candles in
+the town, and on the following day he went straight to where the stone
+Lion stood, and lighting the candles, he placed one upon each side of
+the image, and prostrating himself humbly upon the ground before it, he
+prayed for renewed good fortune. Suddenly, to his surprise and alarm,
+the Lion opened its mouth, and asked him what he was doing there.
+
+The young man replied that having been driven from his home by his
+proud and hard-hearted brother, he was now engaged in earning his
+livelihood by chopping wood upon that hill; and that, thinking that the
+Lion must be the guardian deity of the mountain, he had considered it
+right to make him some sort of an offering, and to request his
+continued patronage and assistance.
+
+“Very good,” replied the Lion in a guttural tone of voice, “come again
+at this time to-morrow, and bring with you a large bucket, and I will
+furnish you at once with what wealth you require.”
+
+The boy thanked the Lion for his kindness, and carrying his load of
+firewood down to the village he sold it for a good price, and with the
+proceeds he purchased himself a large wooden bucket.
+
+Next morning he went up onto the hill again, carrying his bucket, and
+arriving near the stone Lion, he again prostrated himself upon the
+ground and announced his presence.
+
+“Very good,” replied the Lion, “you must now act as follows: hold the
+bucket under my mouth, and I will vomit gold into it. But as soon as
+the bucket is nearly full you must tell me, as on no account must a
+single morsel of gold fall to the ground.”
+
+The young man proceeded to do as the Lion had instructed him. He held
+the bucket below the Lion’s mouth, and the Lion forthwith began to
+vomit into it a stream of gold pieces. When the bucket was nearly full
+the young man informed the Lion of the fact, and forthwith the stream
+of gold came to an end; and the youth, having thanked the Lion most
+heartily for his munificent gift, carried off his bucket of gold in
+triumph to his mother. The poor woman was at first quite frightened at
+seeing so much wealth, but her son, having explained to her how he had
+come by it, she became greatly excited, and pleased.
+
+Next day the widow and her son set about placing themselves in more
+comfortable circumstances. They purchased a large farm-house in the
+neighbourhood, and a large stock of cattle and sheep, and settled down
+in their new abode, and henceforward they began to live in a very
+comfortable and prosperous manner.
+
+The news of the changed condition of life of his mother and younger
+brother soon reached the ears of the eldest son, and overcome with
+curiosity as to how this result had been brought about, he decided to
+call upon them, and to ascertain the cause of their prosperity. So,
+accompanied by his wife, and carrying with him a very small piece of
+cloth as a present, he set out to pay them a visit. When he reached the
+house his younger brother was away engaged upon his farm business, but
+the mother received her elder son and his wife very kindly and made
+them as comfortable as she could. In the evening, when the younger
+brother returned, he greeted his brother heartily, and being of a most
+kind-hearted and forgiving disposition, he related to him fully the
+manner in which he had come by his wealth, and strongly recommended his
+brother to act in a similar way.
+
+The elder brother and his wife, as they returned home together that
+evening, talked the matter over between them, and decided that so good
+an opportunity of making money so easily was not to be lost. So next
+day the husband proceeded to the town, and after a prolonged search
+purchased the largest bucket which was to be had in the whole place.
+Carrying this with him, and bringing also a couple of candles, he
+proceeded to the hillside, and following the directions he had received
+from his brother, he soon found himself face to face with the stone
+Lion. He at once lighted his candles and placed them one on each side
+of the Lion, while he prostrated himself upon the ground, and prayed to
+the Lion for good fortune.
+
+“Who are you?” said the Lion in a gruff voice; “and what do you want?”
+
+“I,” replied the elder brother, “am the brother of the young man who
+was here the other day, and to whom you gave so much gold; and,
+following his advice, I have now come to ask you for a similar benefit
+for myself.”
+
+“Very well,” said the Lion, “place your bucket under my mouth and I
+will vomit gold into it; but as soon as the bucket is nearly full you
+must inform me of the fact, as on no account must a single piece of
+gold fall to the ground. If this should happen, you will meet with
+misfortune.”
+
+So the elder brother, trembling with eagerness, held his bucket as
+directed, and forthwith a stream of gold pieces began to pour from the
+Lion’s mouth into the bucket. The covetous fellow shook the bucket
+slightly from time to time in order to make the gold lie well together
+and so to obtain a larger quantity; and, overcome by greed, he could
+not bring himself to inform the Lion that the bucket was nearly full
+until it brimmed over and a piece of gold, slipping off the heap, fell
+to the ground. As it touched the ground the stream of gold suddenly
+ceased, and the Lion, in a hoarse voice, said:
+
+“The largest piece of gold of all has stuck in my throat. Put your hand
+into my mouth and pull it out.”
+
+The elder brother, on hearing this, immediately thrust his hand into
+the Lion’s mouth, hoping to secure a large lump of gold; and no sooner
+had he done so than the Lion, closing his jaws, held him fast. It was
+in vain that he struggled and wrenched his arm to and fro, endeavouring
+to release it; the stone jaws of the Lion gripped him so tight that he
+was totally unable to effect his escape, and the Lion, deaf to all
+prayers and entreaties, had relapsed apparently into an insensible
+figure of stone. And worst of all, when he glanced at his bucket of
+gold he saw, to his horror, that instead of gold it held nothing but
+stones and earth.
+
+Towards evening the elder brother’s wife grew anxious concerning her
+husband’s absence, and knowing the direction in which he had gone, she
+set forth to the hillside to seek him. After hunting for some time she
+suddenly came across him, and asked him what he was doing and why he
+did not come home.
+
+“Oh, wife,” said he, “a terrible thing has happened to me. I put my
+hand into the Lion’s mouth in order to extract a lump of gold which was
+stuck in his throat, when all of a sudden he closed his jaws, and
+gripped my arm, and now I am unable to effect my escape.”
+
+The poor woman, on hearing this, wept and wailed, but all her
+entreaties to the Lion proved of no avail, and she went off to her
+home, and soon returned carrying her husband some food. Every day, for
+many days after, she returned to her husband, bringing him such
+provisions as he required to keep him alive; but as she had now no one
+to work for her, and was obliged to support her husband and her child
+entirely by her own exertions, she became gradually poorer and poorer,
+and was soon obliged to sell her household goods to procure the
+necessary food.
+
+Some months passed away and the poor woman, falling ill, was at length
+reduced to such complete destitution that she had not even a morsel of
+bread to bring to her husband, and one morning she came weeping up the
+hill, and addressed him as follows:
+
+“I have sold everything in the house, and have now no money to buy any
+food. There is not a scrap left to eat anywhere, and now nothing
+remains but for us to starve to death.”
+
+On hearing this the Lion was so tickled that he could not refrain from
+laughing.
+
+“Ha, ha!” said he, and opened his great jaws.
+
+As quickly as he could, and before the Lion had time to close his mouth
+again, the man withdrew his arm, and, finding himself free, he at once
+hastened down the hill with his wife. Then, taking their child with
+them, they proceeded straight to the house of the younger brother, and
+having related to him the whole of their story, begged some relief from
+their misery. The young man reproached his brother for his greedy
+conduct in trying to obtain an extra supply of gold from the Lion in
+spite of his warning; but being of a very forgiving nature, he
+consented at last to supply his brother with a sum of money sufficient
+for him to take a small farm in the neighbourhood. Here the proud
+brother and his wife settled down in very humble circumstances, whilst
+the younger son lived for many years very happily with his mother and
+prospered exceedingly in all he undertook.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XVIII.
+
+THE STORY OF THE LAMA’S SERVANT.
+
+
+There was once an old Lama who lived in a small house at the very top
+of a hill in a lonely part of Tibet. He was a very holy man and spent
+his time entirely in religious contemplation, and the only person whom
+he allowed about his house was a certain young man of low birth, who
+acted as his Servant and used to cook his meals and perform other
+household duties. This man was a great character in his way. He was an
+amusing fellow and very fond of his joke, but was quite unreliable and
+incapable of performing any regular work.
+
+Now the old Lama’s diet, in accordance with the tenets of his religion,
+was a very small one, and he refrained entirely from taking the life of
+any living creature. So his food consisted chiefly of barley-flour,
+butter, and so on, and he abstained from meat of any kind. This mode of
+life, however, was not at all pleasing to the Servant, Rin-dzin, who
+had a healthy appetite and greatly missed his daily dish of meat, and
+he was constantly trying to persuade the Lama to allow him to kill a
+sheep or a goat in order that he might have a satisfactory meal. This,
+however, the Lama always sternly refused to do, and forbade his Servant
+on any account to destroy the life of a living being.
+
+One day the Servant noticed a fine fat sheep, which, having become
+separated from the rest of the flock, was wandering about near the
+Lama’s house. So he pursued it and caught it, and carrying it into the
+ground floor of the house, he went up into the room above, and letting
+down a rope through a hole in the floor he hitched a slip-knot at the
+other end of the rope round the sheep’s neck. Having made these
+arrangements he went into the next room, where the Lama, as usual, was
+sitting alone wrapt in religious contemplation, deaf to all mundane
+affairs.
+
+“Oh! Lama,” said the Servant, addressing the old man, “I have come to
+tell you that I have just found a sheep belonging to our neighbours,
+who live in the valley below, wandering about near the house; so, for
+fear he should be eaten by wolves, I have caught him and tied him up in
+a room below. But he is a very violent sheep and is struggling
+desperately to escape. Will you be so kind as to hold the rope for a
+short time while I go and inform the owner where his sheep is?”
+
+The old Lama, who never refused a reasonable request, at once proceeded
+to do as he was asked, and, rising from his seat, he followed the
+Servant into the next room.
+
+“Pray hold this rope,” said the Servant, handing the Lama the loose end
+of the rope to which the sheep was secured, “and if the sheep begins to
+struggle, pull it as hard as you can to prevent him from escaping.”
+
+The Lama accordingly took hold of the rope, and the Servant went down
+into the lower storey as if he intended to leave the house. Instead of
+doing so, however, he went into the room where the sheep was tied and
+began to poke the animal with a sharp stick, and the sheep began to
+struggle violently, trying to escape from its tormentor. The more the
+sheep struggled below the more the Lama pulled above, and at last, when
+the tug-of-war had lasted for some minutes, the sheep was strangled by
+the slip-knot round its neck.
+
+After the lapse of an hour or two the Servant returned to the Lama in
+the upper room and informed him that the sheep had died a natural death
+while he had been away seeking for its owner, and, in the
+circumstances, he supposed that they might as well cut it up and cook
+it for food. The unsuspecting old Lama agreed to this, and for several
+days the Servant was able to eat his fill of excellent mutton.
+
+It chanced, however, that the shepherd boy who was in charge of the
+sheep had come to the Lama’s house looking for the one which was lost,
+and peeping in through the window had seen all that had happened. He
+told the story to his parents, who were very angry, and came to
+complain to the Lama of the conduct of his Servant. The old Lama was
+very much incensed at the treachery and wickedness of his attendant,
+and dismissed him on the spot, telling him to go away and never come
+back again. So Master Rin-dzin, with his few belongings on his back,
+marched off into the world to try and make his fortune.
+
+He was a good deal cast down at first, but being naturally a volatile,
+light-hearted fellow he soon recovered his spirits and marched along
+the road singing blithely, and keeping a sharp look-out for anything
+that might turn up. He had not proceeded very far when he fell in with
+another young man going in the same direction as himself, and the two,
+joining company, fell into conversation. Rin-dzin soon related to his
+young friend all his recent adventures, and informed him that he was
+anxious to make a little money.
+
+“Very good, brother,” replied the Stranger, “I am the very man to help
+you, for you must know I am a thief by profession, and I am always on
+the look-out for what fortune may bring me. So we will join company,
+and it will indeed be bad luck if we cannot succeed in hitting upon
+something profitable before many days have passed.”
+
+So they went along together and towards evening they came upon a large
+house standing in a fertile valley. The Thief went forward alone to
+make enquiries, and he soon returned to Rin-dzin with the information
+he had gathered. The servants of the house had told him that the owner
+had died the day before, and was now awaiting burial in his own room.
+His only relation was his daughter, who was heiress to the whole of the
+property, and she was now mourning for her father all alone in the big
+house. Further, the Thief had learned that the old man had once had a
+son, who had run away from home many years before and had never been
+heard of again.
+
+“Now,” said he to Rin-dzin, “I have a plan to propose to you. Do you
+climb in through the window into the room where the old man’s body lies
+awaiting burial, and conceal yourself somewhere. As soon as you are
+ready I will go to the young lady of the house and inform her that I am
+her brother, who has returned home after many years’ wandering. She
+will probably disbelieve my story, and I will propose that we should
+consult the corpse of her father on the matter. When we come into the
+room where the corpse lies I will address it, and ask whether I am not
+the long-lost son, whereupon you must reply that I am. On this evidence
+I shall secure at least one-half of the property, which, of course, I
+shall share with you. But be careful on no account to leave the room
+before morning, otherwise you are sure to be detected by the dogs which
+roam about the house by night.”
+
+Rin-dzin agreed to this proposition, and climbed in by the window into
+the dead man’s room, and, concealing himself near the corpse, he
+awaited the arrival of his friend. Meanwhile the Thief went boldly up
+to the front door and gave a loud knock; and being admitted by the
+servants, he went straight to the chamber of the young lady of the
+house.
+
+“Who are you?” said she; “and what do you want?”
+
+“Oh! sister,” he replied, “I am your long-lost brother; do you not
+recognise me?”
+
+“No,” said she, “it would be impossible for me to recognise you, as I
+was only a little child when you ran away. No one but my father could
+know you and he, alas! died yesterday.”
+
+“That is very sad,” replied the Thief, “for indeed it will be difficult
+for me to prove the truth of my story. Let us, however, go into the
+room where my father’s corpse is lying, and ask it whether or no I am
+his long-lost son.”
+
+The girl agreed to this, and the two went together into the chamber
+where the old man’s corpse was sitting trussed-up for burial, in
+accordance with the Tibetan custom.
+
+“Are you there, father,” said the Thief, as he entered the darkened
+room; and Rin-dzin, in a sepulchral voice replied, “Ah.”
+
+“I have come to ask you,” went on the Thief, “whether or no I am your
+long-lost son.”
+
+“You are,” replied Rin-dzin.
+
+And on hearing this the Thief at once retired, followed by the young
+girl, who was now completely convinced of his identity.
+
+“Now, sister,” said the Thief, addressing her when they were alone
+together, “you see that my story is true, but, unfortunately, I am
+unable to stay here as I am called away this very night on urgent
+business. I will therefore make over to you the house and the whole of
+the landed property, and all I ask from you as my share of the estate
+is a bag of gold, as big as I can carry with me.”
+
+The girl accepted these conditions, and handed over to the Thief a
+heavy bag of gold. He then bade her farewell and started off with his
+booty as fast as he could, leaving Rin-dzin behind him in the same room
+as the corpse.
+
+Early next morning Rin-dzin climbed down from the window, and coming
+round to the front of the house he asked the lady where her brother
+was.
+
+“Oh!” said she, “I gave him a big bag of gold last night, and he at
+once started off with it as fast as he could.”
+
+When Rin-dzin heard this he was very angry indeed at the Thief’s
+treachery, and was determined to follow and punish him. So, borrowing a
+horse from the lady of the house, he galloped off down the road as fast
+as he could. About mid-day, as he was galloping along, he saw the Thief
+some distance ahead, sitting under the shade of a tree resting; for not
+knowing that Rin-dzin had a horse, he did not consider it necessary to
+go very fast.
+
+When Rin-dzin caught sight of the Thief, he first thought that he would
+at once go up to him and demand his share of the gold, but on second
+thoughts he remembered that while he himself was unarmed, the thief
+possessed both a sword and a musket, so that if it came to a quarrel
+between them he would probably get the worst of it. So, leaning down
+over his horse’s neck, he pretended not to see the Thief, and galloped
+past him down the road, as if in mad pursuit. As soon as he was out of
+sight of the place where the Thief was sitting he pulled his horse up
+to a wall, and taking a new boot out of the bundle on his back, he
+dropped it in the middle of the road, and then pursued his way for some
+little distance further, when he took the fellow boot out of his bundle
+and dropped it also in the middle of the road. Having done this he
+turned aside from the roadway and concealed himself and his horse in a
+thicket near by.
+
+As soon as Rin-dzin had galloped out of sight, the Thief congratulated
+himself at not having been seen, took up his bag of gold and continued
+his journey. After walking some little way, he came upon a new boot
+lying in the centre of the road.
+
+“Ah!” thought he, “that foolish fellow has dropped one of his boots in
+his haste. But one boot isn’t worth picking up; it is of no use at all.
+What a pity it is he did not drop them both.”
+
+So leaving the boot where it lay, he resumed his journey. The sun was
+now very hot, and the Thief, carrying his heavy bag of gold, was
+getting pretty tired, and by the time he reached the place where the
+other boot was lying he was nearly worn out.
+
+“Hallo,” said he to himself, when he caught sight of the second boot,
+“here is the other boot. This is really too good a chance to be lost; I
+must certainly go back at once and pick up the first boot, and then I
+shall have a pair of new boots for nothing. But I can’t carry this
+heavy bag of gold all the way back with me.”
+
+So thinking, he concealed the bag of gold under a tuft of grass by the
+roadside, and started off to retrace his steps to pick up the first
+boot. No sooner was he out of sight than Rin-dzin emerged from his
+hiding-place, and picking up the bag of gold, strapped it to his saddle
+and rode on his way.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XIX.
+
+THE COUNTRY OF THE MICE.
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who ruled over a large tract of
+country in which there lived a great number of Mice. Generally the Mice
+were very prosperous and had plenty to eat, but it happened one year
+that the crops of the country were very poor, and the Mice, who
+subsisted chiefly on the spare grains left after the harvest, found
+that their stores were running short before the end of the winter. So
+the King of the Mice decided that he would make a petition to the King
+of the country, to lend the Mice what grain they required on condition
+that they repaid the whole amount the following year.
+
+So he dressed himself up in his best clothes and set off one morning to
+the King’s palace. When he got to the door of the palace the
+door-keeper asked him where he was going.
+
+“Oh!” replied the Mouse, “I wish to see the King of the country, as I
+have a petition to make to him.”
+
+When the King heard that a Mouse wanted to see him he was very much
+amused, and he ordered that the little animal should be admitted.
+
+When the Mouse entered the King’s presence he walked slowly up the Hall
+of Audience, carrying in his hand a little silk thread, which he
+presented to the King, instead of the usual ceremonial scarf. [7]
+
+“Good-morning, Brother Mouse,” said the King, “what can I do for you?”
+
+“Oh! King,” replied the Mouse, “you must know that this year our crops
+have fallen short, and we are threatened with a famine unless we can
+borrow sufficient grain to carry us through the winter; so I, who am
+King of the Mice, have come here to ask you if you can help us in this
+matter. If you can lend us the grain we require, we will repay you
+faithfully with interest at the next harvest.”
+
+“Well,” said the King, “how much grain do you want?”
+
+“I think that we shall require,” said the Mouse, “one of your big barns
+full.”
+
+“But,” said the King, “if I were to give you a barn full of grain how
+would you carry it away?”
+
+“Leave it to me,” said the Mouse; “if you will give us the grain we
+will undertake to carry it off.”
+
+So the King agreed to present the Mice with one of his great granaries
+full of barley, and he ordered his officers to throw open the doors,
+and to let the Mice carry away as much as they wanted.
+
+That night the King of the Mice summoned all his subjects together, and
+to the number of many hundreds of thousands they invaded the barn, and
+each one picked up as much grain as he could carry in his mouth, on his
+back, and curled up in his tail, and when they had all finished the
+barn was empty, and not a single grain of barley was left.
+
+Next morning, when the King went out to look at his barn, he was very
+much astonished to find that the Mice had been able to empty it so
+effectually, and he conceived a very high opinion of their powers; and
+when, in the following spring, the King of the Mice redeemed his
+promise by repaying with interest the loan he had taken from the King
+of the country, the latter saw that they were trustworthy as well as
+clever.
+
+Now it happened shortly after this that the King of the country went to
+war with a neighbouring kingdom, which lay on the opposite side of the
+river forming the frontier between the two countries. This other
+country was far more wealthy and powerful than the country where the
+Mice lived, and its King soon assembled a huge army on the opposite
+bank of the river and began making preparations for invasion.
+
+When the Mice heard what was happening, they were much distressed, for
+they feared that if the enemy entered their country and destroyed their
+friend the King, they themselves would suffer considerable hardships
+under a strange ruler; so the King of the Mice set out again to visit
+the King of the country, and when he reached the palace he demanded an
+interview with His Majesty. This was at once accorded to him, and
+finding the King looking very depressed, he addressed him as follows:
+
+“I have come to you a second time, Oh King, in order to see whether I
+can be of any use to you. The last time I was here you did me and my
+people a great favour, for which we shall ever be grateful, and if it
+is now in our power to assist you in any way, we shall be very glad to
+do our best.”
+
+The King, in spite of his grief, was much amused on hearing these words
+from the Mouse.
+
+“Why,” said he, “what could the Mice do to help me in my present
+predicament? We are threatened with invasion by a foreign army,
+outnumbering mine by many thousands, and all the men I can muster will
+not be sufficient to enable me to repel the enemy. I don’t see how the
+Mice can help me.”
+
+“Do you remember, Oh King!” replied the Mouse, “that on the last
+occasion I was here you doubted our ability to carry away the grain you
+had given us, or to repay you the loan? And yet we proved ourselves
+able to do both. All we ask you now is to trust us again, and if you
+will undertake to do one or two things which we ask of you, we on our
+part will undertake to rid you of the invading army.”
+
+The King was a good deal struck by this remark of the Mouse, and he
+replied:
+
+“Very well, what you say is quite true; and if you will inform me what
+you wish me to do, I will undertake to carry out my share of the
+bargain.”
+
+“Well, then,” answered the Mouse, “all we wish you to do is to provide
+us by to-morrow evening with one hundred thousand sticks, each about a
+foot long, [8] and to have them laid in rows on the bank of the river.
+If you will undertake to do this, we on our side will undertake to
+stave off the threatened invasion and to put the opposing army into a
+state of confusion and panic. And if we succeed in carrying out all we
+promise, we will ask you for the future to safeguard us against the two
+principal dangers which threaten the existence of the Mice who live in
+your country.”
+
+“I will gladly do what I can,” replied the King, “to safeguard you
+against these dangers if you will tell me how to proceed.”
+
+“The two dangers to which I refer,” continued the Mouse, “are flood and
+Cats. You see the majority of our burrows are in the low-lying land
+near the river, and whenever the river rises a little it overflows this
+level country and floods our nests. What we would suggest to you is
+that you should build a strong dam all down the river bank so as to
+ensure that the water cannot overflow into our nests. And as to the
+Cats they are always the persecutors of Mice, and we ask you to banish
+them altogether from your kingdom.”
+
+“Very well,” replied the King, “if you can succeed in averting the
+danger which now threatens us, I will undertake to do all that you ask
+of me in this respect.”
+
+On hearing this, the King of the Mice salaamed profoundly to the King,
+and returned as fast as he could to his own subjects.
+
+On the following evening he marshalled all the full-grown Mice of his
+kingdom, and about dusk, he led down a large army numbering several
+hundreds of thousands to the edge of the river, where he found the
+sticks all laid out as had been arranged with the King. In accordance
+with instructions they had received, the Mice at once proceeded to
+launch these sticks on the river, and they themselves embarked upon
+them two or three at a time; and so, pushing off from the bank, they
+sailed across the river and soon landed on the opposite side.
+
+It was now quite dark, and the enemy’s soldiers were all asleep in
+their camp, some lying in tents and some in the open air, with their
+arms beside them ready for any alarm. The Mice on a word of command
+from their King, scattered themselves without delay through the
+sleeping camp, and each one began to do as much destruction as he
+possibly could in the shortest possible space of time. Some nibbled at
+the bowstrings and the slings of the soldiers’ muskets; others gnawed
+the slow-match and fuses; whilst others bit off the clothes and
+pigtails of the sleeping men. In fact, they attacked fiercely anything
+upon which their teeth could make an impression, and tents, stores,
+grain, and provisions of all kinds were soon reduced to shreds or
+scattered in confusion in every direction; and after a couple of hours’
+work they all collected upon the river bank, and, embarking again on
+their sticks, they sailed quietly over to their own shore without
+having been detected by the enemy, or even having caused any alarm.
+
+Next morning at daybreak, a great outcry arose from the enemy’s camp.
+Each man as he rose from his sleep found himself in a woeful plight—his
+clothes in rags, his pigtail cut off, his bow without a string, his
+rifle without a sling, and with no fuse or slow-match to fire it, and
+no provisions for breakfast. Each one began to accuse the other of
+theft and treachery, and before many minutes had passed the whole camp
+was in a state of wild confusion, comrade quarrelling with comrade, or
+accusing their officers of dishonesty and ill-faith.
+
+In the midst of this uproar the sound of bugles was heard on the
+opposite bank, and a few shots were fired; and terrified at the thought
+of being taken unawares, the whole army took to flight, and in a few
+minutes not a man was to be seen.
+
+When the King of the country of the Mice saw what had happened he was
+greatly elated, and, sending for the King of the Mice, he thanked him
+very sincerely for his good offices. And, in accordance with the
+bargain they had made, he at once had a strong embankment constructed
+all down his own side of the river to guard against floods, and he
+issued an edict forbidding all persons, on pain of death, to keep a cat
+of any kind henceforth within the frontiers of his country, and so the
+Mice lived securely and happily ever afterwards.
+
+And in order to insure against any more attempts at invasion from the
+side of the neighbouring kingdom, the King sent a herald across the
+river to the ruler of that country, to say that, on this occasion, he
+had only considered it worth while to employ his Mice to defeat his
+enemies; but that if he was again threatened, he was ready to employ
+first all the domestic animals of the country; and if they did not
+succeed, he would have to have recourse to the wild beasts; and in the
+event of their failing, he was prepared to come himself with his
+warriors in order to produce the desired results.
+
+When the ruler of the other country heard this message he considered it
+wiser at once to make a treaty of peace, as he could not hope to defeat
+the warriors and wild beasts of a country whose Mice had shown such
+skill and courage. So the two countries remained on friendly terms for
+many years after; and the Mice, secured against flood and Cats, lived
+happily and safely, and received every year from the King of the
+country a barnful of grain as a free gift in thankful recognition of
+the services which they had rendered in time of need.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XX.
+
+THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE MONKEY.
+
+
+There was once an old Tortoise who lived with his wife and family in a
+large lake, on the borders of which grew an extensive jungle; and in
+the forest there were many wild beasts, more especially Monkeys, who
+swarmed in great numbers all along the shores of the lake.
+
+It happened one day that the Tortoise came out of the lake and went for
+a stroll amongst the trees which grew near the water. After walking for
+some distance he became hungry, and looking up into a cocoanut-tree,
+near which he found himself, he thought how much he should like to get
+one of the cocoanuts which were growing near the top. He made several
+awkward attempts to climb the tree, but the stem was so straight and so
+smooth that he was quite unable to succeed; and he was just about to
+give up the attempt in despair when he espied a large Monkey sitting
+among the branches. The Monkey, who had been watching the Tortoise’s
+attempts to climb the tree with some curiosity, felt rather sorry at
+his failure, and noticing that the Tortoise was a fine, well-grown
+fellow with a very handsome shell, he thought he would do him a
+kindness, so breaking off one or two of the cocoanuts, he threw them
+down to the Tortoise, who gratefully ate the fruit.
+
+The two animals now entered into conversation with one another, and
+soon striking up quite a friendship, the Monkey led away the Tortoise
+into the jungle, and showed him a comfortable cave where he could spend
+the night. The Tortoise was so interested with all he saw and so
+pleased with his friend the Monkey, that he remained for several days
+in the forest, moving about during the day and sleeping with the Monkey
+in the cave every night.
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Tortoise was becoming rather anxious concerning her
+husband’s prolonged absence. He had never been away from home for so
+long before, so finally she despatched one of the young Tortoises to
+find out where his father was and how he was getting on. The young
+Tortoise accordingly swam to land, and after hunting about for some
+time in the forest he came across his father near the cave.
+
+“Good-morning, Father,” said he, “Mother has sent me to find out where
+you are and how you are getting on.”
+
+“Oh, I am all right, my boy,” replied Father Tortoise; “tell Mother she
+need not trouble about me. My friend, Brother Monkey, and I are just
+having a good time in the forest, and I will be home in a few days. Now
+run off to your Mother.”
+
+So the young Tortoise went back to his mother and told her what had
+happened. Mrs. Tortoise was not at all pleased at her husband’s
+conduct.
+
+“It is quite time,” thought she, “that he should return to his wife and
+family, instead of amusing himself with a vulgar Monkey in the forest.”
+
+So she sent the boy back again to his father, with a message to say
+that Mrs. Tortoise was very ill, and that her physician had told her
+that the only thing to cure her was a Monkey’s heart. So he must return
+at once to his home and bring a Monkey along with him.
+
+The young Tortoise accordingly proceeded to hunt out his father again,
+and as soon as he met him he gave him Mrs. Tortoise’s message. On
+hearing the news of his wife’s illness, Mr. Tortoise became much
+alarmed, and reproached himself for having stayed away for so long; and
+in order to secure the necessary medicine for his wife he informed his
+friend the Monkey that he was obliged to return home at once on urgent
+business, and he invited the Monkey to come and spend a few days at his
+house. The Monkey accepted his friend’s invitation, and the two set off
+together to the shores of the lake.
+
+When the Monkey understood that it would be necessary for him to enter
+the lake, he became rather alarmed, and remarked to the Tortoise that
+never having been in the water, he was afraid it would be difficult for
+him to reach the Tortoise’s home.
+
+“Never fear about that, Brother Monkey,” said the Tortoise; “I can
+arrange that quite simply. If you will mount upon my back, I will swim
+with you wherever we want to go.”
+
+So the Monkey mounted upon the Tortoise’s back, and the Tortoise set
+out to swim to his house.
+
+As they went across the lake the Tortoise began telling the Monkey
+about his wife’s illness, and in doing so he foolishly let out that the
+only medicine to cure her was a Monkey’s heart. On hearing this the
+Monkey became very much alarmed, and saw that he was being led into a
+trap.
+
+“Dear me, Brother Tortoise,” said he, “I am very much grieved to hear
+of your wife’s illness, but if she is as bad as all that I do not think
+that one Monkey’s heart will be enough. I should think that three or
+four at least would be required in order to effect a cure. If you like,
+I can easily get several other Monkeys from amongst my friends to
+accompany us to your home.”
+
+The Tortoise thought that this was a good idea, and agreed to carry the
+Monkey back to the shore and await him there while he went off to fetch
+some other Monkeys. So he turned round and swam back through the lake
+till he reached the edge, where he waddled out on to the beach.
+
+As soon as he found himself on dry land the Monkey skipped off the
+Tortoise’s back as fast as he could, and climbed to the top of the
+tallest tree he could find in a twinkling. On reaching the top of the
+tree he began reviling the Tortoise, and calling out every bad name he
+could think of.
+
+“You are a nice sort of friend,” said he, “to ask me to pay a visit to
+your home in order to kill me and use my heart as medicine for your
+ugly wife. Do you call that a proper return for all my attention to
+you, and for showing you all over the jungle? However, I have been too
+clever for you this time, and you will have to do without my heart for
+many a long day to come. And as to the hearts of those other Monkeys
+that I promised to you—well, you can just wait till you find them for
+yourself.” [9]
+
+The Tortoise, on hearing these words, fell into a violent passion, and
+made several efforts to climb the tree in order to punish the Monkey,
+but being quite unable to climb at all, he soon gave up his attempt and
+determined to get even with the Monkey in some other way. So he hid
+himself in the water until evening, and as soon as it was dusk he came
+out on the land and proceeded very quietly to the cave where he and the
+Monkey had lived together, and concealed himself in the darkest corner
+of it waiting till the Monkey should come in.
+
+The Monkey, however, was a good deal too clever to be caught in a
+simple trap like this. When his usual bedtime arrived, he came to the
+mouth of the cave and, looking in, he called out in a loud voice:
+
+“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+
+The Tortoise lay low in his dark corner and gave no sign of life.
+
+After a few moments’ silence the Monkey again called out:
+
+“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+
+Still the Tortoise lay low and gave no sign.
+
+“Curious thing,” said the Monkey to himself in an audible tone of
+voice, “very curious! There used always to be an echo in this cave, but
+I can’t hear the slightest echo to-night. There must be something
+wrong,” and saying this he again called out:
+
+“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+
+The foolish Tortoise, thinking that if he simulated an echo the Monkey
+would enter the cave as usual, hereupon gave answer from his dark
+corner:
+
+“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+
+On hearing this the Monkey chuckled to himself at the simplicity of the
+Tortoise, and went off to sleep in some other part of the forest.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XXI.
+
+THE STORY OF ROOM BACHA AND BAKI.
+
+
+Once upon a time, in the country of Room, there lived a King called
+Bacha, who, having married a young Princess from a neighbouring
+kingdom, lived with her for a short time very happily. But it happened
+that both the King and Queen were of a very argumentative turn of mind,
+and were constantly disputing with one another about all sorts of
+trifles, and as neither would ever give way to the other, it generally
+ended in their quarrelling. The King, who was a proud and head-strong
+man, was not at all pleased that his wife should venture to maintain
+her opinion against his, and gradually became very much incensed
+against her.
+
+One night, as the two were sitting together after dinner, a fox began
+to bark in the palace grounds outside.
+
+“Ah!” said the King, “do you hear that tiger roaring?”
+
+“My dear,” replied the Queen, “that is not a tiger, it is a fox.”
+
+“Certainly not!” said the King. “Do you think I don’t know a tiger when
+I hear him? There can be no question but that it is a tiger.”
+
+The Queen again contradicted him, and a heated argument ensued, in
+which neither convinced the other. At length, the King said that he
+could not stand this argument any longer, but would submit the question
+for decision to his council on the following day. If the council agreed
+that he was in the wrong, he should be sent adrift on a log of wood on
+the great river that flowed past the palace; but if the Queen should be
+found to be in the wrong, she should suffer this fate.
+
+So next day the King summoned a council, composed of all his wisest
+ministers and men of science. When they were all seated in the council
+chamber, he addressed them as follows:
+
+“Last night,” said he, “some beast began to bark outside the palace. I
+maintained that it was a tiger; the Queen affirmed that it was a fox. I
+desire to submit the question to you for decision. If you decide that
+it was a fox, I agree to be sent adrift upon a log of wood on the great
+river which flows past my palace; but if you think that the animal was
+a tiger, then the Queen is to suffer this penalty.”
+
+So saying, the King withdrew, leaving his ministers to decide the
+question. The counsellors, after weighing the matter for some time,
+summoned to their presence several peasants living in the
+neighbourhood, and these being all agreed that no tiger ever came
+within many miles of the palace, whereas foxes prowled there nightly,
+it was clear to the council that the King was in the wrong. Before any
+decision was given, however, the oldest counsellor rose and addressed
+the meeting as follows:
+
+“It appears to me,” said he, “that the King is undoubtedly in the wrong
+in this matter; but I wish to point out to you that if we announce our
+decision to that effect, the consequence will be that we shall be left
+without our King, and with only a Queen to reign over us. This, as you
+know, is a most undesirable state of affairs. I propose, therefore,
+that in spite of our real opinion in the matter we should make a public
+announcement to the effect that the King was right in his argument.”
+
+The others agreed to these words of wisdom, and the counsellors
+proceeded in a body to the King’s throne-room and informed him publicly
+that after due deliberation they had come to the conclusion that he was
+undoubtedly in the right. The King was greatly pleased at hearing his
+opinion confirmed, and at once gave orders that the Queen should be
+sent adrift on the river astride a log of wood. So the poor Queen was
+taken down to the river bank, and placing herself astride of a log of
+wood, she floated off down the great river.
+
+After floating along for several hours the current at length carried
+her to the opposite bank, many miles away from her own country, and as
+soon as she arrived in shallow water she waded ashore and looked about
+her. As far as she could see, the whole country appeared to be one
+great plain, covered with high grass, through which it was almost
+impossible for anyone to force their way; but after hunting about for a
+time, she discerned a small opening in the grass, which led her to a
+narrow winding path, along which she walked for some considerable
+distance. After going some way she came suddenly upon an open clearing
+in the grass, in the middle of which a very old man, with a white beard
+reaching almost to his waist, was seated before a small fire cooking
+himself some food.
+
+“Good-morning, sir,” said the Queen, when she saw him; “can you give me
+a morsel of food, for I am very hungry.”
+
+“Certainly, Madam,” replied the old man; “you are welcome to all I
+have,” and so saying, he handed over to her the whole of his
+provisions.
+
+When the Queen had made a good meal, the old man addressed her as
+follows:
+
+“You must know,” said he, “that I am a magician, living in this
+prairie, and you must carefully follow the directions which I shall now
+give you. You must first follow the path, which will lead you to the
+top of a small hill, and when you arrive there a son will be born to
+you. This boy is not an ordinary human child, but is the incarnation of
+a very holy Lama, with miraculous qualities, and he will from his birth
+be able to walk and talk. His name is Baki, and you must follow him
+wherever he leads.”
+
+The Queen thanked the old man for his advice, and following the narrow
+path, it soon led her to the top of a small hill; and here she was
+delivered of a child, who, as the magician had predicted, was of a
+miraculous nature, and was at once able to walk and talk. The boy
+without any hesitation went forward along the path, followed by his
+mother, and after travelling for some distance they emerged from the
+great grass jungle into an open cultivated country.
+
+Now it happened that on that day the three sons of the King of that
+country were out hunting together, and as they rode along looking out
+for game they suddenly came upon the Queen and her son. Having heard
+her story, they mounted her and the boy upon a horse and carried them
+off to the King’s palace. The King at once took them under his
+protection, and gave orders that the boy should be brought up with his
+own sons, and he and his mother lodged in apartments in the palace.
+
+Baki grew rapidly in beauty and stature, and soon became an expert in
+all sports and games. One day he and the King’s three sons were out
+hunting together, when by chance they suddenly came upon a beautiful
+snow-white doe, who jumped up before them and galloped off towards the
+mountains. The four young men at once started off in pursuit; but the
+horses upon which the King’s sons were riding gradually tired, and one
+after another they dropped out of the hunt, leaving Baki to continue
+alone. As the chase continued the poor doe began to show signs of
+exhaustion, and Baki, who was close upon her heels, was feeling
+confident that he would soon catch her. All at once the deer galloped
+straight up to what appeared to be a precipitous rock, and touching the
+rock with her muzzle, it flew asunder, revealing the entrance to a
+great cave within; and as she crossed the threshold of the cave her
+skin fell from her, and she appeared in the form of a beautiful young
+woman. Baki, who was of a very courageous disposition, did not hesitate
+for a moment, but, leaping from his horse, he followed the lady into
+the cave, and scarcely had he entered when the rock doors closed behind
+him with a loud crash. Following the form of the lady along a narrow
+passage, he emerged presently into a great lofty apartment, hollowed
+out in the centre of the rock, luxuriously furnished and brilliantly
+lighted, and with a row of great glass pillars running down the centre.
+
+The girl meanwhile had seated herself upon a couch in one corner of the
+room, and addressing the young man, she asked him who he was, and what
+he meant by thus thrusting himself upon the privacy of a lady. The
+young Prince apologised, and explained the circumstances of the case as
+best he could, whereupon the girl addressed him as follows:
+
+“You must know,” said she, “that the place where you now find yourself
+is the abode of a terrible and blood-thirsty Ogre, and that I, who am
+human like yourself, was captured by him some time ago, and he proposes
+shortly to make me his wife. Meanwhile he has taught me certain magic
+spells, which enable me to transform myself into any animal I please,
+and to come and go at my pleasure; but without the assistance of some
+human being it is impossible for me to escape from his clutches. But we
+will talk further regarding these matters to-morrow. It is now near the
+time for the Ogre’s return, and if he finds you here he will certainly
+kill you without the least hesitation, so you must hide now before he
+returns.”
+
+So saying she went over to the central glass pillar and, unscrewing a
+portion of it, she showed him a cavity inside, within which he
+concealed himself.
+
+Scarcely was he securely hidden within the pillar when the door of the
+cave flew open, and a huge Ogre entered the central chamber. Calling
+the young lady to him, he commanded her to bring his dinner, and after
+making a sumptuous repast he sat down on some cushions and began
+playing the guitar. At the first sound of the music all the pillars in
+the room, with the exception of the one in which Baki was concealed,
+began a slow and stately dance, his pillar alone remaining firm and
+unshaken. When the Ogre saw that one of the pillars was not dancing as
+usual he grew very angry, and seizing a huge hammer in his hand, he
+advanced upon it, threatening to shatter it into a thousand fragments;
+but the young lady, seizing him by the arm, begged him to spare it.
+
+“Look,” said she “at the position of the pillar. It is the most central
+and the largest of them all. No doubt it feels some sense of dignity
+and wishes to be distinguished from the remainder. Spare it at any rate
+to-night, and it will probably dance as usual to-morrow.”
+
+The Ogre agreed to this, and shortly after retired to rest.
+
+Next morning at daybreak he set off about his business, and as soon as
+he was gone the girl opened the pillar and released Baki, and after
+giving him a good breakfast, she spoke to him as follows:
+
+“It is a very difficult thing,” said she, “for a human being to kill an
+Ogre, for whatever damage you may do to his body is of no avail unless
+you can also destroy the object with which his spirit is bound up. Now
+this particular Ogre’s existence depends upon the life of a green
+Parrot, which is carefully hidden from human view, but I have
+ascertained where it is kept, and will explain to you how you may find
+it. Behind the rock in which we are now living you will find another
+great rock standing by itself. You must go up to this, and, kicking it
+three times with your right foot, you must exclaim at each kick, ‘Great
+Raven, open the door.’ As you pronounce these words for the third time
+the door will open, disclosing a large cave, in the centre of which,
+seated upon a red stone, you will see a green Parrot. If you can kill
+this Parrot you will also destroy the Ogre without any danger to
+yourself.”
+
+On hearing this Baki at once promised to follow the lady’s directions,
+and she released him from the cavern. Going round to the back of the
+rock, he found himself face to face with another great rock standing by
+itself. Kicking this rock three times with his right foot, he
+pronounced the magic words, and as he said them for the third time two
+rocky doors flew open, disclosing a cave inside. Entering the cave he
+saw a green Parrot seated on a red stone in the centre, and he at once
+seized the bird and wrung its neck. As soon as he had accomplished this
+he ran hastily back to the main cavern, and as he approached the
+entrance he saw the Ogre, who had just been returning to his home,
+lying across the threshold stone dead, with his neck all twisted. The
+young lady was greatly rejoiced at the successful issue of their
+adventure, and the two, leaving the Ogre’s body behind them, proceeded
+forthwith to the capital of the country, where the King’s palace was
+situated.
+
+On arriving at the capital Baki decided to hire a small house, where he
+could lodge the young lady and change his own dress before proceeding
+to pay his respects to the King; so having taken a house in the
+suburbs, he left the lady there while he went out himself into the
+streets to hear the news. He soon found out that during his absence the
+King had announced his intention of marrying Baki’s mother, and the
+poor lady, now that she had no son to protect her, had protested in
+vain, saying that she was already the wife of another. Baki was very
+indignant when he heard of this treacherous conduct on the part of the
+King, and determined to foil his plans. So returning to the young lady,
+he related to her all that he had heard.
+
+“Do not be anxious,” said she. “If you will follow my advice I will
+show you how you may yet get the better of the King.”
+
+And she forthwith instructed him in certain magic spells, which she had
+learned from the Ogre.
+
+Armed with these, Baki proceeded at once to the palace. When he arrived
+in the courtyard he sat himself down upon the King’s mounting-block,
+and muttering the necessary spell, he was at once transformed into a
+large cowrie-shell. After lying on the mounting-block for some time it
+chanced that one of the grooms of the palace passed by, and, seeing the
+shell, he paused to look at it, and remarked to himself:
+
+“What a beautiful cowrie-shell!”
+
+“Yes, I am a very handsome shell,” replied the cowrie, to the terror
+and astonishment of the groom.
+
+“Why,” said he, “what sort of a shell are you? What can you know about
+cowries, or anything else?”
+
+“I know a great deal,” said the shell. “For instance, I could tell the
+King something about Prince Baki, which perhaps he would not like to
+hear.”
+
+When the groom heard this he ran straight into the palace and informed
+the Prime Minister all that the shell had said. The Minister, having
+told the King of the matter, the King gave orders that the shell should
+at once be brought into his presence and placed upon a table before
+him. When this had been done the King addressed the shell, saying:
+
+“What are you, and what do you know about Prince Baki?”
+
+“I can tell you this,” replied the shell, “that if you attempt to marry
+Prince Baki’s mother you will find yourself in a very unpleasant
+position.”
+
+On hearing this the King was very much incensed, and he ordered one of
+his servants to bring in a big hammer to smash the shell to fragments,
+saying that he would not be browbeaten by a wretched little object like
+a shell. So one of the servants, bringing up a hammer, struck the shell
+a violent blow and broke it to pieces. In an instant each piece of the
+shell turned into an armed man, and Prince Baki himself appeared
+amongst them in his proper form.
+
+Great confusion now arose amongst the courtiers; some fled in one
+direction and some in another, whilst others, drawing their swords,
+prepared to fight with the strangers. Meanwhile the armed men, who were
+in reality demons, placed temporarily under the command of Prince Baki,
+looked fiercely around them, and waving their swords, shouted to the
+Prince, “Whom shall we kill? Whom shall we kill?”
+
+Baki now pointed to the King, and in a moment the band of armed men
+fell upon him, cut him to pieces, and disappeared with shouts of
+triumph through the roof of the palace. When the courtiers saw what had
+happened, they hastened to prostrate themselves before the feet of so
+powerful a magician, and installed Baki as their new king.
+
+As soon as he was seated upon his throne he sent for the young lady
+whom he had rescued from the Ogre’s cave, and, having married her, they
+lived happily for many years. And the Queen, his mother, soon after
+returned to King Bacha, and having agreed with him never more to argue
+on trivial matters, they had no more disputes or quarrels, and long
+reigned together over a contented and prosperous kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+STORY No. XXII.
+
+THE STORY OF THE HOME-BRED BOY.
+
+HOW HE FOUND THE LOST TURQUOISE.
+
+
+There was once an old woman living in Tibet whose husband had died and
+left her alone with her only son.
+
+As the Boy grew up, his Mother grew more and more fond of him, and
+disliked parting from him even for a moment. She was afraid that if he
+left her house and began wandering about by himself some accident might
+happen to him, and she would be left desolate in her old age. So the
+older he grew the more careful she became, until at last she saw that
+it was impossible to restrain the Boy any longer, and it would be
+necessary for him to go out into the world to seek his fortune, just as
+other young men of his age had to do. So when he had reached the age of
+fifteen she waited till the fifteenth day of the sixth month, which is
+a very auspicious date, and calling the Boy to her, she presented him
+with a new suit of clothes, a horse, a dog, a gun and a sword; and she
+told him that he was now at liberty to leave his home and to go out
+into the world to seek his fortune.
+
+The Boy was greatly delighted at receiving these gifts and with the
+prospect of meeting with some adventures, so after saying farewell to
+his Mother, he mounted his horse, and with the dog trotting at his
+heels he started away down the road. All day he rode quietly along by
+himself without meeting with any adventures, and towards evening he
+reached a high plateau near the top of a range of mountains. As he was
+crossing the plateau a fox jumped up in front of him and ran off
+towards the mountains. The dog, on seeing the fox, started to chase it;
+while the young Man, thinking he was to have some fun at last, galloped
+after the dog as fast as he could.
+
+After running for some distance the fox suddenly disappeared into his
+earth, and the Boy, riding up, dismounted at the mouth of the hole, and
+began to scheme how he was to catch the fox when he came out. So he
+took off his cloak [10] and fastened it to the saddle with his sword
+and his gun, and then placed his horse a little to one side of the
+fox’s earth, whilst his dog stood ready at the other side; and he
+himself took off his hat and put it over the mouth of the hole, and
+taking a large stone in his hand, he crouched down ready to slay the
+fox when it came out.
+
+After sitting waiting for some time the fox all of a sudden darted out
+of its earth, and ran off towards the hills, with the Boy’s hat
+sticking over its head. It came so suddenly that he had no time to hit
+it with his stone, or to interrupt its flight. The dog, on seeing the
+fox go off, at once started in full pursuit; and the horse, excited by
+the dog’s cries, galloped off after the pair, and in a few moments all
+three were lost to sight in the gathering darkness. The poor Boy found
+himself in a moment bereft of all his possessions—his horse, his dog,
+his gun, his sword, his hat, and even his outer robe, which he had
+strapped on his saddle, had all disappeared. After running after his
+horse for some distance he gave it up in despair, and lay down to pass
+the night as best he could under a big poplar-tree.
+
+He woke towards dawn, and, looking up into the branches of the tree, he
+saw a large Raven’s nest, on which an old Raven was sitting hatching
+her eggs, whilst Father Raven perched on a branch near by. When day
+broke the two Ravens began talking to one another.
+
+“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the old bird on the nest, “who is
+this sleeping under our tree?”
+
+“That,” replied Father Raven, “is a foolish home-bred Boy who has no
+experience of the world. In trying to catch a fox last night he lost
+his horse, his gun, his sword, his dog, and even his clothes, and now
+he has not the least idea where to find them.”
+
+“Yes, so I see,” replied Mother Raven, “but it is clear, nevertheless,
+that all he has to do is to go towards the villages which lie towards
+the east from here—there he will meet with good fortune.”
+
+On hearing this the Boy at once started off towards the east, and
+proceeding for some little distance, he met an old Beggar Man, to whom
+he related the whole of his story, and asked him if by any chance he
+had seen the missing property. The old Man, seeing before him only a
+poor Boy, without even a hat or a cloak, did not believe a word of this
+story, so he only laughed at him and mocked him; and finally, when the
+Boy grew angry, gave him a sound beating, and left him to go on his way
+disconsolate.
+
+Wandering on a little further, he came to a big house where a wedding
+feast was being celebrated. Coming timidly up to the door of the house,
+he peeped in at the guests, and presently one of the servants happening
+to pass by, he related his sad story. But just then the Bridegroom
+caught sight of him, and called out in a rough voice:
+
+“Who are you who come crying here at my wedding feast? We want no
+woebegone faces here to-day to bring us bad luck. Go away, you
+ill-omened creature.”
+
+So the poor Boy slank away sadly, and after wandering about till
+nightfall he reached another large house further towards the east.
+After the reception he had received from the wedding party he was
+afraid to go in or to knock at the door, so creeping into the backyard
+he dug himself a nest in the manure heap, and crouched down in this for
+warmth, all hidden except his head. Thus he spent the night comfortably
+enough.
+
+Early next morning the pigs belonging to the place began to poke about
+the yard and the manure heap, and several of them, as they passed,
+rooted at his head with their snouts to see if he was anything good to
+eat.
+
+He could not stand this very long, so finally, screwing up his courage,
+he went to the back door of the house, and asked one of the servants to
+lend him a knife, saying that he wanted it to cut up the dry meat which
+formed his breakfast. The servant lent him a knife, and as soon as he
+had got it he enticed one of the pigs away to a quiet corner, where he
+killed it and cut off its head; and taking with him some strips of its
+flesh, he returned to his nest in the manure, and hid himself there
+again, together with the pig’s head, waiting to see what would turn up.
+
+Towards noon the Lady of the house came out into the yard, and as she
+was moving about superintending the various farming operations, it
+happened that a large and valuable turquoise fell out of her headdress
+without her noticing it. When, after a few minutes, she went back into
+the house, leaving the turquoise lying in the middle of the yard, the
+Boy thought that this would be a good opportunity of getting the
+turquoise for himself, but he was afraid to leave his nest for fear of
+being noticed; so picking up a piece of rag from amongst the manure he
+threw it over the turquoise, concealing it from sight.
+
+Shortly after, one of the maid-servants came out of the house, and
+seeing a piece of rag lying in the middle of the yard, she picked it
+up, and the turquoise with it, and thrust them both into a crevice in
+the wall.
+
+Just then a great uproar arose from the house, where the Lady had
+discovered the loss of her turquoise. The whole household was summoned,
+and set to work to search for the missing jewel. For some time great
+bustle prevailed, everyone searching hither and thither, and ransacking
+every hole and corner; but no one thought of examining the piece of
+dirty rag thrust carelessly into a crevice of the farmyard wall.
+
+Finding that all their efforts were of no avail, the Lady of the house
+sent off in hot haste to summon all the most famous diviners,
+magicians, and lamas of the neighbourhood, and these, when they
+arrived, began practising all kinds of spells and casting auguries in
+the hope of discovering what had become of the turquoise; but all in
+vain, and when nightfall arrived, they were no better off than they
+were before.
+
+Towards evening they packed up their various magical instruments and
+spells, and went away very downhearted; and as soon as they were gone
+the Boy emerged from his hiding-place, and going boldly to the house,
+he said that he was a famous magician and could find the turquoise for
+them; and he asked that on the following morning all the diviners and
+lamas should again be summoned, as well as the inhabitants of all the
+neighbouring houses. The Lady of the house was at first inclined to
+ridicule the idea of this disreputable-looking beggar being able to
+accomplish what none of these famous sorcerers could do; but thinking
+it worth while to give the Boy a chance, she decided to do what he
+suggested, and meanwhile ordered her servants to let him have a good
+supper, of which he stood badly in need.
+
+Next morning, about ten o’clock, a large crowd of people assembled in
+the courtyard of the house. In addition to the magicians and lamas of
+the day before, a great many of the neighbours had obeyed the summons,
+and amongst them were the people who had treated the poor Boy so badly
+during their wedding feast, and the Beggar who had reviled and beaten
+him. As soon as they were all seated in rows ready to see what was
+going to happen, the Boy, holding the pig’s head under his arm,
+presented himself before them all, and addressed them as follows:
+
+“Now,” said he, “I hope in a few minutes to be able to discover the
+missing turquoise, for I am possessed of magic qualities of unusual
+power. In my search I shall be assisted by this enchanted pig’s head
+which I hold under my arm. Owing to the spell I have cast upon it, it
+is able at once to detect a thief or a dishonest person, and also to
+discover stolen property.”
+
+So saying he took the pig’s head in both hands, and holding its snout
+towards the company, he went round from person to person, halting for a
+moment in front of each. Presently he arrived in front of the
+Bridegroom, who had been so rude to him some days before, and the pig’s
+head at once became violently agitated, and kept poking itself towards
+this man.
+
+“Ah!” said the Boy, “here is evidently a dishonest man; it is no good
+our proceeding any further in our search until he has been beaten and
+turned out of here.”
+
+The other people at once seized upon the wretched man, and after giving
+him a severe thrashing, they turned him out of the place. Next to him
+was sitting the Beggar who had so insulted the Boy, and who had
+disbelieved his story. Here, again, the pig’s head became violently
+agitated, and the Beggar, too, was well beaten and turned out. Having
+got rid of these two persons, the Boy now began to walk round the yard,
+the pig’s snout apparently sniffing carefully at every part of the wall
+in the farm buildings. Presently, coming to the crevice into which the
+rag had been thrust by the servant-maid, he moved the pig’s head
+violently to and fro.
+
+“Ah!” cried he, “the missing turquoise must be somewhere near here.”
+
+On hearing this everyone began to search about in that neighbourhood,
+and in a few minutes the turquoise was found inside the rag thrust into
+the crevice of the wall.
+
+The Mistress of the house on recovering her turquoise was greatly
+elated. She took the Boy into the house, and having presented him with
+a new suit of clothes, and given him all he wanted to eat and drink,
+she handed him a large sum of money, and he went on his way in a far
+better plight than when he had first arrived there.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE HOME-BRED BOY.
+
+HOW HE DISLODGED THE SPIDER.
+
+
+After leaving the house where he had found the turquoise, the home-bred
+Boy wandered along until, towards nightfall, he arrived at the same
+poplar-tree where he had previously stayed the night, and, lying down
+under its branches, he fell fast asleep, and did not wake up until
+towards morning.
+
+As day was dawning the two Ravens overhead began talking to one another
+as before, and the boy overheard their conversation.
+
+“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the hen bird on the nest. “What kept
+you so late last night?”
+
+“Well,” replied Father Raven, “the fact is, I was visiting a farmhouse
+down yonder, where the mistress of the house, as it happens, is very
+ill. She is suffering from a severe pain in her left ear, which drives
+her almost distracted, and no one about the place knows what it is nor
+how to cure it. They have consulted all of the most famous doctors and
+lamas in the neighbourhood without, however, affording her any relief
+at all. Indeed, no one knows what is the cause of the disease except
+myself. I have ascertained that the pain in her ear is due to the fact
+that some days ago a large Spider effected an entrance during her
+sleep, and that the Spider and her young ones have now taken up their
+abode inside the Lady’s head. It is impossible to dislodge them except
+by a stratagem. As you are aware, Spiders are in the habit of sleeping
+all through the winter months, and only wake up and emerge from their
+retreat in the spring. If it were possible to make the Spiders believe
+that spring had arrived, they would come out of the ear at once;
+otherwise they will remain there all through the winter.”
+
+“Indeed,” replied Mother Raven, “that is very interesting; but how
+would it be possible to make the Spider believe that spring had come?”
+
+“There is a very simple stratagem, which I have often seen employed,”
+replied Father Raven, “which is as follows: a piece of green cloth must
+first be spread upon a table and well sprinkled with water, and the
+Lady must bend her ear over this so that the Spiders can see it. It
+will appear to them to be a green field, wet with the spring rains, and
+they will imagine it is time to come out; and then, if they still
+display any reluctance to emerge, it is only necessary to beat a drum
+to simulate thunder. Thunderstorms, as you know, only occur in the
+spring, and the Spiders on hearing this noise will feel convinced that
+spring has really come, and will emerge without any further hesitation.
+The moment they come out on the table they must be wrapped up in the
+cloth with the greatest expedition and carried away and killed, for if
+this is not done, they will always be ready at the slightest alarm to
+climb back into the ear by the threads which they have left suspended
+behind them.”
+
+Mother Raven thanked Father Raven for his information, and she then
+said:
+
+“But you yourself are not looking at all well this morning, what is the
+matter with you?”
+
+“Well,” said he, “I am sorry to say I over-ate myself yesterday. The
+people of the house kept praying to the gods, and were all day long
+occupied in making offerings of rice and flour. Most of these offerings
+were thrown out into the garden, and I was able to eat as much as I
+wanted. In fact, I ate a great deal too much, and I fear that I am
+going to die. If I do, you must faithfully promise to remain in
+mourning for me, in accordance with Tibetan custom, for three years,
+three months and three days.”
+
+Mother Raven, on hearing this, was greatly affected, and solemnly vowed
+to carry out the wishes of her husband, and poor old Father Raven,
+getting into the nest, shortly after breathed his last.
+
+As soon as he was dead Mother Raven remarked to herself that she had a
+great deal too much to do in looking after her family and household
+duties to think for a moment of following so absurd a custom as
+mourning for a dead bird for any period at all. So she pushed old
+Father Raven’s body out of the nest with her bill and let it fall to
+the ground below, while she herself flew off to find food for the young
+ravens, which had just been hatched out.
+
+Meanwhile the Boy, who had listened attentively to the colloquy of the
+Ravens overhead, went straight off to hunt for the house where the Lady
+was suffering from pains in her ear, and he decided in his own mind to
+make this another opportunity for displaying his magical powers. He
+soon arrived at the house in question, and found the whole family in
+great grief, and the poor mistress of the house suffering torments with
+the pain in her ear. Going to the house he asked what was the matter,
+and on hearing the cause of their sorrow he at once announced that he
+was possessed of very wonderful magic powers, and was prepared to
+effect a cure. The people of the house who had seen him on the previous
+day, when he had found the turquoise, were inclined to believe him, and
+asked him what they should do to procure relief for their mistress.
+
+“All that is necessary,” replied he, “is a square piece of green cloth,
+some clean water in a jug and a couple of drums.”
+
+When these things had been made ready he spread the piece of green
+cloth on the table and sprinkled some water over it, and he then told
+the Lady of the house to lean across the table so that her painful ear
+should come above the patch of green cloth. No sooner had she done so
+than the Spiders inside, seeing the green expanse with water still
+lying upon it, thought that the spring had come and began moving about,
+and the old Mother Spider at once let herself down by a thread to see
+if it was really spring.
+
+The people of the house were greatly astonished at seeing the Spider
+emerge, but the Boy ordered them not to touch her; and having satisfied
+herself that there was really water on the cloth, she climbed again up
+her thread, and went back into the Lady’s ear to impart the good news
+to her family. The Boy now ordered the drums to be beaten, and on
+hearing this sound the whole of the spider family, thinking that the
+noise was thunder, and that spring had undoubtedly arrived, hastily
+emerged from the Lady’s ear and let themselves down, one after another,
+on to the green cloth. As soon as they were all, to the number of
+seven, arrived upon the table, the Boy snatched up the piece of cloth,
+and wrapping up the spiders inside it, he carried them all outside and
+destroyed them.
+
+The Lady of the house was now completely cured and overwhelmed the Boy
+with gifts and compliments, and he left the house carrying with him a
+large sum of gold, in addition to that which he had received the day
+before. He now bent his steps towards his Mother’s house, and as he was
+going along the road to his home he suddenly came face to face with the
+old Beggar who had previously insulted him, and whom he had had beaten
+and turned out when he was looking for the turquoise. The old man, who
+was of a very jealous and vindictive temper, was very much incensed
+against the Boy, and had determined to avenge himself upon him. As the
+Boy came down the road the old Beggar suddenly emerged from behind a
+clump of bushes, holding a sword in his right hand and a fly in the
+hollow of his left fist.
+
+“Now,” said he, “I believe you to be an impostor. You have twice made
+pretence to magical powers, which in reality you do not possess, and I
+am about to put you to a final test. If you can tell me what I hold in
+my left hand I shall let you go free; but if you fail to do so, I shall
+immediately kill you with this sword.”
+
+The poor Boy was greatly alarmed at hearing these words, and having no
+weapon himself he was completely at the old man’s mercy. So at a loss
+to know what to say, he replied:
+
+“Well, then, you can kill me if you like, for I am as much in your
+power as though I were a fly which you hold in your left hand and which
+you can crush at your pleasure.”
+
+The old man was so much astonished at hearing this reply, which he
+looked upon as a proof of the Boy’s supernatural powers, that he
+forthwith became one of his most ardent admirers; and as he had seen
+where the Boy’s horse, dog, and other belongings had disappeared to on
+the occasion when they had all followed the fox, he was able to lead
+the boy to a distant valley, where he found his horse and dog together.
+Here having recovered his sword and his gun, his clothing and other
+possessions, he mounted upon his horse and followed by his dog he
+returned to his Mother’s house a very much richer Boy than when he had
+left it.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE HOME-BRED BOY.
+
+HOW HE DEFEATED THE ENEMY.
+
+
+On his return to his home the home-bred Boy found that he was now
+famous far and wide for his supposed magical powers, and he was
+constantly consulted by people of all classes, who wanted his
+assistance in their various affairs.
+
+It happened not long afterwards that a war broke out with a
+neighbouring country, and the King sent for the Boy, and asked him
+whether he would be able to give any assistance in the campaign against
+the enemy. The Boy was rather alarmed at this request of the King’s,
+for he did not in the least know how he should set about defeating the
+foe, but he allowed no sign of hesitation to appear in his manner, and
+he answered boldly that he was prepared to undertake the job; whereupon
+the King presented him with a magnificent charger and begged him to do
+his best.
+
+Now as it happened, the Boy was in reality a very bad rider, and did
+not at all fancy the idea of riding about on a spirited horse, but for
+very shame he could not refuse the King’s gift. So early next morning,
+when he mounted his horse with the intention of riding out and
+reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, in order to see what could be done, he
+made his servant tie his feet together with a rope under the horse’s
+belly, so that he should not fall off if it ran away or played any
+pranks with him. Having ridden for some distance he reached the top of
+a hill, whence he could obtain a clear view of the enemy’s camp, and as
+he was sitting on his horse watching the scene below a trumpet suddenly
+sounded. The noise of the trumpet frightened the horse, which, after
+giving one or two preliminary plunges, dashed off down the hill at full
+gallop straight towards the enemy’s camp.
+
+The poor Boy was much terrified at this untoward event, and did all he
+could to stop his horse by pulling the bridle and speaking to it, but
+with no avail. Just before reaching the camp the horse carried him
+under a dead tree, and the Boy, raising his arms, seized one of the
+branches with both hands in the hope of checking the horse’s mad
+career; but the rotten bough broke in his grasp, and the horse
+continued its gallop right into the camp, with the Boy holding in his
+hands a huge branch of the tree.
+
+Hither and thither rushed the horse amongst the tents of the enemy,
+trampling the frightened soldiers underfoot, whilst the Boy in his
+struggles to maintain his balance, swept his great branch to and fro
+with equally disastrous effect. During his gallop his hair had become
+loosened, and was now flying wildly in the air, and his shouts and
+adjurations to his horse increased the terror of his appearance. The
+enemy’s soldiers had never seen such a terrific-looking object before,
+and one and all came to the conclusion that he must undoubtedly be a
+demon that was attacking them, and that he would soon compass their
+entire destruction. So instead of opposing him they tried to soothe and
+conciliate him, offering him silken scarfs and other presents as he
+galloped to and fro. But he made no reply to them, and continued to
+shout fiercely at his horse.
+
+These shouts were taken by the soldiers to be threats of vengeance
+against themselves, [11] and, finally, the General and all the
+principal officers, coming out in a body with scarfs, begged him to
+make peace and to allow them to go away quietly. The Boy, who heard
+what they said, was quite willing to agree, but was totally unable to
+control his horse, so he shouted to them that he accepted their
+submission on condition that they were able to stop his horse. So
+running on either side of him, they seized the bridle and soon brought
+the animal to a standstill, when the Boy formally accepted their
+surrender, and dictated to them terms of peace; and they on their part
+were only too thankful to have escaped from such a danger, and gladly
+consented to withdraw at once to their own country.
+
+When the King heard what had happened, he sent for the Boy and thanked
+him very heartily for his services; and as a reward for what he had
+done, he raised him to the highest rank, and presented him with lands
+and gold, and the young Man and his Mother lived happily ever
+afterwards.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS.
+
+
+A woman sings to a man whose affection for her is waning:
+
+
+    “As a great mountain, with its cooling streams,
+    Nourishes the little fields far down below,
+    Do you, my lover, with a stream of love,
+    Nourish the heart of her who loves you so.”
+
+
+The man replies to the woman:
+
+
+    “When autumn chills destroy the honeyed flowers,
+    The bees must do without their favourite food;
+    So when my passion cools, and dies my love,
+    You should submit to this my changéd mood.”
+
+
+A man sings to a woman:
+
+
+    “Up every rocky cliff some path exists,
+    If one can find a guide to show the way;
+    So to your heart some avenue must lead,
+    Teach me, forthwith, that path of love, I pray.”
+
+
+The woman replies:
+
+
+    “Were I inclined to grant this fruit [12] to you,
+    The gift were thine at once—to-day, to-morrow.
+    But oh! I fear that lurking at your back,
+    Are demons red [13] to bring me endless sorrow.”
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LOVE SONG.
+
+
+    Could I but win the maiden
+      For whom my heart doth pine,
+    I’d prize her as a jewel
+      From depths of ocean brine.
+
+    I’d guard her fragrant body,
+      Like white turquoise so rare.
+    My wanderings all behind me,
+      I’d know no earthly care.
+
+    As luscious fruit well ripened,
+      Hangs tempting on the tree;
+    So is thy beauty, maiden,
+      Temptation sore to me.
+
+    From longing for thy beauty,
+      How can I sleep at night?
+    By day I seek thee vainly,
+      My heart is tired quite.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NOTES
+
+
+[1] Compare, for example, “Tibetan Tales derived from Indian Sources,”
+translated from the Tibetan of the Kah Gyur into German by F. Anton von
+Schiefner. Done into English from the German by R. W. S. Ralston.
+
+[2] But I am preserving such of these as appear to me to possess any
+scientific interest.
+
+[3] Such a locality is described in the Tibetan language by a single
+word—a monosyllable.
+
+[4] The Kyang is the wild ass of Tibet.
+
+[5] This story is also told of a Sheep and a Goat, instead of a Sheep
+and a Lamb. See accompanying illustration.
+
+[6] Known as “La” in the Tibetan tongue. It is difficult to find an
+equivalent word in the English language, but the Princess describes its
+meaning. See also the story of “Room Bacha and Baki,” where the same
+superstition occurs.
+
+[7] This is in accordance with Tibetan custom, whereby a scarf is
+invariably presented upon all occasions of ceremony.
+
+[8] Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks’ dung instead
+of sticks—see accompanying illustration.
+
+[9] The Monkey’s actual words, I regret to say, cannot be reported
+verbatim.
+
+[10] In Tibetan “chu-ba,” the outer garment, like a dressing-gown, worn
+by all Tibetans.
+
+[11] There is a play on the words of the Tibetan original here which
+explains this point, but which is incapable of adequate translation
+into English.
+
+[12] I.e., her heart. She compares her heart ripe with love to a ripe
+fruit.
+
+[13] Presumably she means the man’s passions. She compares them to the
+terrific demons (red is the angry colour) of Tibetan Lamaist mythology.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***
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-<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***</div>

-<div class="front">

-<div class="div1 cover"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first"></p>

-<div class="figure cover-imagewidth"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="Original Front Cover." width="552" height="720"></div><p>

-</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 frenchtitle"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first center large">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET

-</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 frontispiece"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first"></p>

-<div class="figure frontispiecewidth" id="frontispiece"><img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt="One of the Story-tellers, with his family and Servants." width="720" height="507"><p class="figureHead">One of the Story-tellers, with his family and Servants.</p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 titlepage"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first"></p>

-<div class="figure titlepage-imagewidth"><img src="images/titlepage.png" alt="Original Title Page." width="510" height="720"></div><p>

-</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="titlePage">

-<div class="docTitle">

-<h1 class="mainTitle">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET</h1>

-<h1 class="subTitle">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY A TIBETAN ARTIST AND SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS</h1>

-</div>

-<div class="byline">COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED<br>

-BY<br>

-<span class="docAuthor">CAPT.&nbsp;W.&nbsp;F. O’CONNOR, C.I.E.</span><br>

-<i>Secretary and Interpreter of the Mission to Lhasa (1904)</i></div>

-<div class="docImprint">LONDON<br>

-HURST AND BLACKETT, LTD.<br>

-182, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.

-<br>

-<span class="docDate">1906</span>

-<br>

-<i>All rights reserved</i></div>

-</div>

-<p></p>

-<div class="div1 imprint"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first"></p>

-<div class="figure logowidth"><img src="images/logo.png" alt="Publisher logo with text: THE CHAPEL RIVER PRESS KINGSTON SURREY" width="171" height="245"></div><p>

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb.v">[<a href="#pb.v">v</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 preface"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">PREFACE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">In presenting these little stories to the public, it may perhaps be of interest if

-I describe how I came by them.

-</p>

-<p>During two years spent in Tibet, at Gyantse, Lhasa, and elsewhere, I have made many

-friends amongst all classes of Tibetans—high and low, rich and poor—and have conversed

-with all sorts of persons upon all sorts of topics. In the course of my wanderings

-I learned that there exists amongst this fascinating and little-known people a wealth

-of folk-lore, hitherto inaccessible to the outside world, and I made efforts to collect

-as many of their stories as I could.

-</p>

-<p>For certain special reasons this quest proved more difficult than I had anticipated.

-In the first place, I found that many of the best known stories had been imported

-bodily from India<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e150src" href="#xd33e150" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> or China, and possess but little of that local colouring which is one of the chief

-charms of folk-lore. Secondly, some of the very best and most characteristic stories

-are unfit for publication in such a book as this.<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e156src" href="#xd33e156" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> And, thirdly, human nature being much the same all the world over, it was not always

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb.vi">[<a href="#pb.vi">vi</a>]</span>possible to find a suitable <i>raconteur</i> in a suitable mood for story-telling. A story told by a nervous or reluctant narrator

-loses half its charm. A good story must be natural, and necessitates sympathy on the

-part both of teller and of hearer. Armed diplomatic missions and an official position,

-apart from all questions of difference of language and nationality, do not tend to

-elicit the ideal sentiments necessary for the establishment of complete mutual confidence.

-</p>

-<p>But patience, and the growth of kindly feelings on both sides, helped me to some extent

-to overcome the shyness and reluctance of the simple folk who have supplied me with

-my material; and, as time went on, I was able to coax a story from many unlikely sources.

-Village headmen, monks, servants, local government officials, peasants, traders—these

-and many others have contributed to my store. Shyly and haltingly at starting, with

-many bashful apologies and disclaimers, the story-teller will begin his tale. But

-a Tibetan audience is one of the best imaginable, and their open sympathy and appreciation

-soon melt the frosts of reserve, and the words flow freely. Presently all sense of

-constraint is lost, and I have known a story interrupted for ten minutes at a time

-by the uncontrollable merriment aroused by some comic incident.

-</p>

-<p>Some of the stories, then, I have been obliged, reluctantly enough, to discard altogether

-for the present; others require further revision or elucidation. But the rest of my

-little store I give here, and with this one apology: that I have made no attempt to

-ornament or <span class="pageNum" id="pb.vii">[<a href="#pb.vii">vii</a>]</span>improve upon them. I have written them down just as I heard them, and have translated

-them, as accurately as I could, from the Tibetan idiom into ours. As to their origin

-or scientific bearing I say nothing, and put forward no theories. I leave the Tales

-to speak for themselves; but would invite, and shall cordially welcome, the criticisms

-and surmises of all students of folk-lore who are in a position to give an expert

-opinion upon such points, and to shed a light upon obscure corners into which I have

-been unable to penetrate.

-</p>

-<p>I have added to the stories a few verses taken at random from popular Tibetan love-songs,

-as a sample of the wealth of imagery and genuine poetic sentiment which is to be found

-amongst the inhabitants of this strange country. Owing to the extremely idiomatic

-form and severe compression of Tibetan metrical compositions, the translation of these

-songs into anything even distantly resembling poetry, without altogether destroying

-the characteristics of the original, presents peculiar difficulties; and I must crave

-indulgence for their crudeness and lack of artistic finish.

-</p>

-<p>The pictures are the maiden effort at book illustration of a Tibetan artist, resident

-at Gyantse, and are, I fear, somewhat weak in details, as owing to my absence from

-Gyantse during the time they were in progress I was unable personally to superintend

-their execution. For the excellent photograph which appears as the frontispiece I

-am indebted to my friend and companion at Gyantse, Capt. R. Steen, of the Indian Medical

-Service.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb.viii">[<a href="#pb.viii">viii</a>]</span></p>

-<p>In conclusion, I must express my grateful acknowledgments to Mr. Perceval Landon,

-to whose suggestion the collection and publication of these Tales, as well as their

-illustration by a native artist, is in a great measure due; and I must thank him,

-moreover, for many valuable hints and much kindly sympathy and assistance.

-</p>

-<p class="signed"><span class="sc">W.&nbsp;F. O’Connor</span>, Capt.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb.ix">[<a href="#pb.ix">ix</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e150">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e150src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Compare, for example, “<a class="pglink xd33e40" title="Link to Project Gutenberg ebook" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66870">Tibetan Tales derived from Indian Sources</a>,” translated from the Tibetan of the Kah Gyur into German by F. Anton von Schiefner.

-Done into English from the German by R.&nbsp;W.&nbsp;S. Ralston.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e150src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e156">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e156src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> But I am preserving such of these as appear to me to possess any scientific interest.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e156src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="toc" class="div1 contents"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">CONTENTS.</h2>

-<table class="tocList">

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle">

-</td>

-<td class="tocPageNum xs">PAGE</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">I.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s1" id="xd33e189"><span class="sc">How the Hare got his Lip Split</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">1</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">II.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s2" id="xd33e198"><span class="sc">The Story of the Tiger and the Man</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">6</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">III.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s3" id="xd33e207"><span class="sc">The Story of Good Faith</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">12</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">IV.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s4" id="xd33e216"><span class="sc">The Story of the Two Neighbours</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">20</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">V.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s5" id="xd33e225"><span class="sc">The Story of the Cat and the Mice</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">26</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">VI.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s6" id="xd33e234"><span class="sc">The Story of the Foolish Young Mussulman</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">30</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">VII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s7" id="xd33e243"><span class="sc">The Kyang, the Fox, the Wolf and the Hare</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">43</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">VIII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s8" id="xd33e252"><span class="sc">The Frog and the Crow</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">48</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">IX.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s9" id="xd33e261"><span class="sc">The Hare and the Lions</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">51</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">X.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s10" id="xd33e270"><span class="sc">The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">56</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XI.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s11" id="xd33e280"><span class="sc">The Story of how the Hare made a Fool of the Wolf</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">60</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s12" id="xd33e289"><span class="sc">The Mouse’s Three Children</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">68</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XIII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s13" id="xd33e298"><span class="sc">The Jackals and the Tiger</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">76</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XIV.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s14" id="xd33e307"><span class="sc">The Story of the Three Thieves</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">80</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XV.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s15" id="xd33e316"><span class="sc">The Story of the Boy with the Deformed Head</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">92</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XVI.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s16" id="xd33e325"><span class="sc">The Prince and the Ogre’s Castle</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">103</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XVII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s17" id="xd33e334"><span class="sc">The Story of the Stone Lion</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">116</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XVIII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s18" id="xd33e343"><span class="sc">The Story of the Lama’s Servant</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">124</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XIX.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s19" id="xd33e352"><span class="sc">The Country of the Mice</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">133</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XX.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s20" id="xd33e361"><span class="sc">The Story of the Tortoise and the Monkey</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">141</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XXI.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s21" id="xd33e370"><span class="sc">The Story of Room Bacha and Baki</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">147</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum">XXII.—</td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22" id="xd33e380"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">158</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22-2" id="xd33e387"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> (<i>continued</i>) </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">166</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22-3" id="xd33e396"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> (<i>continued</i>) </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">172</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#verses" id="xd33e405"><span class="sc">Some Verses from Tibetan Love-songs</span></a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">175</td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb.xi">[<a href="#pb.xi">xi</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 last-child contents"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>

-<table class="tocList">

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#frontispiece">One of the Story-tellers, with his Family and Servants</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum"><i>Frontispiece</i></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p002">The Hare and the Tiger</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum"><i>Facing p.</i> 2</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p022">The Wicked Neighbour removing Young Sparrow from Nest</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">22</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p025">“Worthy Father, I am turned into this”</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">25</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p035">The Young Mussulman pursued by his own Shadow</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">35</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p048">The Crow and the Frog in the Gutter</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">48</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p058">The Hare conversing with the Wolf</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">58</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p079">The Tiger and the Monkey approaching the Jackal’s Den</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">79</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p098">The Dragon attacking the Griffon’s Nest</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">98</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p121">The Stone Lion vomiting Gold</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">121</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p137">The Mice Crossing the Stream</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">137</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p145">The Monkey calling into the Tortoise’s Cave</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">145</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tocDivNum"></td>

-<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p147">The Glass Pillars dancing for the Ogre</a> </td>

-<td class="tocPageNum">147</td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb1">[<a href="#pb1">1</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="body">

-<div id="s1" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e189">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="super">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET.</h2>

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. I.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">HOW THE HARE GOT HIS SPLIT LIP.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">A hare was going along a road one day, when suddenly, on turning a corner, he came

-upon a large Tiger. The Tiger at once seized the Hare, and said that he was going

-to eat him.

-</p>

-<p>“Please, please, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, holding up his thumbs in supplication,

-“please don’t eat me, I am only a very small beast, and will make a very insufficient

-meal for a great big animal like you. And if you will spare my life I will take you

-to where you can find a much bigger, fatter creature than me for your supper.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very well,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that. But if you don’t show me a much bigger

-animal than you are, I shall certainly be obliged to eat you.”

-</p>

-<p>So he released the Hare, and the two walked off along the road together.

-</p>

-<p>As they went along night began to fall, and when it was quite dark the Hare began

-smacking his chops and making sounds as if he was eating something very nice.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb2">[<a href="#pb2">2</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“What are you eating, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.

-</p>

-<p>“I am eating my eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare. “I have taken it out and eaten

-it; it is very nice, and it soon grows again.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger was rather surprised at hearing this, but being very hungry he proceeded

-to scrape out his own eye and eat it up. After going a little further the Hare again

-began smacking his lips, as if he was eating something.

-</p>

-<p>“What are you eating now, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.

-</p>

-<p>“I am eating my other eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare; “it is even better than

-the first.”

-</p>

-<p>The foolish Tiger on hearing this proceeded to scrape out his other eye and eat that.

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger was now quite blind, and the Hare led him along to the brink of a deep gulf,

-where he advised the Tiger to sit down and rest for a while. And after the Tiger was

-seated, the Hare said:

-</p>

-<p>“Don’t you find it cold, Uncle Tiger? shall I light you a fire?”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Tiger, “I think a fire would be very pleasant.”

-</p>

-<div class="figure p002width" id="p002"><img src="images/p002.jpg" alt="THE HARE AND THE TIGER." width="720" height="635"><p class="figureHead">THE HARE AND THE TIGER<span class="corr" id="xd33e524" title="Not in source">.</span></p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 2.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>So the Hare lighted a fire just in front of the Tiger, and when it was blazing up

-he kept putting the sticks nearer and nearer the Tiger, so that the Tiger was obliged

-to keep edging further and further away, when all of a sudden he toppled over backwards

-into the gulf behind. Now it happened that half-way down the <span class="pageNum" id="pb3">[<a href="#pb3">3</a>]</span>gulf a tree was growing from a cleft in the precipice, and as he passed this the Tiger

-seized one of the boughs with his teeth, and so arrested his fall. The Hare, peeping

-over the edge, saw what had happened, and he called out:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger, Uncle Tiger, are you safe?”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger was afraid to open his mouth to reply, and all he could do was to growl,

-“M—m—m——”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, “is that all you can say? I am afraid you must be

-very badly hurt. Do just say ‘Ah!’ and I shall know that you are all right.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger, anxious to please the Hare, opened his mouth to say “Ah!” and was instantly

-precipitated to the bottom of the gulf, where he fell upon some rocks and was killed.

-</p>

-<p>Next morning the Hare went hopping down the road when he met a Man driving along a

-lot of Horses.

-</p>

-<p>“Good morning, Father Man,” said he to the driver. “Would you like to know where you

-can find a good Tiger’s skin?”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Man, thinking he would sell the skin and make

-a lot of money.

-</p>

-<p>So the Hare pointed out to him where the dead Tiger lay in the ravine, and the Man

-hastened off to skin it, after first asking the Hare to take care of his Horses while

-he was away.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as he was out of sight the Hare saw two Ravens sitting in a tree overhead.

-He called out to them:

-</p>

-<p>“Brothers Raven, look here! Here are a lot of Horses <span class="pageNum" id="pb4">[<a href="#pb4">4</a>]</span>with no one in charge. Why don’t you come down and feed on the sores on their backs?”

-</p>

-<p>The Ravens thought this was a good idea, and flying down, they perched on the Horses’

-backs, and began to dig their beaks into the sore places. The poor Horses, in fear

-and pain, soon stampeded, and galloped about all over the country.

-</p>

-<p>The Hare then hopped on a little further down the road and came upon a Boy tending

-Sheep.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Boy,” said the Hare, “would you like to know where there is

-a fine Raven’s nest, full of eggs?”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Boy, thinking he would climb the tree and take

-the Raven’s eggs. So the Hare pointed out to him the tree where the Raven’s nest was,

-and the Boy ran off to get the eggs, after first asking the Hare to take charge of

-the Sheep for him while he was away.

-</p>

-<p>The Hare soon espied a Wolf on the hill-side not far off, so he went up to him and

-said:

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf, do you know that there is a fine flock of Sheep quite

-unguarded down there, and I should advise you to take advantage of this opportunity

-of killing some of them.”

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf at once rushed down the hill into the middle of the flock of Sheep, scattering

-them all in every direction, and killing as many as he thought he required for his

-own use.

-</p>

-<p>Meanwhile the Hare proceeded to the top of a high hill whence he could survey the

-whole country. From <span class="pageNum" id="pb5">[<a href="#pb5">5</a>]</span>there he was able to discern the dead Tiger lying in the ravine, with the Man stripping

-off its skin; the Horses careering all over the country, with the Ravens pecking at

-the sores on their backs; the Boy robbing the Raven’s nest; and the Sheep, pursued

-by the Wolf, scattered to the four quarters of the compass.

-</p>

-<p>The sight so amused the Hare that he leaned back on a handy stone, and laughed to

-such an extent that he actually split his upper lip. And it has remained split to

-this very day.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb6">[<a href="#pb6">6</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s2" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e198">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. II.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TIGER AND THE MAN.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two Tigers who lived in a certain forest and had a family

-of three children. The Father Tiger grew old and began to fail, and just before his

-death he sent for his three children and addressed them as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Remember, my children,” said he, “that the Tiger is Lord of the jungle; he roams

-about at his will and makes a prey of the other animals as he wishes, and none can

-gainsay him. But there is one animal against whom you must be on your guard. He alone

-is more powerful and cunning than the Tiger. That animal is Man, and I warn you solemnly

-before I die to beware of Man, and on no account to try to hunt or to kill him.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the old Tiger turned on his side and died.

-</p>

-<p>The three young Tigers listened respectfully to the words of their dying parent and

-promised to obey; and the elder brothers, who were obedient sons, were careful to

-follow his advice. They confined their attentions to the slaughter of deer, pigs,

-and other denizens of the forest, and were careful, whenever they came within sight

-or scent of any human being, to clear off as fast as they could from so dangerous

-a neighbourhood. But the <span class="pageNum" id="pb7">[<a href="#pb7">7</a>]</span>youngest Tiger was of an independent and inquisitive disposition. As he grew older

-and stronger he began to chafe against the restriction that had been imposed upon

-him.

-</p>

-<p>“What, after all,” thought he to himself, “can be this creature Man that I should

-not slay him if I wish. I am told that he is but a defenceless creature, that his

-strength cannot be compared to mine, and that his claws and teeth are quite contemptible.

-I can pull down the largest stag or tackle the fiercest boar with impunity. Why, then,

-should not I be able to kill and eat Man also?”

-</p>

-<p>So after a while, in his conceit and folly, he determined to quit his own part of

-the forest and to venture forth towards the open country in search of a Man as his

-prey. His two brothers and his mother tried to reason with him and to persuade him

-to remember the words of his dying father, but with no avail; and finally, one fine

-morning, in spite of their prayers and entreaties, he set off alone on his search.

-</p>

-<p>He had not proceeded very far when he met an old, worn-out pack-Bullock, thin and

-emaciated, and with the marks of many ancient scars on his back. The young Tiger had

-never seen a Bullock before, and he regarded the creature with some curiosity. Walking

-up to it he said:

-</p>

-<p>“What sort of animal are you, pray? Are you a Man by any chance?”

-</p>

-<p>“No, indeed,” replied the creature; “I am only a poor Bullock.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb8">[<a href="#pb8">8</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Ah!” said the Tiger. “Well, perhaps you can tell me what sort of an animal Man is,

-for I am just going out to find and kill one.”

-</p>

-<p>“Beware of Man, young Tiger,” replied the Bullock; “he is a dangerous and a faithless

-creature. Just look at me for example. From the time when I was very young I was Man’s

-servant. I carried loads for him on my back, as you may see by these scars, and for

-many years I slaved for him faithfully and well. While I was young and strong he cared

-for me and valued me highly; but as soon as I became old and weak, and was no longer

-able to do his work, he turned me out into this wild jungle to seek my food as best

-I might, and gave no thought for me in my old age. I warn you solemnly to leave him

-alone and not to try and kill him. He is very cunning and dangerous.”

-</p>

-<p>But the young Tiger only laughed at the warning and went on his way. Soon afterwards

-he came across an ancient Elephant wandering by itself on the outskirts of the forest,

-and feeding with its trunk on the grasses and foliage which it loves. The old animal

-had a wrinkled skin and a small and bleary eye, and behind its huge ears were many

-cuts and ancient scars, showing where the goad had been so frequently applied.

-</p>

-<p>The young Tiger eyed this strange animal with some surprise, and going up to it he

-said:

-</p>

-<p>“What sort of an animal are you, please? You are not a Man, I suppose?”

-</p>

-<p>“No, indeed,” replied the Elephant; “I am only a poor old worn-out Elephant.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb9">[<a href="#pb9">9</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Is that so?” answered the Tiger. “Perhaps you can tell me, however, what sort of

-a creature Man is, as I am now hunting for one in order to kill and eat him.”

-</p>

-<p>“Beware how you hunt Man, young Tiger,” replied the old Elephant; “he is a faithless

-and dangerous animal. Look at my case. Although I am the Lord of the jungle, Man tamed

-me, and trained me, and made me his servant for many years. He put a saddle on my

-back and made stirrups of my ears, and he used to strike me over my head with an iron

-goad. While I was young and strong he valued me highly. Food was brought to me, as

-much as I could eat every day, and I had a special attendant who used to wash and

-groom me, and to see to all my wants. But when I became old and too infirm for further

-work, he turned me out into the jungle to fend for myself as best I could. If you

-will take my advice you will leave Man alone, or it will be the worse for you in the

-end.”

-</p>

-<p>But the young Tiger laughed contemptuously and went on his way. After proceeding for

-some little distance he heard the sound of some one chopping wood, and creeping near

-he saw that it was a Woodcutter engaged in felling a tree. After watching him for

-some time the Tiger emerged from the jungle, and going up to the Man, he asked what

-sort of an animal he was. The Woodcutter replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Why, what an ignorant Tiger you are; can’t you see that I am a Man?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, are you,” replied the Tiger, “what a piece of <span class="pageNum" id="pb10">[<a href="#pb10">10</a>]</span>luck for me. I was just looking for a Man in order to kill and eat him, and you will

-do nicely.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Woodcutter began to laugh. “Kill and eat <i>me</i>,” he replied; “why, don’t you know that Man is much too clever to be killed and eaten

-by a Tiger? Just come with me a little way and I will show you some things which only

-a Man knows, but which will be very useful for you to learn.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger thought that this was a good idea, so he followed the Man through the jungle

-until they came to the Man’s house, which was strongly built of timber and heavy logs.

-</p>

-<p>“What is that place?” said the Tiger when he saw it.

-</p>

-<p>“That is called a house,” replied the Man. “I will show you how we use it.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying he went inside and shut the door.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he, speaking from the inside to the Tiger, “you see what a foolish creature

-a Tiger is compared to a Man. You poor animals live in a hole in the forest, exposed

-to wind, rain, cold and heat; and all your strength is of no value to make a house

-like this. Whereas I, although I am so much weaker than you, can build myself a fine

-house, where I live at my ease, indifferent to the weather and secure from the attacks

-of wild animals.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the young Tiger flew into a violent passion.

-</p>

-<p>“What right,” said he, “has an ugly, defenceless creature like you to possess such

-a lovely house? Look at me, with my beautiful stripes, and my great teeth <span class="pageNum" id="pb11">[<a href="#pb11">11</a>]</span>and claws, and my long tail. I am far more worthy than you of a house. Come out at

-once, and give your house over to me.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, very well,” said the Man, and he came out of the house leaving the door open,

-and the Tiger stalked in.

-</p>

-<p>“Now, look at me,” called out the conceited young Tiger from inside, “don’t I look

-nice in my fine house?”

-</p>

-<p>“Very nice indeed,” replied the Man, and bolting the door outside he walked off with

-his axe, leaving the Tiger to starve to death.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb12">[<a href="#pb12">12</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s3" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e207">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. III.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF GOOD FAITH.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his way out; but

-the house was too strongly built for him to be able to make any impression upon the

-walls, so he gave it up in despair and soon began to suffer severely from hunger and

-thirst. Two or three days passed away and the Tiger was in a sorry state, when, as

-he was peering through a chink in the logs he saw a little Musk Deer, which had come

-down to drink at the stream which was close by. When the Tiger saw the Deer he called

-out to her:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Sister Deer, will you please come and open the door of this house. I am shut

-up inside, and as I have nothing to eat and drink I am afraid of starving to death.”

-</p>

-<p>The Deer was a good deal frightened when she heard the Tiger’s voice, but when she

-understood how matters were she was reassured, and replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. But I am afraid if I

-open the door and let you out you will kill and eat me.”

-</p>

-<p>“No, no, I won’t,” replied the Tiger, “you can rely <span class="pageNum" id="pb13">[<a href="#pb13">13</a>]</span>upon me. I promise you faithfully that if you will release me I will let you go free.”

-</p>

-<p>Accordingly, the Deer came up to the house and unbolted the door from the outside,

-and the Tiger sprang out joyfully. As soon as he got outside he seized upon the Deer

-and said:

-</p>

-<p>“I am very sorry for you, Sister Deer, but the fact is I am so famished that really

-I have no alternative but to eat you immediately.”

-</p>

-<p>“This is really too bad,” replied the Deer; “after promising faithfully that you would

-not eat me, and after the benefit which I have conferred upon you, you should certainly

-keep faith with me.”

-</p>

-<p>“Faith!” said the Tiger. “What is faith? I don’t believe there is any such thing as

-good faith.”

-</p>

-<p>“Is there not?” answered the Deer. “Well now, let us make a bargain. We will ask the

-first three living things we meet whether or no there is such a thing as good faith.

-If they say there is not, then you are welcome to kill and eat me; but if they say

-there is such a thing, then you shall let me go free.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very good,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that; that is a bargain.”

-</p>

-<p>So the two set off together side by side, and after proceeding a short distance down

-the road they came upon a large Tree growing by the roadside.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Tree,” said the Musk Deer, “we want to refer a question to

-you for your decision.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tree waved its branches in the air and replied in a gentle voice:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb14">[<a href="#pb14">14</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“What is your question, Sister Deer? I am ready to do my best to help you.”

-</p>

-<p>“The case is this,” replied the Musk Deer, “a short while ago I found this Tiger shut

-up in a Woodcutter’s hut in the forest, unable to get out. He called out to me asking

-me to open the door of the hut, promising me, if I did so, that he would let me go

-free. So I opened the door and let him out. No sooner was he released than he seized

-upon me and threatened to kill and eat me; and when I reproached him of breaking his

-faith, he said he did not believe that there was such a thing as good faith in the

-world. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met

-whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world. If they say there

-is not, then the Tiger is to kill and eat me; but if they say that there is such a

-thing, then I am to go free. Will you please give us an opinion as to whether such

-a thing as good faith exists or not.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this story the great Tree moved its branches slowly in the breeze and replied

-as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“I am much interested in your story, Sister Deer, and would gladly help you if I could;

-but I am bound to answer you honestly in accordance with my own experience of life.

-Now consider my own case. I grow here by the roadside and spread my branches over

-the dusty highway ready to give shelter to man and beast in their shade. Travellers

-passing constantly up and down the road avail themselves of this cool retreat, and

-they come themselves and they bring their poor beasts of burden to rest in my shadow.

-And then <span class="pageNum" id="pb15">[<a href="#pb15">15</a>]</span>what happens? Are they grateful to me for the comfort which I afford them? Does my

-example inspire them with any consideration for others? Far from it. When they have

-rested and refreshed themselves enough, they proceed on their way, and not only do

-they not thank me for my hospitality, but they break off my tender branches and use

-them as whips, further to goad and distress their weary animals. Can such conduct

-as that be called good faith? No, I am bound to say that my experience of life leads

-me to believe that there is no such thing as good faith in this world.”

-</p>

-<p>The poor Musk Deer was much cast down on hearing these words, and she and the Tiger

-moved on together till, a little farther along the road, they caught sight of a Cow

-Buffalo and her Calf grazing quietly in a field of succulent grass. They noticed that

-the old Cow contented herself with the driest and smallest patches of grass, whilst

-showing her Calf where to find the richest and most luxuriant pasture, and that she

-willingly deprived herself of any comfort in order to afford pleasure to the youngster.

-The Tiger and the Deer approached the old Cow, and the Deer, addressing her, said:

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Aunt Buffalo! This Tiger and I have a small matter which we wish to

-refer to you for an opinion.”

-</p>

-<p>The Buffalo gazed at them with her big eyes, and after ruminating for a while she

-replied slowly:

-</p>

-<p>“Say on, Sister Deer, I am ready to give you my opinion for what it is worth.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb16">[<a href="#pb16">16</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Deer, “this Tiger was shut up in a hut in the forest, and being unable

-to open the door, he was in danger of starving to death. I happened to pass by, and

-he called to me, asking me to let him out, promising that if I did so he would spare

-my life. So I opened the door and released him. But no sooner was he free than he

-seized upon me and said that he would kill and eat me; and when I reproached him with

-his bad faith, he replied that he did not believe that such a thing as good faith

-existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met

-whether or no they believed that there is such a thing as good faith. If they say

-there is not, then the Tiger is to eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing,

-I am to go free. Now, will you please give us your opinion on the matter.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this statement the old Buffalo continued to chew the cud for some minutes,

-and then replied gravely:

-</p>

-<p>“I would gladly help you in the matter, Sister Deer, if I could; but I must regard

-it from the point of view of my own experience in life. I am considering the case

-of myself and my Calf. While the Calf is young and tender, I do all in my power to

-nourish and care for it. I first give it my milk, and later on, as you see, I encourage

-it to browse upon the best of the herbage, whilst I gladly stint myself in order that

-it may have plenty of the best of everything. But what happens later on, when the

-Calf grows strong and lusty? Does it remember its old mother with gratitude, <span class="pageNum" id="pb17">[<a href="#pb17">17</a>]</span>and fend for her in her old age? Far from it. As soon as it is big enough it will

-push me away from the places where I am grazing and take the best for itself, and

-will drive me away altogether from the pastures if it can. Can that be called keeping

-faith with its mother? No; my experience makes me believe that there is no such thing

-as good faith in this world.”

-</p>

-<p>When the Musk Deer heard this she was much downhearted, and fully expected to be killed

-and eaten without further delay; but she begged the Tiger to give her one more chance,

-saying that she was fully prepared to abide by the opinion of the third person whom

-they met.

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger consented to this, and after going on a little farther together they met

-a Hare, hopping quietly down the road towards them.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” called out the Musk Deer; “could you spare us a few

-moments to give us an opinion upon a point of difference which has arisen between

-this Tiger and myself?”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly,” replied the Hare, stopping short in the roadway. “I shall be delighted

-to do the best I can for you.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” replied the Musk Deer, “the facts are as follows: I was drinking just now

-at a stream in the forest when I noticed this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut.

-The door was bolted outside, and he was unable to come out, and was in danger of starving

-to death, so he called out to me, asking me to release him, promising me, if I did

-so, that he would spare my <span class="pageNum" id="pb18">[<a href="#pb18">18</a>]</span>life. I accordingly opened the door; but no sooner did the Tiger come out, than he

-seized upon me, saying that he was so hungry that he had really no alternative but

-to devour me on the spot. And when I reproached him for his bad faith, he replied

-that he did not know what good faith was, and, in fact, did not believe that such

-a thing existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living creatures

-we met whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world. If they say

-there is, then I am to go free; but if they say there is not, then the Tiger is at

-liberty to kill and eat me. We have already consulted two persons in the matter, and

-they are both of opinion that there is no such thing as good faith. You are the third

-and last, and on your decision depends my life.”

-</p>

-<p>“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “this is a very strange story, and before giving an opinion

-on so momentous a matter it is necessary that I should understand exactly how it all

-happened. Let me see. You say that you were shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”

-</p>

-<p>“No, no,” broke in the Tiger; “it was I who was shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! I see,” said the Hare; “then the Musk Deer must have shut you in?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! no,” interrupted the Musk Deer. “You don’t seem to understand at all; that was

-not how it happened.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Hare, “it is such a complicated story that it is difficult to follow

-it exactly. So before giving a decision I propose that we all adjourn to the <span class="pageNum" id="pb19">[<a href="#pb19">19</a>]</span>scene of action, and there you can explain to me precisely what occurred.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger and the Musk Deer agreed to this, and the three set off together until they

-arrived at the Woodcutter’s hut in the forest.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said the Hare, “will you please explain to me exactly what happened. Where,

-for instance, were you, Sister Deer, at the time the Tiger spoke to you?”

-</p>

-<p>“I was down here drinking at the stream, so,” replied the Deer, going off to the place

-in question.

-</p>

-<p>“And where were you, Uncle Tiger?” said the Hare.

-</p>

-<p>“Well, I was inside the hut, thus,” replied the Tiger, going inside the house.

-</p>

-<p>“And the door, I presume, must have been shut, so?” said the Hare. And so saying he

-shut the door and bolted it; and he and the Deer went on their way safely, leaving

-the Tiger shut up inside, where he shortly after starved to death.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb20">[<a href="#pb20">20</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s4" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e216">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. IV.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TWO NEIGHBOURS.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two Neighbours living in two houses, side by side, in

-the same village. One of these was rich, and the other one poor. The rich man, whose

-name was Tse-ring, was proud, arrogant, and stingy; whilst the poor man, whose name

-was Cham-ba, was a kind-hearted man, who was generous to all as far as his means allowed.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened that a pair of Sparrows came and built their nest in the eaves over

-the doorway of the poor man’s house, where, in the course of time, the young birds

-were hatched out. One day, before the young birds had learnt to fly, the two old Sparrows

-were away hunting for food, and one of the young ones fell out of its nest on to the

-poor man’s door-step, and broke its leg. Shortly after the poor man coming into his

-house saw the young Sparrow lying helpless on his door-step, so he picked it up to

-see what was wrong, and found that its leg was broken. So he carried it into the house,

-and very carefully bound up its leg with a piece of thread; and then took it up to

-the roof, and put it back in the nest.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb21">[<a href="#pb21">21</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Now this Sparrow, although the poor man did not know it, was really a fairy in disguise,

-and later on, when it had grown up, it flew out one day and returned with its beak

-full of grain. The poor man was sitting in his house when the little Sparrow flew

-in and perched on the table in front of him. It dropped the grain on the table, and

-after giving one or two chirps it said to the man:

-</p>

-<p>“This grain is in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your garden and see

-what comes up,” and so saying it flew away.

-</p>

-<p>The poor man was very much surprised at hearing the Sparrow speak, and he thought

-to himself:

-</p>

-<p>“Well, this is not a very valuable present, but still it shows how grateful even a

-little bird can be for a kindness done to him; and any way I will plant the grain

-in my garden as it directed.”

-</p>

-<p>So he planted the grain just in front of his house, and soon forgot all about the

-incident.

-</p>

-<p>A month or two later the grain grew, and soon attained its full height; and one day

-the poor man, going to look at it, was astonished to find that, instead of grain,

-each ear of corn contained a valuable jewel. He was very much delighted at this discovery,

-and having collected all the jewels, he carried them away to a neighbouring town,

-where he was able to sell them for a large sum of money, and thus found himself in

-a condition of great comfort and prosperity.

-</p>

-<p>Soon after this the rich Neighbour, having observed the change which had taken place

-in the poor <span class="pageNum" id="pb22">[<a href="#pb22">22</a>]</span>man’s circumstances, came over one day in order to try and find out how Cham-ba had

-become so rich and prosperous. He carried over with him a jug of beer, and, on the

-pretence of conviviality, he offered his Neighbour a drink, and during the course

-of the conversation which followed he asked Cham-ba to tell him the secret of his

-new wealth. Cham-ba, who was of a very unsuspicious nature, related to him the whole

-story of the Sparrow, the grain, and the jewels, and having learnt the secret the

-rich man returned to his own house, pondering deeply how he could turn this story

-to his own advantage.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p022width" id="p022"><img src="images/p022.jpg" alt="THE WICKED NEIGHBOUR REMOVING YOUNG SPARROW FROM NEST." width="720" height="477"><p class="figureHead">THE WICKED NEIGHBOUR REMOVING YOUNG SPARROW FROM NEST.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 22.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened that a Sparrow had hatched out her young in a nest just over his house

-door also. So next day he went up on to the roof, and leaning out over the parapet

-he picked out a young Sparrow from the nest with a pair of chop-sticks, and dropped

-it on to the ground below, where the poor little bird broke its leg. He then went

-down, picked up the young Sparrow, bound up its leg with a piece of thread, and put

-it back into its nest, saying as he did so that he hoped it would remember his kindness.

-</p>

-<p>Sure enough, when the Sparrow grew up it flew into his house one day, and perched

-on the table before him. It dropped some grain from its beak, and after a few preliminary

-chirps it said:

-</p>

-<p>“This grain is a present in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your garden

-and see what grows up.”

-</p>

-<p>The rich man was greatly delighted on hearing this, <span class="pageNum" id="pb23">[<a href="#pb23">23</a>]</span>and thought to himself that he would soon be the possessor of beautiful jewels like

-his Neighbour. He prepared a bed very carefully in his garden, and planted the grain

-in the richest part of the soil. Every day he used to go and watch the spot, carefully

-examining the young shoots to see how they were getting on.

-</p>

-<p>The seeds sprouted and grew very fast, and one morning, when he went out as usual

-to see how his crop was doing, to his astonishment he found that instead of a few

-stalks of barley, as he had expected, a great fierce-looking man, with a bundle of

-papers under his arm, was standing in the middle of the bed. The rich man was very

-frightened at seeing this truculent-looking stranger, and asked who he was.

-</p>

-<p>“I was a creditor of yours in one of your former existences,” replied the Apparition.

-“You were then heavily in my debt, and I have come back here with all the necessary

-documents to claim what you owed me.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the Stranger seized upon the rich man’s house, his cattle, his sheep, his

-lands, and all his possessions, and reduced the rich man to the position of a slave

-in his household.

-</p>

-<p>Some months after, Cham-ba, now rich and prosperous, started off on a journey, and

-before going he asked Tse-ring to take charge of a bag of gold-dust for him, and to

-keep it until he returned. Tse-ring undertook the charge of the gold, but in his new

-state of poverty and dependence he was unable to resist the temptation of spending

-some of it, and at last he found that the <span class="pageNum" id="pb24">[<a href="#pb24">24</a>]</span>whole of the gold left in his charge was exhausted. Not knowing what to do he filled

-the bag with sand, and awaited his Neighbour’s return with some trepidation.

-</p>

-<p>A few days after Cham-ba came back from his journey, and called upon his Neighbour,

-and asked for his bag of gold. Tse-ring produced the bag and handed it over to Cham-ba

-without saying anything, and when Cham-ba opened it to see whether the gold was all

-right he found that it contained sand instead of gold.

-</p>

-<p>“How is this?” said he. “I entrusted to you a bag of gold-dust, and you have given

-me back only sand.”

-</p>

-<p>The dishonest Neighbour had no reply to make. He pretended to look very surprised,

-and all he could say was:

-</p>

-<p>“My friend, it has turned into this! My friend, it has turned into this!”

-</p>

-<p>Cham-ba said nothing more, but carried off the bag to his own house.

-</p>

-<p>Soon afterwards Cham-ba announced his intention of starting a school for little boys,

-where they would be taught free, and Tse-ring, thinking that a free education for

-his Son was not to be neglected, sent over his young Son to attend the school. A few

-days later he found it necessary to make a short journey to a neighbouring town, and

-before starting he entrusted his little Son to his neighbour, Cham-ba, and asked him

-to look after the boy until his return.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as he was gone Cham-ba procured a tame Monkey and taught it to say the following

-words.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb25">[<a href="#pb25">25</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into this!”

-</p>

-<p>When Tse-ring returned from his journey he walked over to the school-house one day

-to see how his Son was getting on, and he found Cham-ba seated there teaching the

-boys their lessons. Tse-ring looked round to see his Son, but could not detect him

-anywhere, but to his surprise he noticed a Monkey seated on one of the benches.

-</p>

-<p>“Where is my son?” asked Tse-ring, “and how is he getting on?”

-</p>

-<p>Cham-ba said nothing, but picked up the Monkey and carried it to him.

-</p>

-<p>“What do you mean by this?” said Tse-ring. “This is not my Son. Where is the boy whom

-I entrusted to your care?”

-</p>

-<p>Whereupon the Monkey spoke up and said:

-</p>

-<p>“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into this!”

-</p>

-<p>The father flew into a violent rage and stormed at his neighbour, Cham-ba, for some

-time, but without producing any impression. Finally, on thinking the matter over,

-he decided it was better to pay up the gold he had stolen, on condition of having

-his proper Son restored to him.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p025width" id="p025"><img src="images/p025.jpg" alt="“WORTHY FATHER, I AM TURNED INTO THIS.”" width="720" height="634"><p class="figureHead">“WORTHY FATHER, I AM TURNED INTO THIS.”</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 25.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb26">[<a href="#pb26">26</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s5" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e225">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. V.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE MICE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a Cat who lived in a large farm-house in which there was

-a great number of Mice. For many years the Cat found no difficulty in catching as

-many Mice as she wanted to eat, and she lived a very peaceful and pleasant life. But

-as time passed on she found that she was growing old and infirm, and that it was becoming

-more and more difficult for her to catch the same number of Mice as before; so after

-thinking very carefully what was the best thing to do, she one day called all the

-Mice together, and after promising not to touch them, she addressed them as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Mice,” said she, “I have called you together in order to say something to you.

-The fact is that I have led a very wicked life, and now, in my old age, I repent of

-having caused you all so much inconvenience and annoyance. So I am going for the future

-to turn over a new leaf. It is my intention now to give myself up entirely to religious

-contemplation and no longer to molest you, so henceforth you are at liberty to run

-about as freely as you will without fear of me. All I ask of you is that twice every

-day you should all file past me in procession and each one make an <span class="pageNum" id="pb27">[<a href="#pb27">27</a>]</span>obeisance as you pass me by, as a token of your gratitude to me for my kindness.”

-</p>

-<p>When the Mice heard this they were greatly pleased, for they thought that now, at

-last, they would be free from all danger from their former enemy, the Cat. So they

-very thankfully promised to fulfil the Cat’s conditions, and agreed that they would

-file past her and make a salaam twice every day.

-</p>

-<p>So when evening came the Cat took her seat on a cushion at one end of the room, and

-the Mice all went by in single file, each one making a profound salaam as it passed.

-</p>

-<p>Now the cunning old Cat had arranged this little plan very carefully with an object

-of her own; for, as soon as the procession had all passed by with the exception of

-one little Mouse, she suddenly seized the last Mouse in her claws without anybody

-else noticing what had happened, and devoured it at her leisure. And so twice every

-day, she seized the last Mouse of the series, and for a long time lived very comfortably

-without any trouble at all in catching her Mice, and without any of the Mice realising

-what was happening.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened that amongst these Mice there were two friends, whose names were Rambé

-and Ambé, who were very much attached to one another. Now these two were much cleverer

-and more cunning than most of the others, and after a few days they noticed that the

-number of Mice in the house seemed to be decreasing very much, in spite of the fact

-that the Cat had promised not to kill any more. So they laid their heads together

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb28">[<a href="#pb28">28</a>]</span>and arranged a little plan for future processions. They agreed that Rambé was always

-to walk at the very front of the procession of the Mice, and that Ambé was to bring

-up the rear, and that all the time the procession was passing, Rambé was to call to

-Ambé, and Ambé to answer Rambé at frequent intervals. So next evening, when the procession

-started as usual, Rambé marched along in front, and Ambé took up his position last

-of all. As soon as Rambé had passed the cushion where the Cat was seated and had made

-his salaam, he called out in a shrill voice.

-</p>

-<p>“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”

-</p>

-<p>“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” squeaked the other from the rear of the procession. And

-so they went on calling and answering one another until they had all filed past the

-Cat, who had not dared to touch Ambé as long as his brother kept calling to him.

-</p>

-<p>The Cat was naturally very much annoyed at having to go hungry that evening, and felt

-very cross all night. But she thought it was only an accident which had brought the

-two friends, one in front and one in rear of the procession, and she hoped to make

-up for her enforced abstinence by finding a particularly fat Mouse at the end of the

-procession next morning. What, then, was her amazement and disgust when she found

-that on the following morning the very same arrangement had been made, and that Rambé

-called to Ambé, and Ambé answered Rambé until all the Mice had passed her by, and

-so, for the second time, she was foiled of her meal. However, she disguised her feelings

-of anger <span class="pageNum" id="pb29">[<a href="#pb29">29</a>]</span>and decided to give the Mice one more trial; so in the evening she took her seat as

-usual on the cushion and waited for the Mice to appear.

-</p>

-<p>Meanwhile, Rambé and Ambé had warned the other Mice to be on the lookout, and to be

-ready to take flight the moment the Cat showed any appearance of anger. At the appointed

-time the procession started as usual, and as soon as Rambé had passed the Cat he squeaked

-out:

-</p>

-<p>“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”

-</p>

-<p>“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” came the shrill voice from the rear.

-</p>

-<p>This was more than the Cat could stand. She made a fierce leap right into the middle

-of the Mice, who, however, were thoroughly prepared for her, and in an instant they

-scuttled off in every direction to their holes. And before the Cat had time to catch

-a single one the room was empty and not a sign of a Mouse was to be seen anywhere.

-</p>

-<p>After this the Mice were very careful not to put any further trust in the treacherous

-Cat, who soon after died of starvation owing to her being unable to procure any of

-her customary food; whilst Rambé and Ambé lived for many years, and were held in high

-honour and esteem by all the other Mice in the community.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb30">[<a href="#pb30">30</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s6" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e234">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. VI.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE FOOLISH YOUNG MUSSULMAN.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">There was once a young Mussulman, who lived with his poor mother in a small cottage

-on the outskirts of a large town. As the Boy grew up, it was found that he was rather

-weak-minded, and that he was continually getting himself into scrapes, owing to his

-own folly and carelessness; and the naughty boys of the neighbourhood used to take

-advantage of the poor young fellow, and were constantly teasing him and telling him

-all sorts of absurd stories.

-</p>

-<p>It chanced one day that he went for a walk in a large meadow, where there were a number

-of yellow flowers, and presently sitting down to rest, he began to gather a nosegay,

-when a young man passing by called out to him:

-</p>

-<p>“Hullo! what are you doing there? Do you know that the soles of your feet are all

-yellow, and that is a sure sign that you are going to die at once?”

-</p>

-<p>The poor young fellow was greatly frightened at hearing this, and he thought to himself:

-</p>

-<p>“Well, if I am going to die, I had better have a grave ready.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb31">[<a href="#pb31">31</a>]</span></p>

-<p>So he set to work, and soon scraped out for himself a shallow grave in the soft soil.

-As soon as it was ready, he lay down in it and resigned himself to death.

-</p>

-<p>A few minutes later one of the King’s Servants, who happened to be passing by carrying

-an earthen jar full of oil for the King’s palace, noticed the Boy lying on his back

-in the shallow grave, so he stopped and asked him what he was doing. The Boy replied:

-</p>

-<p>“The soles of my feet are turning yellow, and that, as you know, is a sure sign that

-I am going to die; so I have prepared myself a grave, and am just waiting here till

-death comes.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, nonsense!” replied the Servant; “you could not talk like that if you were really

-dying. Come, get up, and help me to carry this jar of oil for the King, and I will

-give you a hen for yourself.”

-</p>

-<p>So the foolish Boy got up out of his grave, and taking the jar of oil on his back,

-he walked along the road with the King’s Servant towards the palace. As they went

-along, he kept thinking to himself what he should do with his hen when he got it.

-</p>

-<p>“As soon as I have got some eggs,” thought he to himself, “I shall set the hen to

-hatch them. And then I shall have a nice lot of chickens. And when the chickens grow

-up into cocks and hens I shall sell them in the market. And with the money I get I

-shall buy a cow. And presently the cow will have a calf. And when the calf grows big

-I shall sell both the cow and the calf. And with the money I get I shall buy a nice

-little house. And when I have settled down in my house I <span class="pageNum" id="pb32">[<a href="#pb32">32</a>]</span>shall marry a wife. And after a time we shall have a child. And as the child grows

-big I shall have to take its education in hand. And I shall be very firm and judicious

-with it. And if it is a good child and does what I tell it, I shall be very kind to

-it. And if it is naughty and does not do what it is told, I shall be very stern and

-stamp my foot, so!”

-</p>

-<p>And thus thinking he stamped his foot so violently that the jar of oil slipped off

-his back and was smashed to pieces on the ground. When he saw this, the King’s Servant

-became very angry, and asked him what on earth he meant by stamping his foot like

-that, and breaking a valuable jar of oil, which was intended for the King. The Boy

-tried to explain how it occurred, but the Servant would not listen, and dragged him

-off by force into the King’s presence.

-</p>

-<p>When the King saw them coming in together, he asked his Servant what he wanted, and

-why he was bringing in a strange Boy with him. The Servant replied that he had entrusted

-the Boy with a jar of oil intended for the King, and as they were walking along the

-road quite quietly together, the Boy all of a sudden began to stamp his feet like

-a maniac, and the jar of oil slipped off his back and got broken. The King asked the

-Boy what he meant by his conduct, and the Boy replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Well, Your Majesty, your Servant said that if I would carry this jar of oil, he would

-give me a hen, and it seemed to me quite natural to consider within myself what I

-should do with my hen when I got it. So I soon saw that by selling the chickens I

-could buy a cow, and <span class="pageNum" id="pb33">[<a href="#pb33">33</a>]</span>that later on by selling the cow and her calf, I could get a wife and set up a house

-of my own, and that presently we should have a child; and I was thinking to myself

-how I should keep my child in order, and if it was naughty I should be obliged to

-stamp my foot very firmly, in order to show it that I was not to be trifled with.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this ridiculous story the King was much amused, and laughed very heartily;

-and he gave the foolish Boy a piece of gold, and told him to go home to his Mother.

-</p>

-<p>So the Boy went off towards his own home, and as he got near to the house he saw a

-strange dog sneaking out of the door, carrying in his mouth a purse full of money,

-which he had just picked up inside. On seeing this the Boy became very much excited,

-and began calling aloud to his Mother that a dog was making off with her purse. The

-Mother, when she found what was up, was afraid that he would attract the attention

-of the neighbours to the loss of the purse, and that in the excitement some one else

-would chase the dog and get the money; so hastily running up on to the flat roof of

-the house she sprinkled some sugar over the roof, and then called to the Boy to come

-up as quickly as he could.

-</p>

-<p>“Look!” she said, as soon as he arrived; “what a curious thing! It has been raining

-sugar all over the roof of the house.”

-</p>

-<p>Her son, who was very fond of sugar, at once set to work to pick up all that he saw;

-and while he was so <span class="pageNum" id="pb34">[<a href="#pb34">34</a>]</span>engaged, the good woman slipped away and soon found the dog and recovered her purse.

-</p>

-<p>Some time afterwards the Boy’s Mother arranged with a rich family, who lived some

-miles away, and who were not acquainted with her son’s failings, that the Boy should

-marry the daughter of the house; and that, in accordance with Tibetan custom, he should

-become a member of the Bride’s family. When all the preliminaries had been satisfactorily

-arranged, a party of horsemen arrived from the Bride’s house to greet the Bridegroom

-and to bring him home. The Boy dressed himself up in his best clothes, and, after

-feasting the wedding party in the usual manner, he begged them all to go on ahead

-of him, saying that he would follow as soon as he had said good-bye to his Mother.

-</p>

-<p>Towards evening he set out by himself on horseback. It was a moonlight night, and

-as he rode down the road he could see his own shadow travelling along beside him.

-He could not make out what the shadow was, but thought it must be some ghost or demon,

-which wanted to do him an injury, so he urged his horse into a gallop, in order to

-try and get away from it. But the faster he galloped the faster went the shadow, and

-he soon saw that it was no good trying to escape. So in order to frighten the strange

-object he took off his puggaree and flung it at it. As this produced no effect, he

-followed up the puggaree with his cloak, and, finally, with all the clothes he had

-on, but without in any way frightening the shadow, which still continued to follow

-him closely. So thinking to give it the slip, he jumped <span class="pageNum" id="pb35">[<a href="#pb35">35</a>]</span>off his horse and ran along the road on foot, until he got into the shade of a big

-poplar-tree growing near the road-side.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p035width" id="p035"><img src="images/p035.jpg" alt="THE YOUNG MUSSULMAN PURSUED BY HIS OWN SHADOW." width="720" height="473"><p class="figureHead">THE YOUNG MUSSULMAN PURSUED BY HIS OWN SHADOW.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 35.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>Here he stopped to take breath, and he noticed to his great joy that the shadow had

-disappeared; but on peeping out from the shadow of the tree he was annoyed to find

-that on whichever side he looked the shadow immediately showed itself also. So thinking

-that the shade of the tree was the safest place to stay in, he climbed into the upper

-branches and very soon fell fast asleep.

-</p>

-<p>A short while after a party of travellers happened to be passing by this road from

-the same direction, and as they came along they were surprised to find a number of

-garments scattered about the roadway. So they picked them up as they came along, and

-presently they found a horse grazing beside the road. Him, too, they brought along

-with them, and when they arrived in the shade of the poplar-tree, they all stopped

-and sat down on the ground to divide the spoil amongst them.

-</p>

-<p>Just then the Boy woke up, and looking down he saw what was going on below, so he

-called out in a loud voice:

-</p>

-<p>“I say, I want my share too, you know.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this voice emerging from the upper branches of the tree, the travellers

-were greatly alarmed. They thought it must certainly be a demon, who lived in the

-tree, and who wanted his share of the spoils, so they took to their heels and made

-off as fast as they could, leaving the horse and all the clothes behind <span class="pageNum" id="pb36">[<a href="#pb36">36</a>]</span>them. The Boy then climbed down from the tree, put on his own clothes, and, mounting

-his horse, rode off to his Bride’s house.

-</p>

-<p>When he arrived at the house the parents of his Bride hurried out to greet him, and

-after asking him why he was so late, they led him to the room where the wedding feast

-was laid out. All the friends and neighbours from round about were gathered there

-ready to share in the feast, and to offer their congratulations to the Bride and Bridegroom.

-</p>

-<p>During the progress of the feast the young Mussulman, who was of a very kindly disposition,

-and very fond of his Mother, kept thinking to himself how he could save something

-nice for her to eat from amongst so much plenty. So he picked from the table a narrow-mouthed

-copper vessel and concealed it in his lap, and whilst eating his food he every now

-and then dropped into it some particularly succulent dainty, which he thought his

-Mother would enjoy. Presently, however, he inadvertently thrust his hand right into

-the vessel, and to his horror he found that he was unable to withdraw it again. In

-this awkward predicament he was unable to eat anything, and the Bride’s parents noticing

-that he no longer partook of any food, kept pressing him to have a little more. The

-young Man was still hungry, but was obliged to refuse all their offers, saying that

-he had already eaten enough.

-</p>

-<p>Towards evening, when the feast was completed, the guests withdrew, and the Boy was

-left alone with his Bride; and she began asking him what the matter was, <span class="pageNum" id="pb37">[<a href="#pb37">37</a>]</span>and why he had been behaving so strangely during the banquet.

-</p>

-<p>He was at first too shy to tell her what had happened, but after much coaxing she

-elicited from him the fact that his right hand was confined in the neck of the copper

-vessel.

-</p>

-<p>“Never mind,” said she; “there is a large white stone lying at the foot of the staircase.

-You had better slip down stairs in the dark, and by beating the vessel against the

-stone you will soon succeed in freeing yourself.”

-</p>

-<p>The young fellow thought this was a good idea, and he went off quietly down the staircase,

-until he detected what he thought was a white stone lying near the foot of the steps.

-So, creeping up to it, he raised his arm and brought down the copper vessel with great

-force upon the white object, shattering the vessel and leaving his hand free. But

-to his horror the stone, instead of being hard, gave way, and a muffled groan issued

-from it; and on examining the spot, he found that instead of striking a stone, he

-had delivered a violent blow upon the grey head of his Bride’s father, who, overcome

-by his potations during the wedding feast, had fallen asleep at the foot of the stairs.

-</p>

-<p>The young Man was terrified at what he had done, and feeling sure that he must have

-killed the old man, he decided to flee from the house; so he opened the door and ran

-off into the night. After running for some distance he reached a neighbouring farm,

-where, as it happened, a large honeycomb had been left lying in the corner of the

-courtyard. The Boy, not knowing <span class="pageNum" id="pb38">[<a href="#pb38">38</a>]</span>what it was, lay down upon this and fell fast asleep, and soon smeared himself all

-over with honey. Later in the night he woke up feeling very cold, and creeping into

-a shed close by, which was used as a storage for wool, he lay down upon the wool and

-slept until morning.

-</p>

-<p>He woke with the first gleam of dawn, and in the early morning light he saw that he

-was all white and woolly, and in his simplicity he believed that, as a punishment

-for his wickedness in killing his father-in-law, he had been turned into a sheep.

-So under this impression, he ran out of the courtyard and joined a flock of sheep,

-which were grazing on a neighbouring hillside. He wandered about with the sheep all

-day, feeling very miserable, and trying to accommodate himself to the manners and

-customs of his new companions, and when evening came he accompanied them into the

-fold where they always spent the night.

-</p>

-<p>About midnight some robbers came to the fold, and getting in amongst the sheep felt

-about for a good fat heavy one; and finally finding that the Boy was the heaviest

-of them all, they proceeded to carry him off. One of them hoisted him up on to his

-back, and they carried him along for some distance until they reached the banks of

-a small stream. Here they halted, and, laying him down upon the ground, they began

-to make preparations for cutting his throat. This trial proved rather too much for

-the nerves of the young Man, and forgetting his <i>rôle</i> of sheep, he called out in a shrill voice:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb39">[<a href="#pb39">39</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Please don’t kill me, kind robbers.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the robbers were very much frightened, and ran off as fast as they

-could; and the Boy, thankful to have escaped from this danger, and being thoroughly

-worn out by the exertions and exposure of the last twenty-four hours, returned to

-his Bride’s house. There he found that the old man, though sorely hurt, was not dead,

-and having explained all the circumstances of the case, he was freely forgiven, and

-taken back into the household.

-</p>

-<p>After living for some years very happily with his Bride, he thought that he would

-like to make a little money for himself by trading, so having procured a good stock

-of merchandise he set off for India, in the hope of making a good profit on his goods.

-On the way he halted one evening at a large house. The Landlord received him very

-hospitably, and made him quite comfortable, and during the conversation which followed

-their evening meal the Master of the house began telling some very tall stories. Some

-of these stories being rather too wonderful for belief, the young Man bluntly said

-that he could not believe them. Thereupon the Landlord replied:

-</p>

-<p>“I can prove to you that I am telling the truth by showing you a stranger thing than

-anything which I have hitherto related. I will bet you that when night falls a lantern

-will be carried into this room by a cat instead of by a servant.”

-</p>

-<p>The young Man was amused at his Host’s boasting, and he said:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb40">[<a href="#pb40">40</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Very well, I am prepared to bet you anything you like that this will not happen.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very good,” said the Landlord. “If this does not happen, I will hand you over my

-house, my merchandise, and everything I possess; but if it does, you will forfeit

-all your baggage, animals and merchandise to me.” And so the bet was arranged.

-</p>

-<p>Now this was a regular trick of the Landlord’s, who had a tame cat which had been

-taught to carry in a lantern in her mouth every evening just at dusk, and he was accustomed

-to practise this deceit upon unwary travellers, and by this means to secure their

-goods and whatever property they possessed.

-</p>

-<p>Sure enough, just at dusk a large white cat entered the sitting-room, holding a lighted

-lantern in its mouth, and the unfortunate young Man was obliged to hand over to his

-Host everything he possessed in the world; and finding himself without money or goods

-he decided to stay on in the house as a servant.

-</p>

-<p>After the lapse of one or two months his Wife grew anxious about him, and knowing

-that from the infirmity of his mind he was likely to get himself into some scrape

-or another, she decided to set out herself to see what had become of him. So she disguised

-herself as a man, and taking with her a few ponies laden with wool, she started off

-to follow in the tracks of her Husband.

-</p>

-<p>After several days she arrived at the house where her Husband was now employed as

-a servant, and, meeting him in the courtyard, she learnt from him all that had happened.

-So she bade him hold his tongue, and she <span class="pageNum" id="pb41">[<a href="#pb41">41</a>]</span>herself entered the inn, and asked for a night’s lodging. During the evening the Host

-got talking, and in the course of the conversation he made her the same wager as he

-had done to her Husband some time before.

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said she, “that sounds a very strange story. I can scarcely believe it possible

-you can have a cat so well trained as to be able to carry in a lantern. But I will

-think over what you say to-night, and we will see about making the bet to-morrow morning.”

-</p>

-<p>Next morning at breakfast she said to her Host:

-</p>

-<p>“I have thought over what you said to me yesterday, and I am now prepared to make

-a bet with you that the cat will <i>not</i> carry a lantern into this room at dusk this evening.”

-</p>

-<p>So the bet was concluded upon the same terms as before, and the Lady privately told

-her Husband what he was to do. So in accordance with the instructions she had given

-him, he caught three mice, and concealed them in a little box, which he placed in

-the bosom of his robe. When evening approached, the Landlord and the Lady seated themselves

-in the supper room, waiting to see whether or no the cat would appear as expected,

-whilst the Husband hid himself in a corner of the courtyard, just outside the door

-near where the cat was accustomed to pass.

-</p>

-<p>Just at dusk the cat, carrying the lantern in its mouth, began to cross the courtyard

-towards the door of the room where it was expected to bring the light, and when about

-half way across the yard the Husband released one of the mice from the box which he

-had <span class="pageNum" id="pb42">[<a href="#pb42">42</a>]</span>hidden in his robe. The mouse scampered off across the courtyard, and the cat gave

-a violent start, and was on the point of pursuing it, when its training overcame its

-natural instincts, and it allowed the mouse to escape.

-</p>

-<p>It reluctantly continued its way towards the house, and scarcely had it started to

-go on, when the Husband released a second mouse, which also scampered off right in

-front of the cat. This time it was all the cat could do to refrain from following

-so tempting an opportunity. It paused with great indecision, but again, its training

-standing it in good stead, it pursued its way towards the house.

-</p>

-<p>Just as it was reaching the door of the house the third mouse was released. This was

-more than the cat could stand. It dropped the lantern upon the threshold, bounded

-across the courtyard, and seized the mouse just as it was entering its hole.

-</p>

-<p>Meanwhile the Landlord and the Lady having waited until long after dark, the Landlord

-was reluctantly obliged to own that he had lost his bet. So he handed over to the

-disguised merchant, not only his own property, but also the merchandise, which he

-had previously won from her Husband; and the two, carrying their possessions with

-them, returned to their own home, where they lived happily ever afterwards.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb43">[<a href="#pb43">43</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s7" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e243">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. VII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE KYANG, THE FOX, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">One day a hungry Wolf was roaming about in search of something to eat in the upper

-part of a Tibetan valley far beyond the level of cultivation,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e891src" href="#xd33e891" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> when he came across a young Kyang<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e894src" href="#xd33e894" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> about a year old. The Wolf at once proceeded to stalk the Kyang, thinking that he

-would make an excellent meal off him, and just as he was about to seize upon him the

-Kyang, noticing his approach, addressed him as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” said he, “it is no good your eating me now; this is the spring time

-and after the hard winter I am still very thin. If you will wait for a few months

-until next autumn you will find that I shall be twice as fat as I am now and will

-make you a much better feast.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very well,” said the Wolf, “I will wait until then, on condition that you meet me

-on this very spot in six months’ time.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb44">[<a href="#pb44">44</a>]</span></p>

-<p>And so saying he galloped off in search of some other prey.

-</p>

-<p>When autumn came the Wolf started off one morning to meet the Kyang at the appointed

-place, and as he was going across the hills he came across a Fox.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf,” said the Fox. “Where are you going to?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh!” replied the Wolf, “I am going into the valley to meet a young Kyang by appointment,

-as I have arranged to catch him and eat him this very day.”

-</p>

-<p>“That is very pleasant for you, Brother Wolf,” answered the Fox; “but as a Kyang is

-such a large animal you will scarcely be able to eat him all by yourself. I hope you

-will allow me to come too and share in the spoil.”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly, Brother Fox,” replied the Wolf. “I shall be very glad of your company.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying the two went on together. After proceeding a short distance they came

-across a Hare.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf and Brother Fox,” said the Hare; “where are you two going

-this fine morning?”

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf; “I am just going off to yonder valley

-to keep an appointment with a fat Kyang, whom I have arranged to kill and eat this

-very day, and Brother Fox is coming with me to share in the spoil.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! really, Brother Wolf,” said the Hare, “I wish you would allow me to come too.

-A Kyang is such a large animal that you can scarcely eat him all <span class="pageNum" id="pb45">[<a href="#pb45">45</a>]</span>yourselves, and I am sure you will allow a small creature like me to have a little

-bit of the spoil.”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “We shall be glad if you will accompany

-us.”

-</p>

-<p>And so the three animals went along together towards the appointed spot. When they

-got near the place they saw the young Kyang waiting for them. During the summer months

-he had eaten a quantity of grass and had now become very fat and sleek, and was about

-twice as big as he had been in the spring. When the Wolf caught sight of him he was

-much pleased and began to lick his chops in anticipation.

-</p>

-<p>“Well, Brother Kyang,” said he, “here I am according to agreement, ready to kill and

-eat you, and I am glad to see you look so plump and well. And here are Brother Fox

-and Brother Hare who have come along with me to have a bit too.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying the Wolf crouched down ready to spring upon the Kyang and kill him.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Brother Wolf,” called out the Hare at this moment, “just wait one moment, for

-I have a suggestion to make to you. Don’t you think it would be a pity to kill this

-fine young Kyang in the ordinary way by seizing his throat, for if you do so a great

-deal of his blood will be wasted? I would suggest to you, instead, that it would be

-a very much better plan if you would strangle him, as in that case no blood would

-be lost, and we should derive the full benefit from his carcase.”

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf thought this was a good idea and he said to the Hare:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb46">[<a href="#pb46">46</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Very well, Brother Hare, I think that is an excellent idea of yours, but how is it

-to be done?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! easily enough,” answered the Hare. “There is a shepherd’s encampment over there

-where we can borrow a rope, and then all we have to do is to make a slip-knot in the

-rope, put it over the Kyang’s neck, and pull as hard as we can.”

-</p>

-<p>So they agreed that this should be done, and the Fox went off to the encampment near

-by and borrowed a rope from the shepherd, which he carried back to where the three

-other animals were standing.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said the Hare, “leave it all to me; I will show you exactly how it is to be

-done.”

-</p>

-<p>So he took the rope and made a large slip-knot at one end and two smaller slip-knots

-at the other end.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he, “this is the way we must proceed: we will put this large slip-knot

-over the Kyang’s neck, and as he is such a large heavy animal the only way to strangle

-him will be for us three to pull together at the other end of the rope. So you, Brother

-Wolf, and you, Brother Fox, can put your heads through these smaller loops, and I

-will seize the loose end of the rope with my teeth, and when I give the signal we

-will all pull together.”

-</p>

-<p>The other two thought this was a very good plan, and so they threw the slip-knot over

-the Kyang’s neck, and the Wolf and the Fox put their heads through the smaller loops.

-When they were all ready the Hare took up his position at the end of the rope and

-caught hold of it with his teeth.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he, “are you all ready?”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb47">[<a href="#pb47">47</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Yes, quite ready,” replied the Wolf and the Fox.

-</p>

-<p>“Well, then, pull,” said the Hare.

-</p>

-<p>So they began to pull as hard as they could.

-</p>

-<p>When the Kyang felt the pull on the rope he walked forward a few paces, much to the

-surprise of the Wolf and the Fox, who found themselves being dragged along the ground.

-</p>

-<p>“Pull, can’t you!” shrieked the Wolf, as the rope began to tighten round his neck.

-</p>

-<p>“Pull yourself!” shrieked the Fox, who was now beginning to feel very uncomfortable.

-</p>

-<p>“Pull, all of you,” called out the Hare, and so saying he let go of the end of the

-rope and the Kyang galloped off dragging the Wolf and the Fox after him. In a few

-minutes they were both strangled, and the Kyang, shaking off the rope from his neck,

-proceeded to graze quietly on his usual pastures, and the Hare scampered off home,

-feeling that he had done a good day’s work.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb48">[<a href="#pb48">48</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e891">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e891src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Such a locality is described in the Tibetan language by a single word—a monosyllable.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e891src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e894">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e894src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> The Kyang is the wild ass of Tibet.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e894src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s8" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e252">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. VIII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE FROG AND THE CROW.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">A Crow once caught a fine fat Frog, and taking him in her bill she flew with him to

-the roof of a neighbouring house in order to devour him at her leisure. As she alighted

-on the roof of the house the Frog gave an audible chuckle.

-</p>

-<p>“What are you laughing at, Brother Frog?” said the Crow.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, nothing, Sister Crow,” said the Frog; “never mind me. I was just thinking to

-myself that, as it fortunately happens, my Father lives close by here, on this very

-roof, and as he is an exceedingly fierce, strong man, he will certainly avenge my

-death if anyone injures me.”

-</p>

-<p>The Crow did not quite like this, and thinking it as well to be on the safe side she

-hopped off to another corner of the roof near to where a gutter led away the rain

-water by means of a small hole in the parapet and a wooden spout. She paused here

-for a moment and was just about to begin to swallow the Frog when the Frog gave another

-chuckle.

-</p>

-<p>“What are you laughing at this time, Brother Frog?” asked the Crow.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p048width" id="p048"><img src="images/p048.jpg" alt="THE CROW AND THE FROG IN THE GUTTER." width="720" height="652"><p class="figureHead">THE CROW AND THE FROG IN THE GUTTER.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 48.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb49">[<a href="#pb49">49</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Oh, it’s only a small matter, Sister Crow, hardly worth mentioning,” replied the

-Frog, “but it just occurred to me that my Uncle, who is even a stronger and fiercer

-man than my Father, lives in this very gutter, and that if anybody was to do me an

-injury here they would have a very small chance of escaping from his clutches.”

-</p>

-<p>The Crow was somewhat alarmed at hearing this, and she thought that, on the whole,

-it would be safer to leave the roof altogether; so again picking up the Frog in her

-bill she flew off to the ground below, and alighted near the edge of a well. Here

-she placed the Frog upon the ground and was just about to eat him when the Frog said:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Sister Crow, I notice your bill seems rather blunt. Before you begin to eat me

-don’t you think it would be a good thing to sharpen it a little. You can strop it

-very nicely on that flat stone over there.”

-</p>

-<p>The Crow, thinking this was a good idea, took two or three hops towards the stone,

-and began sharpening her bill. As soon as she had turned her back the Frog gave one

-desperate jump, and dived into the well.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as the Crow had made her bill nice and sharp she returned from the stone,

-and looked about for the Frog. Not finding him where she had left him she hopped to

-the edge of the well and peeped over, craning her head from side to side. Presently

-she spied the Frog in the water, and called out to him:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, Brother Frog, I was afraid you were lost. My <span class="pageNum" id="pb50">[<a href="#pb50">50</a>]</span>bill is quite nice and sharp now, so come along up and be eaten.”

-</p>

-<p>“I am so sorry, Sister Crow,” replied the Frog, “but the fact is, I cannot get up

-the sides of this well. The best thing would be for you to come down here to eat me.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying he dived to the bottom of the well.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb51">[<a href="#pb51">51</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s9" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e261">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. IX.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE HARE AND THE LIONS.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived a Lion and a Lioness who inhabited a den amongst some

-rocks on the slopes of a mountain. They were both very fine, well-grown animals, and

-they used to prey upon all the smaller beasts in that part of the country; until at

-last they became so powerful that no other animal was safe from their clutches, and

-the wild beasts of the neighbourhood lived in a continual state of terror.

-</p>

-<p>It chanced one day that while the Lion was hunting for something to eat, he came across

-a Hare sleeping behind a boulder; and seizing the Hare in his great paws he was just

-about to devour him, when the Hare spoke as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said he, “before eating me I just want to tell you about another

-animal who lives in that pond down there in the valley. He is very big and fierce,

-and I think he must be even stronger than you are. But if you will allow me to do

-so I will show you where he lives, and if you can succeed in killing him he will make

-a very much better meal for you than a poor little beast like me.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Lion was very indignant.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb52">[<a href="#pb52">52</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“What!” said he, “do you mean to tell me that there is any animal in this country

-stronger and more powerful than I am? Don’t you know that I am the Lord of this district,

-and that I should never allow anyone else to dispute the mastery with me. Show me

-at once where this creature lives, and I will show you how I shall deal with him.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “let me beg you to be careful. You have no idea what

-a big, strong creature this is; you must on no account allow yourself to be injured

-by fighting with him. Think what a grief it would be to us all if you were to come

-to any harm.”

-</p>

-<p>This remark of the Hare’s made the Lion more angry than before, and he insisted that

-the Hare should at once lead him down and show him where the other animal lived. So

-the Hare, after again begging him to be careful of himself, preceded him down the

-hill until they arrived at the edge of a square-built stone tank, which was nearly

-full of water.

-</p>

-<p>“Now, Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “if you will go to the edge of that tank and look

-down into the water you will see the animal I speak of.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying he moved on one side, and the Lion, stalking to the edge, peered down into

-the tank. The water was very smooth, and on the clear surface he saw his own head

-reflected.

-</p>

-<p>“There he is,” called out the Hare from the background; “there he is, Uncle Lion,

-I can see him quite plainly in the water. You see how fierce he is looking; please

-be careful not to start fighting with him.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb53">[<a href="#pb53">53</a>]</span></p>

-<p>These remarks made the Lion more angry than ever, and he moved up and down on the

-brink of the tank, glaring fiercely at his own reflection in the water, and growling

-and showing his teeth at it.

-</p>

-<p>“That’s right, Uncle Lion,” called out the Hare; “I am so glad you are taking good

-care of yourself. Don’t on any account come to grips with that beast in the water

-or he might do you an injury. You are certainly much safer on the bank, and no doubt

-you will frighten him if you continue to growl and show your teeth.”

-</p>

-<p>These last observations of the Hare goaded the Lion to desperation, and with a fierce

-roar he sprang straight at the image in the water. Once in the tank he was unable

-to get out, for its sides were built of masonry, and it was impossible for him to

-climb them. So he swam about for some time in the tank, whilst the Hare, sitting on

-the bank, threw stones at him and made nasty remarks; and finally, when quite wearied

-out, he sank to the bottom and was drowned.

-</p>

-<p>The Hare was very pleased at having accomplished the destruction of the Lion, and

-he now turned his attention to the Lioness. It happened that near by there was a thick

-wall standing, which was part of the remains of a ruined castle; and in one portion

-of the wall there was a hole, very large at one end and tapering down to quite a small

-opening at the other. The Hare, having studied his ground, went off next morning to

-find the Lioness. He soon came across her stalking up and down near her den, very

-much perturbed at the disappearance of her lord and master.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb54">[<a href="#pb54">54</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Aunt Lioness,” said the Hare, going up cautiously towards her; “what

-is the matter with you this morning? How is it I find you pacing here in front of

-your den instead of hunting your prey as usual on the hillside?”

-</p>

-<p>The Lioness took no notice of the Hare, except to growl at him in an angry manner,

-and to lash her sides with her tail.

-</p>

-<p>“I suppose,” went on the Hare, “you are anxious about Mr. Lion, but I am sorry to

-tell you that you are not likely to see him again for some time. The fact is, he and

-I had a little argument yesterday, in which we both lost our tempers. It ended in

-our having a free fight, and I regret to say that I was obliged to injure Mr. Lion

-rather severely before I could make him see reason, and he is now lying in a dying

-state in the valley below.”

-</p>

-<p>This impudence so enraged the Lioness that she sprang towards the Hare and endeavoured

-to seize him; but he eluded her and galloped off down the hill hotly pursued by the

-angry beast. The Hare made straight for the ruined wall, and entering the breach in

-the wall at the large end he emerged safely at the other side by the smaller recess,

-which was just large enough for him to pass through. The Lioness, following closely

-at his heels, was so blind with rage that she did not see that she was being led into

-a trap; so she rushed head-foremost into the opening in the wall, and before she had

-time to stop herself was wedged tightly in the tapering hole. She <span class="pageNum" id="pb55">[<a href="#pb55">55</a>]</span>struggled violently, trying to extricate herself, but all in vain.

-</p>

-<p>Meanwhile the Hare, having cantered round to the other side, took up its position

-in rear of the Lioness, and began pelting her with stones and calling her all the

-bad names he could think of. When he was tired of this he went off home very pleased

-with himself, and the Lioness, being unable to free herself from the trap she was

-in, shortly afterwards starved to death.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb56">[<a href="#pb56">56</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s10" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e270">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. X.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE SHEEP, THE LAMB, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived an old Sheep in a low-lying valley of Tibet, and every

-year she, with her Lamb,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1015src" href="#xd33e1015" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> were in the habit of leaving the valley during the early months of summer, and going

-up on to the great northern plateau, where grass is plentiful, and where many Sheep

-and Goats graze throughout the summer.

-</p>

-<p>One spring the Sheep, in accordance with her annual custom, set out for the north,

-and one day, as she was strolling sedately along the path, while her little Lamb skipped

-about beside her, she suddenly came face to face with a large, fierce-looking Wolf.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Aunty Sheep,” said the Wolf; “where are you going to?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” replied the trembling Sheep, “we are doing no harm; I am just taking

-my Lamb to graze on the rich grass of the great northern plateau.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Wolf, “I am really very sorry for you; but the fact is, I am hungry,

-and it will be necessary for me to eat you both on the spot.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb57">[<a href="#pb57">57</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Please, please, Uncle Wolf, don’t do that,” replied the Sheep. “Please don’t eat

-us now; but if you will wait till the autumn, when we shall both be very much fatter

-than we are now, you can eat us with much more benefit to yourself on our return journey.”

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf thought this was a good idea.

-</p>

-<p>“Very well, Aunty Sheep,” said he, “that is a bargain. I will spare your lives now,

-but only on condition that you meet me at this very spot on your return journey from

-the north in the autumn.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, he galloped off, and the Sheep and the Lamb continued on their way towards

-the north, and soon forgot all about their encounter with the Wolf.

-</p>

-<p>All the summer they grazed about on the succulent grass of the great plateau, and

-when autumn was approaching both were as fat as fat could be, and the little Lamb

-had grown into a fine young Sheep.

-</p>

-<p>When the time came for returning to the south, the Sheep remembered her bargain with

-the Wolf, and every day as they drew farther and farther south she grew more and more

-downhearted.

-</p>

-<p>One day, as they were approaching the place where they had met the Wolf, it chanced

-that a Hare came hopping along the road towards them. The Hare stopped to say good-morning

-to the Sheep, and noticing that she was looking very sad, he said:

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Sister Sheep, how is it that you, who are so fat and have so fine a

-Lamb, are looking so sad this morning?”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb58">[<a href="#pb58">58</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Oh! Brother Hare,” replied the Sheep, “mine is a very sad story. The fact is that

-last spring, as I and my Lamb were coming up this very road, we met an ugly-looking

-Wolf, who said he was going to eat us; but I begged him to spare our lives, explaining

-to him that we should both be much larger and fatter in the autumn, and that he would

-get much better value from us if he waited till then. The Wolf agreed to this, and

-said that we must meet him at the same spot in the autumn. We are now very near the

-appointed place, and I very much fear that in another day or two we shall both be

-killed by the Wolf.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the poor Sheep broke down altogether and burst into tears.

-</p>

-<p>“Dear me! dear me!” replied the Hare; “this is indeed a sad story; but cheer up, Sister

-Sheep, you may leave it to me, and I think I can answer for it that I know how to

-manage the Wolf.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the Hare made the following arrangements. He dressed himself up in his

-very best clothes, in a new robe of woollen cloth, with a long ear-ring in his left

-ear, and a fashionable hat on his head, and strapped a small saddle on to the back

-of the Sheep. He then prepared two small bundles, which he slung across the Lamb,

-and tied them on with a rope. When these preparations were complete, he took a large

-sheet of paper in his hand, and, with a pen thrust behind his ear, he mounted upon

-the back of the Sheep, and the little procession started off down the path.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p058width" id="p058"><img src="images/p058.jpg" alt="THE HARE CONVERSING WITH THE WOLF." width="720" height="634"><p class="figureHead">THE HARE CONVERSING WITH THE WOLF.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 58.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>Soon after, they arrived at the place where they were <span class="pageNum" id="pb59">[<a href="#pb59">59</a>]</span>to meet the Wolf, and sure enough there was the Wolf waiting for them at the appointed

-spot.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as they came within earshot of where the Wolf was standing the Hare called

-out in a sharp tone of authority:

-</p>

-<p>“Who are you, and what are you doing there?”

-</p>

-<p>“I am the Wolf,” was the reply; “and I have come here to eat this Sheep and its Lamb,

-in accordance with a regular arrangement. Who may you be, pray?”

-</p>

-<p>“I am Lomden, the Hare,” that animal replied, “and I have been deputed to India on

-a special mission by the Emperor of China. And, by the way, I have a commission to

-bring ten Wolf skins as a present to the King of India. What a fortunate thing it

-is that I should have met you here! Your skin will do for one, anyway.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the Hare produced his sheet of paper, and, taking his pen in his hand,

-he wrote down the figure “1” very large.

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf was so frightened on hearing this that he turned tail and fled away ignominiously;

-while the Sheep and the Lamb, after thanking the Hare heartily for his kind offices,

-continued their journey safely to their own home.

-</p>

-<p class="tb"></p><p>

-</p>

-<p class="small">[This story is a satire on the assumption and arrogance of Tibetan and Chinese officials,

-and the timidity and submissiveness of the Tibetan peasants. It illustrates how the

-meanest Government clerk, more especially when armed with pen and paper, can strike

-terror into the heart of the boldest and strongest countryman.]

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb60">[<a href="#pb60">60</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1015">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1015src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> This story is also told of a Sheep and a Goat, instead of a Sheep and a Lamb. See

-accompanying illustration.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1015src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s11" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e280">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XI.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF HOW THE HARE MADE A FOOL OF THE WOLF.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first small">[This story is really the continuation of Number <span class="num" title="10">X.</span>, which is sometimes told of “the Sheep and the Goat,” instead of “the Sheep and the

-Lamb.” The first part of the story is exactly the same as Number <span class="num" title="10">X.</span> They experience the same adventures with the Wolf and are extricated in exactly the

-same manner by the aid of the Hare. But the end of the story is different.]

-</p>

-<p class="tb"></p><p>

-</p>

-<p>When the Wolf ran away, Da-gye the Sheep and Pen-dzong the Goat were so elated that

-they could not refrain from vaingloriously galloping after him until they saw him

-dive hastily into his earth some distance away; they then sat themselves down at the

-mouth of the hole and remained there for some time chaffing the Wolf and telling him

-to hurry up and come out to be skinned, whilst the foolish Wolf lay cowering and trembling

-within.

-</p>

-<p>Presently the Sheep grew rather hungry and thirsty, so she went off to eat and drink,

-leaving the Goat to watch the earth. After sitting for a short while the <span class="pageNum" id="pb61">[<a href="#pb61">61</a>]</span>Goat began rubbing his horns on a stone, and the Wolf hearing the grating sound squeaked

-out very humbly:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Brother Goat, what are you doing now?”

-</p>

-<p>“Sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Goat.

-</p>

-<p>And the Wolf cowered into the furthest recesses of his den trembling with fear.

-</p>

-<p>A few minutes later some rain began to fall, and the Wolf hearing the sound of the

-pattering raindrops called out:

-</p>

-<p>“What is happening now, pray, Brother Goat?”

-</p>

-<p>“I am collecting the water to cook you in,” answered the Goat gruffly.

-</p>

-<p>Presently the Goat began to scrape the earth with one hoof and the Wolf asked:

-</p>

-<p>“What is that scraping noise, Brother Goat?”

-</p>

-<p>“I am preparing a fireplace to boil the water at,” answered the Goat. “It will soon

-be time to finish you off.”

-</p>

-<p>Just then the Sheep came back from grazing and said to the Goat:

-</p>

-<p>“Now, Brother Goat, it is time for you to go and refresh yourself. I will stay here

-and look after the Wolf while you are away.”

-</p>

-<p>The Goat thanked the Sheep for her offer and told her how he had been acting during

-her absence, and after advising her to behave in the same manner and on no account

-to show any signs of fear, he went off to get something to eat and drink.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb62">[<a href="#pb62">62</a>]</span></p>

-<p>When the Sheep found herself left alone at the mouth of the Wolf’s den, her natural

-timidity asserted itself, and she began to feel very nervous, but in order to keep

-up appearances she started to rub her horns against a stone, just as the Goat had

-advised her to do. As soon as he heard this noise the Wolf called out as before, asking

-what was happening.

-</p>

-<p>“I am sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Sheep, but she was so nervous

-that the Wolf at once noticed the terrified sound of her voice and began to suspect

-that he had been made a fool of.

-</p>

-<p>“Is that you, Sister Sheep?” said the Wolf; “I thought it was Brother Goat.”

-</p>

-<p>“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone away to get

-himself something to eat and drink.”

-</p>

-<p>“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the poor Sheep

-he quickly slew her.

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and the Goat and

-became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat, vowing vengeance against

-him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the Wolf coming along in the distance he

-guessed what had happened, and fled as fast as he could across the hills with the

-Wolf after him. They soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed

-his footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking <span class="pageNum" id="pb63">[<a href="#pb63">63</a>]</span>his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over the crevice

-and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.

-</p>

-<p>For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice, when by chance

-a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him moaning and came to see what

-was wrong.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the cleft. “What has

-happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune. I am Pen-dzong

-the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a Wolf into his lair this morning

-and tried to frighten him by telling him that we were going to skin him; and while

-I was away getting myself something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den

-and killed my poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I,

-as you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable to move,

-and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has gone right away. I have

-one dying request to make to you, however. I beg you when I am dead to strip off my

-skin and to hand it over to my young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return

-for this service you can have my flesh for yourself.”

-</p>

-<p>The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to do as he asked.

-So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped off his skin, and set off with

-it to hand it over to the Goat’s young ones. As <span class="pageNum" id="pb64">[<a href="#pb64">64</a>]</span>he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced to come across a Hare.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and what is that

-you have on your back?”

-</p>

-<p>“Good-day, Brother Hare,” replied the Fox. “This is the skin of Pen-dzong the Goat,

-whom I found lying in a cleft between two rocks with a broken leg. He and his friend

-Da-gye the Sheep have both been killed by a Wolf, and he begged me after his death

-to strip off his skin and to take it as a last present from him to his young ones.<span class="corr" id="xd33e1118" title="Not in source">”</span>

-</p>

-<p>“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “that no doubt must be the same Goat and the same Sheep

-whom I rescued so recently from that very Wolf. What foolish creatures they are to

-have got themselves into so much trouble after I had freed them from all their difficulties.

-But, nevertheless, I am not going to let the Wolf get the best of me like this, and

-kill my friends with impunity. Come along with me and we will see what we can do to

-avenge Da-gye and Pen-dzong.”

-</p>

-<p>The Fox agreed to this, and he and the Hare set off together to hunt for the Wolf.

-They travelled a long way without coming across him, but at length, as they were crossing

-a high pass they found him feeding upon the carcase of a dead Horse.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-day, Uncle Wolf,” called out the Hare genially. “I am so glad to have met you.

-The fact is, there is a wedding feast going on at that big house over yonder, where

-Brother Fox and I expect to find plenty to eat <span class="pageNum" id="pb65">[<a href="#pb65">65</a>]</span>and drink. If you care to come along with us too we shall be very glad, and I think

-we can promise you some better refreshment than that old Horse you are devouring here.

-So come along and see what we can find.”

-</p>

-<p>The Wolf was very pleased at this invitation, so he joined the Hare and the Fox, and

-all three went off together to the big house where the wedding feast was being held.

-They studied the premises carefully before approaching too near, and they soon ascertained

-that the whole of the wedding party were busy feasting in the central room, and that

-the larder, full of good things to eat and drink, was quite unguarded. So they jumped

-in through a narrow window and began to enjoy themselves thoroughly, eating and drinking

-anything which took their fancy. When they were as full as could be the Hare said:

-</p>

-<p>“What I advise now is as follows: let us each take some provisions, as much as we

-can carry, and bring them with us to our own homes, so that we may have something

-to go on with when we next feel hungry. I myself shall take some cheese; Brother Fox

-no doubt would like some cold fowl; and I should advise you, Brother Wolf, to carry

-off that jar of wine.”

-</p>

-<p>The Fox and the Wolf both agreed with the Hare’s proposals, and they began to load

-themselves with the provisions they proposed to take with them. The Fox and the Hare

-had no difficulty in making up a bundle of cheese and cold fowl, but the Wolf found

-that it would be very difficult for him to carry off the jar of wine. So <span class="pageNum" id="pb66">[<a href="#pb66">66</a>]</span>the Hare explained to him that the best plan would be for him to slip his head through

-the handle of the jar, in which case it would be quite easy for him to drag the jar

-along with him. So the Wolf put his head through the handle of the jar, and all three

-made ready to start.

-</p>

-<p>“Well now, Brother Fox and Brother Wolf,” said the Hare in a genial tone of voice,

-“it is nearly time for us to be off. How are you both feeling? Have you had a good

-dinner? Are your bellies full?”

-</p>

-<p>“Couldn’t be fuller,” replied the Wolf, rubbing his stomach with one paw. “I have

-done very well.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well, then,” said the Hare, “as we have feasted well and feel happy and contented,

-let’s have a song before starting.”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “Will you begin?”

-</p>

-<p>“I would with pleasure,” answered the Hare, “but really, the fact is, I can’t recollect

-a single song at this moment. Perhaps Brother Fox will oblige us.”

-</p>

-<p>“I am very sorry, Brother Hare,” answered the Fox, “but I am afraid I don’t know any

-songs. I am sure Brother Wolf sings beautifully.”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes,” joined in the Hare. “Pray, Brother Wolf, let us hear you sing?”

-</p>

-<p>“No, no, please,” said the Wolf modestly, scratching his ear with one paw. “I am a

-very poor singer, you really must excuse me.”

-</p>

-<p>But the Fox and the Hare pressed him, and presently he began to sing. At the first

-sound of his voice the men in the next room stopped their feasting, and saying <span class="pageNum" id="pb67">[<a href="#pb67">67</a>]</span>to one another, “There is a Wolf in the house,” they rushed towards the larder.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as they heard the disturbance the Hare and the Fox, carrying their provisions

-with them, hopped quietly out of the window and made off quickly for their homes.

-The Wolf, too, made a leap towards the window, but the great jar round his neck was

-too broad to go through the narrow opening, and he fell back into the room below.

-Again he jumped and again he fell back; and he was still jumping and falling when

-the people of the house rushed in and soon despatched him with sticks and stones.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb68">[<a href="#pb68">68</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s12" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e289">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE MOUSE’S THREE CHILDREN.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Many years ago, in the kingdom of Nepal, there was a little Mouse, who lived with

-her husband in a snug nest not far from the King’s palace.

-</p>

-<p>Finding that she was about to be delivered of a child, the Mouse prayed to the gods

-that her offspring might be very strong; and when the child was born it appeared in

-the form of a young Tiger. The Tiger soon grew up, and one day he said to the Mouse:

-</p>

-<p>“Mother, I must now go off into the jungle and live there with my brother Tigers.

-But if at any time you want my help, all you need do is to go into yonder thicket,

-and throw a handful of my hair into the air, and call my name three times.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, he gave the Mouse a handful of his hair, and went off into the forest.

-</p>

-<p>Shortly afterwards the Mouse was again with child, and this time she prayed that her

-offspring might be very beautiful. When the child was born, instead of a young Mouse,

-she found that she had given birth to a Peacock. The Peacock soon grew into a large

-and beautiful bird, and when he had reached his full growth he one day said to his

-mother:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb69">[<a href="#pb69">69</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Mother, it is now time for me to go and seek my own livelihood with my brothers in

-the forest. But if at any time you should require my assistance, all you have to do

-is to go to the top of that hill over there, and to throw a handful of my feathers

-into the air, and call my name three times.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, he gave the little Mouse a handful of his feathers, and flew away into

-the jungle.

-</p>

-<p>Presently the Mouse found herself a third time with child, and this time she prayed

-to the gods that her child might become wise, wealthy and powerful; and when the child

-appeared she saw that it was a young man child. As the Boy grew up the mother was

-afraid that he, too, like his brothers, would want to leave his nest and go out into

-the world to live with his fellow-men. So she told him the story of his two elder

-brothers, and explained to him that he was a man child, and could not wander away

-into the jungle like they did, but must stay in the nest. The Boy promised to do so,

-and every day he used to sit and play about at the mouth of the nest.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened that in that country there lived a Mussulman, who made his living

-as a barber and by paring people’s nails. This man, who was very clever at his work,

-was often employed in the King’s palace, and one day, as he was going to his work

-in the palace, he passed near to the Mouse’s nest. There he saw the Boy seated on

-the ground, and, going up to him, he asked him whether he would like his hair cut

-and his nails pared.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy said, “Yes,” and the Barber proceeded to cut his hair. To the Barber’s astonishment,

-each <span class="pageNum" id="pb70">[<a href="#pb70">70</a>]</span>hair, as it fell to the ground, immediately turned into diamonds, pearls, and other

-jewels; and when he proceeded to pare the Boy’s nails, each paring, as it touched

-the ground, became a beautiful turquoise.

-</p>

-<p>The Barber then went on to the palace, and as he was cutting the King’s hair, he told

-him about the miraculous child, whose hair and nails turned into jewels. The King,

-who was a greedy and unscrupulous man, determined to gain possession of so valuable

-a Boy, so he sent out some of his servants to bring the Boy up to the palace. When

-the Boy arrived, he was brought before the King, and the King told him that as he

-had been found trespassing in the royal forests, he intended to kill the mother, and

-to keep the Boy as a slave, unless the Boy could furnish him at once with four full-grown

-Tigers to guard the four gates of the palace, in which case he would marry the Boy

-to his daughter and would give him half his kingdom.

-</p>

-<p>The poor Boy went in great grief to Mother Mouse, and related to her the whole of

-his interview with the King. The Mouse told him not to vex himself, and she gave him

-a handful of Tiger’s hair and sent him out into the jungle with full directions as

-to what he should do.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy went off into the heart of a dense thicket in the jungle, and throwing the

-Tiger’s hair into the air, he called out at the same time:

-</p>

-<p>“Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger!”

-</p>

-<p>Scarcely had the words left his lips when he heard a low, deep growl just beside him,

-and a great Tiger stalked out of the thicket, licking his chops.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb71">[<a href="#pb71">71</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Here I am, Brother,” said the Tiger. “What do you want?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Brother Tiger,” said the Boy, “the King has said that if I do not immediately

-provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates of his palace he will

-kill our mother and make me a slave.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.

-</p>

-<p>“Is that all?” said he. “That is easily arranged. I can get you a hundred Tigers.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful roars; and in a

-few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of Tigers, hastening up from all directions.

-When they were all ready, the first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back,

-and so, with the Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession,

-they all went off in a body to the King’s palace.

-</p>

-<p>As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran hither and thither,

-and the guards were called to arms. And when the King was told what was happening

-he was greatly alarmed himself, but he seated himself on his throne, and gave orders

-for the Boy and the Tigers to be admitted.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy rode in on the Tiger’s back to the royal presence, followed by all the other

-Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:

-</p>

-<p>“Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the forest. You can

-take your pick of any four you like.”

-</p>

-<p>The King was very much astonished at this, and having <span class="pageNum" id="pb72">[<a href="#pb72">72</a>]</span>selected four of the finest Tigers, he allowed the others to go away. But he still

-hankered after the jewels, and in a few days’ time he again summoned the Boy before

-him, and told him that unless he at once furnished four Peacocks to sit one on each

-of the four golden pinnacles of his palace roof, he should kill his mother and keep

-the Boy as a slave.

-</p>

-<p>The poor Boy was very down-hearted on hearing this, and went sadly back to his mother

-with the news; but the little Mouse told him that it was all right, and giving him

-a handful of Peacock’s feathers, she instructed him how to proceed. So the Boy went

-off to the top of a high hill, and, throwing the feathers into the air, he called

-aloud:

-</p>

-<p>“Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock!”

-</p>

-<p>Immediately a fluttering sound was heard, and a magnificent Peacock dropped to the

-ground in front of him from the branch of a neighbouring tree.

-</p>

-<p>“Here I am, Brother,” said the Peacock. “What do you want with me?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Brother Peacock,” said the Boy, “the King says that if I cannot at once provide

-him with four Peacocks to sit on the four golden pinnacles of his palace, he will

-kill our mother and make me a slave.”

-</p>

-<p>“Never mind,” said the Peacock, “we can easily arrange that.”

-</p>

-<p>So he fluttered back to the top of a high tree, and called the loud, shrill call of

-the Peacocks.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb73">[<a href="#pb73">73</a>]</span></p>

-<p>In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks flying in from all

-directions.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said the first Peacock, “come along to the palace.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their claws, and they

-all flew together over the tops of the trees to the King’s palace.

-</p>

-<p>When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King, and the King

-seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready to receive them.

-</p>

-<p>The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King’s throne, and arranged

-themselves in rows behind him, with their tails spread.

-</p>

-<p>“Here, oh King!” said the Boy, “are all the finest Peacocks I could find in the forest.

-You can have your pick of any four of them.”

-</p>

-<p>The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected the four best

-Peacocks, and sent away the rest.

-</p>

-<p>But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few days later, he

-sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his Mother Mouse could fight single-handed

-with the King’s state Elephant and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the

-Boy a slave.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it possible that

-the little Mouse could compete successfully with the King’s great Elephant; so he

-went home very sadly and told his mother the whole story. But the Mouse told him he

-was not to be <span class="pageNum" id="pb74">[<a href="#pb74">74</a>]</span>alarmed, and she directed him to smear her body all over with poison, and to tie a

-long string to her tail. As soon as she was ready the Boy placed her in the sleeve

-of his coat, and carried her along to the palace.

-</p>

-<p>In the courtyard of the palace everything had been made ready for the fight. Seats

-had been prepared behind a barrier for the King and his nobles, whilst the roofs and

-the windows were crowded with hundreds of people who had come to see the show. At

-one end of the enclosure the King’s great tusker stood ready, still chained by the

-leg; and the Boy, with the Mouse in his sleeve, took up his stand at the other end

-of the arena, face to face with the angry Elephant.

-</p>

-<p>At a given signal the Elephant’s chain was loosed, and with a bellow of rage he rushed

-towards where the Boy was standing. As he came on, holding his trunk high in the air,

-the little Mouse jumped to the ground and ran to meet him. The Elephant caught sight

-of this small object, and stopped for a moment to see what it was, and the Mouse hopped

-on to his foot. The Elephant at once put down his trunk to feel what was there, and

-in a twinkling the Mouse jumped into the open end of the trunk, and scuttled up it

-as fast as she could till she reached the head. She soon found herself inside the

-Elephant’s brain, and there she ran round and round, smearing poison all over the

-brain of the great beast.

-</p>

-<p>The Elephant, not knowing what had happened, rushed round the arena, bellowing with

-rage and pain, and smashing everything within reach of his trunk. But <span class="pageNum" id="pb75">[<a href="#pb75">75</a>]</span>presently, the poison taking effect, he fell to the ground stone dead, and the Boy,

-pulling the string which was attached to the Mouse’s tail, guided her out of the Elephant’s

-trunk till she reached the open air.

-</p>

-<p>The King could no longer hesitate to fulfil his promise to the Boy, so he gave him

-his daughter in marriage, and presented him with half his kingdom. And on the King’s

-death the Boy succeeded to the kingdom, and he and his mother lived happily ever afterwards.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb76">[<a href="#pb76">76</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s13" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e298">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE JACKALS AND THE TIGER.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a family of Jackals, consisting of a Father, Mother, and

-five young ones. After living for some time very comfortably near a large village,

-they found that the dogs of the village were becoming so numerous and so troublesome

-that they considered it necessary to change their place of abode. So one fine evening

-they started off and travelled away across the country, keeping a sharp look-out for

-some desirable spot in which they might settle down.

-</p>

-<p>After a while they came to the edge of a forest, and having travelled for some little

-distance into the thickest part of the wood, they arrived all of a sudden at a Tiger’s

-den. The young Jackals were a good deal frightened at the smell of the Tiger’s den,

-but Father Jackal reassured them, and said that he thoroughly understood Tigers, and

-knew how to deal with them. So he went forward alone, and, peeping in, he found that

-the Tiger was out, but that he had left a large quantity of deer’s flesh lying in

-one corner, which apparently he had not had time to consume. So he called Mrs. Jackal

-and the children, and told them to go inside and to have a good feed, and to make

-themselves quite comfortable. After making a <span class="pageNum" id="pb77">[<a href="#pb77">77</a>]</span>good meal himself off the deer’s flesh, he said to Mrs. Jackal:

-</p>

-<p>“You and the children can now go to sleep; I shall go on to the roof of the den and

-keep a look-out for the Tiger. When I see him coming I shall rap on the roof, and

-you must at once wake up the children and make them begin to cry, and when I ask you

-what they are crying about, you must say that they are getting impatient for their

-supper.”

-</p>

-<p>Accordingly Mr. Jackal went up on the roof, while his family settled down to sleep

-in the snuggest corner of the Tiger’s den. Shortly after Father Jackal heard a slight

-crackling amongst the dry leaves of the forest; and in the dim morning light he discerned

-the form of a great Tiger approaching his den through the tree-stems.

-</p>

-<p>According to the arrangement he had made, he rapped with a loose stone upon the roof

-of the den, and Mrs. Jackal immediately woke up the young Jackals and made them cry.

-</p>

-<p>“What are those children crying about?” called out Father Jackal.

-</p>

-<p>“They are very hungry, and getting impatient for their supper,” was the reply.

-</p>

-<p>“Tell them they won’t have long to wait now,” said Father Jackal; “the Tiger will

-probably be home very soon, and we shall all be eating hot Tiger’s meat before long.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Tiger was very much alarmed, and thought to himself:

-</p>

-<p>“What kind of strange animal can this be which has <span class="pageNum" id="pb78">[<a href="#pb78">78</a>]</span>entered my den, and is waiting to cook and eat me on my return; it must certainly

-be a very fierce and terrible creature.”

-</p>

-<p>So without waiting to investigate the matter any further, he turned tail and ran off

-as fast as he could through the forest. After running some way, he came across an

-old Baboon, with a great fringe of white hair all round his face.

-</p>

-<p>“Where are you running to, Uncle Tiger?” asked the Baboon.

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Tiger, “the fact is, that a family of strange animals, who call themselves

-Jackals, are at this moment in occupation of my den. As I was approaching my den,

-after a long night’s hunting, one of the creatures was actually sitting on the roof,

-looking out for me, and as I got close up I heard him tell his young ones that they

-were to have hot Tiger’s meat for supper. Fortunately for me, he hadn’t seen me, so

-I thought the best thing I could do was to make off as fast as I could, in order to

-avoid being eaten.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Baboon was very much amused, and set to work to laugh very heartily.

-</p>

-<p>“Why,” said he, “what a foolish Tiger you are! Have you never heard of a Jackal before?

-Don’t you know that it is you should eat the Jackals, and not the Jackals you? You

-come along with me, and I will soon show you how to deal with people like that.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tiger was somewhat reassured on hearing what the Baboon had to say, but, even

-so, he was at first very reluctant to return again and to incur the danger of being

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb79">[<a href="#pb79">79</a>]</span>eaten; but the Monkey encouraged him, and finally they set off together, the Monkey

-twisting his tail round the Tiger’s, in order to give him a feeling of support and

-confidence.

-</p>

-<p>As they came nearer to the den, the Tiger grew more and more timorous, and would only

-advance very slowly, ready to take flight at any moment. However, they went on together,

-tail-in-tail, until presently Father Jackal on the roof of the den caught sight of

-the pair, and called out:

-</p>

-<p>“That is right, Brother Monkey, bring him along quickly; we are all half starved.

-But what do you mean by only bringing one of them? I had expected you would bring

-us at least two or three.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this, the Tiger at once suspected that the Baboon was in the Jackal’s employ,

-and that he was being led into a trap. Without a moment’s hesitation he turned about

-and fled precipitately into the depths of the forest. The unfortunate Baboon, whose

-tail was tightly twisted round the Tiger’s, was unable to free himself, and was dragged

-and bumped hither and thither in the Tiger’s rush through the thickest and thorniest

-parts of the jungle. When at length the Tiger paused, many miles away, to take breath,

-he looked back at his flanks, and all he saw of the Monkey was a bit of its tail which

-had broken off and was still twisted round his own.

-</p>

-<p>He never again returned to his den, which was occupied henceforth by the Jackals,

-who lived there for many years in peace and comfort.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p079width" id="p079"><img src="images/p079.jpg" alt="THE TIGER AND THE MONKEY APPROACHING THE JACKAL’S DEN." width="720" height="653"><p class="figureHead">THE TIGER AND THE MONKEY APPROACHING THE JACKAL’S DEN.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 79.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb80">[<a href="#pb80">80</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s14" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e307">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIV.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE THREE THIEVES.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived within the dominions of the Emperor of China three very

-clever Thieves. These men, owing to their skill and cunning, were quite at the head

-of their profession, and by sleight of hand and dexterity were able to accomplish

-feats of trickery which the ordinary thieves could not emulate. The first was so clever

-that he was able to withdraw eggs from under a sitting hen without in any way disturbing

-her, and without her being aware that the theft had been accomplished. The second

-was able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as he walked along the road without the

-victim knowing that he had been robbed. And the third was able to eat his fill off

-a man’s plate during dinner without the man who was robbed, or his friend opposite,

-being able to detect where the victuals had gone to.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened one day that these three Thieves met together in a country inn, and

-entering into conversation with one another, began to exchange confidences.

-</p>

-<p>“May I ask what you do for a living?” asked the first Thief of the second.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb81">[<a href="#pb81">81</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Oh, I am a Thief,” answered the man who was addressed.

-</p>

-<p>“Very good,” replied the other men, “we also are Thieves. Can you tell us, please,

-if there is any particular line in which you excel?”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes,” said the second Thief; “I am able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as he

-walks across the road without his being aware of what has happened. What can you two

-do, pray?”

-</p>

-<p>“I,” replied the first Thief, “can withdraw the eggs from under a sitting hen without

-disturbing her.”

-</p>

-<p>“And I,” said the third, “can steal another man’s dinner from off his plate, and eat

-my fill as he sits at table, without the victim, or the man sitting opposite, being

-able to detect me.”

-</p>

-<p>So the three Thieves, having struck up a friendship on the ground of their unusual

-skill, set off together to the court of the Emperor of China, in order to see whether

-they could not succeed in making their fortunes there.

-</p>

-<p>On arriving at the court they consulted together and came to the conclusion that in

-order to make any headway in China it was necessary to attract the attention of the

-Emperor. So they agreed to separate for twenty-four hours, and to meet next day in

-the courtyard of the palace, each bringing some gift to the Emperor which would please

-him, and prove to him that they were men of no usual calibre. Accordingly, they parted

-in different directions, and the following day at noon, they met together in the courtyard

-of the <span class="pageNum" id="pb82">[<a href="#pb82">82</a>]</span>palace, and each one proceeded to relate his adventures during the preceding twenty-four

-hours.

-</p>

-<p>“As soon as I left you yesterday,” began the first Thief, “I went into the royal farm

-adjoining the palace, and there I found one of the Emperor’s pea-hens sitting upon

-her nest, and hatching a clutch of eggs, which was calculated to produce a breed of

-the very finest peacocks. By the Emperor’s orders this nest was watched by an attendant

-night and day, in order that no one should interfere with the eggs, and the pea-hen

-herself was so cross that she would not allow anyone to approach her except the man

-who fed her. But such obstacles as these were nothing to me, and I had no difficulty

-in evading the watchers and abstracting the eggs from under the hen, without even

-disturbing her, or her being aware of the loss. Now here they are in my wallet, and

-when the loss is discovered presently, as it is sure to be, and a reward offered for

-their discovery, I propose to present them to the Emperor.”

-</p>

-<p>The other two Thieves applauded their comrade for his skill and ingenuity, and the

-second Thief then proceeded to relate his story as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“When we separated yesterday, I at once entered the Emperor’s antechamber, and mingled

-with the nobles and officials who were awaiting an audience with His Majesty, and

-amongst the others I soon noticed the Prime Minister. He was a very stout man, dressed

-in his finest robes, and with a new pair of boots on his feet. As he passed to and

-fro in the crowd, I succeeded in cutting the soles off his new boots without his having

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb83">[<a href="#pb83">83</a>]</span>any idea of what had happened. Shortly afterwards he was summoned to the Emperor’s

-presence, and when he knelt down to <i>kow-tow</i> before His Majesty, it was observed that he had no soles to his boots. The Emperor,

-thinking that the Minister had committed this serious breach of etiquette on purpose,

-fell into a violent passion, and ordered him to be imprisoned at once. It was no use

-for the wretched man to protest his innocence or to plead for mercy. The Emperor’s

-orders are that, unless a satisfactory explanation is given to him before six o’clock

-this evening and the missing soles produced, the Minister is to be beheaded. Here

-are the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots in my wallet, and I propose to present

-them to His Majesty this afternoon during his public audience. I shall thus earn the

-gratitude of the Prime Minister and appease the wrath of the Emperor.”

-</p>

-<p>The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their comrade on his successful

-manœuvre, and the third Thief proceeded to relate his adventures as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“When we parted yesterday,” said he, “I entered the palace, and after wandering about

-for some time I found myself in the chamber where the Emperor’s dinner was being prepared,

-and where all the chief officials of the palace were assembled to superintend the

-arrangements for the royal meal. There were the Head Chamberlain and the Under Chamberlains,

-the Head Usher and the Under Ushers, the Head Waiter and the Under Waiters, and many

-other officials of <span class="pageNum" id="pb84">[<a href="#pb84">84</a>]</span>minor degree. I mingled with the servants, who were standing about, without attracting

-any attention, and remained in the room until the Emperor himself entered and seated

-himself with great ceremony to partake of his mid-day meal. The Chief Cook and the

-Chief Chamberlain placed themselves in front of the Emperor, in order to see that

-the service of his food was properly conducted, whilst the other high officials took

-their stand on either side of his chair and assisted in bringing in the dishes. In

-spite of all these precautions, however, I was able by my skill to take the food from

-each dish as it was placed upon the table, before the Emperor had time to partake

-of more than a very few mouthfuls. As the meal proceeded the Emperor grew more and

-more annoyed, and complained of the insufficiency of the food which had been prepared

-for him. Such a thing as this had never occurred before in the palace. The Head Cook

-and all the Under Cooks, the Head Chamberlain and all the Under Chamberlains, the

-Head Usher and all the Under Ushers, and all the officials of lower degree, were thrown

-into a dreadful state of confusion and alarm at the event. They rushed hither and

-thither, between the kitchens and dining-halls, upbraiding the scullions and other

-domestics for their carelessness, and preparing the most elaborate and copious dishes

-for the Emperor’s table. But after some time the Emperor, wearied by the confusion,

-and unable, in spite of everything, to make a satisfactory meal, gave orders that

-the whole of the Cooks and other attendants responsible for his table-service should

-be <span class="pageNum" id="pb85">[<a href="#pb85">85</a>]</span>imprisoned, and that unless a satisfactory explanation of their negligence could be

-given before this evening they should be beheaded. I have here, in my wallet, the

-whole of the viands which yesterday were placed before the Emperor for his consumption,

-and I propose at the audience to present them to him, and inform him what really happened.

-He will undoubtedly pardon me when he hears the story, and I shall earn the undying

-gratitude of all the disgraced officials by procuring their release.”

-</p>

-<p>The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their comrade warmly upon

-his daring and success, and the three entered the Emperor’s antechamber together,

-and awaited the time for public audience.

-</p>

-<p>A few minutes later the great doors leading to the audience chamber were thrown open,

-and a herald appearing upon the threshold proclaimed “Silence.” He then gave notice

-that, on the previous day, the eggs had all been stolen from under the Emperor’s favourite

-pea-hen, and that any person who could find the eggs or give any information concerning

-their loss should receive a reward; secondly, that for a breach of etiquette the Prime

-Minister had been imprisoned, and that unless he could explain his offence before

-six o’clock that evening he was to be beheaded, and that any person who could offer

-assistance in the matter would be well paid and otherwise rewarded by the Emperor;

-thirdly, that owing to bad attendance during the Emperor’s repast the previous day,

-all the domestic officials of the palace had been imprisoned, and would be beheaded

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb86">[<a href="#pb86">86</a>]</span>at six o’clock that evening unless they could give a satisfactory explanation; and

-that any person who could assist in the matter would be well rewarded for his pains.

-</p>

-<p>So saying the Herald retired, and the public audience began. When the three Thieves

-were admitted to the Emperor’s presence, they went in together and made a simultaneous

-obeisance before the Emperor’s throne.

-</p>

-<p>“Who are you three men?” asked the Emperor, “and what do you want from me?”

-</p>

-<p>“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the first Thief, “I have ventured to bring a

-small gift for you.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying he took from his wallet the pea-hen’s eggs, and laid them on the throne.

-</p>

-<p>When the Emperor heard that these were his pea-hen’s eggs he was very much pleased,

-and gave orders that they should at once be taken back to the nest, and the hatching

-continued; and telling the first Thief to stand back, he enquired of the second what

-he wished to say.

-</p>

-<p>“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the second Thief, “I also have a small gift

-to make to you.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying he took the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots out of his wallet and

-laid them on the steps of the throne.

-</p>

-<p>When the Emperor found that these were the soles of his Prime Minister’s boots, and

-how they had been removed, he was very much amused, and laughed heartily. He at once

-sent orders for his Prime Minister to be released, and handed over to him the soles

-of <span class="pageNum" id="pb87">[<a href="#pb87">87</a>]</span>his boots, and told him to watch them more carefully for the future. The Prime Minister

-was delighted at being reinstated in the royal favour, and expressed his gratitude

-to the Thief for his services in the matter.

-</p>

-<p>When the third Thief was asked what he had to say he replied:

-</p>

-<p>“I, too, have a small gift for Your Majesty.”

-</p>

-<p>And so saying he produced a plate from his wallet, and laid upon it the various viands

-which had been cooked for the Emperor’s dinner the previous day.

-</p>

-<p>When the Emperor understood that this was the dinner which had been prepared for him,

-and which he ought to have eaten, he was greatly astonished; but seeing that it was

-no fault of his Cooks, Chamberlains, or other servants, he ordered them all to be

-released, and to resume their former functions.

-</p>

-<p>Having issued these various commands, the Emperor again summoned the three Thieves

-before him, and addressed them as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Although,” said he, “I am very pleased at finding such a satisfactory explanation

-for the disappearance of the eggs, the misdemeanour of my Prime Minister, and the

-insufficiency of my dinner, I cannot overlook the fact that you three men have behaved

-in a very unusual manner. So before rewarding you in accordance with my promise, I

-desire to put your skill to a further test. If you succeed in this trial to my satisfaction

-you shall all three be well rewarded, and receive rank and lands in my country; but

-if you fail, you must take <span class="pageNum" id="pb88">[<a href="#pb88">88</a>]</span>the consequences of your rashness, and you shall all three be put to death.”

-</p>

-<p>When the three Thieves heard these words they were greatly frightened, and bowing

-down before the Emperor they awaited his commands.

-</p>

-<p>“The test which I have in store for you,” continued the Emperor, “is as follows: you

-must know that in my Treasury I have a great number of jewels and precious objects

-of all kinds; and the Treasury is enclosed within a treble wall ten fathoms in height,

-closed by iron gates, and is guarded night and day by companies of my most faithful

-soldiers. If you can produce, before six o’clock to-morrow evening, three of the pearls

-from my Treasury, you shall be pardoned and rewarded; but if you fail to do so, you

-shall all three be put to death.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing these words the three thieves consulted together for a few moments, and

-replied as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“We will do our best to carry out Your Majesty’s commands and to succeed in this test

-which you have given us, but we would call your royal attention to one matter; it

-is this: supposing we produce before to-morrow evening three pearls as you command,

-how shall we be able to satisfy you that they come from the Royal Treasury? All pearls

-look very much alike, and it would be impossible for us to prove to you whence they

-came. We would, therefore, venture to suggest that, before putting us to this test,

-you should have a complete enumeration made of all the jewels in your Treasury; then,

-when we produce the three pearls in question, it <span class="pageNum" id="pb89">[<a href="#pb89">89</a>]</span>will be easy to ascertain whether there are in the Treasury three pearls less than

-there were when the enumeration was made.”

-</p>

-<p>The Emperor, seeing that this was a reasonable request, agreed to act as the Thieves

-had suggested. So summoning his Treasurer before him, he gave orders that a complete

-enumeration of all the jewels and other precious objects in his Treasury should be

-made before nightfall that evening; and having issued his commands he dismissed the

-audience.

-</p>

-<p>The Chief Treasurer was much perturbed on receiving these orders, for owing to the

-enormous quantity of jewels and other objects in the Treasury, he foresaw that it

-would be a difficult matter to have the enumeration complete before evening. The only

-way in which it could be done was to call in the assistance of all the officials of

-the palace, and having allotted a section of the Treasure Chamber to each, to order

-them to make a complete inventory each of his own part. Accordingly, he called together

-all the officials of the palace to the number of many hundreds, and they proceeded

-in a body to the Royal Treasury. The three Thieves, who had anticipated this action

-on the part of the Treasurer, meanwhile dressed themselves up in the complete robes

-which are proper for a palace official, and mingling unnoticed in the crowd, they

-followed the Treasurer to the gates of the Royal Treasury. By the Treasurer’s orders,

-the gates were at once thrown open, and the officials, entering the treasury, began

-the enumeration. The three thieves, in common with the rest, were allotted <span class="pageNum" id="pb90">[<a href="#pb90">90</a>]</span>each a section of the Treasury Chamber, of which they were to make a complete inventory,

-and whilst so employed they had no difficulty in each one secreting a large pearl

-after first placing it upon their list. By nightfall the enumeration was complete,

-the lists were all handed over to the Chief Treasurer, and the Treasury was left locked

-and guarded as before.

-</p>

-<p>Next day, at six o’clock, the Emperor seated himself in his Hall of Audience, and

-summoned the three Thieves before him.

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said he, “have you been able to fulfil the conditions which I set you? If

-you can now produce three pearls from my Treasury, you shall be rewarded in accordance

-with my promise; but if you are unable to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”

-</p>

-<p>The Thieves bowed themselves humbly before the Emperor, and without making any reply

-each one produced a pearl and laid it on the steps of the throne. When the Emperor

-saw these pearls he was much astonished; but in order to make certain that they came

-from his own Treasury, he summoned his Chief Treasurer before him, and ordered him

-to compare the jewels in the Treasury with the inventory which had been made on the

-previous evening. The Treasurer hurried off to do so, and after a short while he reappeared,

-and informed the Emperor that, having carefully counted all the jewels, and having

-compared the numbers in the Treasury with the numbers on the inventory, he found that

-three pearls were indeed missing.

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Emperor no longer hesitated <span class="pageNum" id="pb91">[<a href="#pb91">91</a>]</span>in fulfilling his promise to the three Thieves. He raised them at once to high rank,

-and presented them with lands and money sufficient to uphold their new status, and

-they lived happily ever afterwards, enjoying the confidence of the Emperor and the

-friendship of the numerous officials whom they had saved from imprisonment and death.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb92">[<a href="#pb92">92</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s15" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e316">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XV.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE BOY WITH THE DEFORMED HEAD.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived a poor man and his wife who had only one child, and this

-Boy, as it happened, was born with a deformed head, which projected in front and behind,

-and gave him a very ugly appearance. The parents, although much grieved at their son’s

-deformity, were, nevertheless, very fond of him and brought him up very carefully.

-Every day, when he grew big enough, he used to drive the cows out to pasture, and

-all day long he sat about on the hillsides watching the cattle graze. And so he passed

-his life very happily until, when he reached the age of fifteen, he began to think

-he should like to marry a wife as other young men did, but he feared that owing to

-his deformity no girl would ever look at him.

-</p>

-<p>One day it chanced that he drove his cows to graze on the rich pasture on the edge

-of a small lake, and as he was sitting near the shore of the lake all of a sudden

-he saw a large white Drake descend from the sky, and light upon the surface of the

-water. As soon as it was seated upon the water it swam round the lake three times

-to the right and then three times to the left, and having <span class="pageNum" id="pb93">[<a href="#pb93">93</a>]</span>done so it flew away again and disappeared into the sky.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy watched the behaviour of this Drake with some interest. He had never before

-seen so large and beautiful a bird, nor one that behaved so strangely. So next day

-he again sat down in the same place, and kept a sharp look-out for the bird. At the

-same hour as on the previous day the Drake again appeared in the sky, and descending

-upon the lake, acted in precisely the same manner as before. And it continued to do

-so for several days, the Boy always watching its behaviour with increased interest.

-</p>

-<p>At last he determined that he would try to catch this Drake for himself, so he wove

-himself a long rope of yaks’ hair, big enough to completely encircle the lake, and

-he laid this upon the shore in a loop extending right round the lake; and at short

-intervals along the rope he fastened loops made of the finest horse hair, the loose

-ends of which he left floating in the water.

-</p>

-<p>Next day the Drake came as usual and began to swim round the lake to the right. It

-had not gone very far when it put its foot into one of the loops and was caught. The

-Boy at once ran down to the shore of the lake, and taking the Drake in his hands,

-he tied its wings and legs together, and set it down on the grass beside him.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” thought he to himself, “what shall I do with this fine white Drake? I will

-take him home and kill him, and he will make a nice dinner for father and mother and

-me.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb94">[<a href="#pb94">94</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Just as he was thinking this, to his intense surprise, the Drake spoke to him as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“I beg of you not to kill me, my good boy,” said he, “for you must know I am not in

-reality a Drake as I appear to be, but I am a fairy King just come from the region

-of the gods. It is my habit every day to descend to this lake in the form of a white

-Drake, and to amuse myself by swimming round and round. If you will now consent to

-let me go I will reward you liberally. You shall have gold and silver and jewels and

-coral, as much as you wish, and sumptuous food every day for the rest of your life.<span class="corr" id="xd33e1363" title="Not in source">”</span>

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Boy laughed, and replied:

-</p>

-<p>“You should not tell me such stories as these. How am I to know that you are really

-a fairy? It seems to me that all you are in a position to give me is your feathers.”

-</p>

-<p>“I hope you will not disbelieve my word,” replied the Drake very earnestly; “I assure

-you I can do all this, and even more, if you will release me.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Boy, “if that is really so I will make a bargain with you. I do not

-care at all for your gold or your jewels, but what I really want is a wife. If you

-can promise to supply me with a wife I will let you go.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the Drake, “that, too, can be arranged. I have three daughters living

-in my kingdom in the skies, and I will give you as wife any one of them whom you desire.

-Would you prefer the eldest, or the youngest, or the middle one?”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb95">[<a href="#pb95">95</a>]</span></p>

-<p>The Boy was greatly pleased on hearing this offer of the Drake’s, and he thought to

-himself:

-</p>

-<p>“I will not take the eldest girl, for fear she should be too old, nor the youngest,

-for fear she should be too young. I will select the middle one.”

-</p>

-<p>So he told the Drake that he would like his middle daughter.

-</p>

-<p>“Very well,” said the Drake, “I will arrange the matter accordingly, and I will meet

-you here to-morrow with my middle daughter. But there is one condition which always

-attaches to the marriage of a mortal with a fairy, and that is that she can only live

-with you for nine years. At the conclusion of that time she is bound to return to

-her home in the heavens.”

-</p>

-<p>The Boy agreed to this condition, and when all the details had been satisfactorily

-arranged he cut the cords which bound the Drake and let him go. The bird spread his

-wings and flew up into the sky; and after circling for a few minutes he flew straight

-upwards and disappeared from sight, whilst the Boy went home to his father and mother.

-</p>

-<p>The Drake flew far up into the blue sky until he arrived at the country of the gods,

-where he changed at once into the form and raiment of the King of the Fairies. Seating

-himself upon his throne, he summoned his three daughters before him and informed them

-of what had occurred; and he gave orders to his middle daughter to prepare herself

-forthwith to go and marry a mortal. The girl wept bitterly on hearing this, but nevertheless

-she prepared to carry out her father’s <span class="pageNum" id="pb96">[<a href="#pb96">96</a>]</span>orders, and got ready a large stock of beautiful clothes and much gold and silver

-and jewels to take with her.

-</p>

-<p>Next day, at the appointed hour, the Boy went down to the lake as usual, and seated

-himself in his usual place; and not long afterwards he saw the white Drake and a white

-Duck flying towards him from the sky. They descended swiftly until they touched the

-ground, where they were at once transformed into the Fairy King and his beautiful

-daughter. The boy was overcome with joy when he saw the lovely wife that had been

-brought to him; but the girl was horrified at his ugly appearance, and begged her

-father to take her back to her abode in the skies. The Fairy King, however, insisted

-upon her carrying out her share of the bargain, so leaving his daughter with the Boy,

-he again turned himself into a Drake and, flying up into the sky, he disappeared from

-view.

-</p>

-<p>The Boy now led his bride home to his father and mother, and next day the marriage

-was duly completed. The Fairy wife, by means of her magic, was able to erect a magnificent

-palace, and to furnish it in the most luxurious manner with everything necessary for

-comfort; and she supplied, moreover, horses and servants, and everything else that

-a married couple could desire. So the two took up their abode in this fine house and,

-together with the old father and mother, they lived there happily for several years;

-and as time passed away the fairy wife became accustomed to her husband’s forbidding

-appearance, and year by year became more and more attached to him.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb97">[<a href="#pb97">97</a>]</span></p>

-<p>So the time slipped by and at last the nine years of the Fairy wife’s abode upon earth

-came to an end. The young Man, however, had become so accustomed to her presence that

-he could hardly believe that the Fairy King’s words would come true and that he should

-really be deprived of his wife when the appointed time arrived. So on the last night

-of the ninth year he went to bed as usual in his magnificent chamber, clothed in rich

-silks, and surrounded by all the evidences of wealth and luxury.

-</p>

-<p>He slept soundly all night, and when he awoke in the morning and sat up and looked

-about him, what was his astonishment and horror to discover that, instead of lying

-upon his fine couch in his magnificent palace, with troops of servants ready to wait

-upon him, he was reposing upon the bare ground under the open sky, on a bleak hillside

-near to the spot where he had first conversed with the Fairy King. His palace, his

-servants, his horses, his furniture, and, worst of all, his beautiful wife, had all

-disappeared utterly and completely, and nothing remained of them but a memory. Half

-distracted with grief and chagrin, the young Man ran frantically across the country,

-thinking to find some trace of his lost happiness.

-</p>

-<p>For some days he wandered on and on, scarcely conscious of what he was doing, and

-at length, having passed beyond the part of the country which he knew, he arrived

-one day about noon on the shores of a vast expanse of water which stretched before

-him as far as he could see. By the side of this lake there arose a jagged cliff, <span class="pageNum" id="pb98">[<a href="#pb98">98</a>]</span>and about half-way up the cliff on a broad ledge he noticed an immense nest, in which

-appeared some young birds of unusual size. At first he was unable to detect what sort

-of birds these were, but after examining them attentively for some time he saw that

-they were three young Gryphons, whose parents apparently had gone off in search of

-food.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p098width" id="p098"><img src="images/p098.jpg" alt="THE DRAGON ATTACKING THE GRYPHON’S NEST." width="720" height="635"><p class="figureHead">THE DRAGON ATTACKING THE GRYPHON’S NEST.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 98.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>As he stood upon the beach watching the young birds they suddenly began to manifest

-every sign of terror and confusion, chattering and squealing wildly to one another,

-and flapping their puny wings; and on turning towards the lake in order to ascertain

-what was the cause of their alarm, he perceived an immense Dragon—whose head, at the

-end of its long neck, towered high above the water—making its way rapidly across the

-lake, with the evident intention of devouring the young Gryphons. The young Man, who

-was of a courageous and kindly disposition, determined to save the young Gryphons

-from the maw of this monster; so, drawing his sword, he waited till the Dragon had

-set foot upon dry land, and then, attacking him fiercely, he engaged single-handed

-in a desperate conflict. For some time the issue was doubtful, but the young man at

-length succeeded with one well-delivered blow in severing the Dragon’s head from its

-neck, and the monster fell dead upon the beach.

-</p>

-<p>Scarcely had the Dragon breathed its last when the air was darkened by the wings of

-some great creature passing overhead, and, looking up, he observed, flying just above

-him, the forms of the two parent Gryphons <span class="pageNum" id="pb99">[<a href="#pb99">99</a>]</span>now returning to their nest. As soon as they had arrived the young Gryphons proceeded

-to relate to them at full length the terrible danger they had just escaped, and the

-gallant conduct of the young Man in slaying their would-be destroyer. The parent Gryphons

-were very pleased when they heard this story, and, looking towards the young Man with

-some curiosity, they began to remark upon his appearance.

-</p>

-<p>“Have you ever, Mother Gryphon,” asked the male bird, “seen any creature of that description

-before?”

-</p>

-<p>“No, Father Gryphon, I never have,” she replied; “but it seems to be both brave and

-well-intentioned. I observe, moreover, that it has neither beak nor claws, so I propose

-that we invite it into the nest, and receive it hospitably in return for a good service

-which it has rendered to our children.”

-</p>

-<p>Father Gryphon agreed to this proposal, and he at once flew down to the beach, and

-addressing the young Man he invited him to enter the nest. The youth accepted the

-invitation, and having explained that he was unable to fly, he mounted upon the Gryphon’s

-back and was speedily carried up the cliff, and deposited with the young Gryphons

-in the nest. After making a good dinner off the food which the parent Gryphons had

-just provided for their young ones, the young Man related to the family all his various

-adventures since the time when he had first made the acquaintance of the Fairy King.

-</p>

-<p>“Yours,” said Father Gryphon, “is a very sad story, <span class="pageNum" id="pb100">[<a href="#pb100">100</a>]</span>and in my opinion you have not been treated at all well; but if you desire it, I may

-perhaps be of some assistance to you. What I propose is that you should mount upon

-my back, and I will then carry you through the air to the kingdom of the gods, where

-you can represent your case to the King of the Fairies in person, and where you will,

-at any rate, have the opportunity of persuading your wife to accompany you back to

-earth.”

-</p>

-<p>The young Man gladly assented to this proposition, and mounted on the Gryphon’s back;

-and the great bird, spreading his wings, soared upwards straight into the blue sky,

-carrying the youth with him. Up and up they flew, whilst the earth seemed to recede

-into the distance and to grow smaller and smaller, until at length it disappeared

-from view altogether. Still they flew on until, towards nightfall, they arrived at

-the country of the gods. The Gryphon, with the young Man upon his back, flew straight

-in through the great golden gates, and deposited the youth in the centre of a vast

-courtyard round which were sitting numbers of gods, fairies and other denizens of

-the sky.

-</p>

-<p>When the gods saw that a human being had been deposited in their midst they rose in

-great wrath, and began bitterly to reproach the Gryphon for what he had done.

-</p>

-<p>“How is it,” said they, “that you have dared, unordered, to bring into our presence

-an inhabitant of the human world? Do you not know that human beings are of a coarser

-essence than ourselves and are <span class="pageNum" id="pb101">[<a href="#pb101">101</a>]</span>repugnant and abhorrent to us? How dare you so defile the sacred country of the gods?”

-</p>

-<p>But the Gryphon was not at all frightened at their anger, and he answered them boldly

-and firmly:

-</p>

-<p>“This young man,” said he, “is a valiant and kind-hearted youth. He saved my young

-ones from destruction by attacking, single-handed, and killing a Dragon who was on

-the point of devouring them. He then related to me his story of how, after nine years

-of happiness, he was deprived by the King of the Fairies of his wife, his house, his

-wealth, and everything which he had possessed. I consider, therefore, that he has

-been treated in a shameful and unjustifiable manner, and so I have brought him here

-to plead his cause in person and to claim redress.”

-</p>

-<p>While this conversation was in progress the young man’s Fairy wife had been hiding

-in a corner, too nervous to show herself before her husband and all the assembly of

-the gods. But she could now contain herself no longer, and, rushing forward, she threw

-herself into her husband’s arms, crying out that she loved him and would return with

-him to earth.

-</p>

-<p>When her father heard this he did not know how to act, but it was decided that a conclave

-should be held, and the matter debated at length. So the celestial powers met together

-in a great council, and, having discussed the matter in all its bearings, they decided

-that, as the Fairy Princess desired to return to earth of her own free will, they

-would not stand in her way; but that if she did so, she must take the consequence

-of <span class="pageNum" id="pb102">[<a href="#pb102">102</a>]</span>her own action, and that as the result of mating with an unclean creature like a human

-being she must herself become mortal and lose her Fairy nature.

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this decision the girl joyfully agreed. So she and her husband mounted

-together upon the broad back of the Gryphon, and the great beast, spreading his wings,

-sailed through the golden gates of the palace and swept downwards through the blue

-heavens to the earth below. He soon deposited the youth and his wife on the ground

-near their old home, where he bade them farewell and returned to his own nest. And

-henceforward, although the Fairy had lost her magic powers, the two lived happily

-together, and grew to a good old age in prosperous and comfortable circumstances.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb103">[<a href="#pb103">103</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s16" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e325">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVI.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE PRINCE AND THE OGRE’S CASTLE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived an old King and Queen, who, although they had been married

-for many years, had no children to brighten their old age or to inherit their kingdom;

-and in the King’s possession, as it happened, were a favourite mare and dog, who also

-had no offspring. Now both the King and the Queen were very anxious to have children

-of their own, and also to perpetuate the fine breed represented by the mare and the

-dog; so the King posted a notice all over his kingdom, offering a very large reward

-to any Lama or other holy personage who could secure to him and to his horse and dog

-the birth of children.

-</p>

-<p>In response to this notice many Lamas and recluses presented themselves at the palace,

-and by means of prayers and religious ceremonies they endeavoured to obtain from the

-gods what the King and Queen desired; but all their efforts were in vain, and the

-years passed by without any offspring being born.

-</p>

-<p>Now it chanced that in a neighbouring country there lived a terrible Ogre, who was

-an expert in magic and all the black arts; and it came to his ears that this King

-had offered a large reward if anyone could secure to him <span class="pageNum" id="pb104">[<a href="#pb104">104</a>]</span>the birth of children for himself, his horse and his dog. So he disguised himself

-as a holy Lama, and coming up to the palace one day on foot, he asked for an interview

-with the King. The King, who had almost lost faith in Lamas of any kind, received

-him courteously, and asked him what he could do to help in the matter.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, King!” replied the supposed Lama, “I, you must know, am a great recluse, and

-as the result of many years of solitary meditation, I have become proficient in all

-the magic arts. I will undertake to secure for you and your horse and dog the birth

-of offspring as you desire. But I can only do so on one condition, which is as follows:

-three children will be born to you, three to the horse and three to the dog. They

-will all be of a miraculous nature, and will grow to their full powers in the course

-of three years. At the end of three years I will return here, and will claim from

-you one of each to follow me and serve me and to obey my orders in all matters.”

-</p>

-<p>The King gladly agreed to this condition, and asked the Lama how he should proceed

-in order to secure the desired result. The Lama replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Here, oh King, are nine pills; three of these must be administered to the Queen,

-three to the horse and three to the dog. In three months’ time a child will be born

-to each, to be followed by two others at intervals of one month.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, he handed the pills to the King and forthwith took his departure. The King

-accordingly administered the pills as directed, and after three months the <span class="pageNum" id="pb105">[<a href="#pb105">105</a>]</span>Queen gave birth to a boy, the mare to a foal, and the dog to a pup, and these were

-followed by two others at intervals of one month as the Lama had predicted.

-</p>

-<p>All the young ones grew apace, and at the end of the three years they had all attained

-to their full growth and powers, and punctually at the conclusion of the third year

-the Ogre, still disguised as a Lama, returned to the palace to demand his due.

-</p>

-<p>The King and Queen, though reluctant to part with any of their children, resolved

-to abide by their bargain, and they consulted together as to which of the young Princes

-should be handed over to the Lama. After some consideration they decided that it would

-not be advisable to part with the eldest son, as he was heir to the throne, nor with

-the second, who would have to succeed to the kingdom should any accident or mischance

-befall his elder brother; so they resolved to send the youngest son, and with him

-the youngest horse and the youngest dog. These three accordingly were handed over

-to the Lama, who ordered the Prince to follow him, and started off at once to his

-own country.

-</p>

-<p>After travelling for some considerable distance they arrived at the top of a high

-pass, whence the Ogre, pointing down to a great castle standing in the valley below,

-said to the young Prince:

-</p>

-<p>“That is my house below there; I shall leave you here and you must go on down to the

-house. When you arrive there you will find a goat tied up near the door of the courtyard,

-and a bundle of straw lying near by. You must pick up the bundle of straw and place

-it within <span class="pageNum" id="pb106">[<a href="#pb106">106</a>]</span>reach of the goat. Then you must go into the farmyard, where you will find many fowls,

-and in one corner you will see an earthenware jar full of soaked grain, and you must

-sprinkle this grain for the fowls to eat. These two tasks I give you to-day, and you

-are on no account to enter my castle until I rejoin you in the evening.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying the Ogre went off in another direction, whilst the young Prince, riding

-on his horse and followed by his dog, went down to the Ogre’s castle. When he reached

-the gateway he found, as the Ogre had predicted, a goat tied up and a bundle of straw

-lying in a corner of the courtyard. So he dismounted from his horse, and, picking

-up the bundle, he carried it near the goat and placed it on the ground. Scarcely had

-the bundle touched the ground when it became transformed into three great wolves,

-who, leaping upon the goat, devoured it in an instant, and then fled away to the hills.

-</p>

-<p>The young Prince was very much astonished at seeing this, but being of a courageous

-spirit he did not allow the incident to frighten him, and proceeded to finish the

-remainder of his task. So he entered the yard where the poultry were kept, and proceeding

-to the corner where stood the jar of soaked barley, he took out a handful and scattered

-it amongst the fowls. As the grain touched the ground it was transformed instantly

-into three wild cats, who leapt fiercely upon the cocks and hens, and in a few moments,

-having destroyed them all, fled away into the hills.

-</p>

-<p>The Prince’s curiosity was now thoroughly aroused, and he determined, in spite of

-the Ogre’s warning, to <span class="pageNum" id="pb107">[<a href="#pb107">107</a>]</span>enter the house itself, and to discover what sort of place he had come to, so he pushed

-open the door of the castle and began wandering about all over the house. For some

-time he found nothing to interest him. The rooms were all well furnished and in good

-order, but he could find no trace and hear no sound of any living creature.

-</p>

-<p>At last, after having explored the greater part of the building, he suddenly turned

-a corner in a passage, and saw in front of him a room whose walls were composed entirely

-of glass. Entering this room he saw in one corner a beautiful lady lying asleep on

-a couch with a flower behind her ear. The Prince was pleased at finding a human being

-in this desolate and mysterious castle, and, approaching the lady, he endeavoured

-to arouse her from her slumber. But all his efforts were in vain; she appeared to

-be in a sort of trance, and all he could do did not succeed in waking her.

-</p>

-<p>At last in despair he took away the flower which was placed behind her ear, and as

-he did so she woke and sat up upon her couch, rubbing her eyes. As soon as she perceived

-the young Prince she was much astonished, and asked him what he was doing in the Ogre’s

-castle. The Prince told her the whole story of his miraculous birth through the magic

-of the holy Lama, and how he was condemned to serve the Lama as his servant through

-the agreement which the King his father had made, and how he had carried out the two

-tasks which the Lama had given him that day.

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this story the lady was very indignant, and spoke to him as follows:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb108">[<a href="#pb108">108</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“You must know, oh Prince,” said she, “that the person whom you suppose to be a Lama

-is in reality a fearful and wicked Ogre. The only food of which he partakes is men’s

-hearts, and this house is full of the lifeless bodies of his numerous victims. He,

-however, is unable to obtain any power over the body of a human being unless that

-being directly disobeys his orders. Thus it is his practice upon obtaining a fresh

-servant to set him strange tasks which terrify and repel him. These tasks grow daily

-more difficult and more odious, until at last one day the servant disobeys his orders,

-and forthwith his body is at the mercy of the Ogre, who devours the heart and places

-the lifeless body in a large chamber at the back of this house. The process has evidently

-begun with you to-day. You have fulfilled all of his tasks without allowing yourself

-to be terrified by the strange portents which you have observed, but on his return

-he will no doubt set you further and more disagreeable duties to perform. I, you should

-know, am a Princess in my own country, and I was handed over to the Ogre by my parents

-about a year ago in circumstances very similar to your own. But when he had brought

-me to his castle, instead of destroying me as he does his other victims, he fell in

-love with me, and I have remained here as his wife ever since. But he is of a very

-jealous disposition, and never allows me to leave his castle; and for fear I should

-make my escape during his absence, he invariably, before going out, places an enchanted

-flower behind my ear which makes me fall into a trance, and I cannot awake until the

-flower is removed.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb109">[<a href="#pb109">109</a>]</span></p>

-<p>The young Prince was very much interested on hearing this story, and he begged the

-Princess to give him some further information about the Ogre’s habits, in order that

-he might not unawares fall into his power, and might eventually be able to bring about

-the destruction of the monster.

-</p>

-<p>“It is very difficult,” replied the Princess, “for any human being to kill the Ogre,

-for he is of a supernatural nature, and even if you were to cut off his head he would

-come to life again at once, unless you could also destroy his ‘mascot’<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1469src" href="#xd33e1469" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>—that is to say, the object upon the preservation of which his life in this world

-depends. Now the Ogre’s mascot is very carefully concealed, and its existence and

-whereabouts are known to no person except myself. I, however, have discovered where

-it is, and I will reveal the secret to you later, but first I will tell you the method

-by which you may destroy the Ogre’s body. You must know, then, that it is only possible

-for a human being to strike a mortal blow at the Ogre when his face is turned away.

-He knows this very well, and will never in any circumstances turn his back upon a

-man. Similarly, if he can make you turn your back to him he may be able to do you

-a mischief. When he comes in this evening and finds that you have fulfilled both the

-tasks he has set you, the first thing he will order you to do will be to walk three

-times round a great stove which stands in the centre of the kitchen; and if you <span class="pageNum" id="pb110">[<a href="#pb110">110</a>]</span>obey his orders he will follow you from behind and will possibly do you some harm

-while your back is turned towards him. When he gives you these orders, then, you must

-not disobey, but you must tell the Ogre that it is so dark in the kitchen that you

-cannot see your way clearly, and you must ask him to precede you. This he is bound

-to do, and while he is going round the stove you may perhaps find an opportunity for

-stabbing him. If, however, you cannot succeed in doing so, and you both pass through

-this ordeal successfully, he will set you no further task to-night, and I will ascertain

-from him during the evening what trial he has in store for you to-morrow.”

-</p>

-<p>The Prince thanked the young lady for all her good advice, which he promised to follow

-faithfully in every respect, and she then said to him:

-</p>

-<p>“It is now near the time for the Ogre’s return. I will lie down on the couch, and

-you must place the flower behind my ear just as it was before; and when I fall into

-a trance you must at once go out into the courtyard and wait the return of the Ogre,

-and mind you are careful not to let him know that you have been inside the castle.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the Princess lay down upon her couch, and the young man having placed the

-flower behind her ear she instantly fell into a deep trance. The Prince then went

-out into the courtyard and shortly after the Ogre arrived. He had now discarded his

-lama costume and appeared in his proper form, and riding up to the Prince he asked

-him in an angry tone whether <span class="pageNum" id="pb111">[<a href="#pb111">111</a>]</span>he had carried out the orders he had received, and on the Prince replying in the affirmative,

-the Ogre ordered him to come into the kitchen. On entering the kitchen the Ogre pointed

-to a great stove standing in the centre, and said to the Prince:

-</p>

-<p>“You must now walk three times round that stove.”

-</p>

-<p>“It is so dark in here,” replied the Prince, “that I cannot see my way at all clearly.

-Will you please precede me and show me the way?”

-</p>

-<p>The Ogre was very angry at hearing this, but he was unable to refuse, so he started

-off and ran round the stove three times, the Prince following closely at his heels.

-But he went so fast that the Prince, although he had his knife ready in his hand,

-was unable to catch him; and the Ogre, seeing that the Prince was not to be outwitted

-by this stratagem, went upstairs to his wife, leaving the young man locked up in the

-kitchen, where he spent the night alone.

-</p>

-<p>Next morning the Ogre started off soon after daylight on his own business, and as

-soon as he was gone the Prince ran upstairs to the glass room, where he found the

-lady lying in a trance as before. He took the flower from behind her ear, and she

-immediately woke up and looked about her.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Prince,” said she. “How did you succeed last night? I hope you followed

-the instructions which I gave you.”

-</p>

-<p>The Prince described to her what had occurred, and she said:

-</p>

-<p>“I have ascertained what the Ogre proposes to do <span class="pageNum" id="pb112">[<a href="#pb112">112</a>]</span>when he returns this evening. He will seat himself in his chair of state in his great

-hall of audience and will order you to <i>kow-tow</i> to him three times, and if you do so he will seize an opportunity whilst you are

-lying on your face before him to do you some injury. It will not do, however, absolutely

-to disobey his orders; but you must explain to him that, being a Prince, you have

-never had to <i>kow-tow</i> to anybody and do not exactly know how to do it, and you must ask him to show you

-the proper way to proceed. He cannot refuse your request, and you must take the opportunity

-of stabbing him or cutting off his head whilst he is lying on his face before you.

-If you succeed in this come at once to me, and I will show you what else is necessary

-in order to bring about his complete destruction.”

-</p>

-<p>The Prince promised to obey the lady’s orders, and after again sending her into a

-trance by placing the magic flower behind her ear, he returned to the courtyard and

-awaited the Ogre’s return. Just before dusk the Ogre came back and as the Princess

-had predicted he proceeded at once to the great audience hall, and seated himself

-on his chair of state.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he to the Prince, “you must <i>kow-tow</i> to me three times.”

-</p>

-<p>“I am very sorry,” answered the Prince, “that I do not know how to do so. Being a

-Prince myself, I have never had to <i>kow-tow</i> to anybody; but if you will show me the proper manner in which to proceed I will

-do my best.”

-</p>

-<p>This reply made the Ogre very angry, but he was <span class="pageNum" id="pb113">[<a href="#pb113">113</a>]</span>unable to refuse to do as the Prince had asked him. So the Prince took his seat on

-the Ogre’s chair and the Ogre kneeling on the ground before him proceeded to <i>kow-tow</i> three times in the orthodox manner. As the Ogre’s face touched the ground the first

-time the Prince drew his sword; as it touched the ground the second time he raised

-the sword above his head; and as it touched the ground the third and last time the

-Prince delivered a violent blow, completely severing the Ogre’s head from his body.

-Leaving the body where it lay, the Prince ran up to the glass room as fast as he could,

-and having awakened the lady from her sleep, he told her what had happened.

-</p>

-<p>“Well done!” said she. “The first part of your task is now accomplished; but as I

-told you before, it is still necessary to destroy the Ogre’s mascot, or he will come

-to life again in a short time. What you must do now, therefore, is as follows: you

-must descend into the vaults below the castle, and having traversed nine dark subterranean

-chambers, you will come to a blank stone wall. You must rap three times on this wall

-with the hilt of your sword, exclaiming with each rap, ‘Open, blank wall’; and as

-you pronounce these words for the third time the wall will fly asunder, and you will

-find yourself entering another subterranean chamber. In the centre of this chamber

-you will see a beautiful boy seated with a goblet of crystal liquid in his hand. This

-boy is the Ogre’s mascot, and upon his existence depends the Ogre’s life in this world.

-You must at once slay the boy, and taking the goblet very carefully in <span class="pageNum" id="pb114">[<a href="#pb114">114</a>]</span>your hand, carry it upstairs to me. But be careful not to spill any of the liquid,

-as each drop means a man’s life.”

-</p>

-<p>On receiving these instructions the Prince went down into the vaults at the basement

-of the castle, and having traversed nine great subterranean chambers, he found his

-progress stopped by a blank wall. Raising his sword he rapped three times with the

-hilt on the wall, exclaiming each time as he did so, “Open, blank wall.” As he pronounced

-these words for the third time a grating sound was heard, and with a hollow clang

-the wall gave way for him.

-</p>

-<p>Advancing a few paces the Prince found himself in a small dungeon, lighted only by

-the glimmer which issued from a goblet of crystal liquid held in the hand of a beautiful

-young boy, who was seated in the centre of the chamber. Without a moment’s hesitation

-the Prince thrust his sword through the heart of the boy, and taking the goblet in

-his hand, he carried it upstairs to the Princess, being very careful on the way not

-to allow a single drop to be spilt.

-</p>

-<p>When the Princess saw him entering her room with the goblet in his hand she was very

-much delighted.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said she, “the Ogre is effectually destroyed, and can never more come to life

-in this world. All that now remains to be done is to restore to life his previous

-victims.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying she ordered the Prince, still carrying the goblet, to follow her, and she

-proceeded by many winding passages and staircases to a remote part of the great castle.

-Presently, opening a huge door, she entered a <span class="pageNum" id="pb115">[<a href="#pb115">115</a>]</span>long, low, gloomy chamber, lighted only by a narrow window which looked out over the

-back part of the castle. When the Prince entered this chamber he was horrified to

-see that down both sides of it were stretched the bodies of many scores of men, women

-and children, who lay there fully dressed, but to all appearance quite lifeless.

-</p>

-<p>“These,” said the lady, “are the bodies of the Ogre’s victims; he has eaten their

-hearts, but the bodies, as you see, remain unharmed, while the spirit of each one

-is compressed into a drop of crystal liquor with which that goblet is filled. You

-must now sprinkle the bodies with the liquid, giving one drop to each.”

-</p>

-<p>Accordingly the Prince passed down the rows of lifeless bodies, dropping as he went

-one drop of the magic liquid on each body; and as the liquor touched the body the

-life returned, and each person, as if awakened from a long sleep, moved and yawned,

-and finally sat up and began to talk and walk. In a few moments the transformation

-was complete, and the Ogre’s victims, after thanking the Prince and Princess heartily

-for their good offices, returned to their own homes. The Prince himself bade farewell

-to the lady, and leaving her in possession of the Ogre’s castle and all its belongings,

-he himself mounted upon his horse, and with his dog following at his heels, set out

-in search of further adventures.

-</p>

-<p class="tb"></p><p>

-</p>

-<p class="small">[This is only the first instalment of the Prince’s adventures, which continue to an

-interminable length. I have given this section as a sample of the whole.]

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb116">[<a href="#pb116">116</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1469">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1469src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Known as “La” in the Tibetan tongue. It is difficult to find an equivalent word in

-the English language, but the Princess describes its meaning. See also the story of

-“Room Bacha and Baki,” where the same superstition occurs.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1469src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s17" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e334">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE STONE LION.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father was dead, and who lived alone

-with their mother in a big house in a well-cultivated valley.

-</p>

-<p>Now the elder of these brothers was a smart, clever man, but was of a very selfish,

-cold-hearted disposition; and the younger brother was simple and kind, but rather

-dull. The consequence was that after the death of their father the elder brother conducted

-most of the business of the family himself, and entirely supported his brother and

-his mother; whilst the younger brother, although quite willing to do his best, was

-not clever enough to be of any assistance in the household.

-</p>

-<p>After a time the elder brother decided in his mind that he could no longer endure

-this state of affairs, so he one day called his young brother aside, and told him

-plainly that he would no longer continue to support such a lout, and that it would

-be better for him to go out into the world and seek his own fortune alone. The poor

-boy was much grieved on hearing this decision from his brother; but he was quite unable

-to protest or dispute, so, having packed up his few belongings, he <span class="pageNum" id="pb117">[<a href="#pb117">117</a>]</span>went to say good-bye to his mother, and told her what had occurred. The good woman

-was very angry when she heard the news, and she said to her son:

-</p>

-<p>“Very well, if your hard-hearted brother insists on turning you out of the house,

-I will accompany you. I cannot consent to remain any longer with such an unnatural

-and cruel son.”

-</p>

-<p>So next day the mother and her younger son left the house and set off together to

-seek some means of livelihood on their own account. After travelling for some little

-distance they reached an empty hut situated at the foot of a large hill, not far from

-a populous town; and finding that the place was apparently deserted and that the owner,

-whoever he was, had left nothing to show that he proposed to return, they took possession

-of the hut, and slept there during the night.

-</p>

-<p>Next morning early the boy, taking an axe with him, went out on to the hillside and

-began chopping wood. By evening he had chopped a fine big bundle of wood, and taking

-it down into the town he sold it in the market for a good sum of money. Greatly elated

-at the success of his labours he returned to his mother in the hut, and showing her

-the money he had earned, he told her that she need no longer have any anxiety regarding

-the future, for he would now be able to support her without any difficulty. Next morning,

-shouldering his axe, he started off again, and as before, began to chop wood. He had

-done a good morning’s work, and was walking a little further up the hill in order

-to search for some better timber, when, in a sheltered part of the hillside <span class="pageNum" id="pb118">[<a href="#pb118">118</a>]</span>he suddenly found himself face to face with a large life-sized Lion carved out of

-the stone.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” thought he to himself, on seeing the Lion, “this, no doubt, is the guardian

-deity of this mountain, and to him must be due my good fortune in so easily obtaining

-a means of livelihood. I will certainly make him some offering to-morrow.”

-</p>

-<p>So that evening, after selling his wood, he purchased two candles in the town, and

-on the following day he went straight to where the stone Lion stood, and lighting

-the candles, he placed one upon each side of the image, and prostrating himself humbly

-upon the ground before it, he prayed for renewed good fortune. Suddenly, to his surprise

-and alarm, the Lion opened its mouth, and asked him what he was doing there.

-</p>

-<p>The young man replied that having been driven from his home by his proud and hard-hearted

-brother, he was now engaged in earning his livelihood by chopping wood upon that hill;

-and that, thinking that the Lion must be the guardian deity of the mountain, he had

-considered it right to make him some sort of an offering, and to request his continued

-patronage and assistance.

-</p>

-<p>“Very good,” replied the Lion in a guttural tone of voice, “come again at this time

-to-morrow, and bring with you a large bucket, and I will furnish you at once with

-what wealth you require.”

-</p>

-<p>The boy thanked the Lion for his kindness, and carrying his load of firewood down

-to the village he sold it for a good price, and with the proceeds he purchased himself

-a large wooden bucket.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb119">[<a href="#pb119">119</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Next morning he went up onto the hill again, carrying his bucket, and arriving near

-the stone Lion, he again prostrated himself upon the ground and announced his presence.

-</p>

-<p>“Very good,” replied the Lion, “you must now act as follows: hold the bucket under

-my mouth, and I will vomit gold into it. But as soon as the bucket is nearly full

-you must tell me, as on no account must a single morsel of gold fall to the ground.”

-</p>

-<p>The young man proceeded to do as the Lion had instructed him. He held the bucket below

-the Lion’s mouth, and the Lion forthwith began to vomit into it a stream of gold pieces.

-When the bucket was nearly full the young man informed the Lion of the fact, and forthwith

-the stream of gold came to an end; and the youth, having thanked the Lion most heartily

-for his munificent gift, carried off his bucket of gold in triumph to his mother.

-The poor woman was at first quite frightened at seeing so much wealth, but her son,

-having explained to her how he had come by it, she became greatly excited, and pleased.

-</p>

-<p>Next day the widow and her son set about placing themselves in more comfortable circumstances.

-They purchased a large farm-house in the neighbourhood, and a large stock of cattle

-and sheep, and settled down in their new abode, and henceforward they began to live

-in a very comfortable and prosperous manner.

-</p>

-<p>The news of the changed condition of life of his mother and younger brother soon reached

-the ears of the eldest son, and overcome with curiosity as to how this result <span class="pageNum" id="pb120">[<a href="#pb120">120</a>]</span>had been brought about, he decided to call upon them, and to ascertain the cause of

-their prosperity. So, accompanied by his wife, and carrying with him a very small

-piece of cloth as a present, he set out to pay them a visit. When he reached the house

-his younger brother was away engaged upon his farm business, but the mother received

-her elder son and his wife very kindly and made them as comfortable as she could.

-In the evening, when the younger brother returned, he greeted his brother heartily,

-and being of a most kind-hearted and forgiving disposition, he related to him fully

-the manner in which he had come by his wealth, and strongly recommended his brother

-to act in a similar way.

-</p>

-<p>The elder brother and his wife, as they returned home together that evening, talked

-the matter over between them, and decided that so good an opportunity of making money

-so easily was not to be lost. So next day the husband proceeded to the town, and after

-a prolonged search purchased the largest bucket which was to be had in the whole place.

-Carrying this with him, and bringing also a couple of candles, he proceeded to the

-hillside, and following the directions he had received from his brother, he soon found

-himself face to face with the stone Lion. He at once lighted his candles and placed

-them one on each side of the Lion, while he prostrated himself upon the ground, and

-prayed to the Lion for good fortune.

-</p>

-<p>“Who are you?” said the Lion in a gruff voice; “and what do you want?”

-</p>

-<p>“I,” replied the elder brother, “am the brother of <span class="pageNum" id="pb121">[<a href="#pb121">121</a>]</span>the young man who was here the other day, and to whom you gave so much gold; and,

-following his advice, I have now come to ask you for a similar benefit for myself.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very well,” said the Lion, “place your bucket under my mouth and I will vomit gold

-into it; but as soon as the bucket is nearly full you must inform me of the fact,

-as on no account must a single piece of gold fall to the ground. If this should happen,

-you will meet with misfortune.”

-</p>

-<div class="figure p121width" id="p121"><img src="images/p121.jpg" alt="THE STONE LION VOMITING GOLD." width="720" height="453"><p class="figureHead">THE STONE LION VOMITING GOLD.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 121.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>So the elder brother, trembling with eagerness, held his bucket as directed, and forthwith

-a stream of gold pieces began to pour from the Lion’s mouth into the bucket. The covetous

-fellow shook the bucket slightly from time to time in order to make the gold lie well

-together and so to obtain a larger quantity; and, overcome by greed, he could not

-bring himself to inform the Lion that the bucket was nearly full until it brimmed

-over and a piece of gold, slipping off the heap, fell to the ground. As it touched

-the ground the stream of gold suddenly ceased, and the Lion, in a hoarse voice, said:

-</p>

-<p>“The largest piece of gold of all has stuck in my throat. Put your hand into my mouth

-and pull it out.”

-</p>

-<p>The elder brother, on hearing this, immediately thrust his hand into the Lion’s mouth,

-hoping to secure a large lump of gold; and no sooner had he done so than the Lion,

-closing his jaws, held him fast. It was in vain that he struggled and wrenched his

-arm to and fro, <span class="pageNum" id="pb122">[<a href="#pb122">122</a>]</span>endeavouring to release it; the stone jaws of the Lion gripped him so tight that he

-was totally unable to effect his escape, and the Lion, deaf to all prayers and entreaties,

-had relapsed apparently into an insensible figure of stone. And worst of all, when

-he glanced at his bucket of gold he saw, to his horror, that instead of gold it held

-nothing but stones and earth.

-</p>

-<p>Towards evening the elder brother’s wife grew anxious concerning her husband’s absence,

-and knowing the direction in which he had gone, she set forth to the hillside to seek

-him. After hunting for some time she suddenly came across him, and asked him what

-he was doing and why he did not come home.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, wife,” said he, “a terrible thing has happened to me. I put my hand into the

-Lion’s mouth in order to extract a lump of gold which was stuck in his throat, when

-all of a sudden he closed his jaws, and gripped my arm, and now I am unable to effect

-my escape.”

-</p>

-<p>The poor woman, on hearing this, wept and wailed, but all her entreaties to the Lion

-proved of no avail, and she went off to her home, and soon returned carrying her husband

-some food. Every day, for many days after, she returned to her husband, bringing him

-such provisions as he required to keep him alive; but as she had now no one to work

-for her, and was obliged to support her husband and her child entirely by her own

-exertions, she became gradually poorer and poorer, and was soon obliged to sell her

-household goods to procure the necessary food.

-</p>

-<p>Some months passed away and the poor woman, <span class="pageNum" id="pb123">[<a href="#pb123">123</a>]</span>falling ill, was at length reduced to such complete destitution that she had not even

-a morsel of bread to bring to her husband, and one morning she came weeping up the

-hill, and addressed him as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“I have sold everything in the house, and have now no money to buy any food. There

-is not a scrap left to eat anywhere, and now nothing remains but for us to starve

-to death.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Lion was so tickled that he could not refrain from laughing.

-</p>

-<p>“Ha, ha!” said he, and opened his great jaws.

-</p>

-<p>As quickly as he could, and before the Lion had time to close his mouth again, the

-man withdrew his arm, and, finding himself free, he at once hastened down the hill

-with his wife. Then, taking their child with them, they proceeded straight to the

-house of the younger brother, and having related to him the whole of their story,

-begged some relief from their misery. The young man reproached his brother for his

-greedy conduct in trying to obtain an extra supply of gold from the Lion in spite

-of his warning; but being of a very forgiving nature, he consented at last to supply

-his brother with a sum of money sufficient for him to take a small farm in the neighbourhood.

-Here the proud brother and his wife settled down in very humble circumstances, whilst

-the younger son lived for many years very happily with his mother and prospered exceedingly

-in all he undertook.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb124">[<a href="#pb124">124</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s18" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e343">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVIII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE LAMA’S SERVANT.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">There was once an old Lama who lived in a small house at the very top of a hill in

-a lonely part of Tibet. He was a very holy man and spent his time entirely in religious

-contemplation, and the only person whom he allowed about his house was a certain young

-man of low birth, who acted as his Servant and used to cook his meals and perform

-other household duties. This man was a great character in his way. He was an amusing

-fellow and very fond of his joke, but was quite unreliable and incapable of performing

-any regular work.

-</p>

-<p>Now the old Lama’s diet, in accordance with the tenets of his religion, was a very

-small one, and he refrained entirely from taking the life of any living creature.

-So his food consisted chiefly of barley-flour, butter, and so on, and he abstained

-from meat of any kind. This mode of life, however, was not at all pleasing to the

-Servant, Rin-dzin, who had a healthy appetite and greatly missed his daily dish of

-meat, and he was constantly trying to persuade the Lama to allow him to kill a sheep

-or a goat in order that he <span class="pageNum" id="pb125">[<a href="#pb125">125</a>]</span>might have a satisfactory meal. This, however, the Lama always sternly refused to

-do, and forbade his Servant on any account to destroy the life of a living being.

-</p>

-<p>One day the Servant noticed a fine fat sheep, which, having become separated from

-the rest of the flock, was wandering about near the Lama’s house. So he pursued it

-and caught it, and carrying it into the ground floor of the house, he went up into

-the room above, and letting down a rope through a hole in the floor he hitched a slip-knot

-at the other end of the rope round the sheep’s neck. Having made these arrangements

-he went into the next room, where the Lama, as usual, was sitting alone wrapt in religious

-contemplation, deaf to all mundane affairs.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! Lama,” said the Servant, addressing the old man, “I have come to tell you that

-I have just found a sheep belonging to our neighbours, who live in the valley below,

-wandering about near the house; so, for fear he should be eaten by wolves, I have

-caught him and tied him up in a room below. But he is a very violent sheep and is

-struggling desperately to escape. Will you be so kind as to hold the rope for a short

-time while I go and inform the owner where his sheep is?”

-</p>

-<p>The old Lama, who never refused a reasonable request, at once proceeded to do as he

-was asked, and, rising from his seat, he followed the Servant into the next room.

-</p>

-<p>“Pray hold this rope,” said the Servant, handing the Lama the loose end of the rope

-to which the sheep <span class="pageNum" id="pb126">[<a href="#pb126">126</a>]</span>was secured, “and if the sheep begins to struggle, pull it as hard as you can to prevent

-him from escaping.”

-</p>

-<p>The Lama accordingly took hold of the rope, and the Servant went down into the lower

-storey as if he intended to leave the house. Instead of doing so, however, he went

-into the room where the sheep was tied and began to poke the animal with a sharp stick,

-and the sheep began to struggle violently, trying to escape from its tormentor. The

-more the sheep struggled below the more the Lama pulled above, and at last, when the

-tug-of-war had lasted for some minutes, the sheep was strangled by the slip-knot round

-its neck.

-</p>

-<p>After the lapse of an hour or two the Servant returned to the Lama in the upper room

-and informed him that the sheep had died a natural death while he had been away seeking

-for its owner, and, in the circumstances, he supposed that they might as well cut

-it up and cook it for food. The unsuspecting old Lama agreed to this, and for several

-days the Servant was able to eat his fill of excellent mutton.

-</p>

-<p>It chanced, however, that the shepherd boy who was in charge of the sheep had come

-to the Lama’s house looking for the one which was lost, and peeping in through the

-window had seen all that had happened. He told the story to his parents, who were

-very angry, and came to complain to the Lama of the conduct of his Servant. The old

-Lama was very much incensed at the treachery and wickedness of his attendant, and

-dismissed him on the spot, telling him to go away and never come back again. So Master

-Rin-dzin, with his few belongings <span class="pageNum" id="pb127">[<a href="#pb127">127</a>]</span>on his back, marched off into the world to try and make his fortune.

-</p>

-<p>He was a good deal cast down at first, but being naturally a volatile, light-hearted

-fellow he soon recovered his spirits and marched along the road singing blithely,

-and keeping a sharp look-out for anything that might turn up. He had not proceeded

-very far when he fell in with another young man going in the same direction as himself,

-and the two, joining company, fell into conversation. Rin-dzin soon related to his

-young friend all his recent adventures, and informed him that he was anxious to make

-a little money.

-</p>

-<p>“Very good, brother,” replied the Stranger, “I am the very man to help you, for you

-must know I am a thief by profession, and I am always on the look-out for what fortune

-may bring me. So we will join company, and it will indeed be bad luck if we cannot

-succeed in hitting upon something profitable before many days have passed.”

-</p>

-<p>So they went along together and towards evening they came upon a large house standing

-in a fertile valley. The Thief went forward alone to make enquiries, and he soon returned

-to Rin-dzin with the information he had gathered. The servants of the house had told

-him that the owner had died the day before, and was now awaiting burial in his own

-room. His only relation was his daughter, who was heiress to the whole of the property,

-and she was now mourning for her father all alone in the big house. Further, the Thief

-had learned that the old man had once had a son, <span class="pageNum" id="pb128">[<a href="#pb128">128</a>]</span>who had run away from home many years before and had never been heard of again.

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he to Rin-dzin, “I have a plan to propose to you. Do you climb in through

-the window into the room where the old man’s body lies awaiting burial, and conceal

-yourself somewhere. As soon as you are ready I will go to the young lady of the house

-and inform her that I am her brother, who has returned home after many years’ wandering.

-She will probably disbelieve my story, and I will propose that we should consult the

-corpse of her father on the matter. When we come into the room where the corpse lies

-I will address it, and ask whether I am not the long-lost son, whereupon you must

-reply that I am. On this evidence I shall secure at least one-half of the property,

-which, of course, I shall share with you. But be careful on no account to leave the

-room before morning, otherwise you are sure to be detected by the dogs which roam

-about the house by night.”

-</p>

-<p>Rin-dzin agreed to this proposition, and climbed in by the window into the dead man’s

-room, and, concealing himself near the corpse, he awaited the arrival of his friend.

-Meanwhile the Thief went boldly up to the front door and gave a loud knock; and being

-admitted by the servants, he went straight to the chamber of the young lady of the

-house.

-</p>

-<p>“Who are you?” said she; “and what do you want?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! sister,” he replied, “I am your long-lost brother; do you not recognise me?”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb129">[<a href="#pb129">129</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“No,” said she, “it would be impossible for me to recognise you, as I was only a little

-child when you ran away. No one but my father could know you and he, alas! died yesterday.”

-</p>

-<p>“That is very sad,” replied the Thief, “for indeed it will be difficult for me to

-prove the truth of my story. Let us, however, go into the room where my father’s corpse

-is lying, and ask it whether or no I am his long-lost son.”

-</p>

-<p>The girl agreed to this, and the two went together into the chamber where the old

-man’s corpse was sitting trussed-up for burial, in accordance with the Tibetan custom.

-</p>

-<p>“Are you there, father,” said the Thief, as he entered the darkened room; and Rin-dzin,

-in a sepulchral voice replied, “Ah.”

-</p>

-<p>“I have come to ask you,” went on the Thief, “whether or no I am your long-lost son.”

-</p>

-<p>“You are,” replied Rin-dzin.

-</p>

-<p>And on hearing this the Thief at once retired, followed by the young girl, who was

-now completely convinced of his identity.

-</p>

-<p>“Now, sister,” said the Thief, addressing her when they were alone together, “you

-see that my story is true, but, unfortunately, I am unable to stay here as I am called

-away this very night on urgent business. I will therefore make over to you the house

-and the whole of the landed property, and all I ask from you as my share of the estate

-is a bag of gold, as big as I can carry with me.”

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb130">[<a href="#pb130">130</a>]</span></p>

-<p>The girl accepted these conditions, and handed over to the Thief a heavy bag of gold.

-He then bade her farewell and started off with his booty as fast as he could, leaving

-Rin-dzin behind him in the same room as the corpse.

-</p>

-<p>Early next morning Rin-dzin climbed down from the window, and coming round to the

-front of the house he asked the lady where her brother was.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh!” said she, “I gave him a big bag of gold last night, and he at once started off

-with it as fast as he could.”

-</p>

-<p>When Rin-dzin heard this he was very angry indeed at the Thief’s treachery, and was

-determined to follow and punish him. So, borrowing a horse from the lady of the house,

-he galloped off down the road as fast as he could. About mid-day, as he was galloping

-along, he saw the Thief some distance ahead, sitting under the shade of a tree resting;

-for not knowing that Rin-dzin had a horse, he did not consider it necessary to go

-very fast.

-</p>

-<p>When Rin-dzin caught sight of the Thief, he first thought that he would at once go

-up to him and demand his share of the gold, but on second thoughts he remembered that

-while he himself was unarmed, the thief possessed both a sword and a musket, so that

-if it came to a quarrel between them he would probably get the worst of it. So, leaning

-down over his horse’s neck, he pretended not to see the Thief, and galloped past him

-down the road, as if in mad pursuit. As soon as he was out of sight of the place where

-the Thief was <span class="pageNum" id="pb131">[<a href="#pb131">131</a>]</span>sitting he pulled his horse up to a wall, and taking a new boot out of the bundle

-on his back, he dropped it in the middle of the road, and then pursued his way for

-some little distance further, when he took the fellow boot out of his bundle and dropped

-it also in the middle of the road. Having done this he turned aside from the roadway

-and concealed himself and his horse in a thicket near by.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as Rin-dzin had galloped out of sight, the Thief congratulated himself at

-not having been seen, took up his bag of gold and continued his journey. After walking

-some little way, he came upon a new boot lying in the centre of the road.

-</p>

-<p>“Ah!” thought he, “that foolish fellow has dropped one of his boots in his haste.

-But one boot isn’t worth picking up; it is of no use at all. What a pity it is he

-did not drop them both.”

-</p>

-<p>So leaving the boot where it lay, he resumed his journey. The sun was now very hot,

-and the Thief, carrying his heavy bag of gold, was getting pretty tired, and by the

-time he reached the place where the other boot was lying he was nearly worn out.

-</p>

-<p>“Hallo,” said he to himself, when he caught sight of the second boot, “here is the

-other boot. This is really too good a chance to be lost; I must certainly go back

-at once and pick up the first boot, and then I shall have a pair of new boots for

-nothing. But I can’t carry this heavy bag of gold all the way back with me.”

-</p>

-<p>So thinking, he concealed the bag of gold under a <span class="pageNum" id="pb132">[<a href="#pb132">132</a>]</span>tuft of grass by the roadside, and started off to retrace his steps to pick up the

-first boot. No sooner was he out of sight than Rin-dzin emerged from his hiding-place,

-and picking up the bag of gold, strapped it to his saddle and rode on his way.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb133">[<a href="#pb133">133</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s19" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e352">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIX.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE COUNTRY OF THE MICE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a King who ruled over a large tract of country in which

-there lived a great number of Mice. Generally the Mice were very prosperous and had

-plenty to eat, but it happened one year that the crops of the country were very poor,

-and the Mice, who subsisted chiefly on the spare grains left after the harvest, found

-that their stores were running short before the end of the winter. So the King of

-the Mice decided that he would make a petition to the King of the country, to lend

-the Mice what grain they required on condition that they repaid the whole amount the

-following year.

-</p>

-<p>So he dressed himself up in his best clothes and set off one morning to the King’s

-palace. When he got to the door of the palace the door-keeper asked him where he was

-going.

-</p>

-<p>“Oh!” replied the Mouse, “I wish to see the King of the country, as I have a petition

-to make to him.”

-</p>

-<p>When the King heard that a Mouse wanted to see him he was very much amused, and he

-ordered that the little animal should be admitted.

-</p>

-<p>When the Mouse entered the King’s presence he <span class="pageNum" id="pb134">[<a href="#pb134">134</a>]</span>walked slowly up the Hall of Audience, carrying in his hand a little silk thread,

-which he presented to the King, instead of the usual ceremonial scarf.<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1673src" href="#xd33e1673" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Brother Mouse,” said the King, “what can I do for you?”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh! King,” replied the Mouse, “you must know that this year our crops have fallen

-short, and we are threatened with a famine unless we can borrow sufficient grain to

-carry us through the winter; so I, who am King of the Mice, have come here to ask

-you if you can help us in this matter. If you can lend us the grain we require, we

-will repay you faithfully with interest at the next harvest.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said the King, “how much grain do you want?”

-</p>

-<p>“I think that we shall require,” said the Mouse, “one of your big barns full.”

-</p>

-<p>“But,” said the King, “if I were to give you a barn full of grain how would you carry

-it away?”

-</p>

-<p>“Leave it to me,” said the Mouse; “if you will give us the grain we will undertake

-to carry it off.”

-</p>

-<p>So the King agreed to present the Mice with one of his great granaries full of barley,

-and he ordered his officers to throw open the doors, and to let the Mice carry away

-as much as they wanted.

-</p>

-<p>That night the King of the Mice summoned all his subjects together, and to the number

-of many hundreds of thousands they invaded the barn, and each one picked <span class="pageNum" id="pb135">[<a href="#pb135">135</a>]</span>up as much grain as he could carry in his mouth, on his back, and curled up in his

-tail, and when they had all finished the barn was empty, and not a single grain of

-barley was left.

-</p>

-<p>Next morning, when the King went out to look at his barn, he was very much astonished

-to find that the Mice had been able to empty it so effectually, and he conceived a

-very high opinion of their powers; and when, in the following spring, the King of

-the Mice redeemed his promise by repaying with interest the loan he had taken from

-the King of the country, the latter saw that they were trustworthy as well as clever.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened shortly after this that the King of the country went to war with a

-neighbouring kingdom, which lay on the opposite side of the river forming the frontier

-between the two countries. This other country was far more wealthy and powerful than

-the country where the Mice lived, and its King soon assembled a huge army on the opposite

-bank of the river and began making preparations for invasion.

-</p>

-<p>When the Mice heard what was happening, they were much distressed, for they feared

-that if the enemy entered their country and destroyed their friend the King, they

-themselves would suffer considerable hardships under a strange ruler; so the King

-of the Mice set out again to visit the King of the country, and when he reached the

-palace he demanded an interview with His Majesty. This was at once accorded to him,

-and finding the King looking very depressed, he addressed him as follows:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb136">[<a href="#pb136">136</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“I have come to you a second time, Oh King, in order to see whether I can be of any

-use to you. The last time I was here you did me and my people a great favour, for

-which we shall ever be grateful, and if it is now in our power to assist you in any

-way, we shall be very glad to do our best.”

-</p>

-<p>The King, in spite of his grief, was much amused on hearing these words from the Mouse.

-</p>

-<p>“Why,” said he, “what could the Mice do to help me in my present predicament? We are

-threatened with invasion by a foreign army, outnumbering mine by many thousands, and

-all the men I can muster will not be sufficient to enable me to repel the enemy. I

-don’t see how the Mice can help me.”

-</p>

-<p>“Do you remember, Oh King!” replied the Mouse, “that on the last occasion I was here

-you doubted our ability to carry away the grain you had given us, or to repay you

-the loan? And yet we proved ourselves able to do both. All we ask you now is to trust

-us again, and if you will undertake to do one or two things which we ask of you, we

-on our part will undertake to rid you of the invading army.”

-</p>

-<p>The King was a good deal struck by this remark of the Mouse, and he replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Very well, what you say is quite true; and if you will inform me what you wish me

-to do, I will undertake to carry out my share of the bargain.”

-</p>

-<p>“Well, then,” answered the Mouse, “all we wish you to do is to provide us by to-morrow

-evening with one <span class="pageNum" id="pb137">[<a href="#pb137">137</a>]</span>hundred thousand sticks, each about a foot long,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1704src" href="#xd33e1704" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> and to have them laid in rows on the bank of the river. If you will undertake to

-do this, we on our side will undertake to stave off the threatened invasion and to

-put the opposing army into a state of confusion and panic. And if we succeed in carrying

-out all we promise, we will ask you for the future to safeguard us against the two

-principal dangers which threaten the existence of the Mice who live in your country.”

-</p>

-<p>“I will gladly do what I can,” replied the King, “to safeguard you against these dangers

-if you will tell me how to proceed.”

-</p>

-<p>“The two dangers to which I refer,” continued the Mouse, “are flood and Cats. You

-see the majority of our burrows are in the low-lying land near the river, and whenever

-the river rises a little it overflows this level country and floods our nests. What

-we would suggest to you is that you should build a strong dam all down the river bank

-so as to ensure that the water cannot overflow into our nests. And as to the Cats

-they are always the persecutors of Mice, and we ask you to banish them altogether

-from your kingdom.”

-</p>

-<p>“Very well,” replied the King, “if you can succeed in averting the danger which now

-threatens us, I will undertake to do all that you ask of me in this respect.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this, the King of the Mice salaamed profoundly to the King, and returned

-as fast as he could to his own subjects.

-</p>

-<div class="figure p137width" id="p137"><img src="images/p137.jpg" alt="THE MICE CROSSING THE STREAM." width="720" height="639"><p class="figureHead">THE MICE CROSSING THE STREAM.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 137.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb138">[<a href="#pb138">138</a>]</span></p>

-<p>On the following evening he marshalled all the full-grown Mice of his kingdom, and

-about dusk, he led down a large army numbering several hundreds of thousands to the

-edge of the river, where he found the sticks all laid out as had been arranged with

-the King. In accordance with instructions they had received, the Mice at once proceeded

-to launch these sticks on the river, and they themselves embarked upon them two or

-three at a time; and so, pushing off from the bank, they sailed across the river and

-soon landed on the opposite side.

-</p>

-<p>It was now quite dark, and the enemy’s soldiers were all asleep in their camp, some

-lying in tents and some in the open air, with their arms beside them ready for any

-alarm. The Mice on a word of command from their King, scattered themselves without

-delay through the sleeping camp, and each one began to do as much destruction as he

-possibly could in the shortest possible space of time. Some nibbled at the bowstrings

-and the slings of the soldiers’ muskets; others gnawed the slow-match and fuses; whilst

-others bit off the clothes and pigtails of the sleeping men. In fact, they attacked

-fiercely anything upon which their teeth could make an impression, and tents, stores,

-grain, and provisions of all kinds were soon reduced to shreds or scattered in confusion

-in every direction; and after a couple of hours’ work they all collected upon the

-river bank, and, embarking again on their sticks, they sailed quietly over to their

-own shore without having been detected by the enemy, or even having caused any alarm.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb139">[<a href="#pb139">139</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Next morning at daybreak, a great outcry arose from the enemy’s camp. Each man as

-he rose from his sleep found himself in a woeful plight—his clothes in rags, his pigtail

-cut off, his bow without a string, his rifle without a sling, and with no fuse or

-slow-match to fire it, and no provisions for breakfast. Each one began to accuse the

-other of theft and treachery, and before many minutes had passed the whole camp was

-in a state of wild confusion, comrade quarrelling with comrade, or accusing their

-officers of dishonesty and ill-faith.

-</p>

-<p>In the midst of this uproar the sound of bugles was heard on the opposite bank, and

-a few shots were fired; and terrified at the thought of being taken unawares, the

-whole army took to flight, and in a few minutes not a man was to be seen.

-</p>

-<p>When the King of the country of the Mice saw what had happened he was greatly elated,

-and, sending for the King of the Mice, he thanked him very sincerely for his good

-offices. And, in accordance with the bargain they had made, he at once had a strong

-embankment constructed all down his own side of the river to guard against floods,

-and he issued an edict forbidding all persons, on pain of death, to keep a cat of

-any kind henceforth within the frontiers of his country, and so the Mice lived securely

-and happily ever afterwards.

-</p>

-<p>And in order to insure against any more attempts at invasion from the side of the

-neighbouring kingdom, the King sent a herald across the river to the ruler of that

-country, to say that, on this occasion, he had only considered it worth while to employ

-his Mice to defeat his <span class="pageNum" id="pb140">[<a href="#pb140">140</a>]</span>enemies; but that if he was again threatened, he was ready to employ first all the

-domestic animals of the country; and if they did not succeed, he would have to have

-recourse to the wild beasts; and in the event of their failing, he was prepared to

-come himself with his warriors in order to produce the desired results.

-</p>

-<p>When the ruler of the other country heard this message he considered it wiser at once

-to make a treaty of peace, as he could not hope to defeat the warriors and wild beasts

-of a country whose Mice had shown such skill and courage. So the two countries remained

-on friendly terms for many years after; and the Mice, secured against flood and Cats,

-lived happily and safely, and received every year from the King of the country a barnful

-of grain as a free gift in thankful recognition of the services which they had rendered

-in time of need.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb141">[<a href="#pb141">141</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1673">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1673src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> This is in accordance with Tibetan custom, whereby a scarf is invariably presented

-upon all occasions of ceremony.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1673src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1704">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1704src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks’ dung instead of sticks—see

-accompanying illustration.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1704src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s20" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e361">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XX.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE MONKEY.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">There was once an old Tortoise who lived with his wife and family in a large lake,

-on the borders of which grew an extensive jungle; and in the forest there were many

-wild beasts, more especially Monkeys, who swarmed in great numbers all along the shores

-of the lake.

-</p>

-<p>It happened one day that the Tortoise came out of the lake and went for a stroll amongst

-the trees which grew near the water. After walking for some distance he became hungry,

-and looking up into a cocoanut-tree, near which he found himself, he thought how much

-he should like to get one of the cocoanuts which were growing near the top. He made

-several awkward attempts to climb the tree, but the stem was so straight and so smooth

-that he was quite unable to succeed; and he was just about to give up the attempt

-in despair when he espied a large Monkey sitting among the branches. The Monkey, who

-had been watching the Tortoise’s attempts to climb the tree with some curiosity, felt

-rather sorry at his failure, and noticing that the Tortoise was a fine, well-grown

-fellow with a very handsome shell, he <span class="pageNum" id="pb142">[<a href="#pb142">142</a>]</span>thought he would do him a kindness, so breaking off one or two of the cocoanuts, he

-threw them down to the Tortoise, who gratefully ate the fruit.

-</p>

-<p>The two animals now entered into conversation with one another, and soon striking

-up quite a friendship, the Monkey led away the Tortoise into the jungle, and showed

-him a comfortable cave where he could spend the night. The Tortoise was so interested

-with all he saw and so pleased with his friend the Monkey, that he remained for several

-days in the forest, moving about during the day and sleeping with the Monkey in the

-cave every night.

-</p>

-<p>Meanwhile Mrs. Tortoise was becoming rather anxious concerning her husband’s prolonged

-absence. He had never been away from home for so long before, so finally she despatched

-one of the young Tortoises to find out where his father was and how he was getting

-on. The young Tortoise accordingly swam to land, and after hunting about for some

-time in the forest he came across his father near the cave.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Father,” said he, “Mother has sent me to find out where you are and

-how you are getting on.”

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, I am all right, my boy,” replied Father Tortoise; “tell Mother she need not trouble

-about me. My friend, Brother Monkey, and I are just having a good time in the forest,

-and I will be home in a few days. Now run off to your Mother.”

-</p>

-<p>So the young Tortoise went back to his mother and told her what had happened. Mrs.

-Tortoise was not at all pleased at her husband’s conduct.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb143">[<a href="#pb143">143</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“It is quite time,” thought she, “that he should return to his wife and family, instead

-of amusing himself with a vulgar Monkey in the forest.”

-</p>

-<p>So she sent the boy back again to his father, with a message to say that Mrs. Tortoise

-was very ill, and that her physician had told her that the only thing to cure her

-was a Monkey’s heart. So he must return at once to his home and bring a Monkey along

-with him.

-</p>

-<p>The young Tortoise accordingly proceeded to hunt out his father again, and as soon

-as he met him he gave him Mrs. Tortoise’s message. On hearing the news of his wife’s

-illness, Mr. Tortoise became much alarmed, and reproached himself for having stayed

-away for so long; and in order to secure the necessary medicine for his wife he informed

-his friend the Monkey that he was obliged to return home at once on urgent business,

-and he invited the Monkey to come and spend a few days at his house. The Monkey accepted

-his friend’s invitation, and the two set off together to the shores of the lake.

-</p>

-<p>When the Monkey understood that it would be necessary for him to enter the lake, he

-became rather alarmed, and remarked to the Tortoise that never having been in the

-water, he was afraid it would be difficult for him to reach the Tortoise’s home.

-</p>

-<p>“Never fear about that, Brother Monkey,” said the Tortoise; “I can arrange that quite

-simply. If you will mount upon my back, I will swim with you wherever we want to go.”

-</p>

-<p>So the Monkey mounted upon the Tortoise’s back, and the Tortoise set out to swim to

-his house.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb144">[<a href="#pb144">144</a>]</span></p>

-<p>As they went across the lake the Tortoise began telling the Monkey about his wife’s

-illness, and in doing so he foolishly let out that the only medicine to cure her was

-a Monkey’s heart. On hearing this the Monkey became very much alarmed, and saw that

-he was being led into a trap.

-</p>

-<p>“Dear me, Brother Tortoise,” said he, “I am very much grieved to hear of your wife’s

-illness, but if she is as bad as all that I do not think that one Monkey’s heart will

-be enough. I should think that three or four at least would be required in order to

-effect a cure. If you like, I can easily get several other Monkeys from amongst my

-friends to accompany us to your home.”

-</p>

-<p>The Tortoise thought that this was a good idea, and agreed to carry the Monkey back

-to the shore and await him there while he went off to fetch some other Monkeys. So

-he turned round and swam back through the lake till he reached the edge, where he

-waddled out on to the beach.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as he found himself on dry land the Monkey skipped off the Tortoise’s back

-as fast as he could, and climbed to the top of the tallest tree he could find in a

-twinkling. On reaching the top of the tree he began reviling the Tortoise, and calling

-out every bad name he could think of.

-</p>

-<p>“You are a nice sort of friend,” said he, “to ask me to pay a visit to your home in

-order to kill me and use my heart as medicine for your ugly wife. Do you call that

-a proper return for all my attention to you, and for showing you all over the jungle?

-However, I have <span class="pageNum" id="pb145">[<a href="#pb145">145</a>]</span>been too clever for you this time, and you will have to do without my heart for many

-a long day to come. And as to the hearts of those other Monkeys that I promised to

-you—well, you can just wait till you find them for yourself.”<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1766src" href="#xd33e1766" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>

-</p>

-<div class="figure p145width" id="p145"><img src="images/p145.jpg" alt="THE MONKEY CALLING INTO THE TORTOISE’S CAVE." width="720" height="582"><p class="figureHead">THE MONKEY CALLING INTO THE TORTOISE’S CAVE.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 145.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>The Tortoise, on hearing these words, fell into a violent passion, and made several

-efforts to climb the tree in order to punish the Monkey, but being quite unable to

-climb at all, he soon gave up his attempt and determined to get even with the Monkey

-in some other way. So he hid himself in the water until evening, and as soon as it

-was dusk he came out on the land and proceeded very quietly to the cave where he and

-the Monkey had lived together, and concealed himself in the darkest corner of it waiting

-till the Monkey should come in.

-</p>

-<p>The Monkey, however, was a good deal too clever to be caught in a simple trap like

-this. When his usual bedtime arrived, he came to the mouth of the cave and, looking

-in, he called out in a loud voice:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-</p>

-<p>The Tortoise lay low in his dark corner and gave no sign of life.

-</p>

-<p>After a few moments’ silence the Monkey again called out:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-</p>

-<p>Still the Tortoise lay low and gave no sign.

-</p>

-<p>“Curious thing,” said the Monkey to himself in an audible tone of voice, “very curious!

-There used always to be an echo in this cave, but I can’t hear the slightest <span class="pageNum" id="pb146">[<a href="#pb146">146</a>]</span>echo to-night. There must be something wrong,” and saying this he again called out:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-</p>

-<p>The foolish Tortoise, thinking that if he simulated an echo the Monkey would enter

-the cave as usual, hereupon gave answer from his dark corner:

-</p>

-<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Monkey chuckled to himself at the simplicity of the Tortoise,

-and went off to sleep in some other part of the forest.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb147">[<a href="#pb147">147</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1766">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1766src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> The Monkey’s actual words, I regret to say, cannot be reported verbatim.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1766src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s21" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e370">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XXI.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF ROOM BACHA AND BAKI.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">Once upon a time, in the country of Room, there lived a King called Bacha, who, having

-married a young Princess from a neighbouring kingdom, lived with her for a short time

-very happily. But it happened that both the King and Queen were of a very argumentative

-turn of mind, and were constantly disputing with one another about all sorts of trifles,

-and as neither would ever give way to the other, it generally ended in their quarrelling.

-The King, who was a proud and head-strong man, was not at all pleased that his wife

-should venture to maintain her opinion against his, and gradually became very much

-incensed against her.

-</p>

-<p>One night, as the two were sitting together after dinner, a fox began to bark in the

-palace grounds outside.

-</p>

-<p>“Ah!” said the King, “do you hear that tiger roaring?”

-</p>

-<p>“My dear,” replied the Queen, “that is not a tiger, it is a fox.”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly not!” said the King. “Do you think I don’t know a tiger when I hear him?

-There can be no question but that it is a tiger.”

-</p>

-<div class="figure p147width" id="p147"><img src="images/p147.jpg" alt="THE GLASS PILLARS DANCING FOR THE OGRE." width="720" height="645"><p class="figureHead">THE GLASS PILLARS DANCING FOR THE OGRE.</p>

-<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 147.</i></p>

-</div><p>

-</p>

-<p>The Queen again contradicted him, and a heated argument <span class="pageNum" id="pb148">[<a href="#pb148">148</a>]</span>ensued, in which neither convinced the other. At length, the King said that he could

-not stand this argument any longer, but would submit the question for decision to

-his council on the following day. If the council agreed that he was in the wrong,

-he should be sent adrift on a log of wood on the great river that flowed past the

-palace; but if the Queen should be found to be in the wrong, she should suffer this

-fate.

-</p>

-<p>So next day the King summoned a council, composed of all his wisest ministers and

-men of science. When they were all seated in the council chamber, he addressed them

-as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Last night,” said he, “some beast began to bark outside the palace. I maintained

-that it was a tiger; the Queen affirmed that it was a fox. I desire to submit the

-question to you for decision. If you decide that it was a fox, I agree to be sent

-adrift upon a log of wood on the great river which flows past my palace; but if you

-think that the animal was a tiger, then the Queen is to suffer this penalty.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying, the King withdrew, leaving his ministers to decide the question. The counsellors,

-after weighing the matter for some time, summoned to their presence several peasants

-living in the neighbourhood, and these being all agreed that no tiger ever came within

-many miles of the palace, whereas foxes prowled there nightly, it was clear to the

-council that the King was in the wrong. Before any decision was given, however, the

-oldest counsellor rose and addressed the meeting as follows:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb149">[<a href="#pb149">149</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“It appears to me,” said he, “that the King is undoubtedly in the wrong in this matter;

-but I wish to point out to you that if we announce our decision to that effect, the

-consequence will be that we shall be left without our King, and with only a Queen

-to reign over us. This, as you know, is a most undesirable state of affairs. I propose,

-therefore, that in spite of our real opinion in the matter we should make a public

-announcement to the effect that the King was right in his argument.”

-</p>

-<p>The others agreed to these words of wisdom, and the counsellors proceeded in a body

-to the King’s throne-room and informed him publicly that after due deliberation they

-had come to the conclusion that he was undoubtedly in the right. The King was greatly

-pleased at hearing his opinion confirmed, and at once gave orders that the Queen should

-be sent adrift on the river astride a log of wood. So the poor Queen was taken down

-to the river bank, and placing herself astride of a log of wood, she floated off down

-the great river.

-</p>

-<p>After floating along for several hours the current at length carried her to the opposite

-bank, many miles away from her own country, and as soon as she arrived in shallow

-water she waded ashore and looked about her. As far as she could see, the whole country

-appeared to be one great plain, covered with high grass, through which it was almost

-impossible for anyone to force their way; but after hunting about for a time, she

-discerned a small opening in the grass, which led her to a narrow winding path, along

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb150">[<a href="#pb150">150</a>]</span>which she walked for some considerable distance. After going some way she came suddenly

-upon an open clearing in the grass, in the middle of which a very old man, with a

-white beard reaching almost to his waist, was seated before a small fire cooking himself

-some food.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, sir,” said the Queen, when she saw him; “can you give me a morsel of

-food, for I am very hungry.”

-</p>

-<p>“Certainly, Madam,” replied the old man; “you are welcome to all I have,” and so saying,

-he handed over to her the whole of his provisions.

-</p>

-<p>When the Queen had made a good meal, the old man addressed her as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“You must know,” said he, “that I am a magician, living in this prairie, and you must

-carefully follow the directions which I shall now give you. You must first follow

-the path, which will lead you to the top of a small hill, and when you arrive there

-a son will be born to you. This boy is not an ordinary human child, but is the incarnation

-of a very holy Lama, with miraculous qualities, and he will from his birth be able

-to walk and talk. His name is Baki, and you must follow him wherever he leads.”

-</p>

-<p>The Queen thanked the old man for his advice, and following the narrow path, it soon

-led her to the top of a small hill; and here she was delivered of a child, who, as

-the magician had predicted, was of a miraculous nature, and was at once able to walk

-and talk. The boy without any hesitation went forward along the path, followed by

-his mother, and after travelling for some <span class="pageNum" id="pb151">[<a href="#pb151">151</a>]</span>distance they emerged from the great grass jungle into an open cultivated country.

-</p>

-<p>Now it happened that on that day the three sons of the King of that country were out

-hunting together, and as they rode along looking out for game they suddenly came upon

-the Queen and her son. Having heard her story, they mounted her and the boy upon a

-horse and carried them off to the King’s palace. The King at once took them under

-his protection, and gave orders that the boy should be brought up with his own sons,

-and he and his mother lodged in apartments in the palace.

-</p>

-<p>Baki grew rapidly in beauty and stature, and soon became an expert in all sports and

-games. One day he and the King’s three sons were out hunting together, when by chance

-they suddenly came upon a beautiful snow-white doe, who jumped up before them and

-galloped off towards the mountains. The four young men at once started off in pursuit;

-but the horses upon which the King’s sons were riding gradually tired, and one after

-another they dropped out of the hunt, leaving Baki to continue alone. As the chase

-continued the poor doe began to show signs of exhaustion, and Baki, who was close

-upon her heels, was feeling confident that he would soon catch her. All at once the

-deer galloped straight up to what appeared to be a precipitous rock, and touching

-the rock with her muzzle, it flew asunder, revealing the entrance to a great cave

-within; and as she crossed the threshold of the cave her skin fell from her, and she

-appeared in the form of a beautiful young woman. Baki, who was of a very courageous

-disposition, <span class="pageNum" id="pb152">[<a href="#pb152">152</a>]</span>did not hesitate for a moment, but, leaping from his horse, he followed the lady into

-the cave, and scarcely had he entered when the rock doors closed behind him with a

-loud crash. Following the form of the lady along a narrow passage, he emerged presently

-into a great lofty apartment, hollowed out in the centre of the rock, luxuriously

-furnished and brilliantly lighted, and with a row of great glass pillars running down

-the centre.

-</p>

-<p>The girl meanwhile had seated herself upon a couch in one corner of the room, and

-addressing the young man, she asked him who he was, and what he meant by thus thrusting

-himself upon the privacy of a lady. The young Prince apologised, and explained the

-circumstances of the case as best he could, whereupon the girl addressed him as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“You must know,” said she, “that the place where you now find yourself is the abode

-of a terrible and blood-thirsty Ogre, and that I, who am human like yourself, was

-captured by him some time ago, and he proposes shortly to make me his wife. Meanwhile

-he has taught me certain magic spells, which enable me to transform myself into any

-animal I please, and to come and go at my pleasure; but without the assistance of

-some human being it is impossible for me to escape from his clutches. But we will

-talk further regarding these matters to-morrow. It is now near the time for the Ogre’s

-return, and if he finds you here he will certainly kill you without the least hesitation,

-so you must hide now before he returns.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying she went over to the central glass pillar <span class="pageNum" id="pb153">[<a href="#pb153">153</a>]</span>and, unscrewing a portion of it, she showed him a cavity inside, within which he concealed

-himself.

-</p>

-<p>Scarcely was he securely hidden within the pillar when the door of the cave flew open,

-and a huge Ogre entered the central chamber. Calling the young lady to him, he commanded

-her to bring his dinner, and after making a sumptuous repast he sat down on some cushions

-and began playing the guitar. At the first sound of the music all the pillars in the

-room, with the exception of the one in which Baki was concealed, began a slow and

-stately dance, his pillar alone remaining firm and unshaken. When the Ogre saw that

-one of the pillars was not dancing as usual he grew very angry, and seizing a huge

-hammer in his hand, he advanced upon it, threatening to shatter it into a thousand

-fragments; but the young lady, seizing him by the arm, begged him to spare it.

-</p>

-<p>“Look,” said she “at the position of the pillar. It is the most central and the largest

-of them all. No doubt it feels some sense of dignity and wishes to be distinguished

-from the remainder. Spare it at any rate to-night, and it will probably dance as usual

-to-morrow.”

-</p>

-<p>The Ogre agreed to this, and shortly after retired to rest.

-</p>

-<p>Next morning at daybreak he set off about his business, and as soon as he was gone

-the girl opened the pillar and released Baki, and after giving him a good breakfast,

-she spoke to him as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“It is a very difficult thing,” said she, “for a human being to kill an Ogre, for

-whatever damage you may do <span class="pageNum" id="pb154">[<a href="#pb154">154</a>]</span>to his body is of no avail unless you can also destroy the object with which his spirit

-is bound up. Now this particular Ogre’s existence depends upon the life of a green

-Parrot, which is carefully hidden from human view, but I have ascertained where it

-is kept, and will explain to you how you may find it. Behind the rock in which we

-are now living you will find another great rock standing by itself. You must go up

-to this, and, kicking it three times with your right foot, you must exclaim at each

-kick, ‘Great Raven, open the door.’ As you pronounce these words for the third time

-the door will open, disclosing a large cave, in the centre of which, seated upon a

-red stone, you will see a green Parrot. If you can kill this Parrot you will also

-destroy the Ogre without any danger to yourself.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this Baki at once promised to follow the lady’s directions, and she released

-him from the cavern. Going round to the back of the rock, he found himself face to

-face with another great rock standing by itself. Kicking this rock three times with

-his right foot, he pronounced the magic words, and as he said them for the third time

-two rocky doors flew open, disclosing a cave inside. Entering the cave he saw a green

-Parrot seated on a red stone in the centre, and he at once seized the bird and wrung

-its neck. As soon as he had accomplished this he ran hastily back to the main cavern,

-and as he approached the entrance he saw the Ogre, who had just been returning to

-his home, lying across the threshold stone dead, with his neck all twisted. The young

-lady was greatly rejoiced at the successful issue <span class="pageNum" id="pb155">[<a href="#pb155">155</a>]</span>of their adventure, and the two, leaving the Ogre’s body behind them, proceeded forthwith

-to the capital of the country, where the King’s palace was situated.

-</p>

-<p>On arriving at the capital Baki decided to hire a small house, where he could lodge

-the young lady and change his own dress before proceeding to pay his respects to the

-King; so having taken a house in the suburbs, he left the lady there while he went

-out himself into the streets to hear the news. He soon found out that during his absence

-the King had announced his intention of marrying Baki’s mother, and the poor lady,

-now that she had no son to protect her, had protested in vain, saying that she was

-already the wife of another. Baki was very indignant when he heard of this treacherous

-conduct on the part of the King, and determined to foil his plans. So returning to

-the young lady, he related to her all that he had heard.

-</p>

-<p>“Do not be anxious,” said she. “If you will follow my advice I will show you how you

-may yet get the better of the King<span class="corr" id="xd33e1858" title="Source: ,">.</span>”

-</p>

-<p>And she forthwith instructed him in certain magic spells, which she had learned from

-the Ogre.

-</p>

-<p>Armed with these, Baki proceeded at once to the palace. When he arrived in the courtyard

-he sat himself down upon the King’s mounting-block, and muttering the necessary spell,

-he was at once transformed into a large cowrie-shell. After lying on the mounting-block

-for some time it chanced that one of the grooms of the palace passed by, and, seeing

-the shell, he paused to look at it, and remarked to himself:

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb156">[<a href="#pb156">156</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“What a beautiful cowrie-shell!”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, I am a very handsome shell,” replied the cowrie, to the terror and astonishment

-of the groom.

-</p>

-<p>“Why,” said he, “what sort of a shell are you? What can you know about cowries, or

-anything else?”

-</p>

-<p>“I know a great deal,” said the shell. “For instance, I could tell the King something

-about Prince Baki, which perhaps he would not like to hear.”

-</p>

-<p>When the groom heard this he ran straight into the palace and informed the Prime Minister

-all that the shell had said. The Minister, having told the King of the matter, the

-King gave orders that the shell should at once be brought into his presence and placed

-upon a table before him. When this had been done the King addressed the shell, saying:

-</p>

-<p>“What are you, and what do you know about Prince Baki?”

-</p>

-<p>“I can tell you this,” replied the shell, “that if you attempt to marry Prince Baki’s

-mother you will find yourself in a very unpleasant position.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the King was very much incensed, and he ordered one of his servants

-to bring in a big hammer to smash the shell to fragments, saying that he would not

-be browbeaten by a wretched little object like a shell. So one of the servants, bringing

-up a hammer, struck the shell a violent blow and broke it to pieces. In an instant

-each piece of the shell turned into an armed man, and Prince Baki himself appeared

-amongst them in his proper form.

-</p>

-<p>Great confusion now arose amongst the courtiers; <span class="pageNum" id="pb157">[<a href="#pb157">157</a>]</span>some fled in one direction and some in another, whilst others, drawing their swords,

-prepared to fight with the strangers. Meanwhile the armed men, who were in reality

-demons, placed temporarily under the command of Prince Baki, looked fiercely around

-them, and waving their swords, shouted to the Prince, “Whom shall we kill? Whom shall

-we kill?”

-</p>

-<p>Baki now pointed to the King, and in a moment the band of armed men fell upon him,

-cut him to pieces, and disappeared with shouts of triumph through the roof of the

-palace. When the courtiers saw what had happened, they hastened to prostrate themselves

-before the feet of so powerful a magician, and installed Baki as their new king.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as he was seated upon his throne he sent for the young lady whom he had rescued

-from the Ogre’s cave, and, having married her, they lived happily for many years.

-And the Queen, his mother, soon after returned to King Bacha, and having agreed with

-him never more to argue on trivial matters, they had no more disputes or quarrels,

-and long reigned together over a contented and prosperous kingdom.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb158">[<a href="#pb158">158</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s22" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e380">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="label">STORY No. XXII.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>

-<h2 class="main">HOW HE FOUND THE LOST TURQUOISE.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">There was once an old woman living in Tibet whose husband had died and left her alone

-with her only son.

-</p>

-<p>As the Boy grew up, his Mother grew more and more fond of him, and disliked parting

-from him even for a moment. She was afraid that if he left her house and began wandering

-about by himself some accident might happen to him, and she would be left desolate

-in her old age. So the older he grew the more careful she became, until at last she

-saw that it was impossible to restrain the Boy any longer, and it would be necessary

-for him to go out into the world to seek his fortune, just as other young men of his

-age had to do. So when he had reached the age of fifteen she waited till the fifteenth

-day of the sixth month, which is a very auspicious date, and calling the Boy to her,

-she presented him with a new suit of clothes, a horse, a dog, a gun and a sword; and

-she told him that he was now at liberty to leave his home and to go out into the world

-to seek his fortune.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb159">[<a href="#pb159">159</a>]</span></p>

-<p>The Boy was greatly delighted at receiving these gifts and with the prospect of meeting

-with some adventures, so after saying farewell to his Mother, he mounted his horse,

-and with the dog trotting at his heels he started away down the road. All day he rode

-quietly along by himself without meeting with any adventures, and towards evening

-he reached a high plateau near the top of a range of mountains. As he was crossing

-the plateau a fox jumped up in front of him and ran off towards the mountains. The

-dog, on seeing the fox, started to chase it; while the young Man, thinking he was

-to have some fun at last, galloped after the dog as fast as he could.

-</p>

-<p>After running for some distance the fox suddenly disappeared into his earth, and the

-Boy, riding up, dismounted at the mouth of the hole, and began to scheme how he was

-to catch the fox when he came out. So he took off his cloak<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1895src" href="#xd33e1895" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> and fastened it to the saddle with his sword and his gun, and then placed his horse

-a little to one side of the fox’s earth, whilst his dog stood ready at the other side;

-and he himself took off his hat and put it over the mouth of the hole, and taking

-a large stone in his hand, he crouched down ready to slay the fox when it came out.

-</p>

-<p>After sitting waiting for some time the fox all of a sudden darted out of its earth,

-and ran off towards the hills, with the Boy’s hat sticking over its head. It came

-so suddenly that he had no time to hit <span class="pageNum" id="pb160">[<a href="#pb160">160</a>]</span>it with his stone, or to interrupt its flight. The dog, on seeing the fox go off,

-at once started in full pursuit; and the horse, excited by the dog’s cries, galloped

-off after the pair, and in a few moments all three were lost to sight in the gathering

-darkness. The poor Boy found himself in a moment bereft of all his possessions—his

-horse, his dog, his gun, his sword, his hat, and even his outer robe, which he had

-strapped on his saddle, had all disappeared. After running after his horse for some

-distance he gave it up in despair, and lay down to pass the night as best he could

-under a big <span class="corr" id="xd33e1902" title="Source: poplar tree">poplar-tree</span>.

-</p>

-<p>He woke towards dawn, and, looking up into the branches of the tree, he saw a large

-Raven’s nest, on which an old Raven was sitting hatching her eggs, whilst Father Raven

-perched on a branch near by. When day broke the two Ravens began talking to one another.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the old bird on the nest, “who is this sleeping

-under our tree?”

-</p>

-<p>“That,” replied Father Raven, “is a foolish home-bred Boy who has no experience of

-the world. In trying to catch a fox last night he lost his horse, his gun, his sword,

-his dog, and even his clothes, and now he has not the least idea where to find them.”

-</p>

-<p>“Yes, so I see,” replied Mother Raven, “but it is clear, nevertheless, that all he

-has to do is to go towards the villages which lie towards the east from here—there

-he will meet with good fortune.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this the Boy at once started off towards the east, and proceeding for some

-little distance, he met <span class="pageNum" id="pb161">[<a href="#pb161">161</a>]</span>an old Beggar Man, to whom he related the whole of his story, and asked him if by

-any chance he had seen the missing property. The old Man, seeing before him only a

-poor Boy, without even a hat or a cloak, did not believe a word of this story, so

-he only laughed at him and mocked him; and finally, when the Boy grew angry, gave

-him a sound beating, and left him to go on his way disconsolate.

-</p>

-<p>Wandering on a little further, he came to a big house where a wedding feast was being

-celebrated. Coming timidly up to the door of the house, he peeped in at the guests,

-and presently one of the servants happening to pass by, he related his sad story.

-But just then the Bridegroom caught sight of him, and called out in a rough voice:

-</p>

-<p>“Who are you who come crying here at my wedding feast? We want no woebegone faces

-here to-day to bring us bad luck. Go away, you ill-omened creature.”

-</p>

-<p>So the poor Boy slank away sadly, and after wandering about till nightfall he reached

-another large house further towards the east. After the reception he had received

-from the wedding party he was afraid to go in or to knock at the door, so creeping

-into the backyard he dug himself a nest in the manure heap, and crouched down in this

-for warmth, all hidden except his head. Thus he spent the night comfortably enough.

-</p>

-<p>Early next morning the pigs belonging to the place began to poke about the yard and

-the manure heap, and several of them, as they passed, rooted at his head with their

-snouts to see if he was anything good to eat.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb162">[<a href="#pb162">162</a>]</span></p>

-<p>He could not stand this very long, so finally, screwing up his courage, he went to

-the back door of the house, and asked one of the servants to lend him a knife, saying

-that he wanted it to cut up the dry meat which formed his breakfast. The servant lent

-him a knife, and as soon as he had got it he enticed one of the pigs away to a quiet

-corner, where he killed it and cut off its head; and taking with him some strips of

-its flesh, he returned to his nest in the manure, and hid himself there again, together

-with the pig’s head, waiting to see what would turn up.

-</p>

-<p>Towards noon the Lady of the house came out into the yard, and as she was moving about

-superintending the various farming operations, it happened that a large and valuable

-turquoise fell out of her headdress without her noticing it. When, after a few minutes,

-she went back into the house, leaving the turquoise lying in the middle of the yard,

-the Boy thought that this would be a good opportunity of getting the turquoise for

-himself, but he was afraid to leave his nest for fear of being noticed; so picking

-up a piece of rag from amongst the manure he threw it over the turquoise, concealing

-it from sight.

-</p>

-<p>Shortly after, one of the maid-servants came out of the house, and seeing a piece

-of rag lying in the middle of the yard, she picked it up, and the turquoise with it,

-and thrust them both into a crevice in the wall.

-</p>

-<p>Just then a great uproar arose from the house, where the Lady had discovered the loss

-of her turquoise. The <span class="pageNum" id="pb163">[<a href="#pb163">163</a>]</span>whole household was summoned, and set to work to search for the missing jewel. For

-some time great bustle prevailed, everyone searching hither and thither, and ransacking

-every hole and corner; but no one thought of examining the piece of dirty rag thrust

-carelessly into a crevice of the farmyard wall.

-</p>

-<p>Finding that all their efforts were of no avail, the Lady of the house sent off in

-hot haste to summon all the most famous diviners, magicians, and lamas of the neighbourhood,

-and these, when they arrived, began practising all kinds of spells and casting auguries

-in the hope of discovering what had become of the turquoise; but all in vain, and

-when nightfall arrived, they were no better off than they were before.

-</p>

-<p>Towards evening they packed up their various magical instruments and spells, and went

-away very downhearted; and as soon as they were gone the Boy emerged from his hiding-place,

-and going boldly to the house, he said that he was a famous magician and could find

-the turquoise for them; and he asked that on the following morning all the diviners

-and lamas should again be summoned, as well as the inhabitants of all the neighbouring

-houses. The Lady of the house was at first inclined to ridicule the idea of this disreputable-looking

-beggar being able to accomplish what none of these famous sorcerers could do; but

-thinking it worth while to give the Boy a chance, she decided to do what he suggested,

-and meanwhile ordered her servants to let him have a good supper, of which he stood

-badly in need.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb164">[<a href="#pb164">164</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Next morning, about ten o’clock, a large crowd of people assembled in the courtyard

-of the house. In addition to the magicians and lamas of the day before, a great many

-of the neighbours had obeyed the summons, and amongst them were the people who had

-treated the poor Boy so badly during their wedding feast, and the Beggar who had reviled

-and beaten him. As soon as they were all seated in rows ready to see what was going

-to happen, the Boy, holding the pig’s head under his arm, presented himself before

-them all, and addressed them as follows:

-</p>

-<p>“Now,” said he, “I hope in a few minutes to be able to discover the missing turquoise,

-for I am possessed of magic qualities of unusual power. In my search I shall be assisted

-by this enchanted pig’s head which I hold under my arm. Owing to the spell I have

-cast upon it, it is able at once to detect a thief or a dishonest person, and also

-to discover stolen property.”

-</p>

-<p>So saying he took the pig’s head in both hands, and holding its snout towards the

-company, he went round from person to person, halting for a moment in front of each.

-Presently he arrived in front of the Bridegroom, who had been so rude to him some

-days before, and the pig’s head at once became violently agitated, and kept poking

-itself towards this man.

-</p>

-<p>“Ah!” said the Boy, “here is evidently a dishonest man; it is no good our proceeding

-any further in our search until he has been beaten and turned out of here.”

-</p>

-<p>The other people at once seized upon the wretched man, <span class="pageNum" id="pb165">[<a href="#pb165">165</a>]</span>and after giving him a severe thrashing, they turned him out of the place. Next to

-him was sitting the Beggar who had so insulted the Boy, and who had disbelieved his

-story. Here, again, the pig’s head became violently agitated, and the Beggar, too,

-was well beaten and turned out. Having got rid of these two persons, the Boy now began

-to walk round the yard, the pig’s snout apparently sniffing carefully at every part

-of the wall in the farm buildings. Presently, coming to the crevice into which the

-rag had been thrust by the servant-maid, he moved the pig’s head violently to and

-fro.

-</p>

-<p>“Ah!” cried he, “the missing turquoise must be somewhere near here.”

-</p>

-<p>On hearing this everyone began to search about in that neighbourhood, and in a few

-minutes the turquoise was found inside the rag thrust into the crevice of the wall.

-</p>

-<p>The Mistress of the house on recovering her turquoise was greatly elated. She took

-the Boy into the house, and having presented him with a new suit of clothes, and given

-him all he wanted to eat and drink, she handed him a large sum of money, and he went

-on his way in a far better plight than when he had first arrived there.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb166">[<a href="#pb166">166</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1895">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1895src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> In Tibetan “chu-ba,” the outer garment, like a dressing-gown, worn by all Tibetans.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1895src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s22-2" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e387">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>

-<h2 class="sub">HOW HE DISLODGED THE SPIDER.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">After leaving the house where he had found the turquoise, the home-bred Boy wandered

-along until, towards nightfall, he arrived at the same poplar-tree where he had previously

-stayed the night, and, lying down under its branches, he fell fast asleep, and did

-not wake up until towards morning.

-</p>

-<p>As day was dawning the two Ravens overhead began talking to one another as before,

-and the boy overheard their conversation.

-</p>

-<p>“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the hen bird on the nest. “What kept you so late

-last night?”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” replied Father Raven, “the fact is, I was visiting a farmhouse down yonder,

-where the mistress of the house, as it happens, is very ill. She is suffering from

-a severe pain in her left ear, which drives her almost distracted, and no one about

-the place knows what it is nor how to cure it. They have consulted all of the most

-famous doctors and lamas in the neighbourhood without, however, affording her any

-relief at all. Indeed, no one knows what is the cause of the disease except myself.

-I have ascertained that the pain in her <span class="pageNum" id="pb167">[<a href="#pb167">167</a>]</span>ear is due to the fact that some days ago a large Spider effected an entrance during

-her sleep, and that the Spider and her young ones have now taken up their abode inside

-the Lady’s head. It is impossible to dislodge them except by a stratagem. As you are

-aware, Spiders are in the habit of sleeping all through the winter months, and only

-wake up and emerge from their retreat in the spring. If it were possible to make the

-Spiders believe that spring had arrived, they would come out of the ear at once; otherwise

-they will remain there all through the winter.”

-</p>

-<p>“Indeed,” replied Mother Raven, “that is very interesting; but how would it be possible

-to make the Spider believe that spring had come?”

-</p>

-<p>“There is a very simple stratagem, which I have often seen employed,” replied Father

-Raven, “which is as follows: a piece of green cloth must first be spread upon a table

-and well sprinkled with water, and the Lady must bend her ear over this so that the

-Spiders can see it. It will appear to them to be a green field, wet with the spring

-rains, and they will imagine it is time to come out; and then, if they still display

-any reluctance to emerge, it is only necessary to beat a drum to simulate thunder.

-Thunderstorms, as you know, only occur in the spring, and the Spiders on hearing this

-noise will feel convinced that spring has really come, and will emerge without any

-further hesitation. The moment they come out on the table they must be wrapped up

-in the cloth with the greatest expedition and carried away and killed, for if this

-is not done, they will always be <span class="pageNum" id="pb168">[<a href="#pb168">168</a>]</span>ready at the slightest alarm to climb back into the ear by the threads which they

-have left suspended behind them.”

-</p>

-<p>Mother Raven thanked Father Raven for his information, and she then said:

-</p>

-<p>“But you yourself are not looking at all well this morning, what is the matter with

-you?”

-</p>

-<p>“Well,” said he, “I am sorry to say I over-ate myself yesterday. The people of the

-house kept praying to the gods, and were all day long occupied in making offerings

-of rice and flour. Most of these offerings were thrown out into the garden, and I

-was able to eat as much as I wanted. In fact, I ate a great deal too much, and I fear

-that I am going to die. If I do, you must faithfully promise to remain in mourning

-for me, in accordance with Tibetan custom, for three years, three months and three

-days.”

-</p>

-<p>Mother Raven, on hearing this, was greatly affected, and solemnly vowed to carry out

-the wishes of her husband, and poor old Father Raven, getting into the nest, shortly

-after breathed his last.

-</p>

-<p>As soon as he was dead Mother Raven remarked to herself that she had a great deal

-too much to do in looking after her family and household duties to think for a moment

-of following so absurd a custom as mourning for a dead bird for any period at all.

-So she pushed old Father Raven’s body out of the nest with her bill and let it fall

-to the ground below, while she herself flew off to find food for the young ravens,

-which had just been hatched out.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb169">[<a href="#pb169">169</a>]</span></p>

-<p>Meanwhile the Boy, who had listened attentively to the colloquy of the Ravens overhead,

-went straight off to hunt for the house where the Lady was suffering from pains in

-her ear, and he decided in his own mind to make this another opportunity for displaying

-his magical powers. He soon arrived at the house in question, and found the whole

-family in great grief, and the poor mistress of the house suffering torments with

-the pain in her ear. Going to the house he asked what was the matter, and on hearing

-the cause of their sorrow he at once announced that he was possessed of very wonderful

-magic powers, and was prepared to effect a cure. The people of the house who had seen

-him on the previous day, when he had found the turquoise, were inclined to believe

-him, and asked him what they should do to procure relief for their mistress.

-</p>

-<p>“All that is necessary,” replied he, “is a square piece of green cloth, some clean

-water in a jug and a couple of drums.”

-</p>

-<p>When these things had been made ready he spread the piece of green cloth on the table

-and sprinkled some water over it, and he then told the Lady of the house to lean across

-the table so that her painful ear should come above the patch of green cloth. No sooner

-had she done so than the Spiders inside, seeing the green expanse with water still

-lying upon it, thought that the spring had come and began moving about, and the old

-Mother Spider at once let herself down by a thread to see if it was really spring.

-</p>

-<p>The people of the house were greatly astonished at <span class="pageNum" id="pb170">[<a href="#pb170">170</a>]</span>seeing the Spider emerge, but the Boy ordered them not to touch her; and having satisfied

-herself that there was really water on the cloth, she climbed again up her thread,

-and went back into the Lady’s ear to impart the good news to her family. The Boy now

-ordered the drums to be beaten, and on hearing this sound the whole of the spider

-family, thinking that the noise was thunder, and that spring had undoubtedly arrived,

-hastily emerged from the Lady’s ear and let themselves down, one after another, on

-to the green cloth. As soon as they were all, to the number of seven, arrived upon

-the table, the Boy snatched up the piece of cloth, and wrapping up the spiders inside

-it, he carried them all outside and destroyed them.

-</p>

-<p>The Lady of the house was now completely cured and overwhelmed the Boy with gifts

-and compliments, and he left the house carrying with him a large sum of gold, in addition

-to that which he had received the day before. He now bent his steps towards his Mother’s

-house, and as he was going along the road to his home he suddenly came face to face

-with the old Beggar who had previously insulted him, and whom he had had beaten and

-turned out when he was looking for the turquoise. The old man, who was of a very jealous

-and vindictive temper, was very much incensed against the Boy, and had determined

-to avenge himself upon him. As the Boy came down the road the old Beggar suddenly

-emerged from behind a clump of bushes, holding a sword in his right hand and a fly

-in the hollow of his left fist.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb171">[<a href="#pb171">171</a>]</span></p>

-<p>“Now,” said he, “I believe you to be an impostor. You have twice made pretence to

-magical powers, which in reality you do not possess, and I am about to put you to

-a final test. If you can tell me what I hold in my left hand I shall let you go free;

-but if you fail to do so, I shall immediately kill you with this sword.”

-</p>

-<p>The poor Boy was greatly alarmed at hearing these words, and having no weapon himself

-he was completely at the old man’s mercy. So at a loss to know what to say, he replied:

-</p>

-<p>“Well, then, you can kill me if you like, for I am as much in your power as though

-I were a fly which you hold in your left hand and which you can crush at your pleasure.”

-</p>

-<p>The old man was so much astonished at hearing this reply, which he looked upon as

-a proof of the Boy’s supernatural powers, that he forthwith became one of his most

-ardent admirers; and as he had seen where the Boy’s horse, dog, and other belongings

-had disappeared to on the occasion when they had all followed the fox, he was able

-to lead the boy to a distant valley, where he found his horse and dog together. Here

-having recovered his sword and his gun, his clothing and other possessions, he mounted

-upon his horse and followed by his dog he returned to his Mother’s house a very much

-richer Boy than when he had left it.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb172">[<a href="#pb172">172</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="s22-3" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e396">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>

-<h2 class="sub">HOW HE DEFEATED THE ENEMY.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">On his return to his home the home-bred Boy found that he was now famous far and wide

-for his supposed magical powers, and he was constantly consulted by people of all

-classes, who wanted his assistance in their various affairs.

-</p>

-<p>It happened not long afterwards that a war broke out with a neighbouring country,

-and the King sent for the Boy, and asked him whether he would be able to give any

-assistance in the campaign against the enemy. The Boy was rather alarmed at this request

-of the King’s, for he did not in the least know how he should set about defeating

-the foe, but he allowed no sign of hesitation to appear in his manner, and he answered

-boldly that he was prepared to undertake the job; whereupon the King presented him

-with a magnificent charger and begged him to do his best.

-</p>

-<p>Now as it happened, the Boy was in reality a very bad rider, and did not at all fancy

-the idea of riding about on a spirited horse, but for very shame he could not refuse

-the King’s gift. So early next morning, when he mounted his horse with the intention

-of riding out and reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, in order to see what <span class="pageNum" id="pb173">[<a href="#pb173">173</a>]</span>could be done, he made his servant tie his feet together with a rope under the horse’s

-belly, so that he should not fall off if it ran away or played any pranks with him.

-Having ridden for some distance he reached the top of a hill, whence he could obtain

-a clear view of the enemy’s camp, and as he was sitting on his horse watching the

-scene below a trumpet suddenly sounded. The noise of the trumpet frightened the horse,

-which, after giving one or two preliminary plunges, dashed off down the hill at full

-gallop straight towards the enemy’s camp.

-</p>

-<p>The poor Boy was much terrified at this untoward event, and did all he could to stop

-his horse by pulling the bridle and speaking to it, but with no avail. Just before

-reaching the camp the horse carried him under a dead tree, and the Boy, raising his

-arms, seized one of the branches with both hands in the hope of checking the horse’s

-mad career; but the rotten bough broke in his grasp, and the horse continued its gallop

-right into the camp, with the Boy holding in his hands a huge branch of the tree.

-</p>

-<p>Hither and thither rushed the horse amongst the tents of the enemy, trampling the

-frightened soldiers underfoot, whilst the Boy in his struggles to maintain his balance,

-swept his great branch to and fro with equally disastrous effect. During his gallop

-his hair had become loosened, and was now flying wildly in the air, and his shouts

-and adjurations to his horse increased the terror of his appearance. The enemy’s soldiers

-had never seen such a terrific-looking object before, and one and all <span class="pageNum" id="pb174">[<a href="#pb174">174</a>]</span>came to the conclusion that he must undoubtedly be a demon that was attacking them,

-and that he would soon compass their entire destruction. So instead of opposing him

-they tried to soothe and conciliate him, offering him silken scarfs and other presents

-as he galloped to and fro. But he made no reply to them, and continued to shout fiercely

-at his horse.

-</p>

-<p>These shouts were taken by the soldiers to be threats of vengeance against themselves,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2003src" href="#xd33e2003" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> and, finally, the General and all the principal officers, coming out in a body with

-scarfs, begged him to make peace and to allow them to go away quietly. The Boy, who

-heard what they said, was quite willing to agree, but was totally unable to control

-his horse, so he shouted to them that he accepted their submission on condition that

-they were able to stop his horse. So running on either side of him, they seized the

-bridle and soon brought the animal to a standstill, when the Boy formally accepted

-their surrender, and dictated to them terms of peace; and they on their part were

-only too thankful to have escaped from such a danger, and gladly consented to withdraw

-at once to their own country.

-</p>

-<p>When the King heard what had happened, he sent for the Boy and thanked him very heartily

-for his services; and as a reward for what he had done, he raised him to the highest

-rank, and presented him with lands and gold, and the young Man and his Mother lived

-happily ever afterwards.

-<span class="pageNum" id="pb175">[<a href="#pb175">175</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2003">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2003src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> There is a play on the words of the Tibetan original here which explains this point,

-but which is incapable of adequate translation into English.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2003src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div id="verses" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e405">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS.</h2>

-</div>

-<div class="divBody">

-<p class="first">A woman sings to a man whose affection for her is waning:

-</p>

-<div class="lgouter">

-<p class="line">“As a great mountain, with its cooling streams,

-</p>

-<p class="line">Nourishes the little fields far down below,

-</p>

-<p class="line">Do you, my lover, with a stream of love,

-</p>

-<p class="line">Nourish the heart of her who loves you so.”</p>

-</div>

-<p class="first">The man replies to the woman:

-</p>

-<div class="lgouter">

-<p class="line">“When autumn chills destroy the honeyed flowers,

-</p>

-<p class="line">The bees must do without their favourite food;

-</p>

-<p class="line">So when my passion cools, and dies my love,

-</p>

-<p class="line">You should submit to this my changéd mood.”</p>

-</div>

-<p class="first">A man sings to a woman:

-</p>

-<div class="lgouter">

-<p class="line">“Up every rocky cliff some path exists,

-</p>

-<p class="line">If one can find a guide to show the way;

-</p>

-<p class="line">So to your heart some avenue must lead,

-</p>

-<p class="line">Teach me, forthwith, that path of love, I pray.”</p>

-</div>

-<p class="first">The woman replies:

-</p>

-<div class="lgouter">

-<p class="line">“Were I inclined to grant this fruit<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2033src" href="#xd33e2033" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> to you,

-</p>

-<p class="line">The gift were thine at once—to-day, to-morrow.

-</p>

-<p class="line">But oh! I fear that lurking at your back,

-</p>

-<p class="line">Are demons red<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2041src" href="#xd33e2041" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> to bring me endless sorrow.”</p>

-</div>

-<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb176">[<a href="#pb176">176</a>]</span></p>

-</div>

-<div class="footnotes">

-<hr class="fnsep">

-<div class="footnote-body">

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2033">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2033src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> <i>I.e.</i>, her heart. She compares her heart ripe with love to a ripe fruit.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2033src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2041">

-<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2041src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> Presumably she means the man’s passions. She compares them to the terrific demons

-(red is the angry colour) of Tibetan Lamaist mythology.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2041src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="div1 last-child story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">

-<h2 class="main">LOVE SONG.</h2>

-<div class="lgouter">

-<div class="lg">

-<p class="line">Could I but win the maiden

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">For whom my heart doth pine,

-</p>

-<p class="line">I’d prize her as a jewel

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">From depths of ocean brine.

-</p>

-</div>

-<div class="lg">

-<p class="line">I’d guard her fragrant body,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">Like white turquoise so rare.

-</p>

-<p class="line">My wanderings all behind me,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">I’d know no earthly care.

-</p>

-</div>

-<div class="lg">

-<p class="line">As luscious fruit well ripened,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">Hangs tempting on the tree;

-</p>

-<p class="line">So is thy beauty, maiden,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">Temptation sore to me.

-</p>

-</div>

-<div class="lg">

-<p class="line">From longing for thy beauty,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">How can I sleep at night?

-</p>

-<p class="line">By day I seek thee vainly,

-</p>

-<p class="line xd33e2050">My heart is tired quite.</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="back">

-<div class="div1 imprint"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">

-<p class="first center small"><i>Printed by The Chapel River Press, Kingston, Surrey.</i>

-</p>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div class="transcriberNote">

-<h2 class="main">Colophon</h2>

-<h3 class="main">Revision History</h3>

-<ul>

-<li>2024-11-23 Started.

-</li>

-</ul>

-<h3 class="main">Corrections</h3>

-<p>The following 5 corrections have been applied to the text:</p>

-<table class="correctionTable">

-<tr>

-<th>Page</th>

-<th>Source</th>

-<th>Correction</th>

-<th>Edit distance</th>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e524">2</a></td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">

-[<i>Not in source</i>]

-</td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">.</td>

-<td class="bottom">1</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1118">64</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1363">94</a></td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">

-[<i>Not in source</i>]

-</td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">”</td>

-<td class="bottom">1</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1858">155</a></td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">,</td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">.</td>

-<td class="bottom">1</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1902">160</a></td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">poplar tree</td>

-<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">poplar-tree</td>

-<td class="bottom">1</td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-</div>

-</div>

-<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***</div>

-</body>

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+</head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***</div>
+<div class="front">
+<div class="div1 cover"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first"></p>
+<div class="figure cover-imagewidth"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="Original Front Cover." width="552" height="720"></div><p>
+</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 frenchtitle"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first center large">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET
+</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 frontispiece"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first"></p>
+<div class="figure frontispiecewidth" id="frontispiece"><img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt="One of the Story-tellers, with his family and Servants." width="720" height="507"><p class="figureHead">One of the Story-tellers, with his family and Servants.</p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 titlepage"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first"></p>
+<div class="figure titlepage-imagewidth"><img src="images/titlepage.png" alt="Original Title Page." width="510" height="720"></div><p>
+</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="titlePage">
+<div class="docTitle">
+<h1 class="mainTitle">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET</h1>
+<h1 class="subTitle">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY A TIBETAN ARTIST AND SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS</h1>
+</div>
+<div class="byline">COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED<br>
+BY<br>
+<span class="docAuthor">CAPT.&nbsp;W.&nbsp;F. O’CONNOR, C.I.E.</span><br>
+<i>Secretary and Interpreter of the Mission to Lhasa (1904)</i></div>
+<div class="docImprint">LONDON<br>
+HURST AND BLACKETT, LTD.<br>
+182, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C.
+<br>
+<span class="docDate">1906</span>
+<br>
+<i>All rights reserved</i></div>
+</div>
+<p></p>
+<div class="div1 imprint"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first"></p>
+<div class="figure logowidth"><img src="images/logo.png" alt="Publisher logo with text: THE CHAPEL RIVER PRESS KINGSTON SURREY" width="171" height="245"></div><p>
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb.v">[<a href="#pb.v">v</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 preface"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">PREFACE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">In presenting these little stories to the public, it may perhaps be of interest if
+I describe how I came by them.
+</p>
+<p>During two years spent in Tibet, at Gyantse, Lhasa, and elsewhere, I have made many
+friends amongst all classes of Tibetans—high and low, rich and poor—and have conversed
+with all sorts of persons upon all sorts of topics. In the course of my wanderings
+I learned that there exists amongst this fascinating and little-known people a wealth
+of folk-lore, hitherto inaccessible to the outside world, and I made efforts to collect
+as many of their stories as I could.
+</p>
+<p>For certain special reasons this quest proved more difficult than I had anticipated.
+In the first place, I found that many of the best known stories had been imported
+bodily from India<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e150src" href="#xd33e150" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> or China, and possess but little of that local colouring which is one of the chief
+charms of folk-lore. Secondly, some of the very best and most characteristic stories
+are unfit for publication in such a book as this.<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e156src" href="#xd33e156" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> And, thirdly, human nature being much the same all the world over, it was not always
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb.vi">[<a href="#pb.vi">vi</a>]</span>possible to find a suitable <i>raconteur</i> in a suitable mood for story-telling. A story told by a nervous or reluctant narrator
+loses half its charm. A good story must be natural, and necessitates sympathy on the
+part both of teller and of hearer. Armed diplomatic missions and an official position,
+apart from all questions of difference of language and nationality, do not tend to
+elicit the ideal sentiments necessary for the establishment of complete mutual confidence.
+</p>
+<p>But patience, and the growth of kindly feelings on both sides, helped me to some extent
+to overcome the shyness and reluctance of the simple folk who have supplied me with
+my material; and, as time went on, I was able to coax a story from many unlikely sources.
+Village headmen, monks, servants, local government officials, peasants, traders—these
+and many others have contributed to my store. Shyly and haltingly at starting, with
+many bashful apologies and disclaimers, the story-teller will begin his tale. But
+a Tibetan audience is one of the best imaginable, and their open sympathy and appreciation
+soon melt the frosts of reserve, and the words flow freely. Presently all sense of
+constraint is lost, and I have known a story interrupted for ten minutes at a time
+by the uncontrollable merriment aroused by some comic incident.
+</p>
+<p>Some of the stories, then, I have been obliged, reluctantly enough, to discard altogether
+for the present; others require further revision or elucidation. But the rest of my
+little store I give here, and with this one apology: that I have made no attempt to
+ornament or <span class="pageNum" id="pb.vii">[<a href="#pb.vii">vii</a>]</span>improve upon them. I have written them down just as I heard them, and have translated
+them, as accurately as I could, from the Tibetan idiom into ours. As to their origin
+or scientific bearing I say nothing, and put forward no theories. I leave the Tales
+to speak for themselves; but would invite, and shall cordially welcome, the criticisms
+and surmises of all students of folk-lore who are in a position to give an expert
+opinion upon such points, and to shed a light upon obscure corners into which I have
+been unable to penetrate.
+</p>
+<p>I have added to the stories a few verses taken at random from popular Tibetan love-songs,
+as a sample of the wealth of imagery and genuine poetic sentiment which is to be found
+amongst the inhabitants of this strange country. Owing to the extremely idiomatic
+form and severe compression of Tibetan metrical compositions, the translation of these
+songs into anything even distantly resembling poetry, without altogether destroying
+the characteristics of the original, presents peculiar difficulties; and I must crave
+indulgence for their crudeness and lack of artistic finish.
+</p>
+<p>The pictures are the maiden effort at book illustration of a Tibetan artist, resident
+at Gyantse, and are, I fear, somewhat weak in details, as owing to my absence from
+Gyantse during the time they were in progress I was unable personally to superintend
+their execution. For the excellent photograph which appears as the frontispiece I
+am indebted to my friend and companion at Gyantse, Capt. R. Steen, of the Indian Medical
+Service.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb.viii">[<a href="#pb.viii">viii</a>]</span></p>
+<p>In conclusion, I must express my grateful acknowledgments to Mr. Perceval Landon,
+to whose suggestion the collection and publication of these Tales, as well as their
+illustration by a native artist, is in a great measure due; and I must thank him,
+moreover, for many valuable hints and much kindly sympathy and assistance.
+</p>
+<p class="signed"><span class="sc">W.&nbsp;F. O’Connor</span>, Capt.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb.ix">[<a href="#pb.ix">ix</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e150">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e150src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Compare, for example, “<a class="pglink xd33e40" title="Link to Project Gutenberg ebook" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66870">Tibetan Tales derived from Indian Sources</a>,” translated from the Tibetan of the Kah Gyur into German by F. Anton von Schiefner.
+Done into English from the German by R.&nbsp;W.&nbsp;S. Ralston.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e150src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e156">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e156src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> But I am preserving such of these as appear to me to possess any scientific interest.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e156src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="toc" class="div1 contents"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">CONTENTS.</h2>
+<table class="tocList">
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle">
+</td>
+<td class="tocPageNum xs">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">I.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s1" id="xd33e189"><span class="sc">How the Hare got his Lip Split</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">1</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">II.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s2" id="xd33e198"><span class="sc">The Story of the Tiger and the Man</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">6</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">III.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s3" id="xd33e207"><span class="sc">The Story of Good Faith</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">12</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">IV.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s4" id="xd33e216"><span class="sc">The Story of the Two Neighbours</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">20</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">V.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s5" id="xd33e225"><span class="sc">The Story of the Cat and the Mice</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">26</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">VI.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s6" id="xd33e234"><span class="sc">The Story of the Foolish Young Mussulman</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">30</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">VII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s7" id="xd33e243"><span class="sc">The Kyang, the Fox, the Wolf and the Hare</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">43</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">VIII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s8" id="xd33e252"><span class="sc">The Frog and the Crow</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">48</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">IX.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s9" id="xd33e261"><span class="sc">The Hare and the Lions</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">51</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">X.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s10" id="xd33e270"><span class="sc">The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">56</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XI.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s11" id="xd33e280"><span class="sc">The Story of how the Hare made a Fool of the Wolf</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">60</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s12" id="xd33e289"><span class="sc">The Mouse’s Three Children</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">68</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XIII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s13" id="xd33e298"><span class="sc">The Jackals and the Tiger</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">76</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XIV.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s14" id="xd33e307"><span class="sc">The Story of the Three Thieves</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">80</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XV.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s15" id="xd33e316"><span class="sc">The Story of the Boy with the Deformed Head</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">92</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XVI.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s16" id="xd33e325"><span class="sc">The Prince and the Ogre’s Castle</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">103</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XVII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s17" id="xd33e334"><span class="sc">The Story of the Stone Lion</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">116</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XVIII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s18" id="xd33e343"><span class="sc">The Story of the Lama’s Servant</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">124</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XIX.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s19" id="xd33e352"><span class="sc">The Country of the Mice</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">133</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XX.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s20" id="xd33e361"><span class="sc">The Story of the Tortoise and the Monkey</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">141</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XXI.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s21" id="xd33e370"><span class="sc">The Story of Room Bacha and Baki</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">147</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum">XXII.—</td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22" id="xd33e380"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">158</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22-2" id="xd33e387"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> (<i>continued</i>) </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">166</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#s22-3" id="xd33e396"><span class="sc">The Story of the Home-bred Boy</span></a> (<i>continued</i>) </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">172</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#verses" id="xd33e405"><span class="sc">Some Verses from Tibetan Love-songs</span></a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">175</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb.xi">[<a href="#pb.xi">xi</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 last-child contents"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
+<table class="tocList">
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#frontispiece">One of the Story-tellers, with his Family and Servants</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum"><i>Frontispiece</i></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p002">The Hare and the Tiger</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum"><i>Facing p.</i> 2</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p022">The Wicked Neighbour removing Young Sparrow from Nest</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">22</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p025">“Worthy Father, I am turned into this”</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">25</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p035">The Young Mussulman pursued by his own Shadow</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">35</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p048">The Crow and the Frog in the Gutter</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">48</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p058">The Hare conversing with the Wolf</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">58</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p079">The Tiger and the Monkey approaching the Jackal’s Den</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">79</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p098">The Dragon attacking the Griffon’s Nest</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">98</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p121">The Stone Lion vomiting Gold</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">121</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p137">The Mice Crossing the Stream</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">137</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p145">The Monkey calling into the Tortoise’s Cave</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">145</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tocDivNum"></td>
+<td class="tocDivTitle"><a href="#p147">The Glass Pillars dancing for the Ogre</a> </td>
+<td class="tocPageNum">147</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb1">[<a href="#pb1">1</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="body">
+<div id="s1" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e189">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="super">FOLK TALES FROM TIBET.</h2>
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. I.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">HOW THE HARE GOT HIS SPLIT LIP.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">A hare was going along a road one day, when suddenly, on turning a corner, he came
+upon a large Tiger. The Tiger at once seized the Hare, and said that he was going
+to eat him.
+</p>
+<p>“Please, please, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, holding up his thumbs in supplication,
+“please don’t eat me, I am only a very small beast, and will make a very insufficient
+meal for a great big animal like you. And if you will spare my life I will take you
+to where you can find a much bigger, fatter creature than me for your supper.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very well,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that. But if you don’t show me a much bigger
+animal than you are, I shall certainly be obliged to eat you.”
+</p>
+<p>So he released the Hare, and the two walked off along the road together.
+</p>
+<p>As they went along night began to fall, and when it was quite dark the Hare began
+smacking his chops and making sounds as if he was eating something very nice.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb2">[<a href="#pb2">2</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“What are you eating, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.
+</p>
+<p>“I am eating my eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare. “I have taken it out and eaten
+it; it is very nice, and it soon grows again.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger was rather surprised at hearing this, but being very hungry he proceeded
+to scrape out his own eye and eat it up. After going a little further the Hare again
+began smacking his lips, as if he was eating something.
+</p>
+<p>“What are you eating now, Brother Hare?” asked the Tiger.
+</p>
+<p>“I am eating my other eye, Uncle Tiger,” replied the Hare; “it is even better than
+the first.”
+</p>
+<p>The foolish Tiger on hearing this proceeded to scrape out his other eye and eat that.
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger was now quite blind, and the Hare led him along to the brink of a deep gulf,
+where he advised the Tiger to sit down and rest for a while. And after the Tiger was
+seated, the Hare said:
+</p>
+<p>“Don’t you find it cold, Uncle Tiger? shall I light you a fire?”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Tiger, “I think a fire would be very pleasant.”
+</p>
+<div class="figure p002width" id="p002"><img src="images/p002.jpg" alt="THE HARE AND THE TIGER." width="720" height="635"><p class="figureHead">THE HARE AND THE TIGER<span class="corr" id="xd33e524" title="Not in source">.</span></p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 2.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>So the Hare lighted a fire just in front of the Tiger, and when it was blazing up
+he kept putting the sticks nearer and nearer the Tiger, so that the Tiger was obliged
+to keep edging further and further away, when all of a sudden he toppled over backwards
+into the gulf behind. Now it happened that half-way down the <span class="pageNum" id="pb3">[<a href="#pb3">3</a>]</span>gulf a tree was growing from a cleft in the precipice, and as he passed this the Tiger
+seized one of the boughs with his teeth, and so arrested his fall. The Hare, peeping
+over the edge, saw what had happened, and he called out:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger, Uncle Tiger, are you safe?”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger was afraid to open his mouth to reply, and all he could do was to growl,
+“M—m—m——”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger,” said the Hare, “is that all you can say? I am afraid you must be
+very badly hurt. Do just say ‘Ah!’ and I shall know that you are all right.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger, anxious to please the Hare, opened his mouth to say “Ah!” and was instantly
+precipitated to the bottom of the gulf, where he fell upon some rocks and was killed.
+</p>
+<p>Next morning the Hare went hopping down the road when he met a Man driving along a
+lot of Horses.
+</p>
+<p>“Good morning, Father Man,” said he to the driver. “Would you like to know where you
+can find a good Tiger’s skin?”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Man, thinking he would sell the skin and make
+a lot of money.
+</p>
+<p>So the Hare pointed out to him where the dead Tiger lay in the ravine, and the Man
+hastened off to skin it, after first asking the Hare to take care of his Horses while
+he was away.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as he was out of sight the Hare saw two Ravens sitting in a tree overhead.
+He called out to them:
+</p>
+<p>“Brothers Raven, look here! Here are a lot of Horses <span class="pageNum" id="pb4">[<a href="#pb4">4</a>]</span>with no one in charge. Why don’t you come down and feed on the sores on their backs?”
+</p>
+<p>The Ravens thought this was a good idea, and flying down, they perched on the Horses’
+backs, and began to dig their beaks into the sore places. The poor Horses, in fear
+and pain, soon stampeded, and galloped about all over the country.
+</p>
+<p>The Hare then hopped on a little further down the road and came upon a Boy tending
+Sheep.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Boy,” said the Hare, “would you like to know where there is
+a fine Raven’s nest, full of eggs?”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, please, Brother Hare,” said the Boy, thinking he would climb the tree and take
+the Raven’s eggs. So the Hare pointed out to him the tree where the Raven’s nest was,
+and the Boy ran off to get the eggs, after first asking the Hare to take charge of
+the Sheep for him while he was away.
+</p>
+<p>The Hare soon espied a Wolf on the hill-side not far off, so he went up to him and
+said:
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf, do you know that there is a fine flock of Sheep quite
+unguarded down there, and I should advise you to take advantage of this opportunity
+of killing some of them.”
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf at once rushed down the hill into the middle of the flock of Sheep, scattering
+them all in every direction, and killing as many as he thought he required for his
+own use.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile the Hare proceeded to the top of a high hill whence he could survey the
+whole country. From <span class="pageNum" id="pb5">[<a href="#pb5">5</a>]</span>there he was able to discern the dead Tiger lying in the ravine, with the Man stripping
+off its skin; the Horses careering all over the country, with the Ravens pecking at
+the sores on their backs; the Boy robbing the Raven’s nest; and the Sheep, pursued
+by the Wolf, scattered to the four quarters of the compass.
+</p>
+<p>The sight so amused the Hare that he leaned back on a handy stone, and laughed to
+such an extent that he actually split his upper lip. And it has remained split to
+this very day.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb6">[<a href="#pb6">6</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s2" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e198">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. II.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TIGER AND THE MAN.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two Tigers who lived in a certain forest and had a family
+of three children. The Father Tiger grew old and began to fail, and just before his
+death he sent for his three children and addressed them as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Remember, my children,” said he, “that the Tiger is Lord of the jungle; he roams
+about at his will and makes a prey of the other animals as he wishes, and none can
+gainsay him. But there is one animal against whom you must be on your guard. He alone
+is more powerful and cunning than the Tiger. That animal is Man, and I warn you solemnly
+before I die to beware of Man, and on no account to try to hunt or to kill him.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the old Tiger turned on his side and died.
+</p>
+<p>The three young Tigers listened respectfully to the words of their dying parent and
+promised to obey; and the elder brothers, who were obedient sons, were careful to
+follow his advice. They confined their attentions to the slaughter of deer, pigs,
+and other denizens of the forest, and were careful, whenever they came within sight
+or scent of any human being, to clear off as fast as they could from so dangerous
+a neighbourhood. But the <span class="pageNum" id="pb7">[<a href="#pb7">7</a>]</span>youngest Tiger was of an independent and inquisitive disposition. As he grew older
+and stronger he began to chafe against the restriction that had been imposed upon
+him.
+</p>
+<p>“What, after all,” thought he to himself, “can be this creature Man that I should
+not slay him if I wish. I am told that he is but a defenceless creature, that his
+strength cannot be compared to mine, and that his claws and teeth are quite contemptible.
+I can pull down the largest stag or tackle the fiercest boar with impunity. Why, then,
+should not I be able to kill and eat Man also?”
+</p>
+<p>So after a while, in his conceit and folly, he determined to quit his own part of
+the forest and to venture forth towards the open country in search of a Man as his
+prey. His two brothers and his mother tried to reason with him and to persuade him
+to remember the words of his dying father, but with no avail; and finally, one fine
+morning, in spite of their prayers and entreaties, he set off alone on his search.
+</p>
+<p>He had not proceeded very far when he met an old, worn-out pack-Bullock, thin and
+emaciated, and with the marks of many ancient scars on his back. The young Tiger had
+never seen a Bullock before, and he regarded the creature with some curiosity. Walking
+up to it he said:
+</p>
+<p>“What sort of animal are you, pray? Are you a Man by any chance?”
+</p>
+<p>“No, indeed,” replied the creature; “I am only a poor Bullock.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb8">[<a href="#pb8">8</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Ah!” said the Tiger. “Well, perhaps you can tell me what sort of an animal Man is,
+for I am just going out to find and kill one.”
+</p>
+<p>“Beware of Man, young Tiger,” replied the Bullock; “he is a dangerous and a faithless
+creature. Just look at me for example. From the time when I was very young I was Man’s
+servant. I carried loads for him on my back, as you may see by these scars, and for
+many years I slaved for him faithfully and well. While I was young and strong he cared
+for me and valued me highly; but as soon as I became old and weak, and was no longer
+able to do his work, he turned me out into this wild jungle to seek my food as best
+I might, and gave no thought for me in my old age. I warn you solemnly to leave him
+alone and not to try and kill him. He is very cunning and dangerous.”
+</p>
+<p>But the young Tiger only laughed at the warning and went on his way. Soon afterwards
+he came across an ancient Elephant wandering by itself on the outskirts of the forest,
+and feeding with its trunk on the grasses and foliage which it loves. The old animal
+had a wrinkled skin and a small and bleary eye, and behind its huge ears were many
+cuts and ancient scars, showing where the goad had been so frequently applied.
+</p>
+<p>The young Tiger eyed this strange animal with some surprise, and going up to it he
+said:
+</p>
+<p>“What sort of an animal are you, please? You are not a Man, I suppose?”
+</p>
+<p>“No, indeed,” replied the Elephant; “I am only a poor old worn-out Elephant.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb9">[<a href="#pb9">9</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Is that so?” answered the Tiger. “Perhaps you can tell me, however, what sort of
+a creature Man is, as I am now hunting for one in order to kill and eat him.”
+</p>
+<p>“Beware how you hunt Man, young Tiger,” replied the old Elephant; “he is a faithless
+and dangerous animal. Look at my case. Although I am the Lord of the jungle, Man tamed
+me, and trained me, and made me his servant for many years. He put a saddle on my
+back and made stirrups of my ears, and he used to strike me over my head with an iron
+goad. While I was young and strong he valued me highly. Food was brought to me, as
+much as I could eat every day, and I had a special attendant who used to wash and
+groom me, and to see to all my wants. But when I became old and too infirm for further
+work, he turned me out into the jungle to fend for myself as best I could. If you
+will take my advice you will leave Man alone, or it will be the worse for you in the
+end.”
+</p>
+<p>But the young Tiger laughed contemptuously and went on his way. After proceeding for
+some little distance he heard the sound of some one chopping wood, and creeping near
+he saw that it was a Woodcutter engaged in felling a tree. After watching him for
+some time the Tiger emerged from the jungle, and going up to the Man, he asked what
+sort of an animal he was. The Woodcutter replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Why, what an ignorant Tiger you are; can’t you see that I am a Man?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, are you,” replied the Tiger, “what a piece of <span class="pageNum" id="pb10">[<a href="#pb10">10</a>]</span>luck for me. I was just looking for a Man in order to kill and eat him, and you will
+do nicely.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Woodcutter began to laugh. “Kill and eat <i>me</i>,” he replied; “why, don’t you know that Man is much too clever to be killed and eaten
+by a Tiger? Just come with me a little way and I will show you some things which only
+a Man knows, but which will be very useful for you to learn.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger thought that this was a good idea, so he followed the Man through the jungle
+until they came to the Man’s house, which was strongly built of timber and heavy logs.
+</p>
+<p>“What is that place?” said the Tiger when he saw it.
+</p>
+<p>“That is called a house,” replied the Man. “I will show you how we use it.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying he went inside and shut the door.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he, speaking from the inside to the Tiger, “you see what a foolish creature
+a Tiger is compared to a Man. You poor animals live in a hole in the forest, exposed
+to wind, rain, cold and heat; and all your strength is of no value to make a house
+like this. Whereas I, although I am so much weaker than you, can build myself a fine
+house, where I live at my ease, indifferent to the weather and secure from the attacks
+of wild animals.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the young Tiger flew into a violent passion.
+</p>
+<p>“What right,” said he, “has an ugly, defenceless creature like you to possess such
+a lovely house? Look at me, with my beautiful stripes, and my great teeth <span class="pageNum" id="pb11">[<a href="#pb11">11</a>]</span>and claws, and my long tail. I am far more worthy than you of a house. Come out at
+once, and give your house over to me.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, very well,” said the Man, and he came out of the house leaving the door open,
+and the Tiger stalked in.
+</p>
+<p>“Now, look at me,” called out the conceited young Tiger from inside, “don’t I look
+nice in my fine house?”
+</p>
+<p>“Very nice indeed,” replied the Man, and bolting the door outside he walked off with
+his axe, leaving the Tiger to starve to death.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb12">[<a href="#pb12">12</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s3" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e207">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. III.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF GOOD FAITH.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">The Tiger soon got tired of sitting in the house and tried to force his way out; but
+the house was too strongly built for him to be able to make any impression upon the
+walls, so he gave it up in despair and soon began to suffer severely from hunger and
+thirst. Two or three days passed away and the Tiger was in a sorry state, when, as
+he was peering through a chink in the logs he saw a little Musk Deer, which had come
+down to drink at the stream which was close by. When the Tiger saw the Deer he called
+out to her:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Sister Deer, will you please come and open the door of this house. I am shut
+up inside, and as I have nothing to eat and drink I am afraid of starving to death.”
+</p>
+<p>The Deer was a good deal frightened when she heard the Tiger’s voice, but when she
+understood how matters were she was reassured, and replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Uncle Tiger, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. But I am afraid if I
+open the door and let you out you will kill and eat me.”
+</p>
+<p>“No, no, I won’t,” replied the Tiger, “you can rely <span class="pageNum" id="pb13">[<a href="#pb13">13</a>]</span>upon me. I promise you faithfully that if you will release me I will let you go free.”
+</p>
+<p>Accordingly, the Deer came up to the house and unbolted the door from the outside,
+and the Tiger sprang out joyfully. As soon as he got outside he seized upon the Deer
+and said:
+</p>
+<p>“I am very sorry for you, Sister Deer, but the fact is I am so famished that really
+I have no alternative but to eat you immediately.”
+</p>
+<p>“This is really too bad,” replied the Deer; “after promising faithfully that you would
+not eat me, and after the benefit which I have conferred upon you, you should certainly
+keep faith with me.”
+</p>
+<p>“Faith!” said the Tiger. “What is faith? I don’t believe there is any such thing as
+good faith.”
+</p>
+<p>“Is there not?” answered the Deer. “Well now, let us make a bargain. We will ask the
+first three living things we meet whether or no there is such a thing as good faith.
+If they say there is not, then you are welcome to kill and eat me; but if they say
+there is such a thing, then you shall let me go free.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very good,” said the Tiger, “I agree to that; that is a bargain.”
+</p>
+<p>So the two set off together side by side, and after proceeding a short distance down
+the road they came upon a large Tree growing by the roadside.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Tree,” said the Musk Deer, “we want to refer a question to
+you for your decision.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tree waved its branches in the air and replied in a gentle voice:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb14">[<a href="#pb14">14</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“What is your question, Sister Deer? I am ready to do my best to help you.”
+</p>
+<p>“The case is this,” replied the Musk Deer, “a short while ago I found this Tiger shut
+up in a Woodcutter’s hut in the forest, unable to get out. He called out to me asking
+me to open the door of the hut, promising me, if I did so, that he would let me go
+free. So I opened the door and let him out. No sooner was he released than he seized
+upon me and threatened to kill and eat me; and when I reproached him of breaking his
+faith, he said he did not believe that there was such a thing as good faith in the
+world. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met
+whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world. If they say there
+is not, then the Tiger is to kill and eat me; but if they say that there is such a
+thing, then I am to go free. Will you please give us an opinion as to whether such
+a thing as good faith exists or not.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this story the great Tree moved its branches slowly in the breeze and replied
+as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“I am much interested in your story, Sister Deer, and would gladly help you if I could;
+but I am bound to answer you honestly in accordance with my own experience of life.
+Now consider my own case. I grow here by the roadside and spread my branches over
+the dusty highway ready to give shelter to man and beast in their shade. Travellers
+passing constantly up and down the road avail themselves of this cool retreat, and
+they come themselves and they bring their poor beasts of burden to rest in my shadow.
+And then <span class="pageNum" id="pb15">[<a href="#pb15">15</a>]</span>what happens? Are they grateful to me for the comfort which I afford them? Does my
+example inspire them with any consideration for others? Far from it. When they have
+rested and refreshed themselves enough, they proceed on their way, and not only do
+they not thank me for my hospitality, but they break off my tender branches and use
+them as whips, further to goad and distress their weary animals. Can such conduct
+as that be called good faith? No, I am bound to say that my experience of life leads
+me to believe that there is no such thing as good faith in this world.”
+</p>
+<p>The poor Musk Deer was much cast down on hearing these words, and she and the Tiger
+moved on together till, a little farther along the road, they caught sight of a Cow
+Buffalo and her Calf grazing quietly in a field of succulent grass. They noticed that
+the old Cow contented herself with the driest and smallest patches of grass, whilst
+showing her Calf where to find the richest and most luxuriant pasture, and that she
+willingly deprived herself of any comfort in order to afford pleasure to the youngster.
+The Tiger and the Deer approached the old Cow, and the Deer, addressing her, said:
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Aunt Buffalo! This Tiger and I have a small matter which we wish to
+refer to you for an opinion.”
+</p>
+<p>The Buffalo gazed at them with her big eyes, and after ruminating for a while she
+replied slowly:
+</p>
+<p>“Say on, Sister Deer, I am ready to give you my opinion for what it is worth.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb16">[<a href="#pb16">16</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Deer, “this Tiger was shut up in a hut in the forest, and being unable
+to open the door, he was in danger of starving to death. I happened to pass by, and
+he called to me, asking me to let him out, promising that if I did so he would spare
+my life. So I opened the door and released him. But no sooner was he free than he
+seized upon me and said that he would kill and eat me; and when I reproached him with
+his bad faith, he replied that he did not believe that such a thing as good faith
+existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living things we met
+whether or no they believed that there is such a thing as good faith. If they say
+there is not, then the Tiger is to eat me; but if they say that there is such a thing,
+I am to go free. Now, will you please give us your opinion on the matter.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this statement the old Buffalo continued to chew the cud for some minutes,
+and then replied gravely:
+</p>
+<p>“I would gladly help you in the matter, Sister Deer, if I could; but I must regard
+it from the point of view of my own experience in life. I am considering the case
+of myself and my Calf. While the Calf is young and tender, I do all in my power to
+nourish and care for it. I first give it my milk, and later on, as you see, I encourage
+it to browse upon the best of the herbage, whilst I gladly stint myself in order that
+it may have plenty of the best of everything. But what happens later on, when the
+Calf grows strong and lusty? Does it remember its old mother with gratitude, <span class="pageNum" id="pb17">[<a href="#pb17">17</a>]</span>and fend for her in her old age? Far from it. As soon as it is big enough it will
+push me away from the places where I am grazing and take the best for itself, and
+will drive me away altogether from the pastures if it can. Can that be called keeping
+faith with its mother? No; my experience makes me believe that there is no such thing
+as good faith in this world.”
+</p>
+<p>When the Musk Deer heard this she was much downhearted, and fully expected to be killed
+and eaten without further delay; but she begged the Tiger to give her one more chance,
+saying that she was fully prepared to abide by the opinion of the third person whom
+they met.
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger consented to this, and after going on a little farther together they met
+a Hare, hopping quietly down the road towards them.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” called out the Musk Deer; “could you spare us a few
+moments to give us an opinion upon a point of difference which has arisen between
+this Tiger and myself?”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly,” replied the Hare, stopping short in the roadway. “I shall be delighted
+to do the best I can for you.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” replied the Musk Deer, “the facts are as follows: I was drinking just now
+at a stream in the forest when I noticed this Tiger shut up in a Woodcutter’s hut.
+The door was bolted outside, and he was unable to come out, and was in danger of starving
+to death, so he called out to me, asking me to release him, promising me, if I did
+so, that he would spare my <span class="pageNum" id="pb18">[<a href="#pb18">18</a>]</span>life. I accordingly opened the door; but no sooner did the Tiger come out, than he
+seized upon me, saying that he was so hungry that he had really no alternative but
+to devour me on the spot. And when I reproached him for his bad faith, he replied
+that he did not know what good faith was, and, in fact, did not believe that such
+a thing existed. So we made a bargain that we would ask the first three living creatures
+we met whether or no there is such a thing as good faith in this world. If they say
+there is, then I am to go free; but if they say there is not, then the Tiger is at
+liberty to kill and eat me. We have already consulted two persons in the matter, and
+they are both of opinion that there is no such thing as good faith. You are the third
+and last, and on your decision depends my life.”
+</p>
+<p>“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “this is a very strange story, and before giving an opinion
+on so momentous a matter it is necessary that I should understand exactly how it all
+happened. Let me see. You say that you were shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”
+</p>
+<p>“No, no,” broke in the Tiger; “it was I who was shut up in the Woodcutter’s hut.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! I see,” said the Hare; “then the Musk Deer must have shut you in?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! no,” interrupted the Musk Deer. “You don’t seem to understand at all; that was
+not how it happened.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Hare, “it is such a complicated story that it is difficult to follow
+it exactly. So before giving a decision I propose that we all adjourn to the <span class="pageNum" id="pb19">[<a href="#pb19">19</a>]</span>scene of action, and there you can explain to me precisely what occurred.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger and the Musk Deer agreed to this, and the three set off together until they
+arrived at the Woodcutter’s hut in the forest.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said the Hare, “will you please explain to me exactly what happened. Where,
+for instance, were you, Sister Deer, at the time the Tiger spoke to you?”
+</p>
+<p>“I was down here drinking at the stream, so,” replied the Deer, going off to the place
+in question.
+</p>
+<p>“And where were you, Uncle Tiger?” said the Hare.
+</p>
+<p>“Well, I was inside the hut, thus,” replied the Tiger, going inside the house.
+</p>
+<p>“And the door, I presume, must have been shut, so?” said the Hare. And so saying he
+shut the door and bolted it; and he and the Deer went on their way safely, leaving
+the Tiger shut up inside, where he shortly after starved to death.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb20">[<a href="#pb20">20</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s4" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e216">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. IV.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TWO NEIGHBOURS.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two Neighbours living in two houses, side by side, in
+the same village. One of these was rich, and the other one poor. The rich man, whose
+name was Tse-ring, was proud, arrogant, and stingy; whilst the poor man, whose name
+was Cham-ba, was a kind-hearted man, who was generous to all as far as his means allowed.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened that a pair of Sparrows came and built their nest in the eaves over
+the doorway of the poor man’s house, where, in the course of time, the young birds
+were hatched out. One day, before the young birds had learnt to fly, the two old Sparrows
+were away hunting for food, and one of the young ones fell out of its nest on to the
+poor man’s door-step, and broke its leg. Shortly after the poor man coming into his
+house saw the young Sparrow lying helpless on his door-step, so he picked it up to
+see what was wrong, and found that its leg was broken. So he carried it into the house,
+and very carefully bound up its leg with a piece of thread; and then took it up to
+the roof, and put it back in the nest.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb21">[<a href="#pb21">21</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Now this Sparrow, although the poor man did not know it, was really a fairy in disguise,
+and later on, when it had grown up, it flew out one day and returned with its beak
+full of grain. The poor man was sitting in his house when the little Sparrow flew
+in and perched on the table in front of him. It dropped the grain on the table, and
+after giving one or two chirps it said to the man:
+</p>
+<p>“This grain is in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your garden and see
+what comes up,” and so saying it flew away.
+</p>
+<p>The poor man was very much surprised at hearing the Sparrow speak, and he thought
+to himself:
+</p>
+<p>“Well, this is not a very valuable present, but still it shows how grateful even a
+little bird can be for a kindness done to him; and any way I will plant the grain
+in my garden as it directed.”
+</p>
+<p>So he planted the grain just in front of his house, and soon forgot all about the
+incident.
+</p>
+<p>A month or two later the grain grew, and soon attained its full height; and one day
+the poor man, going to look at it, was astonished to find that, instead of grain,
+each ear of corn contained a valuable jewel. He was very much delighted at this discovery,
+and having collected all the jewels, he carried them away to a neighbouring town,
+where he was able to sell them for a large sum of money, and thus found himself in
+a condition of great comfort and prosperity.
+</p>
+<p>Soon after this the rich Neighbour, having observed the change which had taken place
+in the poor <span class="pageNum" id="pb22">[<a href="#pb22">22</a>]</span>man’s circumstances, came over one day in order to try and find out how Cham-ba had
+become so rich and prosperous. He carried over with him a jug of beer, and, on the
+pretence of conviviality, he offered his Neighbour a drink, and during the course
+of the conversation which followed he asked Cham-ba to tell him the secret of his
+new wealth. Cham-ba, who was of a very unsuspicious nature, related to him the whole
+story of the Sparrow, the grain, and the jewels, and having learnt the secret the
+rich man returned to his own house, pondering deeply how he could turn this story
+to his own advantage.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p022width" id="p022"><img src="images/p022.jpg" alt="THE WICKED NEIGHBOUR REMOVING YOUNG SPARROW FROM NEST." width="720" height="477"><p class="figureHead">THE WICKED NEIGHBOUR REMOVING YOUNG SPARROW FROM NEST.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 22.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened that a Sparrow had hatched out her young in a nest just over his house
+door also. So next day he went up on to the roof, and leaning out over the parapet
+he picked out a young Sparrow from the nest with a pair of chop-sticks, and dropped
+it on to the ground below, where the poor little bird broke its leg. He then went
+down, picked up the young Sparrow, bound up its leg with a piece of thread, and put
+it back into its nest, saying as he did so that he hoped it would remember his kindness.
+</p>
+<p>Sure enough, when the Sparrow grew up it flew into his house one day, and perched
+on the table before him. It dropped some grain from its beak, and after a few preliminary
+chirps it said:
+</p>
+<p>“This grain is a present in return for your kindness to me. Plant it in your garden
+and see what grows up.”
+</p>
+<p>The rich man was greatly delighted on hearing this, <span class="pageNum" id="pb23">[<a href="#pb23">23</a>]</span>and thought to himself that he would soon be the possessor of beautiful jewels like
+his Neighbour. He prepared a bed very carefully in his garden, and planted the grain
+in the richest part of the soil. Every day he used to go and watch the spot, carefully
+examining the young shoots to see how they were getting on.
+</p>
+<p>The seeds sprouted and grew very fast, and one morning, when he went out as usual
+to see how his crop was doing, to his astonishment he found that instead of a few
+stalks of barley, as he had expected, a great fierce-looking man, with a bundle of
+papers under his arm, was standing in the middle of the bed. The rich man was very
+frightened at seeing this truculent-looking stranger, and asked who he was.
+</p>
+<p>“I was a creditor of yours in one of your former existences,” replied the Apparition.
+“You were then heavily in my debt, and I have come back here with all the necessary
+documents to claim what you owed me.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the Stranger seized upon the rich man’s house, his cattle, his sheep, his
+lands, and all his possessions, and reduced the rich man to the position of a slave
+in his household.
+</p>
+<p>Some months after, Cham-ba, now rich and prosperous, started off on a journey, and
+before going he asked Tse-ring to take charge of a bag of gold-dust for him, and to
+keep it until he returned. Tse-ring undertook the charge of the gold, but in his new
+state of poverty and dependence he was unable to resist the temptation of spending
+some of it, and at last he found that the <span class="pageNum" id="pb24">[<a href="#pb24">24</a>]</span>whole of the gold left in his charge was exhausted. Not knowing what to do he filled
+the bag with sand, and awaited his Neighbour’s return with some trepidation.
+</p>
+<p>A few days after Cham-ba came back from his journey, and called upon his Neighbour,
+and asked for his bag of gold. Tse-ring produced the bag and handed it over to Cham-ba
+without saying anything, and when Cham-ba opened it to see whether the gold was all
+right he found that it contained sand instead of gold.
+</p>
+<p>“How is this?” said he. “I entrusted to you a bag of gold-dust, and you have given
+me back only sand.”
+</p>
+<p>The dishonest Neighbour had no reply to make. He pretended to look very surprised,
+and all he could say was:
+</p>
+<p>“My friend, it has turned into this! My friend, it has turned into this!”
+</p>
+<p>Cham-ba said nothing more, but carried off the bag to his own house.
+</p>
+<p>Soon afterwards Cham-ba announced his intention of starting a school for little boys,
+where they would be taught free, and Tse-ring, thinking that a free education for
+his Son was not to be neglected, sent over his young Son to attend the school. A few
+days later he found it necessary to make a short journey to a neighbouring town, and
+before starting he entrusted his little Son to his neighbour, Cham-ba, and asked him
+to look after the boy until his return.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as he was gone Cham-ba procured a tame Monkey and taught it to say the following
+words.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb25">[<a href="#pb25">25</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into this!”
+</p>
+<p>When Tse-ring returned from his journey he walked over to the school-house one day
+to see how his Son was getting on, and he found Cham-ba seated there teaching the
+boys their lessons. Tse-ring looked round to see his Son, but could not detect him
+anywhere, but to his surprise he noticed a Monkey seated on one of the benches.
+</p>
+<p>“Where is my son?” asked Tse-ring, “and how is he getting on?”
+</p>
+<p>Cham-ba said nothing, but picked up the Monkey and carried it to him.
+</p>
+<p>“What do you mean by this?” said Tse-ring. “This is not my Son. Where is the boy whom
+I entrusted to your care?”
+</p>
+<p>Whereupon the Monkey spoke up and said:
+</p>
+<p>“Worthy father, I am turned into this! Worthy father, I am turned into this!”
+</p>
+<p>The father flew into a violent rage and stormed at his neighbour, Cham-ba, for some
+time, but without producing any impression. Finally, on thinking the matter over,
+he decided it was better to pay up the gold he had stolen, on condition of having
+his proper Son restored to him.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p025width" id="p025"><img src="images/p025.jpg" alt="“WORTHY FATHER, I AM TURNED INTO THIS.”" width="720" height="634"><p class="figureHead">“WORTHY FATHER, I AM TURNED INTO THIS.”</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 25.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb26">[<a href="#pb26">26</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s5" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e225">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. V.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE MICE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a Cat who lived in a large farm-house in which there was
+a great number of Mice. For many years the Cat found no difficulty in catching as
+many Mice as she wanted to eat, and she lived a very peaceful and pleasant life. But
+as time passed on she found that she was growing old and infirm, and that it was becoming
+more and more difficult for her to catch the same number of Mice as before; so after
+thinking very carefully what was the best thing to do, she one day called all the
+Mice together, and after promising not to touch them, she addressed them as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Mice,” said she, “I have called you together in order to say something to you.
+The fact is that I have led a very wicked life, and now, in my old age, I repent of
+having caused you all so much inconvenience and annoyance. So I am going for the future
+to turn over a new leaf. It is my intention now to give myself up entirely to religious
+contemplation and no longer to molest you, so henceforth you are at liberty to run
+about as freely as you will without fear of me. All I ask of you is that twice every
+day you should all file past me in procession and each one make an <span class="pageNum" id="pb27">[<a href="#pb27">27</a>]</span>obeisance as you pass me by, as a token of your gratitude to me for my kindness.”
+</p>
+<p>When the Mice heard this they were greatly pleased, for they thought that now, at
+last, they would be free from all danger from their former enemy, the Cat. So they
+very thankfully promised to fulfil the Cat’s conditions, and agreed that they would
+file past her and make a salaam twice every day.
+</p>
+<p>So when evening came the Cat took her seat on a cushion at one end of the room, and
+the Mice all went by in single file, each one making a profound salaam as it passed.
+</p>
+<p>Now the cunning old Cat had arranged this little plan very carefully with an object
+of her own; for, as soon as the procession had all passed by with the exception of
+one little Mouse, she suddenly seized the last Mouse in her claws without anybody
+else noticing what had happened, and devoured it at her leisure. And so twice every
+day, she seized the last Mouse of the series, and for a long time lived very comfortably
+without any trouble at all in catching her Mice, and without any of the Mice realising
+what was happening.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened that amongst these Mice there were two friends, whose names were Rambé
+and Ambé, who were very much attached to one another. Now these two were much cleverer
+and more cunning than most of the others, and after a few days they noticed that the
+number of Mice in the house seemed to be decreasing very much, in spite of the fact
+that the Cat had promised not to kill any more. So they laid their heads together
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb28">[<a href="#pb28">28</a>]</span>and arranged a little plan for future processions. They agreed that Rambé was always
+to walk at the very front of the procession of the Mice, and that Ambé was to bring
+up the rear, and that all the time the procession was passing, Rambé was to call to
+Ambé, and Ambé to answer Rambé at frequent intervals. So next evening, when the procession
+started as usual, Rambé marched along in front, and Ambé took up his position last
+of all. As soon as Rambé had passed the cushion where the Cat was seated and had made
+his salaam, he called out in a shrill voice.
+</p>
+<p>“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”
+</p>
+<p>“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” squeaked the other from the rear of the procession. And
+so they went on calling and answering one another until they had all filed past the
+Cat, who had not dared to touch Ambé as long as his brother kept calling to him.
+</p>
+<p>The Cat was naturally very much annoyed at having to go hungry that evening, and felt
+very cross all night. But she thought it was only an accident which had brought the
+two friends, one in front and one in rear of the procession, and she hoped to make
+up for her enforced abstinence by finding a particularly fat Mouse at the end of the
+procession next morning. What, then, was her amazement and disgust when she found
+that on the following morning the very same arrangement had been made, and that Rambé
+called to Ambé, and Ambé answered Rambé until all the Mice had passed her by, and
+so, for the second time, she was foiled of her meal. However, she disguised her feelings
+of anger <span class="pageNum" id="pb29">[<a href="#pb29">29</a>]</span>and decided to give the Mice one more trial; so in the evening she took her seat as
+usual on the cushion and waited for the Mice to appear.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile, Rambé and Ambé had warned the other Mice to be on the lookout, and to be
+ready to take flight the moment the Cat showed any appearance of anger. At the appointed
+time the procession started as usual, and as soon as Rambé had passed the Cat he squeaked
+out:
+</p>
+<p>“Where are you, Brother Ambé?”
+</p>
+<p>“Here I am, Brother Rambé,” came the shrill voice from the rear.
+</p>
+<p>This was more than the Cat could stand. She made a fierce leap right into the middle
+of the Mice, who, however, were thoroughly prepared for her, and in an instant they
+scuttled off in every direction to their holes. And before the Cat had time to catch
+a single one the room was empty and not a sign of a Mouse was to be seen anywhere.
+</p>
+<p>After this the Mice were very careful not to put any further trust in the treacherous
+Cat, who soon after died of starvation owing to her being unable to procure any of
+her customary food; whilst Rambé and Ambé lived for many years, and were held in high
+honour and esteem by all the other Mice in the community.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb30">[<a href="#pb30">30</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s6" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e234">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. VI.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE FOOLISH YOUNG MUSSULMAN.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">There was once a young Mussulman, who lived with his poor mother in a small cottage
+on the outskirts of a large town. As the Boy grew up, it was found that he was rather
+weak-minded, and that he was continually getting himself into scrapes, owing to his
+own folly and carelessness; and the naughty boys of the neighbourhood used to take
+advantage of the poor young fellow, and were constantly teasing him and telling him
+all sorts of absurd stories.
+</p>
+<p>It chanced one day that he went for a walk in a large meadow, where there were a number
+of yellow flowers, and presently sitting down to rest, he began to gather a nosegay,
+when a young man passing by called out to him:
+</p>
+<p>“Hullo! what are you doing there? Do you know that the soles of your feet are all
+yellow, and that is a sure sign that you are going to die at once?”
+</p>
+<p>The poor young fellow was greatly frightened at hearing this, and he thought to himself:
+</p>
+<p>“Well, if I am going to die, I had better have a grave ready.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb31">[<a href="#pb31">31</a>]</span></p>
+<p>So he set to work, and soon scraped out for himself a shallow grave in the soft soil.
+As soon as it was ready, he lay down in it and resigned himself to death.
+</p>
+<p>A few minutes later one of the King’s Servants, who happened to be passing by carrying
+an earthen jar full of oil for the King’s palace, noticed the Boy lying on his back
+in the shallow grave, so he stopped and asked him what he was doing. The Boy replied:
+</p>
+<p>“The soles of my feet are turning yellow, and that, as you know, is a sure sign that
+I am going to die; so I have prepared myself a grave, and am just waiting here till
+death comes.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, nonsense!” replied the Servant; “you could not talk like that if you were really
+dying. Come, get up, and help me to carry this jar of oil for the King, and I will
+give you a hen for yourself.”
+</p>
+<p>So the foolish Boy got up out of his grave, and taking the jar of oil on his back,
+he walked along the road with the King’s Servant towards the palace. As they went
+along, he kept thinking to himself what he should do with his hen when he got it.
+</p>
+<p>“As soon as I have got some eggs,” thought he to himself, “I shall set the hen to
+hatch them. And then I shall have a nice lot of chickens. And when the chickens grow
+up into cocks and hens I shall sell them in the market. And with the money I get I
+shall buy a cow. And presently the cow will have a calf. And when the calf grows big
+I shall sell both the cow and the calf. And with the money I get I shall buy a nice
+little house. And when I have settled down in my house I <span class="pageNum" id="pb32">[<a href="#pb32">32</a>]</span>shall marry a wife. And after a time we shall have a child. And as the child grows
+big I shall have to take its education in hand. And I shall be very firm and judicious
+with it. And if it is a good child and does what I tell it, I shall be very kind to
+it. And if it is naughty and does not do what it is told, I shall be very stern and
+stamp my foot, so!”
+</p>
+<p>And thus thinking he stamped his foot so violently that the jar of oil slipped off
+his back and was smashed to pieces on the ground. When he saw this, the King’s Servant
+became very angry, and asked him what on earth he meant by stamping his foot like
+that, and breaking a valuable jar of oil, which was intended for the King. The Boy
+tried to explain how it occurred, but the Servant would not listen, and dragged him
+off by force into the King’s presence.
+</p>
+<p>When the King saw them coming in together, he asked his Servant what he wanted, and
+why he was bringing in a strange Boy with him. The Servant replied that he had entrusted
+the Boy with a jar of oil intended for the King, and as they were walking along the
+road quite quietly together, the Boy all of a sudden began to stamp his feet like
+a maniac, and the jar of oil slipped off his back and got broken. The King asked the
+Boy what he meant by his conduct, and the Boy replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Well, Your Majesty, your Servant said that if I would carry this jar of oil, he would
+give me a hen, and it seemed to me quite natural to consider within myself what I
+should do with my hen when I got it. So I soon saw that by selling the chickens I
+could buy a cow, and <span class="pageNum" id="pb33">[<a href="#pb33">33</a>]</span>that later on by selling the cow and her calf, I could get a wife and set up a house
+of my own, and that presently we should have a child; and I was thinking to myself
+how I should keep my child in order, and if it was naughty I should be obliged to
+stamp my foot very firmly, in order to show it that I was not to be trifled with.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this ridiculous story the King was much amused, and laughed very heartily;
+and he gave the foolish Boy a piece of gold, and told him to go home to his Mother.
+</p>
+<p>So the Boy went off towards his own home, and as he got near to the house he saw a
+strange dog sneaking out of the door, carrying in his mouth a purse full of money,
+which he had just picked up inside. On seeing this the Boy became very much excited,
+and began calling aloud to his Mother that a dog was making off with her purse. The
+Mother, when she found what was up, was afraid that he would attract the attention
+of the neighbours to the loss of the purse, and that in the excitement some one else
+would chase the dog and get the money; so hastily running up on to the flat roof of
+the house she sprinkled some sugar over the roof, and then called to the Boy to come
+up as quickly as he could.
+</p>
+<p>“Look!” she said, as soon as he arrived; “what a curious thing! It has been raining
+sugar all over the roof of the house.”
+</p>
+<p>Her son, who was very fond of sugar, at once set to work to pick up all that he saw;
+and while he was so <span class="pageNum" id="pb34">[<a href="#pb34">34</a>]</span>engaged, the good woman slipped away and soon found the dog and recovered her purse.
+</p>
+<p>Some time afterwards the Boy’s Mother arranged with a rich family, who lived some
+miles away, and who were not acquainted with her son’s failings, that the Boy should
+marry the daughter of the house; and that, in accordance with Tibetan custom, he should
+become a member of the Bride’s family. When all the preliminaries had been satisfactorily
+arranged, a party of horsemen arrived from the Bride’s house to greet the Bridegroom
+and to bring him home. The Boy dressed himself up in his best clothes, and, after
+feasting the wedding party in the usual manner, he begged them all to go on ahead
+of him, saying that he would follow as soon as he had said good-bye to his Mother.
+</p>
+<p>Towards evening he set out by himself on horseback. It was a moonlight night, and
+as he rode down the road he could see his own shadow travelling along beside him.
+He could not make out what the shadow was, but thought it must be some ghost or demon,
+which wanted to do him an injury, so he urged his horse into a gallop, in order to
+try and get away from it. But the faster he galloped the faster went the shadow, and
+he soon saw that it was no good trying to escape. So in order to frighten the strange
+object he took off his puggaree and flung it at it. As this produced no effect, he
+followed up the puggaree with his cloak, and, finally, with all the clothes he had
+on, but without in any way frightening the shadow, which still continued to follow
+him closely. So thinking to give it the slip, he jumped <span class="pageNum" id="pb35">[<a href="#pb35">35</a>]</span>off his horse and ran along the road on foot, until he got into the shade of a big
+poplar-tree growing near the road-side.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p035width" id="p035"><img src="images/p035.jpg" alt="THE YOUNG MUSSULMAN PURSUED BY HIS OWN SHADOW." width="720" height="473"><p class="figureHead">THE YOUNG MUSSULMAN PURSUED BY HIS OWN SHADOW.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 35.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>Here he stopped to take breath, and he noticed to his great joy that the shadow had
+disappeared; but on peeping out from the shadow of the tree he was annoyed to find
+that on whichever side he looked the shadow immediately showed itself also. So thinking
+that the shade of the tree was the safest place to stay in, he climbed into the upper
+branches and very soon fell fast asleep.
+</p>
+<p>A short while after a party of travellers happened to be passing by this road from
+the same direction, and as they came along they were surprised to find a number of
+garments scattered about the roadway. So they picked them up as they came along, and
+presently they found a horse grazing beside the road. Him, too, they brought along
+with them, and when they arrived in the shade of the poplar-tree, they all stopped
+and sat down on the ground to divide the spoil amongst them.
+</p>
+<p>Just then the Boy woke up, and looking down he saw what was going on below, so he
+called out in a loud voice:
+</p>
+<p>“I say, I want my share too, you know.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this voice emerging from the upper branches of the tree, the travellers
+were greatly alarmed. They thought it must certainly be a demon, who lived in the
+tree, and who wanted his share of the spoils, so they took to their heels and made
+off as fast as they could, leaving the horse and all the clothes behind <span class="pageNum" id="pb36">[<a href="#pb36">36</a>]</span>them. The Boy then climbed down from the tree, put on his own clothes, and, mounting
+his horse, rode off to his Bride’s house.
+</p>
+<p>When he arrived at the house the parents of his Bride hurried out to greet him, and
+after asking him why he was so late, they led him to the room where the wedding feast
+was laid out. All the friends and neighbours from round about were gathered there
+ready to share in the feast, and to offer their congratulations to the Bride and Bridegroom.
+</p>
+<p>During the progress of the feast the young Mussulman, who was of a very kindly disposition,
+and very fond of his Mother, kept thinking to himself how he could save something
+nice for her to eat from amongst so much plenty. So he picked from the table a narrow-mouthed
+copper vessel and concealed it in his lap, and whilst eating his food he every now
+and then dropped into it some particularly succulent dainty, which he thought his
+Mother would enjoy. Presently, however, he inadvertently thrust his hand right into
+the vessel, and to his horror he found that he was unable to withdraw it again. In
+this awkward predicament he was unable to eat anything, and the Bride’s parents noticing
+that he no longer partook of any food, kept pressing him to have a little more. The
+young Man was still hungry, but was obliged to refuse all their offers, saying that
+he had already eaten enough.
+</p>
+<p>Towards evening, when the feast was completed, the guests withdrew, and the Boy was
+left alone with his Bride; and she began asking him what the matter was, <span class="pageNum" id="pb37">[<a href="#pb37">37</a>]</span>and why he had been behaving so strangely during the banquet.
+</p>
+<p>He was at first too shy to tell her what had happened, but after much coaxing she
+elicited from him the fact that his right hand was confined in the neck of the copper
+vessel.
+</p>
+<p>“Never mind,” said she; “there is a large white stone lying at the foot of the staircase.
+You had better slip down stairs in the dark, and by beating the vessel against the
+stone you will soon succeed in freeing yourself.”
+</p>
+<p>The young fellow thought this was a good idea, and he went off quietly down the staircase,
+until he detected what he thought was a white stone lying near the foot of the steps.
+So, creeping up to it, he raised his arm and brought down the copper vessel with great
+force upon the white object, shattering the vessel and leaving his hand free. But
+to his horror the stone, instead of being hard, gave way, and a muffled groan issued
+from it; and on examining the spot, he found that instead of striking a stone, he
+had delivered a violent blow upon the grey head of his Bride’s father, who, overcome
+by his potations during the wedding feast, had fallen asleep at the foot of the stairs.
+</p>
+<p>The young Man was terrified at what he had done, and feeling sure that he must have
+killed the old man, he decided to flee from the house; so he opened the door and ran
+off into the night. After running for some distance he reached a neighbouring farm,
+where, as it happened, a large honeycomb had been left lying in the corner of the
+courtyard. The Boy, not knowing <span class="pageNum" id="pb38">[<a href="#pb38">38</a>]</span>what it was, lay down upon this and fell fast asleep, and soon smeared himself all
+over with honey. Later in the night he woke up feeling very cold, and creeping into
+a shed close by, which was used as a storage for wool, he lay down upon the wool and
+slept until morning.
+</p>
+<p>He woke with the first gleam of dawn, and in the early morning light he saw that he
+was all white and woolly, and in his simplicity he believed that, as a punishment
+for his wickedness in killing his father-in-law, he had been turned into a sheep.
+So under this impression, he ran out of the courtyard and joined a flock of sheep,
+which were grazing on a neighbouring hillside. He wandered about with the sheep all
+day, feeling very miserable, and trying to accommodate himself to the manners and
+customs of his new companions, and when evening came he accompanied them into the
+fold where they always spent the night.
+</p>
+<p>About midnight some robbers came to the fold, and getting in amongst the sheep felt
+about for a good fat heavy one; and finally finding that the Boy was the heaviest
+of them all, they proceeded to carry him off. One of them hoisted him up on to his
+back, and they carried him along for some distance until they reached the banks of
+a small stream. Here they halted, and, laying him down upon the ground, they began
+to make preparations for cutting his throat. This trial proved rather too much for
+the nerves of the young Man, and forgetting his <i>rôle</i> of sheep, he called out in a shrill voice:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb39">[<a href="#pb39">39</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Please don’t kill me, kind robbers.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the robbers were very much frightened, and ran off as fast as they
+could; and the Boy, thankful to have escaped from this danger, and being thoroughly
+worn out by the exertions and exposure of the last twenty-four hours, returned to
+his Bride’s house. There he found that the old man, though sorely hurt, was not dead,
+and having explained all the circumstances of the case, he was freely forgiven, and
+taken back into the household.
+</p>
+<p>After living for some years very happily with his Bride, he thought that he would
+like to make a little money for himself by trading, so having procured a good stock
+of merchandise he set off for India, in the hope of making a good profit on his goods.
+On the way he halted one evening at a large house. The Landlord received him very
+hospitably, and made him quite comfortable, and during the conversation which followed
+their evening meal the Master of the house began telling some very tall stories. Some
+of these stories being rather too wonderful for belief, the young Man bluntly said
+that he could not believe them. Thereupon the Landlord replied:
+</p>
+<p>“I can prove to you that I am telling the truth by showing you a stranger thing than
+anything which I have hitherto related. I will bet you that when night falls a lantern
+will be carried into this room by a cat instead of by a servant.”
+</p>
+<p>The young Man was amused at his Host’s boasting, and he said:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb40">[<a href="#pb40">40</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Very well, I am prepared to bet you anything you like that this will not happen.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very good,” said the Landlord. “If this does not happen, I will hand you over my
+house, my merchandise, and everything I possess; but if it does, you will forfeit
+all your baggage, animals and merchandise to me.” And so the bet was arranged.
+</p>
+<p>Now this was a regular trick of the Landlord’s, who had a tame cat which had been
+taught to carry in a lantern in her mouth every evening just at dusk, and he was accustomed
+to practise this deceit upon unwary travellers, and by this means to secure their
+goods and whatever property they possessed.
+</p>
+<p>Sure enough, just at dusk a large white cat entered the sitting-room, holding a lighted
+lantern in its mouth, and the unfortunate young Man was obliged to hand over to his
+Host everything he possessed in the world; and finding himself without money or goods
+he decided to stay on in the house as a servant.
+</p>
+<p>After the lapse of one or two months his Wife grew anxious about him, and knowing
+that from the infirmity of his mind he was likely to get himself into some scrape
+or another, she decided to set out herself to see what had become of him. So she disguised
+herself as a man, and taking with her a few ponies laden with wool, she started off
+to follow in the tracks of her Husband.
+</p>
+<p>After several days she arrived at the house where her Husband was now employed as
+a servant, and, meeting him in the courtyard, she learnt from him all that had happened.
+So she bade him hold his tongue, and she <span class="pageNum" id="pb41">[<a href="#pb41">41</a>]</span>herself entered the inn, and asked for a night’s lodging. During the evening the Host
+got talking, and in the course of the conversation he made her the same wager as he
+had done to her Husband some time before.
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said she, “that sounds a very strange story. I can scarcely believe it possible
+you can have a cat so well trained as to be able to carry in a lantern. But I will
+think over what you say to-night, and we will see about making the bet to-morrow morning.”
+</p>
+<p>Next morning at breakfast she said to her Host:
+</p>
+<p>“I have thought over what you said to me yesterday, and I am now prepared to make
+a bet with you that the cat will <i>not</i> carry a lantern into this room at dusk this evening.”
+</p>
+<p>So the bet was concluded upon the same terms as before, and the Lady privately told
+her Husband what he was to do. So in accordance with the instructions she had given
+him, he caught three mice, and concealed them in a little box, which he placed in
+the bosom of his robe. When evening approached, the Landlord and the Lady seated themselves
+in the supper room, waiting to see whether or no the cat would appear as expected,
+whilst the Husband hid himself in a corner of the courtyard, just outside the door
+near where the cat was accustomed to pass.
+</p>
+<p>Just at dusk the cat, carrying the lantern in its mouth, began to cross the courtyard
+towards the door of the room where it was expected to bring the light, and when about
+half way across the yard the Husband released one of the mice from the box which he
+had <span class="pageNum" id="pb42">[<a href="#pb42">42</a>]</span>hidden in his robe. The mouse scampered off across the courtyard, and the cat gave
+a violent start, and was on the point of pursuing it, when its training overcame its
+natural instincts, and it allowed the mouse to escape.
+</p>
+<p>It reluctantly continued its way towards the house, and scarcely had it started to
+go on, when the Husband released a second mouse, which also scampered off right in
+front of the cat. This time it was all the cat could do to refrain from following
+so tempting an opportunity. It paused with great indecision, but again, its training
+standing it in good stead, it pursued its way towards the house.
+</p>
+<p>Just as it was reaching the door of the house the third mouse was released. This was
+more than the cat could stand. It dropped the lantern upon the threshold, bounded
+across the courtyard, and seized the mouse just as it was entering its hole.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile the Landlord and the Lady having waited until long after dark, the Landlord
+was reluctantly obliged to own that he had lost his bet. So he handed over to the
+disguised merchant, not only his own property, but also the merchandise, which he
+had previously won from her Husband; and the two, carrying their possessions with
+them, returned to their own home, where they lived happily ever afterwards.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb43">[<a href="#pb43">43</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s7" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e243">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. VII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE KYANG, THE FOX, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">One day a hungry Wolf was roaming about in search of something to eat in the upper
+part of a Tibetan valley far beyond the level of cultivation,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e891src" href="#xd33e891" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> when he came across a young Kyang<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e894src" href="#xd33e894" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> about a year old. The Wolf at once proceeded to stalk the Kyang, thinking that he
+would make an excellent meal off him, and just as he was about to seize upon him the
+Kyang, noticing his approach, addressed him as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” said he, “it is no good your eating me now; this is the spring time
+and after the hard winter I am still very thin. If you will wait for a few months
+until next autumn you will find that I shall be twice as fat as I am now and will
+make you a much better feast.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very well,” said the Wolf, “I will wait until then, on condition that you meet me
+on this very spot in six months’ time.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb44">[<a href="#pb44">44</a>]</span></p>
+<p>And so saying he galloped off in search of some other prey.
+</p>
+<p>When autumn came the Wolf started off one morning to meet the Kyang at the appointed
+place, and as he was going across the hills he came across a Fox.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf,” said the Fox. “Where are you going to?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh!” replied the Wolf, “I am going into the valley to meet a young Kyang by appointment,
+as I have arranged to catch him and eat him this very day.”
+</p>
+<p>“That is very pleasant for you, Brother Wolf,” answered the Fox; “but as a Kyang is
+such a large animal you will scarcely be able to eat him all by yourself. I hope you
+will allow me to come too and share in the spoil.”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly, Brother Fox,” replied the Wolf. “I shall be very glad of your company.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying the two went on together. After proceeding a short distance they came
+across a Hare.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Wolf and Brother Fox,” said the Hare; “where are you two going
+this fine morning?”
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf; “I am just going off to yonder valley
+to keep an appointment with a fat Kyang, whom I have arranged to kill and eat this
+very day, and Brother Fox is coming with me to share in the spoil.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! really, Brother Wolf,” said the Hare, “I wish you would allow me to come too.
+A Kyang is such a large animal that you can scarcely eat him all <span class="pageNum" id="pb45">[<a href="#pb45">45</a>]</span>yourselves, and I am sure you will allow a small creature like me to have a little
+bit of the spoil.”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “We shall be glad if you will accompany
+us.”
+</p>
+<p>And so the three animals went along together towards the appointed spot. When they
+got near the place they saw the young Kyang waiting for them. During the summer months
+he had eaten a quantity of grass and had now become very fat and sleek, and was about
+twice as big as he had been in the spring. When the Wolf caught sight of him he was
+much pleased and began to lick his chops in anticipation.
+</p>
+<p>“Well, Brother Kyang,” said he, “here I am according to agreement, ready to kill and
+eat you, and I am glad to see you look so plump and well. And here are Brother Fox
+and Brother Hare who have come along with me to have a bit too.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying the Wolf crouched down ready to spring upon the Kyang and kill him.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Brother Wolf,” called out the Hare at this moment, “just wait one moment, for
+I have a suggestion to make to you. Don’t you think it would be a pity to kill this
+fine young Kyang in the ordinary way by seizing his throat, for if you do so a great
+deal of his blood will be wasted? I would suggest to you, instead, that it would be
+a very much better plan if you would strangle him, as in that case no blood would
+be lost, and we should derive the full benefit from his carcase.”
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf thought this was a good idea and he said to the Hare:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb46">[<a href="#pb46">46</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Very well, Brother Hare, I think that is an excellent idea of yours, but how is it
+to be done?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! easily enough,” answered the Hare. “There is a shepherd’s encampment over there
+where we can borrow a rope, and then all we have to do is to make a slip-knot in the
+rope, put it over the Kyang’s neck, and pull as hard as we can.”
+</p>
+<p>So they agreed that this should be done, and the Fox went off to the encampment near
+by and borrowed a rope from the shepherd, which he carried back to where the three
+other animals were standing.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said the Hare, “leave it all to me; I will show you exactly how it is to be
+done.”
+</p>
+<p>So he took the rope and made a large slip-knot at one end and two smaller slip-knots
+at the other end.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he, “this is the way we must proceed: we will put this large slip-knot
+over the Kyang’s neck, and as he is such a large heavy animal the only way to strangle
+him will be for us three to pull together at the other end of the rope. So you, Brother
+Wolf, and you, Brother Fox, can put your heads through these smaller loops, and I
+will seize the loose end of the rope with my teeth, and when I give the signal we
+will all pull together.”
+</p>
+<p>The other two thought this was a very good plan, and so they threw the slip-knot over
+the Kyang’s neck, and the Wolf and the Fox put their heads through the smaller loops.
+When they were all ready the Hare took up his position at the end of the rope and
+caught hold of it with his teeth.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he, “are you all ready?”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb47">[<a href="#pb47">47</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Yes, quite ready,” replied the Wolf and the Fox.
+</p>
+<p>“Well, then, pull,” said the Hare.
+</p>
+<p>So they began to pull as hard as they could.
+</p>
+<p>When the Kyang felt the pull on the rope he walked forward a few paces, much to the
+surprise of the Wolf and the Fox, who found themselves being dragged along the ground.
+</p>
+<p>“Pull, can’t you!” shrieked the Wolf, as the rope began to tighten round his neck.
+</p>
+<p>“Pull yourself!” shrieked the Fox, who was now beginning to feel very uncomfortable.
+</p>
+<p>“Pull, all of you,” called out the Hare, and so saying he let go of the end of the
+rope and the Kyang galloped off dragging the Wolf and the Fox after him. In a few
+minutes they were both strangled, and the Kyang, shaking off the rope from his neck,
+proceeded to graze quietly on his usual pastures, and the Hare scampered off home,
+feeling that he had done a good day’s work.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb48">[<a href="#pb48">48</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e891">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e891src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Such a locality is described in the Tibetan language by a single word—a monosyllable.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e891src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e894">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e894src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> The Kyang is the wild ass of Tibet.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e894src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s8" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e252">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. VIII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE FROG AND THE CROW.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">A Crow once caught a fine fat Frog, and taking him in her bill she flew with him to
+the roof of a neighbouring house in order to devour him at her leisure. As she alighted
+on the roof of the house the Frog gave an audible chuckle.
+</p>
+<p>“What are you laughing at, Brother Frog?” said the Crow.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, nothing, Sister Crow,” said the Frog; “never mind me. I was just thinking to
+myself that, as it fortunately happens, my Father lives close by here, on this very
+roof, and as he is an exceedingly fierce, strong man, he will certainly avenge my
+death if anyone injures me.”
+</p>
+<p>The Crow did not quite like this, and thinking it as well to be on the safe side she
+hopped off to another corner of the roof near to where a gutter led away the rain
+water by means of a small hole in the parapet and a wooden spout. She paused here
+for a moment and was just about to begin to swallow the Frog when the Frog gave another
+chuckle.
+</p>
+<p>“What are you laughing at this time, Brother Frog?” asked the Crow.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p048width" id="p048"><img src="images/p048.jpg" alt="THE CROW AND THE FROG IN THE GUTTER." width="720" height="652"><p class="figureHead">THE CROW AND THE FROG IN THE GUTTER.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 48.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb49">[<a href="#pb49">49</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Oh, it’s only a small matter, Sister Crow, hardly worth mentioning,” replied the
+Frog, “but it just occurred to me that my Uncle, who is even a stronger and fiercer
+man than my Father, lives in this very gutter, and that if anybody was to do me an
+injury here they would have a very small chance of escaping from his clutches.”
+</p>
+<p>The Crow was somewhat alarmed at hearing this, and she thought that, on the whole,
+it would be safer to leave the roof altogether; so again picking up the Frog in her
+bill she flew off to the ground below, and alighted near the edge of a well. Here
+she placed the Frog upon the ground and was just about to eat him when the Frog said:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Sister Crow, I notice your bill seems rather blunt. Before you begin to eat me
+don’t you think it would be a good thing to sharpen it a little. You can strop it
+very nicely on that flat stone over there.”
+</p>
+<p>The Crow, thinking this was a good idea, took two or three hops towards the stone,
+and began sharpening her bill. As soon as she had turned her back the Frog gave one
+desperate jump, and dived into the well.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as the Crow had made her bill nice and sharp she returned from the stone,
+and looked about for the Frog. Not finding him where she had left him she hopped to
+the edge of the well and peeped over, craning her head from side to side. Presently
+she spied the Frog in the water, and called out to him:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, Brother Frog, I was afraid you were lost. My <span class="pageNum" id="pb50">[<a href="#pb50">50</a>]</span>bill is quite nice and sharp now, so come along up and be eaten.”
+</p>
+<p>“I am so sorry, Sister Crow,” replied the Frog, “but the fact is, I cannot get up
+the sides of this well. The best thing would be for you to come down here to eat me.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying he dived to the bottom of the well.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb51">[<a href="#pb51">51</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s9" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e261">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. IX.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE HARE AND THE LIONS.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived a Lion and a Lioness who inhabited a den amongst some
+rocks on the slopes of a mountain. They were both very fine, well-grown animals, and
+they used to prey upon all the smaller beasts in that part of the country; until at
+last they became so powerful that no other animal was safe from their clutches, and
+the wild beasts of the neighbourhood lived in a continual state of terror.
+</p>
+<p>It chanced one day that while the Lion was hunting for something to eat, he came across
+a Hare sleeping behind a boulder; and seizing the Hare in his great paws he was just
+about to devour him, when the Hare spoke as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said he, “before eating me I just want to tell you about another
+animal who lives in that pond down there in the valley. He is very big and fierce,
+and I think he must be even stronger than you are. But if you will allow me to do
+so I will show you where he lives, and if you can succeed in killing him he will make
+a very much better meal for you than a poor little beast like me.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Lion was very indignant.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb52">[<a href="#pb52">52</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“What!” said he, “do you mean to tell me that there is any animal in this country
+stronger and more powerful than I am? Don’t you know that I am the Lord of this district,
+and that I should never allow anyone else to dispute the mastery with me. Show me
+at once where this creature lives, and I will show you how I shall deal with him.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “let me beg you to be careful. You have no idea what
+a big, strong creature this is; you must on no account allow yourself to be injured
+by fighting with him. Think what a grief it would be to us all if you were to come
+to any harm.”
+</p>
+<p>This remark of the Hare’s made the Lion more angry than before, and he insisted that
+the Hare should at once lead him down and show him where the other animal lived. So
+the Hare, after again begging him to be careful of himself, preceded him down the
+hill until they arrived at the edge of a square-built stone tank, which was nearly
+full of water.
+</p>
+<p>“Now, Uncle Lion,” said the Hare, “if you will go to the edge of that tank and look
+down into the water you will see the animal I speak of.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying he moved on one side, and the Lion, stalking to the edge, peered down into
+the tank. The water was very smooth, and on the clear surface he saw his own head
+reflected.
+</p>
+<p>“There he is,” called out the Hare from the background; “there he is, Uncle Lion,
+I can see him quite plainly in the water. You see how fierce he is looking; please
+be careful not to start fighting with him.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb53">[<a href="#pb53">53</a>]</span></p>
+<p>These remarks made the Lion more angry than ever, and he moved up and down on the
+brink of the tank, glaring fiercely at his own reflection in the water, and growling
+and showing his teeth at it.
+</p>
+<p>“That’s right, Uncle Lion,” called out the Hare; “I am so glad you are taking good
+care of yourself. Don’t on any account come to grips with that beast in the water
+or he might do you an injury. You are certainly much safer on the bank, and no doubt
+you will frighten him if you continue to growl and show your teeth.”
+</p>
+<p>These last observations of the Hare goaded the Lion to desperation, and with a fierce
+roar he sprang straight at the image in the water. Once in the tank he was unable
+to get out, for its sides were built of masonry, and it was impossible for him to
+climb them. So he swam about for some time in the tank, whilst the Hare, sitting on
+the bank, threw stones at him and made nasty remarks; and finally, when quite wearied
+out, he sank to the bottom and was drowned.
+</p>
+<p>The Hare was very pleased at having accomplished the destruction of the Lion, and
+he now turned his attention to the Lioness. It happened that near by there was a thick
+wall standing, which was part of the remains of a ruined castle; and in one portion
+of the wall there was a hole, very large at one end and tapering down to quite a small
+opening at the other. The Hare, having studied his ground, went off next morning to
+find the Lioness. He soon came across her stalking up and down near her den, very
+much perturbed at the disappearance of her lord and master.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb54">[<a href="#pb54">54</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Aunt Lioness,” said the Hare, going up cautiously towards her; “what
+is the matter with you this morning? How is it I find you pacing here in front of
+your den instead of hunting your prey as usual on the hillside?”
+</p>
+<p>The Lioness took no notice of the Hare, except to growl at him in an angry manner,
+and to lash her sides with her tail.
+</p>
+<p>“I suppose,” went on the Hare, “you are anxious about Mr. Lion, but I am sorry to
+tell you that you are not likely to see him again for some time. The fact is, he and
+I had a little argument yesterday, in which we both lost our tempers. It ended in
+our having a free fight, and I regret to say that I was obliged to injure Mr. Lion
+rather severely before I could make him see reason, and he is now lying in a dying
+state in the valley below.”
+</p>
+<p>This impudence so enraged the Lioness that she sprang towards the Hare and endeavoured
+to seize him; but he eluded her and galloped off down the hill hotly pursued by the
+angry beast. The Hare made straight for the ruined wall, and entering the breach in
+the wall at the large end he emerged safely at the other side by the smaller recess,
+which was just large enough for him to pass through. The Lioness, following closely
+at his heels, was so blind with rage that she did not see that she was being led into
+a trap; so she rushed head-foremost into the opening in the wall, and before she had
+time to stop herself was wedged tightly in the tapering hole. She <span class="pageNum" id="pb55">[<a href="#pb55">55</a>]</span>struggled violently, trying to extricate herself, but all in vain.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile the Hare, having cantered round to the other side, took up its position
+in rear of the Lioness, and began pelting her with stones and calling her all the
+bad names he could think of. When he was tired of this he went off home very pleased
+with himself, and the Lioness, being unable to free herself from the trap she was
+in, shortly afterwards starved to death.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb56">[<a href="#pb56">56</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s10" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e270">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. X.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE SHEEP, THE LAMB, THE WOLF AND THE HARE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived an old Sheep in a low-lying valley of Tibet, and every
+year she, with her Lamb,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1015src" href="#xd33e1015" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> were in the habit of leaving the valley during the early months of summer, and going
+up on to the great northern plateau, where grass is plentiful, and where many Sheep
+and Goats graze throughout the summer.
+</p>
+<p>One spring the Sheep, in accordance with her annual custom, set out for the north,
+and one day, as she was strolling sedately along the path, while her little Lamb skipped
+about beside her, she suddenly came face to face with a large, fierce-looking Wolf.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Aunty Sheep,” said the Wolf; “where are you going to?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Uncle Wolf,” replied the trembling Sheep, “we are doing no harm; I am just taking
+my Lamb to graze on the rich grass of the great northern plateau.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Wolf, “I am really very sorry for you; but the fact is, I am hungry,
+and it will be necessary for me to eat you both on the spot.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb57">[<a href="#pb57">57</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Please, please, Uncle Wolf, don’t do that,” replied the Sheep. “Please don’t eat
+us now; but if you will wait till the autumn, when we shall both be very much fatter
+than we are now, you can eat us with much more benefit to yourself on our return journey.”
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf thought this was a good idea.
+</p>
+<p>“Very well, Aunty Sheep,” said he, “that is a bargain. I will spare your lives now,
+but only on condition that you meet me at this very spot on your return journey from
+the north in the autumn.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, he galloped off, and the Sheep and the Lamb continued on their way towards
+the north, and soon forgot all about their encounter with the Wolf.
+</p>
+<p>All the summer they grazed about on the succulent grass of the great plateau, and
+when autumn was approaching both were as fat as fat could be, and the little Lamb
+had grown into a fine young Sheep.
+</p>
+<p>When the time came for returning to the south, the Sheep remembered her bargain with
+the Wolf, and every day as they drew farther and farther south she grew more and more
+downhearted.
+</p>
+<p>One day, as they were approaching the place where they had met the Wolf, it chanced
+that a Hare came hopping along the road towards them. The Hare stopped to say good-morning
+to the Sheep, and noticing that she was looking very sad, he said:
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Sister Sheep, how is it that you, who are so fat and have so fine a
+Lamb, are looking so sad this morning?”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb58">[<a href="#pb58">58</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Oh! Brother Hare,” replied the Sheep, “mine is a very sad story. The fact is that
+last spring, as I and my Lamb were coming up this very road, we met an ugly-looking
+Wolf, who said he was going to eat us; but I begged him to spare our lives, explaining
+to him that we should both be much larger and fatter in the autumn, and that he would
+get much better value from us if he waited till then. The Wolf agreed to this, and
+said that we must meet him at the same spot in the autumn. We are now very near the
+appointed place, and I very much fear that in another day or two we shall both be
+killed by the Wolf.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the poor Sheep broke down altogether and burst into tears.
+</p>
+<p>“Dear me! dear me!” replied the Hare; “this is indeed a sad story; but cheer up, Sister
+Sheep, you may leave it to me, and I think I can answer for it that I know how to
+manage the Wolf.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the Hare made the following arrangements. He dressed himself up in his
+very best clothes, in a new robe of woollen cloth, with a long ear-ring in his left
+ear, and a fashionable hat on his head, and strapped a small saddle on to the back
+of the Sheep. He then prepared two small bundles, which he slung across the Lamb,
+and tied them on with a rope. When these preparations were complete, he took a large
+sheet of paper in his hand, and, with a pen thrust behind his ear, he mounted upon
+the back of the Sheep, and the little procession started off down the path.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p058width" id="p058"><img src="images/p058.jpg" alt="THE HARE CONVERSING WITH THE WOLF." width="720" height="634"><p class="figureHead">THE HARE CONVERSING WITH THE WOLF.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 58.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>Soon after, they arrived at the place where they were <span class="pageNum" id="pb59">[<a href="#pb59">59</a>]</span>to meet the Wolf, and sure enough there was the Wolf waiting for them at the appointed
+spot.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as they came within earshot of where the Wolf was standing the Hare called
+out in a sharp tone of authority:
+</p>
+<p>“Who are you, and what are you doing there?”
+</p>
+<p>“I am the Wolf,” was the reply; “and I have come here to eat this Sheep and its Lamb,
+in accordance with a regular arrangement. Who may you be, pray?”
+</p>
+<p>“I am Lomden, the Hare,” that animal replied, “and I have been deputed to India on
+a special mission by the Emperor of China. And, by the way, I have a commission to
+bring ten Wolf skins as a present to the King of India. What a fortunate thing it
+is that I should have met you here! Your skin will do for one, anyway.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the Hare produced his sheet of paper, and, taking his pen in his hand,
+he wrote down the figure “1” very large.
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf was so frightened on hearing this that he turned tail and fled away ignominiously;
+while the Sheep and the Lamb, after thanking the Hare heartily for his kind offices,
+continued their journey safely to their own home.
+</p>
+<p class="tb"></p><p>
+</p>
+<p class="small">[This story is a satire on the assumption and arrogance of Tibetan and Chinese officials,
+and the timidity and submissiveness of the Tibetan peasants. It illustrates how the
+meanest Government clerk, more especially when armed with pen and paper, can strike
+terror into the heart of the boldest and strongest countryman.]
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb60">[<a href="#pb60">60</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1015">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1015src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> This story is also told of a Sheep and a Goat, instead of a Sheep and a Lamb. See
+accompanying illustration.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1015src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s11" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e280">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XI.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF HOW THE HARE MADE A FOOL OF THE WOLF.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first small">[This story is really the continuation of Number <span class="num" title="10">X.</span>, which is sometimes told of “the Sheep and the Goat,” instead of “the Sheep and the
+Lamb.” The first part of the story is exactly the same as Number <span class="num" title="10">X.</span> They experience the same adventures with the Wolf and are extricated in exactly the
+same manner by the aid of the Hare. But the end of the story is different.]
+</p>
+<p class="tb"></p><p>
+</p>
+<p>When the Wolf ran away, Da-gye the Sheep and Pen-dzong the Goat were so elated that
+they could not refrain from vaingloriously galloping after him until they saw him
+dive hastily into his earth some distance away; they then sat themselves down at the
+mouth of the hole and remained there for some time chaffing the Wolf and telling him
+to hurry up and come out to be skinned, whilst the foolish Wolf lay cowering and trembling
+within.
+</p>
+<p>Presently the Sheep grew rather hungry and thirsty, so she went off to eat and drink,
+leaving the Goat to watch the earth. After sitting for a short while the <span class="pageNum" id="pb61">[<a href="#pb61">61</a>]</span>Goat began rubbing his horns on a stone, and the Wolf hearing the grating sound squeaked
+out very humbly:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Brother Goat, what are you doing now?”
+</p>
+<p>“Sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Goat.
+</p>
+<p>And the Wolf cowered into the furthest recesses of his den trembling with fear.
+</p>
+<p>A few minutes later some rain began to fall, and the Wolf hearing the sound of the
+pattering raindrops called out:
+</p>
+<p>“What is happening now, pray, Brother Goat?”
+</p>
+<p>“I am collecting the water to cook you in,” answered the Goat gruffly.
+</p>
+<p>Presently the Goat began to scrape the earth with one hoof and the Wolf asked:
+</p>
+<p>“What is that scraping noise, Brother Goat?”
+</p>
+<p>“I am preparing a fireplace to boil the water at,” answered the Goat. “It will soon
+be time to finish you off.”
+</p>
+<p>Just then the Sheep came back from grazing and said to the Goat:
+</p>
+<p>“Now, Brother Goat, it is time for you to go and refresh yourself. I will stay here
+and look after the Wolf while you are away.”
+</p>
+<p>The Goat thanked the Sheep for her offer and told her how he had been acting during
+her absence, and after advising her to behave in the same manner and on no account
+to show any signs of fear, he went off to get something to eat and drink.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb62">[<a href="#pb62">62</a>]</span></p>
+<p>When the Sheep found herself left alone at the mouth of the Wolf’s den, her natural
+timidity asserted itself, and she began to feel very nervous, but in order to keep
+up appearances she started to rub her horns against a stone, just as the Goat had
+advised her to do. As soon as he heard this noise the Wolf called out as before, asking
+what was happening.
+</p>
+<p>“I am sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Sheep, but she was so nervous
+that the Wolf at once noticed the terrified sound of her voice and began to suspect
+that he had been made a fool of.
+</p>
+<p>“Is that you, Sister Sheep?” said the Wolf; “I thought it was Brother Goat.”
+</p>
+<p>“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone away to get
+himself something to eat and drink.”
+</p>
+<p>“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the poor Sheep
+he quickly slew her.
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and the Goat and
+became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat, vowing vengeance against
+him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the Wolf coming along in the distance he
+guessed what had happened, and fled as fast as he could across the hills with the
+Wolf after him. They soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed
+his footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking <span class="pageNum" id="pb63">[<a href="#pb63">63</a>]</span>his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over the crevice
+and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.
+</p>
+<p>For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice, when by chance
+a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him moaning and came to see what
+was wrong.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the cleft. “What has
+happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune. I am Pen-dzong
+the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a Wolf into his lair this morning
+and tried to frighten him by telling him that we were going to skin him; and while
+I was away getting myself something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den
+and killed my poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I,
+as you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable to move,
+and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has gone right away. I have
+one dying request to make to you, however. I beg you when I am dead to strip off my
+skin and to hand it over to my young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return
+for this service you can have my flesh for yourself.”
+</p>
+<p>The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to do as he asked.
+So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped off his skin, and set off with
+it to hand it over to the Goat’s young ones. As <span class="pageNum" id="pb64">[<a href="#pb64">64</a>]</span>he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced to come across a Hare.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and what is that
+you have on your back?”
+</p>
+<p>“Good-day, Brother Hare,” replied the Fox. “This is the skin of Pen-dzong the Goat,
+whom I found lying in a cleft between two rocks with a broken leg. He and his friend
+Da-gye the Sheep have both been killed by a Wolf, and he begged me after his death
+to strip off his skin and to take it as a last present from him to his young ones.<span class="corr" id="xd33e1118" title="Not in source">”</span>
+</p>
+<p>“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “that no doubt must be the same Goat and the same Sheep
+whom I rescued so recently from that very Wolf. What foolish creatures they are to
+have got themselves into so much trouble after I had freed them from all their difficulties.
+But, nevertheless, I am not going to let the Wolf get the best of me like this, and
+kill my friends with impunity. Come along with me and we will see what we can do to
+avenge Da-gye and Pen-dzong.”
+</p>
+<p>The Fox agreed to this, and he and the Hare set off together to hunt for the Wolf.
+They travelled a long way without coming across him, but at length, as they were crossing
+a high pass they found him feeding upon the carcase of a dead Horse.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-day, Uncle Wolf,” called out the Hare genially. “I am so glad to have met you.
+The fact is, there is a wedding feast going on at that big house over yonder, where
+Brother Fox and I expect to find plenty to eat <span class="pageNum" id="pb65">[<a href="#pb65">65</a>]</span>and drink. If you care to come along with us too we shall be very glad, and I think
+we can promise you some better refreshment than that old Horse you are devouring here.
+So come along and see what we can find.”
+</p>
+<p>The Wolf was very pleased at this invitation, so he joined the Hare and the Fox, and
+all three went off together to the big house where the wedding feast was being held.
+They studied the premises carefully before approaching too near, and they soon ascertained
+that the whole of the wedding party were busy feasting in the central room, and that
+the larder, full of good things to eat and drink, was quite unguarded. So they jumped
+in through a narrow window and began to enjoy themselves thoroughly, eating and drinking
+anything which took their fancy. When they were as full as could be the Hare said:
+</p>
+<p>“What I advise now is as follows: let us each take some provisions, as much as we
+can carry, and bring them with us to our own homes, so that we may have something
+to go on with when we next feel hungry. I myself shall take some cheese; Brother Fox
+no doubt would like some cold fowl; and I should advise you, Brother Wolf, to carry
+off that jar of wine.”
+</p>
+<p>The Fox and the Wolf both agreed with the Hare’s proposals, and they began to load
+themselves with the provisions they proposed to take with them. The Fox and the Hare
+had no difficulty in making up a bundle of cheese and cold fowl, but the Wolf found
+that it would be very difficult for him to carry off the jar of wine. So <span class="pageNum" id="pb66">[<a href="#pb66">66</a>]</span>the Hare explained to him that the best plan would be for him to slip his head through
+the handle of the jar, in which case it would be quite easy for him to drag the jar
+along with him. So the Wolf put his head through the handle of the jar, and all three
+made ready to start.
+</p>
+<p>“Well now, Brother Fox and Brother Wolf,” said the Hare in a genial tone of voice,
+“it is nearly time for us to be off. How are you both feeling? Have you had a good
+dinner? Are your bellies full?”
+</p>
+<p>“Couldn’t be fuller,” replied the Wolf, rubbing his stomach with one paw. “I have
+done very well.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well, then,” said the Hare, “as we have feasted well and feel happy and contented,
+let’s have a song before starting.”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “Will you begin?”
+</p>
+<p>“I would with pleasure,” answered the Hare, “but really, the fact is, I can’t recollect
+a single song at this moment. Perhaps Brother Fox will oblige us.”
+</p>
+<p>“I am very sorry, Brother Hare,” answered the Fox, “but I am afraid I don’t know any
+songs. I am sure Brother Wolf sings beautifully.”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes,” joined in the Hare. “Pray, Brother Wolf, let us hear you sing?”
+</p>
+<p>“No, no, please,” said the Wolf modestly, scratching his ear with one paw. “I am a
+very poor singer, you really must excuse me.”
+</p>
+<p>But the Fox and the Hare pressed him, and presently he began to sing. At the first
+sound of his voice the men in the next room stopped their feasting, and saying <span class="pageNum" id="pb67">[<a href="#pb67">67</a>]</span>to one another, “There is a Wolf in the house,” they rushed towards the larder.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as they heard the disturbance the Hare and the Fox, carrying their provisions
+with them, hopped quietly out of the window and made off quickly for their homes.
+The Wolf, too, made a leap towards the window, but the great jar round his neck was
+too broad to go through the narrow opening, and he fell back into the room below.
+Again he jumped and again he fell back; and he was still jumping and falling when
+the people of the house rushed in and soon despatched him with sticks and stones.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb68">[<a href="#pb68">68</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s12" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e289">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE MOUSE’S THREE CHILDREN.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Many years ago, in the kingdom of Nepal, there was a little Mouse, who lived with
+her husband in a snug nest not far from the King’s palace.
+</p>
+<p>Finding that she was about to be delivered of a child, the Mouse prayed to the gods
+that her offspring might be very strong; and when the child was born it appeared in
+the form of a young Tiger. The Tiger soon grew up, and one day he said to the Mouse:
+</p>
+<p>“Mother, I must now go off into the jungle and live there with my brother Tigers.
+But if at any time you want my help, all you need do is to go into yonder thicket,
+and throw a handful of my hair into the air, and call my name three times.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, he gave the Mouse a handful of his hair, and went off into the forest.
+</p>
+<p>Shortly afterwards the Mouse was again with child, and this time she prayed that her
+offspring might be very beautiful. When the child was born, instead of a young Mouse,
+she found that she had given birth to a Peacock. The Peacock soon grew into a large
+and beautiful bird, and when he had reached his full growth he one day said to his
+mother:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb69">[<a href="#pb69">69</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Mother, it is now time for me to go and seek my own livelihood with my brothers in
+the forest. But if at any time you should require my assistance, all you have to do
+is to go to the top of that hill over there, and to throw a handful of my feathers
+into the air, and call my name three times.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, he gave the little Mouse a handful of his feathers, and flew away into
+the jungle.
+</p>
+<p>Presently the Mouse found herself a third time with child, and this time she prayed
+to the gods that her child might become wise, wealthy and powerful; and when the child
+appeared she saw that it was a young man child. As the Boy grew up the mother was
+afraid that he, too, like his brothers, would want to leave his nest and go out into
+the world to live with his fellow-men. So she told him the story of his two elder
+brothers, and explained to him that he was a man child, and could not wander away
+into the jungle like they did, but must stay in the nest. The Boy promised to do so,
+and every day he used to sit and play about at the mouth of the nest.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened that in that country there lived a Mussulman, who made his living
+as a barber and by paring people’s nails. This man, who was very clever at his work,
+was often employed in the King’s palace, and one day, as he was going to his work
+in the palace, he passed near to the Mouse’s nest. There he saw the Boy seated on
+the ground, and, going up to him, he asked him whether he would like his hair cut
+and his nails pared.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy said, “Yes,” and the Barber proceeded to cut his hair. To the Barber’s astonishment,
+each <span class="pageNum" id="pb70">[<a href="#pb70">70</a>]</span>hair, as it fell to the ground, immediately turned into diamonds, pearls, and other
+jewels; and when he proceeded to pare the Boy’s nails, each paring, as it touched
+the ground, became a beautiful turquoise.
+</p>
+<p>The Barber then went on to the palace, and as he was cutting the King’s hair, he told
+him about the miraculous child, whose hair and nails turned into jewels. The King,
+who was a greedy and unscrupulous man, determined to gain possession of so valuable
+a Boy, so he sent out some of his servants to bring the Boy up to the palace. When
+the Boy arrived, he was brought before the King, and the King told him that as he
+had been found trespassing in the royal forests, he intended to kill the mother, and
+to keep the Boy as a slave, unless the Boy could furnish him at once with four full-grown
+Tigers to guard the four gates of the palace, in which case he would marry the Boy
+to his daughter and would give him half his kingdom.
+</p>
+<p>The poor Boy went in great grief to Mother Mouse, and related to her the whole of
+his interview with the King. The Mouse told him not to vex himself, and she gave him
+a handful of Tiger’s hair and sent him out into the jungle with full directions as
+to what he should do.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy went off into the heart of a dense thicket in the jungle, and throwing the
+Tiger’s hair into the air, he called out at the same time:
+</p>
+<p>“Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger!”
+</p>
+<p>Scarcely had the words left his lips when he heard a low, deep growl just beside him,
+and a great Tiger stalked out of the thicket, licking his chops.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb71">[<a href="#pb71">71</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Here I am, Brother,” said the Tiger. “What do you want?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Brother Tiger,” said the Boy, “the King has said that if I do not immediately
+provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates of his palace he will
+kill our mother and make me a slave.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.
+</p>
+<p>“Is that all?” said he. “That is easily arranged. I can get you a hundred Tigers.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful roars; and in a
+few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of Tigers, hastening up from all directions.
+When they were all ready, the first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back,
+and so, with the Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession,
+they all went off in a body to the King’s palace.
+</p>
+<p>As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran hither and thither,
+and the guards were called to arms. And when the King was told what was happening
+he was greatly alarmed himself, but he seated himself on his throne, and gave orders
+for the Boy and the Tigers to be admitted.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy rode in on the Tiger’s back to the royal presence, followed by all the other
+Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:
+</p>
+<p>“Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the forest. You can
+take your pick of any four you like.”
+</p>
+<p>The King was very much astonished at this, and having <span class="pageNum" id="pb72">[<a href="#pb72">72</a>]</span>selected four of the finest Tigers, he allowed the others to go away. But he still
+hankered after the jewels, and in a few days’ time he again summoned the Boy before
+him, and told him that unless he at once furnished four Peacocks to sit one on each
+of the four golden pinnacles of his palace roof, he should kill his mother and keep
+the Boy as a slave.
+</p>
+<p>The poor Boy was very down-hearted on hearing this, and went sadly back to his mother
+with the news; but the little Mouse told him that it was all right, and giving him
+a handful of Peacock’s feathers, she instructed him how to proceed. So the Boy went
+off to the top of a high hill, and, throwing the feathers into the air, he called
+aloud:
+</p>
+<p>“Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock!”
+</p>
+<p>Immediately a fluttering sound was heard, and a magnificent Peacock dropped to the
+ground in front of him from the branch of a neighbouring tree.
+</p>
+<p>“Here I am, Brother,” said the Peacock. “What do you want with me?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Brother Peacock,” said the Boy, “the King says that if I cannot at once provide
+him with four Peacocks to sit on the four golden pinnacles of his palace, he will
+kill our mother and make me a slave.”
+</p>
+<p>“Never mind,” said the Peacock, “we can easily arrange that.”
+</p>
+<p>So he fluttered back to the top of a high tree, and called the loud, shrill call of
+the Peacocks.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb73">[<a href="#pb73">73</a>]</span></p>
+<p>In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks flying in from all
+directions.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said the first Peacock, “come along to the palace.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their claws, and they
+all flew together over the tops of the trees to the King’s palace.
+</p>
+<p>When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King, and the King
+seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready to receive them.
+</p>
+<p>The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King’s throne, and arranged
+themselves in rows behind him, with their tails spread.
+</p>
+<p>“Here, oh King!” said the Boy, “are all the finest Peacocks I could find in the forest.
+You can have your pick of any four of them.”
+</p>
+<p>The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected the four best
+Peacocks, and sent away the rest.
+</p>
+<p>But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few days later, he
+sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his Mother Mouse could fight single-handed
+with the King’s state Elephant and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the
+Boy a slave.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it possible that
+the little Mouse could compete successfully with the King’s great Elephant; so he
+went home very sadly and told his mother the whole story. But the Mouse told him he
+was not to be <span class="pageNum" id="pb74">[<a href="#pb74">74</a>]</span>alarmed, and she directed him to smear her body all over with poison, and to tie a
+long string to her tail. As soon as she was ready the Boy placed her in the sleeve
+of his coat, and carried her along to the palace.
+</p>
+<p>In the courtyard of the palace everything had been made ready for the fight. Seats
+had been prepared behind a barrier for the King and his nobles, whilst the roofs and
+the windows were crowded with hundreds of people who had come to see the show. At
+one end of the enclosure the King’s great tusker stood ready, still chained by the
+leg; and the Boy, with the Mouse in his sleeve, took up his stand at the other end
+of the arena, face to face with the angry Elephant.
+</p>
+<p>At a given signal the Elephant’s chain was loosed, and with a bellow of rage he rushed
+towards where the Boy was standing. As he came on, holding his trunk high in the air,
+the little Mouse jumped to the ground and ran to meet him. The Elephant caught sight
+of this small object, and stopped for a moment to see what it was, and the Mouse hopped
+on to his foot. The Elephant at once put down his trunk to feel what was there, and
+in a twinkling the Mouse jumped into the open end of the trunk, and scuttled up it
+as fast as she could till she reached the head. She soon found herself inside the
+Elephant’s brain, and there she ran round and round, smearing poison all over the
+brain of the great beast.
+</p>
+<p>The Elephant, not knowing what had happened, rushed round the arena, bellowing with
+rage and pain, and smashing everything within reach of his trunk. But <span class="pageNum" id="pb75">[<a href="#pb75">75</a>]</span>presently, the poison taking effect, he fell to the ground stone dead, and the Boy,
+pulling the string which was attached to the Mouse’s tail, guided her out of the Elephant’s
+trunk till she reached the open air.
+</p>
+<p>The King could no longer hesitate to fulfil his promise to the Boy, so he gave him
+his daughter in marriage, and presented him with half his kingdom. And on the King’s
+death the Boy succeeded to the kingdom, and he and his mother lived happily ever afterwards.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb76">[<a href="#pb76">76</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s13" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e298">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE JACKALS AND THE TIGER.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a family of Jackals, consisting of a Father, Mother, and
+five young ones. After living for some time very comfortably near a large village,
+they found that the dogs of the village were becoming so numerous and so troublesome
+that they considered it necessary to change their place of abode. So one fine evening
+they started off and travelled away across the country, keeping a sharp look-out for
+some desirable spot in which they might settle down.
+</p>
+<p>After a while they came to the edge of a forest, and having travelled for some little
+distance into the thickest part of the wood, they arrived all of a sudden at a Tiger’s
+den. The young Jackals were a good deal frightened at the smell of the Tiger’s den,
+but Father Jackal reassured them, and said that he thoroughly understood Tigers, and
+knew how to deal with them. So he went forward alone, and, peeping in, he found that
+the Tiger was out, but that he had left a large quantity of deer’s flesh lying in
+one corner, which apparently he had not had time to consume. So he called Mrs. Jackal
+and the children, and told them to go inside and to have a good feed, and to make
+themselves quite comfortable. After making a <span class="pageNum" id="pb77">[<a href="#pb77">77</a>]</span>good meal himself off the deer’s flesh, he said to Mrs. Jackal:
+</p>
+<p>“You and the children can now go to sleep; I shall go on to the roof of the den and
+keep a look-out for the Tiger. When I see him coming I shall rap on the roof, and
+you must at once wake up the children and make them begin to cry, and when I ask you
+what they are crying about, you must say that they are getting impatient for their
+supper.”
+</p>
+<p>Accordingly Mr. Jackal went up on the roof, while his family settled down to sleep
+in the snuggest corner of the Tiger’s den. Shortly after Father Jackal heard a slight
+crackling amongst the dry leaves of the forest; and in the dim morning light he discerned
+the form of a great Tiger approaching his den through the tree-stems.
+</p>
+<p>According to the arrangement he had made, he rapped with a loose stone upon the roof
+of the den, and Mrs. Jackal immediately woke up the young Jackals and made them cry.
+</p>
+<p>“What are those children crying about?” called out Father Jackal.
+</p>
+<p>“They are very hungry, and getting impatient for their supper,” was the reply.
+</p>
+<p>“Tell them they won’t have long to wait now,” said Father Jackal; “the Tiger will
+probably be home very soon, and we shall all be eating hot Tiger’s meat before long.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Tiger was very much alarmed, and thought to himself:
+</p>
+<p>“What kind of strange animal can this be which has <span class="pageNum" id="pb78">[<a href="#pb78">78</a>]</span>entered my den, and is waiting to cook and eat me on my return; it must certainly
+be a very fierce and terrible creature.”
+</p>
+<p>So without waiting to investigate the matter any further, he turned tail and ran off
+as fast as he could through the forest. After running some way, he came across an
+old Baboon, with a great fringe of white hair all round his face.
+</p>
+<p>“Where are you running to, Uncle Tiger?” asked the Baboon.
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Tiger, “the fact is, that a family of strange animals, who call themselves
+Jackals, are at this moment in occupation of my den. As I was approaching my den,
+after a long night’s hunting, one of the creatures was actually sitting on the roof,
+looking out for me, and as I got close up I heard him tell his young ones that they
+were to have hot Tiger’s meat for supper. Fortunately for me, he hadn’t seen me, so
+I thought the best thing I could do was to make off as fast as I could, in order to
+avoid being eaten.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Baboon was very much amused, and set to work to laugh very heartily.
+</p>
+<p>“Why,” said he, “what a foolish Tiger you are! Have you never heard of a Jackal before?
+Don’t you know that it is you should eat the Jackals, and not the Jackals you? You
+come along with me, and I will soon show you how to deal with people like that.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tiger was somewhat reassured on hearing what the Baboon had to say, but, even
+so, he was at first very reluctant to return again and to incur the danger of being
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb79">[<a href="#pb79">79</a>]</span>eaten; but the Monkey encouraged him, and finally they set off together, the Monkey
+twisting his tail round the Tiger’s, in order to give him a feeling of support and
+confidence.
+</p>
+<p>As they came nearer to the den, the Tiger grew more and more timorous, and would only
+advance very slowly, ready to take flight at any moment. However, they went on together,
+tail-in-tail, until presently Father Jackal on the roof of the den caught sight of
+the pair, and called out:
+</p>
+<p>“That is right, Brother Monkey, bring him along quickly; we are all half starved.
+But what do you mean by only bringing one of them? I had expected you would bring
+us at least two or three.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this, the Tiger at once suspected that the Baboon was in the Jackal’s employ,
+and that he was being led into a trap. Without a moment’s hesitation he turned about
+and fled precipitately into the depths of the forest. The unfortunate Baboon, whose
+tail was tightly twisted round the Tiger’s, was unable to free himself, and was dragged
+and bumped hither and thither in the Tiger’s rush through the thickest and thorniest
+parts of the jungle. When at length the Tiger paused, many miles away, to take breath,
+he looked back at his flanks, and all he saw of the Monkey was a bit of its tail which
+had broken off and was still twisted round his own.
+</p>
+<p>He never again returned to his den, which was occupied henceforth by the Jackals,
+who lived there for many years in peace and comfort.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p079width" id="p079"><img src="images/p079.jpg" alt="THE TIGER AND THE MONKEY APPROACHING THE JACKAL’S DEN." width="720" height="653"><p class="figureHead">THE TIGER AND THE MONKEY APPROACHING THE JACKAL’S DEN.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 79.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb80">[<a href="#pb80">80</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s14" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e307">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIV.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE THREE THIEVES.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived within the dominions of the Emperor of China three very
+clever Thieves. These men, owing to their skill and cunning, were quite at the head
+of their profession, and by sleight of hand and dexterity were able to accomplish
+feats of trickery which the ordinary thieves could not emulate. The first was so clever
+that he was able to withdraw eggs from under a sitting hen without in any way disturbing
+her, and without her being aware that the theft had been accomplished. The second
+was able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as he walked along the road without the
+victim knowing that he had been robbed. And the third was able to eat his fill off
+a man’s plate during dinner without the man who was robbed, or his friend opposite,
+being able to detect where the victuals had gone to.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened one day that these three Thieves met together in a country inn, and
+entering into conversation with one another, began to exchange confidences.
+</p>
+<p>“May I ask what you do for a living?” asked the first Thief of the second.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb81">[<a href="#pb81">81</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Oh, I am a Thief,” answered the man who was addressed.
+</p>
+<p>“Very good,” replied the other men, “we also are Thieves. Can you tell us, please,
+if there is any particular line in which you excel?”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes,” said the second Thief; “I am able to cut the soles off a man’s boots as he
+walks across the road without his being aware of what has happened. What can you two
+do, pray?”
+</p>
+<p>“I,” replied the first Thief, “can withdraw the eggs from under a sitting hen without
+disturbing her.”
+</p>
+<p>“And I,” said the third, “can steal another man’s dinner from off his plate, and eat
+my fill as he sits at table, without the victim, or the man sitting opposite, being
+able to detect me.”
+</p>
+<p>So the three Thieves, having struck up a friendship on the ground of their unusual
+skill, set off together to the court of the Emperor of China, in order to see whether
+they could not succeed in making their fortunes there.
+</p>
+<p>On arriving at the court they consulted together and came to the conclusion that in
+order to make any headway in China it was necessary to attract the attention of the
+Emperor. So they agreed to separate for twenty-four hours, and to meet next day in
+the courtyard of the palace, each bringing some gift to the Emperor which would please
+him, and prove to him that they were men of no usual calibre. Accordingly, they parted
+in different directions, and the following day at noon, they met together in the courtyard
+of the <span class="pageNum" id="pb82">[<a href="#pb82">82</a>]</span>palace, and each one proceeded to relate his adventures during the preceding twenty-four
+hours.
+</p>
+<p>“As soon as I left you yesterday,” began the first Thief, “I went into the royal farm
+adjoining the palace, and there I found one of the Emperor’s pea-hens sitting upon
+her nest, and hatching a clutch of eggs, which was calculated to produce a breed of
+the very finest peacocks. By the Emperor’s orders this nest was watched by an attendant
+night and day, in order that no one should interfere with the eggs, and the pea-hen
+herself was so cross that she would not allow anyone to approach her except the man
+who fed her. But such obstacles as these were nothing to me, and I had no difficulty
+in evading the watchers and abstracting the eggs from under the hen, without even
+disturbing her, or her being aware of the loss. Now here they are in my wallet, and
+when the loss is discovered presently, as it is sure to be, and a reward offered for
+their discovery, I propose to present them to the Emperor.”
+</p>
+<p>The other two Thieves applauded their comrade for his skill and ingenuity, and the
+second Thief then proceeded to relate his story as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“When we separated yesterday, I at once entered the Emperor’s antechamber, and mingled
+with the nobles and officials who were awaiting an audience with His Majesty, and
+amongst the others I soon noticed the Prime Minister. He was a very stout man, dressed
+in his finest robes, and with a new pair of boots on his feet. As he passed to and
+fro in the crowd, I succeeded in cutting the soles off his new boots without his having
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb83">[<a href="#pb83">83</a>]</span>any idea of what had happened. Shortly afterwards he was summoned to the Emperor’s
+presence, and when he knelt down to <i>kow-tow</i> before His Majesty, it was observed that he had no soles to his boots. The Emperor,
+thinking that the Minister had committed this serious breach of etiquette on purpose,
+fell into a violent passion, and ordered him to be imprisoned at once. It was no use
+for the wretched man to protest his innocence or to plead for mercy. The Emperor’s
+orders are that, unless a satisfactory explanation is given to him before six o’clock
+this evening and the missing soles produced, the Minister is to be beheaded. Here
+are the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots in my wallet, and I propose to present
+them to His Majesty this afternoon during his public audience. I shall thus earn the
+gratitude of the Prime Minister and appease the wrath of the Emperor.”
+</p>
+<p>The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their comrade on his successful
+manœuvre, and the third Thief proceeded to relate his adventures as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“When we parted yesterday,” said he, “I entered the palace, and after wandering about
+for some time I found myself in the chamber where the Emperor’s dinner was being prepared,
+and where all the chief officials of the palace were assembled to superintend the
+arrangements for the royal meal. There were the Head Chamberlain and the Under Chamberlains,
+the Head Usher and the Under Ushers, the Head Waiter and the Under Waiters, and many
+other officials of <span class="pageNum" id="pb84">[<a href="#pb84">84</a>]</span>minor degree. I mingled with the servants, who were standing about, without attracting
+any attention, and remained in the room until the Emperor himself entered and seated
+himself with great ceremony to partake of his mid-day meal. The Chief Cook and the
+Chief Chamberlain placed themselves in front of the Emperor, in order to see that
+the service of his food was properly conducted, whilst the other high officials took
+their stand on either side of his chair and assisted in bringing in the dishes. In
+spite of all these precautions, however, I was able by my skill to take the food from
+each dish as it was placed upon the table, before the Emperor had time to partake
+of more than a very few mouthfuls. As the meal proceeded the Emperor grew more and
+more annoyed, and complained of the insufficiency of the food which had been prepared
+for him. Such a thing as this had never occurred before in the palace. The Head Cook
+and all the Under Cooks, the Head Chamberlain and all the Under Chamberlains, the
+Head Usher and all the Under Ushers, and all the officials of lower degree, were thrown
+into a dreadful state of confusion and alarm at the event. They rushed hither and
+thither, between the kitchens and dining-halls, upbraiding the scullions and other
+domestics for their carelessness, and preparing the most elaborate and copious dishes
+for the Emperor’s table. But after some time the Emperor, wearied by the confusion,
+and unable, in spite of everything, to make a satisfactory meal, gave orders that
+the whole of the Cooks and other attendants responsible for his table-service should
+be <span class="pageNum" id="pb85">[<a href="#pb85">85</a>]</span>imprisoned, and that unless a satisfactory explanation of their negligence could be
+given before this evening they should be beheaded. I have here, in my wallet, the
+whole of the viands which yesterday were placed before the Emperor for his consumption,
+and I propose at the audience to present them to him, and inform him what really happened.
+He will undoubtedly pardon me when he hears the story, and I shall earn the undying
+gratitude of all the disgraced officials by procuring their release.”
+</p>
+<p>The other two Thieves, on hearing this story, congratulated their comrade warmly upon
+his daring and success, and the three entered the Emperor’s antechamber together,
+and awaited the time for public audience.
+</p>
+<p>A few minutes later the great doors leading to the audience chamber were thrown open,
+and a herald appearing upon the threshold proclaimed “Silence.” He then gave notice
+that, on the previous day, the eggs had all been stolen from under the Emperor’s favourite
+pea-hen, and that any person who could find the eggs or give any information concerning
+their loss should receive a reward; secondly, that for a breach of etiquette the Prime
+Minister had been imprisoned, and that unless he could explain his offence before
+six o’clock that evening he was to be beheaded, and that any person who could offer
+assistance in the matter would be well paid and otherwise rewarded by the Emperor;
+thirdly, that owing to bad attendance during the Emperor’s repast the previous day,
+all the domestic officials of the palace had been imprisoned, and would be beheaded
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb86">[<a href="#pb86">86</a>]</span>at six o’clock that evening unless they could give a satisfactory explanation; and
+that any person who could assist in the matter would be well rewarded for his pains.
+</p>
+<p>So saying the Herald retired, and the public audience began. When the three Thieves
+were admitted to the Emperor’s presence, they went in together and made a simultaneous
+obeisance before the Emperor’s throne.
+</p>
+<p>“Who are you three men?” asked the Emperor, “and what do you want from me?”
+</p>
+<p>“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the first Thief, “I have ventured to bring a
+small gift for you.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying he took from his wallet the pea-hen’s eggs, and laid them on the throne.
+</p>
+<p>When the Emperor heard that these were his pea-hen’s eggs he was very much pleased,
+and gave orders that they should at once be taken back to the nest, and the hatching
+continued; and telling the first Thief to stand back, he enquired of the second what
+he wished to say.
+</p>
+<p>“May it please Your Majesty,” replied the second Thief, “I also have a small gift
+to make to you.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying he took the soles of the Prime Minister’s boots out of his wallet and
+laid them on the steps of the throne.
+</p>
+<p>When the Emperor found that these were the soles of his Prime Minister’s boots, and
+how they had been removed, he was very much amused, and laughed heartily. He at once
+sent orders for his Prime Minister to be released, and handed over to him the soles
+of <span class="pageNum" id="pb87">[<a href="#pb87">87</a>]</span>his boots, and told him to watch them more carefully for the future. The Prime Minister
+was delighted at being reinstated in the royal favour, and expressed his gratitude
+to the Thief for his services in the matter.
+</p>
+<p>When the third Thief was asked what he had to say he replied:
+</p>
+<p>“I, too, have a small gift for Your Majesty.”
+</p>
+<p>And so saying he produced a plate from his wallet, and laid upon it the various viands
+which had been cooked for the Emperor’s dinner the previous day.
+</p>
+<p>When the Emperor understood that this was the dinner which had been prepared for him,
+and which he ought to have eaten, he was greatly astonished; but seeing that it was
+no fault of his Cooks, Chamberlains, or other servants, he ordered them all to be
+released, and to resume their former functions.
+</p>
+<p>Having issued these various commands, the Emperor again summoned the three Thieves
+before him, and addressed them as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Although,” said he, “I am very pleased at finding such a satisfactory explanation
+for the disappearance of the eggs, the misdemeanour of my Prime Minister, and the
+insufficiency of my dinner, I cannot overlook the fact that you three men have behaved
+in a very unusual manner. So before rewarding you in accordance with my promise, I
+desire to put your skill to a further test. If you succeed in this trial to my satisfaction
+you shall all three be well rewarded, and receive rank and lands in my country; but
+if you fail, you must take <span class="pageNum" id="pb88">[<a href="#pb88">88</a>]</span>the consequences of your rashness, and you shall all three be put to death.”
+</p>
+<p>When the three Thieves heard these words they were greatly frightened, and bowing
+down before the Emperor they awaited his commands.
+</p>
+<p>“The test which I have in store for you,” continued the Emperor, “is as follows: you
+must know that in my Treasury I have a great number of jewels and precious objects
+of all kinds; and the Treasury is enclosed within a treble wall ten fathoms in height,
+closed by iron gates, and is guarded night and day by companies of my most faithful
+soldiers. If you can produce, before six o’clock to-morrow evening, three of the pearls
+from my Treasury, you shall be pardoned and rewarded; but if you fail to do so, you
+shall all three be put to death.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing these words the three thieves consulted together for a few moments, and
+replied as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“We will do our best to carry out Your Majesty’s commands and to succeed in this test
+which you have given us, but we would call your royal attention to one matter; it
+is this: supposing we produce before to-morrow evening three pearls as you command,
+how shall we be able to satisfy you that they come from the Royal Treasury? All pearls
+look very much alike, and it would be impossible for us to prove to you whence they
+came. We would, therefore, venture to suggest that, before putting us to this test,
+you should have a complete enumeration made of all the jewels in your Treasury; then,
+when we produce the three pearls in question, it <span class="pageNum" id="pb89">[<a href="#pb89">89</a>]</span>will be easy to ascertain whether there are in the Treasury three pearls less than
+there were when the enumeration was made.”
+</p>
+<p>The Emperor, seeing that this was a reasonable request, agreed to act as the Thieves
+had suggested. So summoning his Treasurer before him, he gave orders that a complete
+enumeration of all the jewels and other precious objects in his Treasury should be
+made before nightfall that evening; and having issued his commands he dismissed the
+audience.
+</p>
+<p>The Chief Treasurer was much perturbed on receiving these orders, for owing to the
+enormous quantity of jewels and other objects in the Treasury, he foresaw that it
+would be a difficult matter to have the enumeration complete before evening. The only
+way in which it could be done was to call in the assistance of all the officials of
+the palace, and having allotted a section of the Treasure Chamber to each, to order
+them to make a complete inventory each of his own part. Accordingly, he called together
+all the officials of the palace to the number of many hundreds, and they proceeded
+in a body to the Royal Treasury. The three Thieves, who had anticipated this action
+on the part of the Treasurer, meanwhile dressed themselves up in the complete robes
+which are proper for a palace official, and mingling unnoticed in the crowd, they
+followed the Treasurer to the gates of the Royal Treasury. By the Treasurer’s orders,
+the gates were at once thrown open, and the officials, entering the treasury, began
+the enumeration. The three thieves, in common with the rest, were allotted <span class="pageNum" id="pb90">[<a href="#pb90">90</a>]</span>each a section of the Treasury Chamber, of which they were to make a complete inventory,
+and whilst so employed they had no difficulty in each one secreting a large pearl
+after first placing it upon their list. By nightfall the enumeration was complete,
+the lists were all handed over to the Chief Treasurer, and the Treasury was left locked
+and guarded as before.
+</p>
+<p>Next day, at six o’clock, the Emperor seated himself in his Hall of Audience, and
+summoned the three Thieves before him.
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said he, “have you been able to fulfil the conditions which I set you? If
+you can now produce three pearls from my Treasury, you shall be rewarded in accordance
+with my promise; but if you are unable to do so, you shall all three be put to death.”
+</p>
+<p>The Thieves bowed themselves humbly before the Emperor, and without making any reply
+each one produced a pearl and laid it on the steps of the throne. When the Emperor
+saw these pearls he was much astonished; but in order to make certain that they came
+from his own Treasury, he summoned his Chief Treasurer before him, and ordered him
+to compare the jewels in the Treasury with the inventory which had been made on the
+previous evening. The Treasurer hurried off to do so, and after a short while he reappeared,
+and informed the Emperor that, having carefully counted all the jewels, and having
+compared the numbers in the Treasury with the numbers on the inventory, he found that
+three pearls were indeed missing.
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Emperor no longer hesitated <span class="pageNum" id="pb91">[<a href="#pb91">91</a>]</span>in fulfilling his promise to the three Thieves. He raised them at once to high rank,
+and presented them with lands and money sufficient to uphold their new status, and
+they lived happily ever afterwards, enjoying the confidence of the Emperor and the
+friendship of the numerous officials whom they had saved from imprisonment and death.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb92">[<a href="#pb92">92</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s15" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e316">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XV.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE BOY WITH THE DEFORMED HEAD.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived a poor man and his wife who had only one child, and this
+Boy, as it happened, was born with a deformed head, which projected in front and behind,
+and gave him a very ugly appearance. The parents, although much grieved at their son’s
+deformity, were, nevertheless, very fond of him and brought him up very carefully.
+Every day, when he grew big enough, he used to drive the cows out to pasture, and
+all day long he sat about on the hillsides watching the cattle graze. And so he passed
+his life very happily until, when he reached the age of fifteen, he began to think
+he should like to marry a wife as other young men did, but he feared that owing to
+his deformity no girl would ever look at him.
+</p>
+<p>One day it chanced that he drove his cows to graze on the rich pasture on the edge
+of a small lake, and as he was sitting near the shore of the lake all of a sudden
+he saw a large white Drake descend from the sky, and light upon the surface of the
+water. As soon as it was seated upon the water it swam round the lake three times
+to the right and then three times to the left, and having <span class="pageNum" id="pb93">[<a href="#pb93">93</a>]</span>done so it flew away again and disappeared into the sky.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy watched the behaviour of this Drake with some interest. He had never before
+seen so large and beautiful a bird, nor one that behaved so strangely. So next day
+he again sat down in the same place, and kept a sharp look-out for the bird. At the
+same hour as on the previous day the Drake again appeared in the sky, and descending
+upon the lake, acted in precisely the same manner as before. And it continued to do
+so for several days, the Boy always watching its behaviour with increased interest.
+</p>
+<p>At last he determined that he would try to catch this Drake for himself, so he wove
+himself a long rope of yaks’ hair, big enough to completely encircle the lake, and
+he laid this upon the shore in a loop extending right round the lake; and at short
+intervals along the rope he fastened loops made of the finest horse hair, the loose
+ends of which he left floating in the water.
+</p>
+<p>Next day the Drake came as usual and began to swim round the lake to the right. It
+had not gone very far when it put its foot into one of the loops and was caught. The
+Boy at once ran down to the shore of the lake, and taking the Drake in his hands,
+he tied its wings and legs together, and set it down on the grass beside him.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” thought he to himself, “what shall I do with this fine white Drake? I will
+take him home and kill him, and he will make a nice dinner for father and mother and
+me.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb94">[<a href="#pb94">94</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Just as he was thinking this, to his intense surprise, the Drake spoke to him as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“I beg of you not to kill me, my good boy,” said he, “for you must know I am not in
+reality a Drake as I appear to be, but I am a fairy King just come from the region
+of the gods. It is my habit every day to descend to this lake in the form of a white
+Drake, and to amuse myself by swimming round and round. If you will now consent to
+let me go I will reward you liberally. You shall have gold and silver and jewels and
+coral, as much as you wish, and sumptuous food every day for the rest of your life.<span class="corr" id="xd33e1363" title="Not in source">”</span>
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Boy laughed, and replied:
+</p>
+<p>“You should not tell me such stories as these. How am I to know that you are really
+a fairy? It seems to me that all you are in a position to give me is your feathers.”
+</p>
+<p>“I hope you will not disbelieve my word,” replied the Drake very earnestly; “I assure
+you I can do all this, and even more, if you will release me.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Boy, “if that is really so I will make a bargain with you. I do not
+care at all for your gold or your jewels, but what I really want is a wife. If you
+can promise to supply me with a wife I will let you go.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the Drake, “that, too, can be arranged. I have three daughters living
+in my kingdom in the skies, and I will give you as wife any one of them whom you desire.
+Would you prefer the eldest, or the youngest, or the middle one?”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb95">[<a href="#pb95">95</a>]</span></p>
+<p>The Boy was greatly pleased on hearing this offer of the Drake’s, and he thought to
+himself:
+</p>
+<p>“I will not take the eldest girl, for fear she should be too old, nor the youngest,
+for fear she should be too young. I will select the middle one.”
+</p>
+<p>So he told the Drake that he would like his middle daughter.
+</p>
+<p>“Very well,” said the Drake, “I will arrange the matter accordingly, and I will meet
+you here to-morrow with my middle daughter. But there is one condition which always
+attaches to the marriage of a mortal with a fairy, and that is that she can only live
+with you for nine years. At the conclusion of that time she is bound to return to
+her home in the heavens.”
+</p>
+<p>The Boy agreed to this condition, and when all the details had been satisfactorily
+arranged he cut the cords which bound the Drake and let him go. The bird spread his
+wings and flew up into the sky; and after circling for a few minutes he flew straight
+upwards and disappeared from sight, whilst the Boy went home to his father and mother.
+</p>
+<p>The Drake flew far up into the blue sky until he arrived at the country of the gods,
+where he changed at once into the form and raiment of the King of the Fairies. Seating
+himself upon his throne, he summoned his three daughters before him and informed them
+of what had occurred; and he gave orders to his middle daughter to prepare herself
+forthwith to go and marry a mortal. The girl wept bitterly on hearing this, but nevertheless
+she prepared to carry out her father’s <span class="pageNum" id="pb96">[<a href="#pb96">96</a>]</span>orders, and got ready a large stock of beautiful clothes and much gold and silver
+and jewels to take with her.
+</p>
+<p>Next day, at the appointed hour, the Boy went down to the lake as usual, and seated
+himself in his usual place; and not long afterwards he saw the white Drake and a white
+Duck flying towards him from the sky. They descended swiftly until they touched the
+ground, where they were at once transformed into the Fairy King and his beautiful
+daughter. The boy was overcome with joy when he saw the lovely wife that had been
+brought to him; but the girl was horrified at his ugly appearance, and begged her
+father to take her back to her abode in the skies. The Fairy King, however, insisted
+upon her carrying out her share of the bargain, so leaving his daughter with the Boy,
+he again turned himself into a Drake and, flying up into the sky, he disappeared from
+view.
+</p>
+<p>The Boy now led his bride home to his father and mother, and next day the marriage
+was duly completed. The Fairy wife, by means of her magic, was able to erect a magnificent
+palace, and to furnish it in the most luxurious manner with everything necessary for
+comfort; and she supplied, moreover, horses and servants, and everything else that
+a married couple could desire. So the two took up their abode in this fine house and,
+together with the old father and mother, they lived there happily for several years;
+and as time passed away the fairy wife became accustomed to her husband’s forbidding
+appearance, and year by year became more and more attached to him.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb97">[<a href="#pb97">97</a>]</span></p>
+<p>So the time slipped by and at last the nine years of the Fairy wife’s abode upon earth
+came to an end. The young Man, however, had become so accustomed to her presence that
+he could hardly believe that the Fairy King’s words would come true and that he should
+really be deprived of his wife when the appointed time arrived. So on the last night
+of the ninth year he went to bed as usual in his magnificent chamber, clothed in rich
+silks, and surrounded by all the evidences of wealth and luxury.
+</p>
+<p>He slept soundly all night, and when he awoke in the morning and sat up and looked
+about him, what was his astonishment and horror to discover that, instead of lying
+upon his fine couch in his magnificent palace, with troops of servants ready to wait
+upon him, he was reposing upon the bare ground under the open sky, on a bleak hillside
+near to the spot where he had first conversed with the Fairy King. His palace, his
+servants, his horses, his furniture, and, worst of all, his beautiful wife, had all
+disappeared utterly and completely, and nothing remained of them but a memory. Half
+distracted with grief and chagrin, the young Man ran frantically across the country,
+thinking to find some trace of his lost happiness.
+</p>
+<p>For some days he wandered on and on, scarcely conscious of what he was doing, and
+at length, having passed beyond the part of the country which he knew, he arrived
+one day about noon on the shores of a vast expanse of water which stretched before
+him as far as he could see. By the side of this lake there arose a jagged cliff, <span class="pageNum" id="pb98">[<a href="#pb98">98</a>]</span>and about half-way up the cliff on a broad ledge he noticed an immense nest, in which
+appeared some young birds of unusual size. At first he was unable to detect what sort
+of birds these were, but after examining them attentively for some time he saw that
+they were three young Gryphons, whose parents apparently had gone off in search of
+food.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p098width" id="p098"><img src="images/p098.jpg" alt="THE DRAGON ATTACKING THE GRYPHON’S NEST." width="720" height="635"><p class="figureHead">THE DRAGON ATTACKING THE GRYPHON’S NEST.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 98.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>As he stood upon the beach watching the young birds they suddenly began to manifest
+every sign of terror and confusion, chattering and squealing wildly to one another,
+and flapping their puny wings; and on turning towards the lake in order to ascertain
+what was the cause of their alarm, he perceived an immense Dragon—whose head, at the
+end of its long neck, towered high above the water—making its way rapidly across the
+lake, with the evident intention of devouring the young Gryphons. The young Man, who
+was of a courageous and kindly disposition, determined to save the young Gryphons
+from the maw of this monster; so, drawing his sword, he waited till the Dragon had
+set foot upon dry land, and then, attacking him fiercely, he engaged single-handed
+in a desperate conflict. For some time the issue was doubtful, but the young man at
+length succeeded with one well-delivered blow in severing the Dragon’s head from its
+neck, and the monster fell dead upon the beach.
+</p>
+<p>Scarcely had the Dragon breathed its last when the air was darkened by the wings of
+some great creature passing overhead, and, looking up, he observed, flying just above
+him, the forms of the two parent Gryphons <span class="pageNum" id="pb99">[<a href="#pb99">99</a>]</span>now returning to their nest. As soon as they had arrived the young Gryphons proceeded
+to relate to them at full length the terrible danger they had just escaped, and the
+gallant conduct of the young Man in slaying their would-be destroyer. The parent Gryphons
+were very pleased when they heard this story, and, looking towards the young Man with
+some curiosity, they began to remark upon his appearance.
+</p>
+<p>“Have you ever, Mother Gryphon,” asked the male bird, “seen any creature of that description
+before?”
+</p>
+<p>“No, Father Gryphon, I never have,” she replied; “but it seems to be both brave and
+well-intentioned. I observe, moreover, that it has neither beak nor claws, so I propose
+that we invite it into the nest, and receive it hospitably in return for a good service
+which it has rendered to our children.”
+</p>
+<p>Father Gryphon agreed to this proposal, and he at once flew down to the beach, and
+addressing the young Man he invited him to enter the nest. The youth accepted the
+invitation, and having explained that he was unable to fly, he mounted upon the Gryphon’s
+back and was speedily carried up the cliff, and deposited with the young Gryphons
+in the nest. After making a good dinner off the food which the parent Gryphons had
+just provided for their young ones, the young Man related to the family all his various
+adventures since the time when he had first made the acquaintance of the Fairy King.
+</p>
+<p>“Yours,” said Father Gryphon, “is a very sad story, <span class="pageNum" id="pb100">[<a href="#pb100">100</a>]</span>and in my opinion you have not been treated at all well; but if you desire it, I may
+perhaps be of some assistance to you. What I propose is that you should mount upon
+my back, and I will then carry you through the air to the kingdom of the gods, where
+you can represent your case to the King of the Fairies in person, and where you will,
+at any rate, have the opportunity of persuading your wife to accompany you back to
+earth.”
+</p>
+<p>The young Man gladly assented to this proposition, and mounted on the Gryphon’s back;
+and the great bird, spreading his wings, soared upwards straight into the blue sky,
+carrying the youth with him. Up and up they flew, whilst the earth seemed to recede
+into the distance and to grow smaller and smaller, until at length it disappeared
+from view altogether. Still they flew on until, towards nightfall, they arrived at
+the country of the gods. The Gryphon, with the young Man upon his back, flew straight
+in through the great golden gates, and deposited the youth in the centre of a vast
+courtyard round which were sitting numbers of gods, fairies and other denizens of
+the sky.
+</p>
+<p>When the gods saw that a human being had been deposited in their midst they rose in
+great wrath, and began bitterly to reproach the Gryphon for what he had done.
+</p>
+<p>“How is it,” said they, “that you have dared, unordered, to bring into our presence
+an inhabitant of the human world? Do you not know that human beings are of a coarser
+essence than ourselves and are <span class="pageNum" id="pb101">[<a href="#pb101">101</a>]</span>repugnant and abhorrent to us? How dare you so defile the sacred country of the gods?”
+</p>
+<p>But the Gryphon was not at all frightened at their anger, and he answered them boldly
+and firmly:
+</p>
+<p>“This young man,” said he, “is a valiant and kind-hearted youth. He saved my young
+ones from destruction by attacking, single-handed, and killing a Dragon who was on
+the point of devouring them. He then related to me his story of how, after nine years
+of happiness, he was deprived by the King of the Fairies of his wife, his house, his
+wealth, and everything which he had possessed. I consider, therefore, that he has
+been treated in a shameful and unjustifiable manner, and so I have brought him here
+to plead his cause in person and to claim redress.”
+</p>
+<p>While this conversation was in progress the young man’s Fairy wife had been hiding
+in a corner, too nervous to show herself before her husband and all the assembly of
+the gods. But she could now contain herself no longer, and, rushing forward, she threw
+herself into her husband’s arms, crying out that she loved him and would return with
+him to earth.
+</p>
+<p>When her father heard this he did not know how to act, but it was decided that a conclave
+should be held, and the matter debated at length. So the celestial powers met together
+in a great council, and, having discussed the matter in all its bearings, they decided
+that, as the Fairy Princess desired to return to earth of her own free will, they
+would not stand in her way; but that if she did so, she must take the consequence
+of <span class="pageNum" id="pb102">[<a href="#pb102">102</a>]</span>her own action, and that as the result of mating with an unclean creature like a human
+being she must herself become mortal and lose her Fairy nature.
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this decision the girl joyfully agreed. So she and her husband mounted
+together upon the broad back of the Gryphon, and the great beast, spreading his wings,
+sailed through the golden gates of the palace and swept downwards through the blue
+heavens to the earth below. He soon deposited the youth and his wife on the ground
+near their old home, where he bade them farewell and returned to his own nest. And
+henceforward, although the Fairy had lost her magic powers, the two lived happily
+together, and grew to a good old age in prosperous and comfortable circumstances.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb103">[<a href="#pb103">103</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s16" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e325">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVI.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE PRINCE AND THE OGRE’S CASTLE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there lived an old King and Queen, who, although they had been married
+for many years, had no children to brighten their old age or to inherit their kingdom;
+and in the King’s possession, as it happened, were a favourite mare and dog, who also
+had no offspring. Now both the King and the Queen were very anxious to have children
+of their own, and also to perpetuate the fine breed represented by the mare and the
+dog; so the King posted a notice all over his kingdom, offering a very large reward
+to any Lama or other holy personage who could secure to him and to his horse and dog
+the birth of children.
+</p>
+<p>In response to this notice many Lamas and recluses presented themselves at the palace,
+and by means of prayers and religious ceremonies they endeavoured to obtain from the
+gods what the King and Queen desired; but all their efforts were in vain, and the
+years passed by without any offspring being born.
+</p>
+<p>Now it chanced that in a neighbouring country there lived a terrible Ogre, who was
+an expert in magic and all the black arts; and it came to his ears that this King
+had offered a large reward if anyone could secure to him <span class="pageNum" id="pb104">[<a href="#pb104">104</a>]</span>the birth of children for himself, his horse and his dog. So he disguised himself
+as a holy Lama, and coming up to the palace one day on foot, he asked for an interview
+with the King. The King, who had almost lost faith in Lamas of any kind, received
+him courteously, and asked him what he could do to help in the matter.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, King!” replied the supposed Lama, “I, you must know, am a great recluse, and
+as the result of many years of solitary meditation, I have become proficient in all
+the magic arts. I will undertake to secure for you and your horse and dog the birth
+of offspring as you desire. But I can only do so on one condition, which is as follows:
+three children will be born to you, three to the horse and three to the dog. They
+will all be of a miraculous nature, and will grow to their full powers in the course
+of three years. At the end of three years I will return here, and will claim from
+you one of each to follow me and serve me and to obey my orders in all matters.”
+</p>
+<p>The King gladly agreed to this condition, and asked the Lama how he should proceed
+in order to secure the desired result. The Lama replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Here, oh King, are nine pills; three of these must be administered to the Queen,
+three to the horse and three to the dog. In three months’ time a child will be born
+to each, to be followed by two others at intervals of one month.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, he handed the pills to the King and forthwith took his departure. The King
+accordingly administered the pills as directed, and after three months the <span class="pageNum" id="pb105">[<a href="#pb105">105</a>]</span>Queen gave birth to a boy, the mare to a foal, and the dog to a pup, and these were
+followed by two others at intervals of one month as the Lama had predicted.
+</p>
+<p>All the young ones grew apace, and at the end of the three years they had all attained
+to their full growth and powers, and punctually at the conclusion of the third year
+the Ogre, still disguised as a Lama, returned to the palace to demand his due.
+</p>
+<p>The King and Queen, though reluctant to part with any of their children, resolved
+to abide by their bargain, and they consulted together as to which of the young Princes
+should be handed over to the Lama. After some consideration they decided that it would
+not be advisable to part with the eldest son, as he was heir to the throne, nor with
+the second, who would have to succeed to the kingdom should any accident or mischance
+befall his elder brother; so they resolved to send the youngest son, and with him
+the youngest horse and the youngest dog. These three accordingly were handed over
+to the Lama, who ordered the Prince to follow him, and started off at once to his
+own country.
+</p>
+<p>After travelling for some considerable distance they arrived at the top of a high
+pass, whence the Ogre, pointing down to a great castle standing in the valley below,
+said to the young Prince:
+</p>
+<p>“That is my house below there; I shall leave you here and you must go on down to the
+house. When you arrive there you will find a goat tied up near the door of the courtyard,
+and a bundle of straw lying near by. You must pick up the bundle of straw and place
+it within <span class="pageNum" id="pb106">[<a href="#pb106">106</a>]</span>reach of the goat. Then you must go into the farmyard, where you will find many fowls,
+and in one corner you will see an earthenware jar full of soaked grain, and you must
+sprinkle this grain for the fowls to eat. These two tasks I give you to-day, and you
+are on no account to enter my castle until I rejoin you in the evening.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying the Ogre went off in another direction, whilst the young Prince, riding
+on his horse and followed by his dog, went down to the Ogre’s castle. When he reached
+the gateway he found, as the Ogre had predicted, a goat tied up and a bundle of straw
+lying in a corner of the courtyard. So he dismounted from his horse, and, picking
+up the bundle, he carried it near the goat and placed it on the ground. Scarcely had
+the bundle touched the ground when it became transformed into three great wolves,
+who, leaping upon the goat, devoured it in an instant, and then fled away to the hills.
+</p>
+<p>The young Prince was very much astonished at seeing this, but being of a courageous
+spirit he did not allow the incident to frighten him, and proceeded to finish the
+remainder of his task. So he entered the yard where the poultry were kept, and proceeding
+to the corner where stood the jar of soaked barley, he took out a handful and scattered
+it amongst the fowls. As the grain touched the ground it was transformed instantly
+into three wild cats, who leapt fiercely upon the cocks and hens, and in a few moments,
+having destroyed them all, fled away into the hills.
+</p>
+<p>The Prince’s curiosity was now thoroughly aroused, and he determined, in spite of
+the Ogre’s warning, to <span class="pageNum" id="pb107">[<a href="#pb107">107</a>]</span>enter the house itself, and to discover what sort of place he had come to, so he pushed
+open the door of the castle and began wandering about all over the house. For some
+time he found nothing to interest him. The rooms were all well furnished and in good
+order, but he could find no trace and hear no sound of any living creature.
+</p>
+<p>At last, after having explored the greater part of the building, he suddenly turned
+a corner in a passage, and saw in front of him a room whose walls were composed entirely
+of glass. Entering this room he saw in one corner a beautiful lady lying asleep on
+a couch with a flower behind her ear. The Prince was pleased at finding a human being
+in this desolate and mysterious castle, and, approaching the lady, he endeavoured
+to arouse her from her slumber. But all his efforts were in vain; she appeared to
+be in a sort of trance, and all he could do did not succeed in waking her.
+</p>
+<p>At last in despair he took away the flower which was placed behind her ear, and as
+he did so she woke and sat up upon her couch, rubbing her eyes. As soon as she perceived
+the young Prince she was much astonished, and asked him what he was doing in the Ogre’s
+castle. The Prince told her the whole story of his miraculous birth through the magic
+of the holy Lama, and how he was condemned to serve the Lama as his servant through
+the agreement which the King his father had made, and how he had carried out the two
+tasks which the Lama had given him that day.
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this story the lady was very indignant, and spoke to him as follows:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb108">[<a href="#pb108">108</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“You must know, oh Prince,” said she, “that the person whom you suppose to be a Lama
+is in reality a fearful and wicked Ogre. The only food of which he partakes is men’s
+hearts, and this house is full of the lifeless bodies of his numerous victims. He,
+however, is unable to obtain any power over the body of a human being unless that
+being directly disobeys his orders. Thus it is his practice upon obtaining a fresh
+servant to set him strange tasks which terrify and repel him. These tasks grow daily
+more difficult and more odious, until at last one day the servant disobeys his orders,
+and forthwith his body is at the mercy of the Ogre, who devours the heart and places
+the lifeless body in a large chamber at the back of this house. The process has evidently
+begun with you to-day. You have fulfilled all of his tasks without allowing yourself
+to be terrified by the strange portents which you have observed, but on his return
+he will no doubt set you further and more disagreeable duties to perform. I, you should
+know, am a Princess in my own country, and I was handed over to the Ogre by my parents
+about a year ago in circumstances very similar to your own. But when he had brought
+me to his castle, instead of destroying me as he does his other victims, he fell in
+love with me, and I have remained here as his wife ever since. But he is of a very
+jealous disposition, and never allows me to leave his castle; and for fear I should
+make my escape during his absence, he invariably, before going out, places an enchanted
+flower behind my ear which makes me fall into a trance, and I cannot awake until the
+flower is removed.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb109">[<a href="#pb109">109</a>]</span></p>
+<p>The young Prince was very much interested on hearing this story, and he begged the
+Princess to give him some further information about the Ogre’s habits, in order that
+he might not unawares fall into his power, and might eventually be able to bring about
+the destruction of the monster.
+</p>
+<p>“It is very difficult,” replied the Princess, “for any human being to kill the Ogre,
+for he is of a supernatural nature, and even if you were to cut off his head he would
+come to life again at once, unless you could also destroy his ‘mascot’<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1469src" href="#xd33e1469" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>—that is to say, the object upon the preservation of which his life in this world
+depends. Now the Ogre’s mascot is very carefully concealed, and its existence and
+whereabouts are known to no person except myself. I, however, have discovered where
+it is, and I will reveal the secret to you later, but first I will tell you the method
+by which you may destroy the Ogre’s body. You must know, then, that it is only possible
+for a human being to strike a mortal blow at the Ogre when his face is turned away.
+He knows this very well, and will never in any circumstances turn his back upon a
+man. Similarly, if he can make you turn your back to him he may be able to do you
+a mischief. When he comes in this evening and finds that you have fulfilled both the
+tasks he has set you, the first thing he will order you to do will be to walk three
+times round a great stove which stands in the centre of the kitchen; and if you <span class="pageNum" id="pb110">[<a href="#pb110">110</a>]</span>obey his orders he will follow you from behind and will possibly do you some harm
+while your back is turned towards him. When he gives you these orders, then, you must
+not disobey, but you must tell the Ogre that it is so dark in the kitchen that you
+cannot see your way clearly, and you must ask him to precede you. This he is bound
+to do, and while he is going round the stove you may perhaps find an opportunity for
+stabbing him. If, however, you cannot succeed in doing so, and you both pass through
+this ordeal successfully, he will set you no further task to-night, and I will ascertain
+from him during the evening what trial he has in store for you to-morrow.”
+</p>
+<p>The Prince thanked the young lady for all her good advice, which he promised to follow
+faithfully in every respect, and she then said to him:
+</p>
+<p>“It is now near the time for the Ogre’s return. I will lie down on the couch, and
+you must place the flower behind my ear just as it was before; and when I fall into
+a trance you must at once go out into the courtyard and wait the return of the Ogre,
+and mind you are careful not to let him know that you have been inside the castle.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the Princess lay down upon her couch, and the young man having placed the
+flower behind her ear she instantly fell into a deep trance. The Prince then went
+out into the courtyard and shortly after the Ogre arrived. He had now discarded his
+lama costume and appeared in his proper form, and riding up to the Prince he asked
+him in an angry tone whether <span class="pageNum" id="pb111">[<a href="#pb111">111</a>]</span>he had carried out the orders he had received, and on the Prince replying in the affirmative,
+the Ogre ordered him to come into the kitchen. On entering the kitchen the Ogre pointed
+to a great stove standing in the centre, and said to the Prince:
+</p>
+<p>“You must now walk three times round that stove.”
+</p>
+<p>“It is so dark in here,” replied the Prince, “that I cannot see my way at all clearly.
+Will you please precede me and show me the way?”
+</p>
+<p>The Ogre was very angry at hearing this, but he was unable to refuse, so he started
+off and ran round the stove three times, the Prince following closely at his heels.
+But he went so fast that the Prince, although he had his knife ready in his hand,
+was unable to catch him; and the Ogre, seeing that the Prince was not to be outwitted
+by this stratagem, went upstairs to his wife, leaving the young man locked up in the
+kitchen, where he spent the night alone.
+</p>
+<p>Next morning the Ogre started off soon after daylight on his own business, and as
+soon as he was gone the Prince ran upstairs to the glass room, where he found the
+lady lying in a trance as before. He took the flower from behind her ear, and she
+immediately woke up and looked about her.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Prince,” said she. “How did you succeed last night? I hope you followed
+the instructions which I gave you.”
+</p>
+<p>The Prince described to her what had occurred, and she said:
+</p>
+<p>“I have ascertained what the Ogre proposes to do <span class="pageNum" id="pb112">[<a href="#pb112">112</a>]</span>when he returns this evening. He will seat himself in his chair of state in his great
+hall of audience and will order you to <i>kow-tow</i> to him three times, and if you do so he will seize an opportunity whilst you are
+lying on your face before him to do you some injury. It will not do, however, absolutely
+to disobey his orders; but you must explain to him that, being a Prince, you have
+never had to <i>kow-tow</i> to anybody and do not exactly know how to do it, and you must ask him to show you
+the proper way to proceed. He cannot refuse your request, and you must take the opportunity
+of stabbing him or cutting off his head whilst he is lying on his face before you.
+If you succeed in this come at once to me, and I will show you what else is necessary
+in order to bring about his complete destruction.”
+</p>
+<p>The Prince promised to obey the lady’s orders, and after again sending her into a
+trance by placing the magic flower behind her ear, he returned to the courtyard and
+awaited the Ogre’s return. Just before dusk the Ogre came back and as the Princess
+had predicted he proceeded at once to the great audience hall, and seated himself
+on his chair of state.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he to the Prince, “you must <i>kow-tow</i> to me three times.”
+</p>
+<p>“I am very sorry,” answered the Prince, “that I do not know how to do so. Being a
+Prince myself, I have never had to <i>kow-tow</i> to anybody; but if you will show me the proper manner in which to proceed I will
+do my best.”
+</p>
+<p>This reply made the Ogre very angry, but he was <span class="pageNum" id="pb113">[<a href="#pb113">113</a>]</span>unable to refuse to do as the Prince had asked him. So the Prince took his seat on
+the Ogre’s chair and the Ogre kneeling on the ground before him proceeded to <i>kow-tow</i> three times in the orthodox manner. As the Ogre’s face touched the ground the first
+time the Prince drew his sword; as it touched the ground the second time he raised
+the sword above his head; and as it touched the ground the third and last time the
+Prince delivered a violent blow, completely severing the Ogre’s head from his body.
+Leaving the body where it lay, the Prince ran up to the glass room as fast as he could,
+and having awakened the lady from her sleep, he told her what had happened.
+</p>
+<p>“Well done!” said she. “The first part of your task is now accomplished; but as I
+told you before, it is still necessary to destroy the Ogre’s mascot, or he will come
+to life again in a short time. What you must do now, therefore, is as follows: you
+must descend into the vaults below the castle, and having traversed nine dark subterranean
+chambers, you will come to a blank stone wall. You must rap three times on this wall
+with the hilt of your sword, exclaiming with each rap, ‘Open, blank wall’; and as
+you pronounce these words for the third time the wall will fly asunder, and you will
+find yourself entering another subterranean chamber. In the centre of this chamber
+you will see a beautiful boy seated with a goblet of crystal liquid in his hand. This
+boy is the Ogre’s mascot, and upon his existence depends the Ogre’s life in this world.
+You must at once slay the boy, and taking the goblet very carefully in <span class="pageNum" id="pb114">[<a href="#pb114">114</a>]</span>your hand, carry it upstairs to me. But be careful not to spill any of the liquid,
+as each drop means a man’s life.”
+</p>
+<p>On receiving these instructions the Prince went down into the vaults at the basement
+of the castle, and having traversed nine great subterranean chambers, he found his
+progress stopped by a blank wall. Raising his sword he rapped three times with the
+hilt on the wall, exclaiming each time as he did so, “Open, blank wall.” As he pronounced
+these words for the third time a grating sound was heard, and with a hollow clang
+the wall gave way for him.
+</p>
+<p>Advancing a few paces the Prince found himself in a small dungeon, lighted only by
+the glimmer which issued from a goblet of crystal liquid held in the hand of a beautiful
+young boy, who was seated in the centre of the chamber. Without a moment’s hesitation
+the Prince thrust his sword through the heart of the boy, and taking the goblet in
+his hand, he carried it upstairs to the Princess, being very careful on the way not
+to allow a single drop to be spilt.
+</p>
+<p>When the Princess saw him entering her room with the goblet in his hand she was very
+much delighted.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said she, “the Ogre is effectually destroyed, and can never more come to life
+in this world. All that now remains to be done is to restore to life his previous
+victims.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying she ordered the Prince, still carrying the goblet, to follow her, and she
+proceeded by many winding passages and staircases to a remote part of the great castle.
+Presently, opening a huge door, she entered a <span class="pageNum" id="pb115">[<a href="#pb115">115</a>]</span>long, low, gloomy chamber, lighted only by a narrow window which looked out over the
+back part of the castle. When the Prince entered this chamber he was horrified to
+see that down both sides of it were stretched the bodies of many scores of men, women
+and children, who lay there fully dressed, but to all appearance quite lifeless.
+</p>
+<p>“These,” said the lady, “are the bodies of the Ogre’s victims; he has eaten their
+hearts, but the bodies, as you see, remain unharmed, while the spirit of each one
+is compressed into a drop of crystal liquor with which that goblet is filled. You
+must now sprinkle the bodies with the liquid, giving one drop to each.”
+</p>
+<p>Accordingly the Prince passed down the rows of lifeless bodies, dropping as he went
+one drop of the magic liquid on each body; and as the liquor touched the body the
+life returned, and each person, as if awakened from a long sleep, moved and yawned,
+and finally sat up and began to talk and walk. In a few moments the transformation
+was complete, and the Ogre’s victims, after thanking the Prince and Princess heartily
+for their good offices, returned to their own homes. The Prince himself bade farewell
+to the lady, and leaving her in possession of the Ogre’s castle and all its belongings,
+he himself mounted upon his horse, and with his dog following at his heels, set out
+in search of further adventures.
+</p>
+<p class="tb"></p><p>
+</p>
+<p class="small">[This is only the first instalment of the Prince’s adventures, which continue to an
+interminable length. I have given this section as a sample of the whole.]
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb116">[<a href="#pb116">116</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1469">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1469src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> Known as “La” in the Tibetan tongue. It is difficult to find an equivalent word in
+the English language, but the Princess describes its meaning. See also the story of
+“Room Bacha and Baki,” where the same superstition occurs.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1469src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s17" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e334">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE STONE LION.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father was dead, and who lived alone
+with their mother in a big house in a well-cultivated valley.
+</p>
+<p>Now the elder of these brothers was a smart, clever man, but was of a very selfish,
+cold-hearted disposition; and the younger brother was simple and kind, but rather
+dull. The consequence was that after the death of their father the elder brother conducted
+most of the business of the family himself, and entirely supported his brother and
+his mother; whilst the younger brother, although quite willing to do his best, was
+not clever enough to be of any assistance in the household.
+</p>
+<p>After a time the elder brother decided in his mind that he could no longer endure
+this state of affairs, so he one day called his young brother aside, and told him
+plainly that he would no longer continue to support such a lout, and that it would
+be better for him to go out into the world and seek his own fortune alone. The poor
+boy was much grieved on hearing this decision from his brother; but he was quite unable
+to protest or dispute, so, having packed up his few belongings, he <span class="pageNum" id="pb117">[<a href="#pb117">117</a>]</span>went to say good-bye to his mother, and told her what had occurred. The good woman
+was very angry when she heard the news, and she said to her son:
+</p>
+<p>“Very well, if your hard-hearted brother insists on turning you out of the house,
+I will accompany you. I cannot consent to remain any longer with such an unnatural
+and cruel son.”
+</p>
+<p>So next day the mother and her younger son left the house and set off together to
+seek some means of livelihood on their own account. After travelling for some little
+distance they reached an empty hut situated at the foot of a large hill, not far from
+a populous town; and finding that the place was apparently deserted and that the owner,
+whoever he was, had left nothing to show that he proposed to return, they took possession
+of the hut, and slept there during the night.
+</p>
+<p>Next morning early the boy, taking an axe with him, went out on to the hillside and
+began chopping wood. By evening he had chopped a fine big bundle of wood, and taking
+it down into the town he sold it in the market for a good sum of money. Greatly elated
+at the success of his labours he returned to his mother in the hut, and showing her
+the money he had earned, he told her that she need no longer have any anxiety regarding
+the future, for he would now be able to support her without any difficulty. Next morning,
+shouldering his axe, he started off again, and as before, began to chop wood. He had
+done a good morning’s work, and was walking a little further up the hill in order
+to search for some better timber, when, in a sheltered part of the hillside <span class="pageNum" id="pb118">[<a href="#pb118">118</a>]</span>he suddenly found himself face to face with a large life-sized Lion carved out of
+the stone.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” thought he to himself, on seeing the Lion, “this, no doubt, is the guardian
+deity of this mountain, and to him must be due my good fortune in so easily obtaining
+a means of livelihood. I will certainly make him some offering to-morrow.”
+</p>
+<p>So that evening, after selling his wood, he purchased two candles in the town, and
+on the following day he went straight to where the stone Lion stood, and lighting
+the candles, he placed one upon each side of the image, and prostrating himself humbly
+upon the ground before it, he prayed for renewed good fortune. Suddenly, to his surprise
+and alarm, the Lion opened its mouth, and asked him what he was doing there.
+</p>
+<p>The young man replied that having been driven from his home by his proud and hard-hearted
+brother, he was now engaged in earning his livelihood by chopping wood upon that hill;
+and that, thinking that the Lion must be the guardian deity of the mountain, he had
+considered it right to make him some sort of an offering, and to request his continued
+patronage and assistance.
+</p>
+<p>“Very good,” replied the Lion in a guttural tone of voice, “come again at this time
+to-morrow, and bring with you a large bucket, and I will furnish you at once with
+what wealth you require.”
+</p>
+<p>The boy thanked the Lion for his kindness, and carrying his load of firewood down
+to the village he sold it for a good price, and with the proceeds he purchased himself
+a large wooden bucket.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb119">[<a href="#pb119">119</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Next morning he went up onto the hill again, carrying his bucket, and arriving near
+the stone Lion, he again prostrated himself upon the ground and announced his presence.
+</p>
+<p>“Very good,” replied the Lion, “you must now act as follows: hold the bucket under
+my mouth, and I will vomit gold into it. But as soon as the bucket is nearly full
+you must tell me, as on no account must a single morsel of gold fall to the ground.”
+</p>
+<p>The young man proceeded to do as the Lion had instructed him. He held the bucket below
+the Lion’s mouth, and the Lion forthwith began to vomit into it a stream of gold pieces.
+When the bucket was nearly full the young man informed the Lion of the fact, and forthwith
+the stream of gold came to an end; and the youth, having thanked the Lion most heartily
+for his munificent gift, carried off his bucket of gold in triumph to his mother.
+The poor woman was at first quite frightened at seeing so much wealth, but her son,
+having explained to her how he had come by it, she became greatly excited, and pleased.
+</p>
+<p>Next day the widow and her son set about placing themselves in more comfortable circumstances.
+They purchased a large farm-house in the neighbourhood, and a large stock of cattle
+and sheep, and settled down in their new abode, and henceforward they began to live
+in a very comfortable and prosperous manner.
+</p>
+<p>The news of the changed condition of life of his mother and younger brother soon reached
+the ears of the eldest son, and overcome with curiosity as to how this result <span class="pageNum" id="pb120">[<a href="#pb120">120</a>]</span>had been brought about, he decided to call upon them, and to ascertain the cause of
+their prosperity. So, accompanied by his wife, and carrying with him a very small
+piece of cloth as a present, he set out to pay them a visit. When he reached the house
+his younger brother was away engaged upon his farm business, but the mother received
+her elder son and his wife very kindly and made them as comfortable as she could.
+In the evening, when the younger brother returned, he greeted his brother heartily,
+and being of a most kind-hearted and forgiving disposition, he related to him fully
+the manner in which he had come by his wealth, and strongly recommended his brother
+to act in a similar way.
+</p>
+<p>The elder brother and his wife, as they returned home together that evening, talked
+the matter over between them, and decided that so good an opportunity of making money
+so easily was not to be lost. So next day the husband proceeded to the town, and after
+a prolonged search purchased the largest bucket which was to be had in the whole place.
+Carrying this with him, and bringing also a couple of candles, he proceeded to the
+hillside, and following the directions he had received from his brother, he soon found
+himself face to face with the stone Lion. He at once lighted his candles and placed
+them one on each side of the Lion, while he prostrated himself upon the ground, and
+prayed to the Lion for good fortune.
+</p>
+<p>“Who are you?” said the Lion in a gruff voice; “and what do you want?”
+</p>
+<p>“I,” replied the elder brother, “am the brother of <span class="pageNum" id="pb121">[<a href="#pb121">121</a>]</span>the young man who was here the other day, and to whom you gave so much gold; and,
+following his advice, I have now come to ask you for a similar benefit for myself.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very well,” said the Lion, “place your bucket under my mouth and I will vomit gold
+into it; but as soon as the bucket is nearly full you must inform me of the fact,
+as on no account must a single piece of gold fall to the ground. If this should happen,
+you will meet with misfortune.”
+</p>
+<div class="figure p121width" id="p121"><img src="images/p121.jpg" alt="THE STONE LION VOMITING GOLD." width="720" height="453"><p class="figureHead">THE STONE LION VOMITING GOLD.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 121.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>So the elder brother, trembling with eagerness, held his bucket as directed, and forthwith
+a stream of gold pieces began to pour from the Lion’s mouth into the bucket. The covetous
+fellow shook the bucket slightly from time to time in order to make the gold lie well
+together and so to obtain a larger quantity; and, overcome by greed, he could not
+bring himself to inform the Lion that the bucket was nearly full until it brimmed
+over and a piece of gold, slipping off the heap, fell to the ground. As it touched
+the ground the stream of gold suddenly ceased, and the Lion, in a hoarse voice, said:
+</p>
+<p>“The largest piece of gold of all has stuck in my throat. Put your hand into my mouth
+and pull it out.”
+</p>
+<p>The elder brother, on hearing this, immediately thrust his hand into the Lion’s mouth,
+hoping to secure a large lump of gold; and no sooner had he done so than the Lion,
+closing his jaws, held him fast. It was in vain that he struggled and wrenched his
+arm to and fro, <span class="pageNum" id="pb122">[<a href="#pb122">122</a>]</span>endeavouring to release it; the stone jaws of the Lion gripped him so tight that he
+was totally unable to effect his escape, and the Lion, deaf to all prayers and entreaties,
+had relapsed apparently into an insensible figure of stone. And worst of all, when
+he glanced at his bucket of gold he saw, to his horror, that instead of gold it held
+nothing but stones and earth.
+</p>
+<p>Towards evening the elder brother’s wife grew anxious concerning her husband’s absence,
+and knowing the direction in which he had gone, she set forth to the hillside to seek
+him. After hunting for some time she suddenly came across him, and asked him what
+he was doing and why he did not come home.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, wife,” said he, “a terrible thing has happened to me. I put my hand into the
+Lion’s mouth in order to extract a lump of gold which was stuck in his throat, when
+all of a sudden he closed his jaws, and gripped my arm, and now I am unable to effect
+my escape.”
+</p>
+<p>The poor woman, on hearing this, wept and wailed, but all her entreaties to the Lion
+proved of no avail, and she went off to her home, and soon returned carrying her husband
+some food. Every day, for many days after, she returned to her husband, bringing him
+such provisions as he required to keep him alive; but as she had now no one to work
+for her, and was obliged to support her husband and her child entirely by her own
+exertions, she became gradually poorer and poorer, and was soon obliged to sell her
+household goods to procure the necessary food.
+</p>
+<p>Some months passed away and the poor woman, <span class="pageNum" id="pb123">[<a href="#pb123">123</a>]</span>falling ill, was at length reduced to such complete destitution that she had not even
+a morsel of bread to bring to her husband, and one morning she came weeping up the
+hill, and addressed him as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“I have sold everything in the house, and have now no money to buy any food. There
+is not a scrap left to eat anywhere, and now nothing remains but for us to starve
+to death.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Lion was so tickled that he could not refrain from laughing.
+</p>
+<p>“Ha, ha!” said he, and opened his great jaws.
+</p>
+<p>As quickly as he could, and before the Lion had time to close his mouth again, the
+man withdrew his arm, and, finding himself free, he at once hastened down the hill
+with his wife. Then, taking their child with them, they proceeded straight to the
+house of the younger brother, and having related to him the whole of their story,
+begged some relief from their misery. The young man reproached his brother for his
+greedy conduct in trying to obtain an extra supply of gold from the Lion in spite
+of his warning; but being of a very forgiving nature, he consented at last to supply
+his brother with a sum of money sufficient for him to take a small farm in the neighbourhood.
+Here the proud brother and his wife settled down in very humble circumstances, whilst
+the younger son lived for many years very happily with his mother and prospered exceedingly
+in all he undertook.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb124">[<a href="#pb124">124</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s18" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e343">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XVIII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE LAMA’S SERVANT.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">There was once an old Lama who lived in a small house at the very top of a hill in
+a lonely part of Tibet. He was a very holy man and spent his time entirely in religious
+contemplation, and the only person whom he allowed about his house was a certain young
+man of low birth, who acted as his Servant and used to cook his meals and perform
+other household duties. This man was a great character in his way. He was an amusing
+fellow and very fond of his joke, but was quite unreliable and incapable of performing
+any regular work.
+</p>
+<p>Now the old Lama’s diet, in accordance with the tenets of his religion, was a very
+small one, and he refrained entirely from taking the life of any living creature.
+So his food consisted chiefly of barley-flour, butter, and so on, and he abstained
+from meat of any kind. This mode of life, however, was not at all pleasing to the
+Servant, Rin-dzin, who had a healthy appetite and greatly missed his daily dish of
+meat, and he was constantly trying to persuade the Lama to allow him to kill a sheep
+or a goat in order that he <span class="pageNum" id="pb125">[<a href="#pb125">125</a>]</span>might have a satisfactory meal. This, however, the Lama always sternly refused to
+do, and forbade his Servant on any account to destroy the life of a living being.
+</p>
+<p>One day the Servant noticed a fine fat sheep, which, having become separated from
+the rest of the flock, was wandering about near the Lama’s house. So he pursued it
+and caught it, and carrying it into the ground floor of the house, he went up into
+the room above, and letting down a rope through a hole in the floor he hitched a slip-knot
+at the other end of the rope round the sheep’s neck. Having made these arrangements
+he went into the next room, where the Lama, as usual, was sitting alone wrapt in religious
+contemplation, deaf to all mundane affairs.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! Lama,” said the Servant, addressing the old man, “I have come to tell you that
+I have just found a sheep belonging to our neighbours, who live in the valley below,
+wandering about near the house; so, for fear he should be eaten by wolves, I have
+caught him and tied him up in a room below. But he is a very violent sheep and is
+struggling desperately to escape. Will you be so kind as to hold the rope for a short
+time while I go and inform the owner where his sheep is?”
+</p>
+<p>The old Lama, who never refused a reasonable request, at once proceeded to do as he
+was asked, and, rising from his seat, he followed the Servant into the next room.
+</p>
+<p>“Pray hold this rope,” said the Servant, handing the Lama the loose end of the rope
+to which the sheep <span class="pageNum" id="pb126">[<a href="#pb126">126</a>]</span>was secured, “and if the sheep begins to struggle, pull it as hard as you can to prevent
+him from escaping.”
+</p>
+<p>The Lama accordingly took hold of the rope, and the Servant went down into the lower
+storey as if he intended to leave the house. Instead of doing so, however, he went
+into the room where the sheep was tied and began to poke the animal with a sharp stick,
+and the sheep began to struggle violently, trying to escape from its tormentor. The
+more the sheep struggled below the more the Lama pulled above, and at last, when the
+tug-of-war had lasted for some minutes, the sheep was strangled by the slip-knot round
+its neck.
+</p>
+<p>After the lapse of an hour or two the Servant returned to the Lama in the upper room
+and informed him that the sheep had died a natural death while he had been away seeking
+for its owner, and, in the circumstances, he supposed that they might as well cut
+it up and cook it for food. The unsuspecting old Lama agreed to this, and for several
+days the Servant was able to eat his fill of excellent mutton.
+</p>
+<p>It chanced, however, that the shepherd boy who was in charge of the sheep had come
+to the Lama’s house looking for the one which was lost, and peeping in through the
+window had seen all that had happened. He told the story to his parents, who were
+very angry, and came to complain to the Lama of the conduct of his Servant. The old
+Lama was very much incensed at the treachery and wickedness of his attendant, and
+dismissed him on the spot, telling him to go away and never come back again. So Master
+Rin-dzin, with his few belongings <span class="pageNum" id="pb127">[<a href="#pb127">127</a>]</span>on his back, marched off into the world to try and make his fortune.
+</p>
+<p>He was a good deal cast down at first, but being naturally a volatile, light-hearted
+fellow he soon recovered his spirits and marched along the road singing blithely,
+and keeping a sharp look-out for anything that might turn up. He had not proceeded
+very far when he fell in with another young man going in the same direction as himself,
+and the two, joining company, fell into conversation. Rin-dzin soon related to his
+young friend all his recent adventures, and informed him that he was anxious to make
+a little money.
+</p>
+<p>“Very good, brother,” replied the Stranger, “I am the very man to help you, for you
+must know I am a thief by profession, and I am always on the look-out for what fortune
+may bring me. So we will join company, and it will indeed be bad luck if we cannot
+succeed in hitting upon something profitable before many days have passed.”
+</p>
+<p>So they went along together and towards evening they came upon a large house standing
+in a fertile valley. The Thief went forward alone to make enquiries, and he soon returned
+to Rin-dzin with the information he had gathered. The servants of the house had told
+him that the owner had died the day before, and was now awaiting burial in his own
+room. His only relation was his daughter, who was heiress to the whole of the property,
+and she was now mourning for her father all alone in the big house. Further, the Thief
+had learned that the old man had once had a son, <span class="pageNum" id="pb128">[<a href="#pb128">128</a>]</span>who had run away from home many years before and had never been heard of again.
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he to Rin-dzin, “I have a plan to propose to you. Do you climb in through
+the window into the room where the old man’s body lies awaiting burial, and conceal
+yourself somewhere. As soon as you are ready I will go to the young lady of the house
+and inform her that I am her brother, who has returned home after many years’ wandering.
+She will probably disbelieve my story, and I will propose that we should consult the
+corpse of her father on the matter. When we come into the room where the corpse lies
+I will address it, and ask whether I am not the long-lost son, whereupon you must
+reply that I am. On this evidence I shall secure at least one-half of the property,
+which, of course, I shall share with you. But be careful on no account to leave the
+room before morning, otherwise you are sure to be detected by the dogs which roam
+about the house by night.”
+</p>
+<p>Rin-dzin agreed to this proposition, and climbed in by the window into the dead man’s
+room, and, concealing himself near the corpse, he awaited the arrival of his friend.
+Meanwhile the Thief went boldly up to the front door and gave a loud knock; and being
+admitted by the servants, he went straight to the chamber of the young lady of the
+house.
+</p>
+<p>“Who are you?” said she; “and what do you want?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! sister,” he replied, “I am your long-lost brother; do you not recognise me?”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb129">[<a href="#pb129">129</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“No,” said she, “it would be impossible for me to recognise you, as I was only a little
+child when you ran away. No one but my father could know you and he, alas! died yesterday.”
+</p>
+<p>“That is very sad,” replied the Thief, “for indeed it will be difficult for me to
+prove the truth of my story. Let us, however, go into the room where my father’s corpse
+is lying, and ask it whether or no I am his long-lost son.”
+</p>
+<p>The girl agreed to this, and the two went together into the chamber where the old
+man’s corpse was sitting trussed-up for burial, in accordance with the Tibetan custom.
+</p>
+<p>“Are you there, father,” said the Thief, as he entered the darkened room; and Rin-dzin,
+in a sepulchral voice replied, “Ah.”
+</p>
+<p>“I have come to ask you,” went on the Thief, “whether or no I am your long-lost son.”
+</p>
+<p>“You are,” replied Rin-dzin.
+</p>
+<p>And on hearing this the Thief at once retired, followed by the young girl, who was
+now completely convinced of his identity.
+</p>
+<p>“Now, sister,” said the Thief, addressing her when they were alone together, “you
+see that my story is true, but, unfortunately, I am unable to stay here as I am called
+away this very night on urgent business. I will therefore make over to you the house
+and the whole of the landed property, and all I ask from you as my share of the estate
+is a bag of gold, as big as I can carry with me.”
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb130">[<a href="#pb130">130</a>]</span></p>
+<p>The girl accepted these conditions, and handed over to the Thief a heavy bag of gold.
+He then bade her farewell and started off with his booty as fast as he could, leaving
+Rin-dzin behind him in the same room as the corpse.
+</p>
+<p>Early next morning Rin-dzin climbed down from the window, and coming round to the
+front of the house he asked the lady where her brother was.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh!” said she, “I gave him a big bag of gold last night, and he at once started off
+with it as fast as he could.”
+</p>
+<p>When Rin-dzin heard this he was very angry indeed at the Thief’s treachery, and was
+determined to follow and punish him. So, borrowing a horse from the lady of the house,
+he galloped off down the road as fast as he could. About mid-day, as he was galloping
+along, he saw the Thief some distance ahead, sitting under the shade of a tree resting;
+for not knowing that Rin-dzin had a horse, he did not consider it necessary to go
+very fast.
+</p>
+<p>When Rin-dzin caught sight of the Thief, he first thought that he would at once go
+up to him and demand his share of the gold, but on second thoughts he remembered that
+while he himself was unarmed, the thief possessed both a sword and a musket, so that
+if it came to a quarrel between them he would probably get the worst of it. So, leaning
+down over his horse’s neck, he pretended not to see the Thief, and galloped past him
+down the road, as if in mad pursuit. As soon as he was out of sight of the place where
+the Thief was <span class="pageNum" id="pb131">[<a href="#pb131">131</a>]</span>sitting he pulled his horse up to a wall, and taking a new boot out of the bundle
+on his back, he dropped it in the middle of the road, and then pursued his way for
+some little distance further, when he took the fellow boot out of his bundle and dropped
+it also in the middle of the road. Having done this he turned aside from the roadway
+and concealed himself and his horse in a thicket near by.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as Rin-dzin had galloped out of sight, the Thief congratulated himself at
+not having been seen, took up his bag of gold and continued his journey. After walking
+some little way, he came upon a new boot lying in the centre of the road.
+</p>
+<p>“Ah!” thought he, “that foolish fellow has dropped one of his boots in his haste.
+But one boot isn’t worth picking up; it is of no use at all. What a pity it is he
+did not drop them both.”
+</p>
+<p>So leaving the boot where it lay, he resumed his journey. The sun was now very hot,
+and the Thief, carrying his heavy bag of gold, was getting pretty tired, and by the
+time he reached the place where the other boot was lying he was nearly worn out.
+</p>
+<p>“Hallo,” said he to himself, when he caught sight of the second boot, “here is the
+other boot. This is really too good a chance to be lost; I must certainly go back
+at once and pick up the first boot, and then I shall have a pair of new boots for
+nothing. But I can’t carry this heavy bag of gold all the way back with me.”
+</p>
+<p>So thinking, he concealed the bag of gold under a <span class="pageNum" id="pb132">[<a href="#pb132">132</a>]</span>tuft of grass by the roadside, and started off to retrace his steps to pick up the
+first boot. No sooner was he out of sight than Rin-dzin emerged from his hiding-place,
+and picking up the bag of gold, strapped it to his saddle and rode on his way.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb133">[<a href="#pb133">133</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s19" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e352">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XIX.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE COUNTRY OF THE MICE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time there was a King who ruled over a large tract of country in which
+there lived a great number of Mice. Generally the Mice were very prosperous and had
+plenty to eat, but it happened one year that the crops of the country were very poor,
+and the Mice, who subsisted chiefly on the spare grains left after the harvest, found
+that their stores were running short before the end of the winter. So the King of
+the Mice decided that he would make a petition to the King of the country, to lend
+the Mice what grain they required on condition that they repaid the whole amount the
+following year.
+</p>
+<p>So he dressed himself up in his best clothes and set off one morning to the King’s
+palace. When he got to the door of the palace the door-keeper asked him where he was
+going.
+</p>
+<p>“Oh!” replied the Mouse, “I wish to see the King of the country, as I have a petition
+to make to him.”
+</p>
+<p>When the King heard that a Mouse wanted to see him he was very much amused, and he
+ordered that the little animal should be admitted.
+</p>
+<p>When the Mouse entered the King’s presence he <span class="pageNum" id="pb134">[<a href="#pb134">134</a>]</span>walked slowly up the Hall of Audience, carrying in his hand a little silk thread,
+which he presented to the King, instead of the usual ceremonial scarf.<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1673src" href="#xd33e1673" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Brother Mouse,” said the King, “what can I do for you?”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh! King,” replied the Mouse, “you must know that this year our crops have fallen
+short, and we are threatened with a famine unless we can borrow sufficient grain to
+carry us through the winter; so I, who am King of the Mice, have come here to ask
+you if you can help us in this matter. If you can lend us the grain we require, we
+will repay you faithfully with interest at the next harvest.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said the King, “how much grain do you want?”
+</p>
+<p>“I think that we shall require,” said the Mouse, “one of your big barns full.”
+</p>
+<p>“But,” said the King, “if I were to give you a barn full of grain how would you carry
+it away?”
+</p>
+<p>“Leave it to me,” said the Mouse; “if you will give us the grain we will undertake
+to carry it off.”
+</p>
+<p>So the King agreed to present the Mice with one of his great granaries full of barley,
+and he ordered his officers to throw open the doors, and to let the Mice carry away
+as much as they wanted.
+</p>
+<p>That night the King of the Mice summoned all his subjects together, and to the number
+of many hundreds of thousands they invaded the barn, and each one picked <span class="pageNum" id="pb135">[<a href="#pb135">135</a>]</span>up as much grain as he could carry in his mouth, on his back, and curled up in his
+tail, and when they had all finished the barn was empty, and not a single grain of
+barley was left.
+</p>
+<p>Next morning, when the King went out to look at his barn, he was very much astonished
+to find that the Mice had been able to empty it so effectually, and he conceived a
+very high opinion of their powers; and when, in the following spring, the King of
+the Mice redeemed his promise by repaying with interest the loan he had taken from
+the King of the country, the latter saw that they were trustworthy as well as clever.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened shortly after this that the King of the country went to war with a
+neighbouring kingdom, which lay on the opposite side of the river forming the frontier
+between the two countries. This other country was far more wealthy and powerful than
+the country where the Mice lived, and its King soon assembled a huge army on the opposite
+bank of the river and began making preparations for invasion.
+</p>
+<p>When the Mice heard what was happening, they were much distressed, for they feared
+that if the enemy entered their country and destroyed their friend the King, they
+themselves would suffer considerable hardships under a strange ruler; so the King
+of the Mice set out again to visit the King of the country, and when he reached the
+palace he demanded an interview with His Majesty. This was at once accorded to him,
+and finding the King looking very depressed, he addressed him as follows:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb136">[<a href="#pb136">136</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“I have come to you a second time, Oh King, in order to see whether I can be of any
+use to you. The last time I was here you did me and my people a great favour, for
+which we shall ever be grateful, and if it is now in our power to assist you in any
+way, we shall be very glad to do our best.”
+</p>
+<p>The King, in spite of his grief, was much amused on hearing these words from the Mouse.
+</p>
+<p>“Why,” said he, “what could the Mice do to help me in my present predicament? We are
+threatened with invasion by a foreign army, outnumbering mine by many thousands, and
+all the men I can muster will not be sufficient to enable me to repel the enemy. I
+don’t see how the Mice can help me.”
+</p>
+<p>“Do you remember, Oh King!” replied the Mouse, “that on the last occasion I was here
+you doubted our ability to carry away the grain you had given us, or to repay you
+the loan? And yet we proved ourselves able to do both. All we ask you now is to trust
+us again, and if you will undertake to do one or two things which we ask of you, we
+on our part will undertake to rid you of the invading army.”
+</p>
+<p>The King was a good deal struck by this remark of the Mouse, and he replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Very well, what you say is quite true; and if you will inform me what you wish me
+to do, I will undertake to carry out my share of the bargain.”
+</p>
+<p>“Well, then,” answered the Mouse, “all we wish you to do is to provide us by to-morrow
+evening with one <span class="pageNum" id="pb137">[<a href="#pb137">137</a>]</span>hundred thousand sticks, each about a foot long,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1704src" href="#xd33e1704" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> and to have them laid in rows on the bank of the river. If you will undertake to
+do this, we on our side will undertake to stave off the threatened invasion and to
+put the opposing army into a state of confusion and panic. And if we succeed in carrying
+out all we promise, we will ask you for the future to safeguard us against the two
+principal dangers which threaten the existence of the Mice who live in your country.”
+</p>
+<p>“I will gladly do what I can,” replied the King, “to safeguard you against these dangers
+if you will tell me how to proceed.”
+</p>
+<p>“The two dangers to which I refer,” continued the Mouse, “are flood and Cats. You
+see the majority of our burrows are in the low-lying land near the river, and whenever
+the river rises a little it overflows this level country and floods our nests. What
+we would suggest to you is that you should build a strong dam all down the river bank
+so as to ensure that the water cannot overflow into our nests. And as to the Cats
+they are always the persecutors of Mice, and we ask you to banish them altogether
+from your kingdom.”
+</p>
+<p>“Very well,” replied the King, “if you can succeed in averting the danger which now
+threatens us, I will undertake to do all that you ask of me in this respect.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this, the King of the Mice salaamed profoundly to the King, and returned
+as fast as he could to his own subjects.
+</p>
+<div class="figure p137width" id="p137"><img src="images/p137.jpg" alt="THE MICE CROSSING THE STREAM." width="720" height="639"><p class="figureHead">THE MICE CROSSING THE STREAM.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 137.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb138">[<a href="#pb138">138</a>]</span></p>
+<p>On the following evening he marshalled all the full-grown Mice of his kingdom, and
+about dusk, he led down a large army numbering several hundreds of thousands to the
+edge of the river, where he found the sticks all laid out as had been arranged with
+the King. In accordance with instructions they had received, the Mice at once proceeded
+to launch these sticks on the river, and they themselves embarked upon them two or
+three at a time; and so, pushing off from the bank, they sailed across the river and
+soon landed on the opposite side.
+</p>
+<p>It was now quite dark, and the enemy’s soldiers were all asleep in their camp, some
+lying in tents and some in the open air, with their arms beside them ready for any
+alarm. The Mice on a word of command from their King, scattered themselves without
+delay through the sleeping camp, and each one began to do as much destruction as he
+possibly could in the shortest possible space of time. Some nibbled at the bowstrings
+and the slings of the soldiers’ muskets; others gnawed the slow-match and fuses; whilst
+others bit off the clothes and pigtails of the sleeping men. In fact, they attacked
+fiercely anything upon which their teeth could make an impression, and tents, stores,
+grain, and provisions of all kinds were soon reduced to shreds or scattered in confusion
+in every direction; and after a couple of hours’ work they all collected upon the
+river bank, and, embarking again on their sticks, they sailed quietly over to their
+own shore without having been detected by the enemy, or even having caused any alarm.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb139">[<a href="#pb139">139</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Next morning at daybreak, a great outcry arose from the enemy’s camp. Each man as
+he rose from his sleep found himself in a woeful plight—his clothes in rags, his pigtail
+cut off, his bow without a string, his rifle without a sling, and with no fuse or
+slow-match to fire it, and no provisions for breakfast. Each one began to accuse the
+other of theft and treachery, and before many minutes had passed the whole camp was
+in a state of wild confusion, comrade quarrelling with comrade, or accusing their
+officers of dishonesty and ill-faith.
+</p>
+<p>In the midst of this uproar the sound of bugles was heard on the opposite bank, and
+a few shots were fired; and terrified at the thought of being taken unawares, the
+whole army took to flight, and in a few minutes not a man was to be seen.
+</p>
+<p>When the King of the country of the Mice saw what had happened he was greatly elated,
+and, sending for the King of the Mice, he thanked him very sincerely for his good
+offices. And, in accordance with the bargain they had made, he at once had a strong
+embankment constructed all down his own side of the river to guard against floods,
+and he issued an edict forbidding all persons, on pain of death, to keep a cat of
+any kind henceforth within the frontiers of his country, and so the Mice lived securely
+and happily ever afterwards.
+</p>
+<p>And in order to insure against any more attempts at invasion from the side of the
+neighbouring kingdom, the King sent a herald across the river to the ruler of that
+country, to say that, on this occasion, he had only considered it worth while to employ
+his Mice to defeat his <span class="pageNum" id="pb140">[<a href="#pb140">140</a>]</span>enemies; but that if he was again threatened, he was ready to employ first all the
+domestic animals of the country; and if they did not succeed, he would have to have
+recourse to the wild beasts; and in the event of their failing, he was prepared to
+come himself with his warriors in order to produce the desired results.
+</p>
+<p>When the ruler of the other country heard this message he considered it wiser at once
+to make a treaty of peace, as he could not hope to defeat the warriors and wild beasts
+of a country whose Mice had shown such skill and courage. So the two countries remained
+on friendly terms for many years after; and the Mice, secured against flood and Cats,
+lived happily and safely, and received every year from the King of the country a barnful
+of grain as a free gift in thankful recognition of the services which they had rendered
+in time of need.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb141">[<a href="#pb141">141</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1673">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1673src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> This is in accordance with Tibetan custom, whereby a scarf is invariably presented
+upon all occasions of ceremony.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1673src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1704">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1704src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks’ dung instead of sticks—see
+accompanying illustration.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1704src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s20" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e361">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XX.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE MONKEY.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">There was once an old Tortoise who lived with his wife and family in a large lake,
+on the borders of which grew an extensive jungle; and in the forest there were many
+wild beasts, more especially Monkeys, who swarmed in great numbers all along the shores
+of the lake.
+</p>
+<p>It happened one day that the Tortoise came out of the lake and went for a stroll amongst
+the trees which grew near the water. After walking for some distance he became hungry,
+and looking up into a cocoanut-tree, near which he found himself, he thought how much
+he should like to get one of the cocoanuts which were growing near the top. He made
+several awkward attempts to climb the tree, but the stem was so straight and so smooth
+that he was quite unable to succeed; and he was just about to give up the attempt
+in despair when he espied a large Monkey sitting among the branches. The Monkey, who
+had been watching the Tortoise’s attempts to climb the tree with some curiosity, felt
+rather sorry at his failure, and noticing that the Tortoise was a fine, well-grown
+fellow with a very handsome shell, he <span class="pageNum" id="pb142">[<a href="#pb142">142</a>]</span>thought he would do him a kindness, so breaking off one or two of the cocoanuts, he
+threw them down to the Tortoise, who gratefully ate the fruit.
+</p>
+<p>The two animals now entered into conversation with one another, and soon striking
+up quite a friendship, the Monkey led away the Tortoise into the jungle, and showed
+him a comfortable cave where he could spend the night. The Tortoise was so interested
+with all he saw and so pleased with his friend the Monkey, that he remained for several
+days in the forest, moving about during the day and sleeping with the Monkey in the
+cave every night.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile Mrs. Tortoise was becoming rather anxious concerning her husband’s prolonged
+absence. He had never been away from home for so long before, so finally she despatched
+one of the young Tortoises to find out where his father was and how he was getting
+on. The young Tortoise accordingly swam to land, and after hunting about for some
+time in the forest he came across his father near the cave.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Father,” said he, “Mother has sent me to find out where you are and
+how you are getting on.”
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, I am all right, my boy,” replied Father Tortoise; “tell Mother she need not trouble
+about me. My friend, Brother Monkey, and I are just having a good time in the forest,
+and I will be home in a few days. Now run off to your Mother.”
+</p>
+<p>So the young Tortoise went back to his mother and told her what had happened. Mrs.
+Tortoise was not at all pleased at her husband’s conduct.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb143">[<a href="#pb143">143</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“It is quite time,” thought she, “that he should return to his wife and family, instead
+of amusing himself with a vulgar Monkey in the forest.”
+</p>
+<p>So she sent the boy back again to his father, with a message to say that Mrs. Tortoise
+was very ill, and that her physician had told her that the only thing to cure her
+was a Monkey’s heart. So he must return at once to his home and bring a Monkey along
+with him.
+</p>
+<p>The young Tortoise accordingly proceeded to hunt out his father again, and as soon
+as he met him he gave him Mrs. Tortoise’s message. On hearing the news of his wife’s
+illness, Mr. Tortoise became much alarmed, and reproached himself for having stayed
+away for so long; and in order to secure the necessary medicine for his wife he informed
+his friend the Monkey that he was obliged to return home at once on urgent business,
+and he invited the Monkey to come and spend a few days at his house. The Monkey accepted
+his friend’s invitation, and the two set off together to the shores of the lake.
+</p>
+<p>When the Monkey understood that it would be necessary for him to enter the lake, he
+became rather alarmed, and remarked to the Tortoise that never having been in the
+water, he was afraid it would be difficult for him to reach the Tortoise’s home.
+</p>
+<p>“Never fear about that, Brother Monkey,” said the Tortoise; “I can arrange that quite
+simply. If you will mount upon my back, I will swim with you wherever we want to go.”
+</p>
+<p>So the Monkey mounted upon the Tortoise’s back, and the Tortoise set out to swim to
+his house.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb144">[<a href="#pb144">144</a>]</span></p>
+<p>As they went across the lake the Tortoise began telling the Monkey about his wife’s
+illness, and in doing so he foolishly let out that the only medicine to cure her was
+a Monkey’s heart. On hearing this the Monkey became very much alarmed, and saw that
+he was being led into a trap.
+</p>
+<p>“Dear me, Brother Tortoise,” said he, “I am very much grieved to hear of your wife’s
+illness, but if she is as bad as all that I do not think that one Monkey’s heart will
+be enough. I should think that three or four at least would be required in order to
+effect a cure. If you like, I can easily get several other Monkeys from amongst my
+friends to accompany us to your home.”
+</p>
+<p>The Tortoise thought that this was a good idea, and agreed to carry the Monkey back
+to the shore and await him there while he went off to fetch some other Monkeys. So
+he turned round and swam back through the lake till he reached the edge, where he
+waddled out on to the beach.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as he found himself on dry land the Monkey skipped off the Tortoise’s back
+as fast as he could, and climbed to the top of the tallest tree he could find in a
+twinkling. On reaching the top of the tree he began reviling the Tortoise, and calling
+out every bad name he could think of.
+</p>
+<p>“You are a nice sort of friend,” said he, “to ask me to pay a visit to your home in
+order to kill me and use my heart as medicine for your ugly wife. Do you call that
+a proper return for all my attention to you, and for showing you all over the jungle?
+However, I have <span class="pageNum" id="pb145">[<a href="#pb145">145</a>]</span>been too clever for you this time, and you will have to do without my heart for many
+a long day to come. And as to the hearts of those other Monkeys that I promised to
+you—well, you can just wait till you find them for yourself.”<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1766src" href="#xd33e1766" title="Go to note 1.">1</a>
+</p>
+<div class="figure p145width" id="p145"><img src="images/p145.jpg" alt="THE MONKEY CALLING INTO THE TORTOISE’S CAVE." width="720" height="582"><p class="figureHead">THE MONKEY CALLING INTO THE TORTOISE’S CAVE.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 145.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>The Tortoise, on hearing these words, fell into a violent passion, and made several
+efforts to climb the tree in order to punish the Monkey, but being quite unable to
+climb at all, he soon gave up his attempt and determined to get even with the Monkey
+in some other way. So he hid himself in the water until evening, and as soon as it
+was dusk he came out on the land and proceeded very quietly to the cave where he and
+the Monkey had lived together, and concealed himself in the darkest corner of it waiting
+till the Monkey should come in.
+</p>
+<p>The Monkey, however, was a good deal too clever to be caught in a simple trap like
+this. When his usual bedtime arrived, he came to the mouth of the cave and, looking
+in, he called out in a loud voice:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+</p>
+<p>The Tortoise lay low in his dark corner and gave no sign of life.
+</p>
+<p>After a few moments’ silence the Monkey again called out:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+</p>
+<p>Still the Tortoise lay low and gave no sign.
+</p>
+<p>“Curious thing,” said the Monkey to himself in an audible tone of voice, “very curious!
+There used always to be an echo in this cave, but I can’t hear the slightest <span class="pageNum" id="pb146">[<a href="#pb146">146</a>]</span>echo to-night. There must be something wrong,” and saying this he again called out:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+</p>
+<p>The foolish Tortoise, thinking that if he simulated an echo the Monkey would enter
+the cave as usual, hereupon gave answer from his dark corner:
+</p>
+<p>“Oh, great cave! great cave!”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Monkey chuckled to himself at the simplicity of the Tortoise,
+and went off to sleep in some other part of the forest.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb147">[<a href="#pb147">147</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1766">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1766src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> The Monkey’s actual words, I regret to say, cannot be reported verbatim.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1766src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s21" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e370">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XXI.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF ROOM BACHA AND BAKI.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">Once upon a time, in the country of Room, there lived a King called Bacha, who, having
+married a young Princess from a neighbouring kingdom, lived with her for a short time
+very happily. But it happened that both the King and Queen were of a very argumentative
+turn of mind, and were constantly disputing with one another about all sorts of trifles,
+and as neither would ever give way to the other, it generally ended in their quarrelling.
+The King, who was a proud and head-strong man, was not at all pleased that his wife
+should venture to maintain her opinion against his, and gradually became very much
+incensed against her.
+</p>
+<p>One night, as the two were sitting together after dinner, a fox began to bark in the
+palace grounds outside.
+</p>
+<p>“Ah!” said the King, “do you hear that tiger roaring?”
+</p>
+<p>“My dear,” replied the Queen, “that is not a tiger, it is a fox.”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly not!” said the King. “Do you think I don’t know a tiger when I hear him?
+There can be no question but that it is a tiger.”
+</p>
+<div class="figure p147width" id="p147"><img src="images/p147.jpg" alt="THE GLASS PILLARS DANCING FOR THE OGRE." width="720" height="645"><p class="figureHead">THE GLASS PILLARS DANCING FOR THE OGRE.</p>
+<p class="first figBottomRight"><i>Page 147.</i></p>
+</div><p>
+</p>
+<p>The Queen again contradicted him, and a heated argument <span class="pageNum" id="pb148">[<a href="#pb148">148</a>]</span>ensued, in which neither convinced the other. At length, the King said that he could
+not stand this argument any longer, but would submit the question for decision to
+his council on the following day. If the council agreed that he was in the wrong,
+he should be sent adrift on a log of wood on the great river that flowed past the
+palace; but if the Queen should be found to be in the wrong, she should suffer this
+fate.
+</p>
+<p>So next day the King summoned a council, composed of all his wisest ministers and
+men of science. When they were all seated in the council chamber, he addressed them
+as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Last night,” said he, “some beast began to bark outside the palace. I maintained
+that it was a tiger; the Queen affirmed that it was a fox. I desire to submit the
+question to you for decision. If you decide that it was a fox, I agree to be sent
+adrift upon a log of wood on the great river which flows past my palace; but if you
+think that the animal was a tiger, then the Queen is to suffer this penalty.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying, the King withdrew, leaving his ministers to decide the question. The counsellors,
+after weighing the matter for some time, summoned to their presence several peasants
+living in the neighbourhood, and these being all agreed that no tiger ever came within
+many miles of the palace, whereas foxes prowled there nightly, it was clear to the
+council that the King was in the wrong. Before any decision was given, however, the
+oldest counsellor rose and addressed the meeting as follows:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb149">[<a href="#pb149">149</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“It appears to me,” said he, “that the King is undoubtedly in the wrong in this matter;
+but I wish to point out to you that if we announce our decision to that effect, the
+consequence will be that we shall be left without our King, and with only a Queen
+to reign over us. This, as you know, is a most undesirable state of affairs. I propose,
+therefore, that in spite of our real opinion in the matter we should make a public
+announcement to the effect that the King was right in his argument.”
+</p>
+<p>The others agreed to these words of wisdom, and the counsellors proceeded in a body
+to the King’s throne-room and informed him publicly that after due deliberation they
+had come to the conclusion that he was undoubtedly in the right. The King was greatly
+pleased at hearing his opinion confirmed, and at once gave orders that the Queen should
+be sent adrift on the river astride a log of wood. So the poor Queen was taken down
+to the river bank, and placing herself astride of a log of wood, she floated off down
+the great river.
+</p>
+<p>After floating along for several hours the current at length carried her to the opposite
+bank, many miles away from her own country, and as soon as she arrived in shallow
+water she waded ashore and looked about her. As far as she could see, the whole country
+appeared to be one great plain, covered with high grass, through which it was almost
+impossible for anyone to force their way; but after hunting about for a time, she
+discerned a small opening in the grass, which led her to a narrow winding path, along
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb150">[<a href="#pb150">150</a>]</span>which she walked for some considerable distance. After going some way she came suddenly
+upon an open clearing in the grass, in the middle of which a very old man, with a
+white beard reaching almost to his waist, was seated before a small fire cooking himself
+some food.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, sir,” said the Queen, when she saw him; “can you give me a morsel of
+food, for I am very hungry.”
+</p>
+<p>“Certainly, Madam,” replied the old man; “you are welcome to all I have,” and so saying,
+he handed over to her the whole of his provisions.
+</p>
+<p>When the Queen had made a good meal, the old man addressed her as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“You must know,” said he, “that I am a magician, living in this prairie, and you must
+carefully follow the directions which I shall now give you. You must first follow
+the path, which will lead you to the top of a small hill, and when you arrive there
+a son will be born to you. This boy is not an ordinary human child, but is the incarnation
+of a very holy Lama, with miraculous qualities, and he will from his birth be able
+to walk and talk. His name is Baki, and you must follow him wherever he leads.”
+</p>
+<p>The Queen thanked the old man for his advice, and following the narrow path, it soon
+led her to the top of a small hill; and here she was delivered of a child, who, as
+the magician had predicted, was of a miraculous nature, and was at once able to walk
+and talk. The boy without any hesitation went forward along the path, followed by
+his mother, and after travelling for some <span class="pageNum" id="pb151">[<a href="#pb151">151</a>]</span>distance they emerged from the great grass jungle into an open cultivated country.
+</p>
+<p>Now it happened that on that day the three sons of the King of that country were out
+hunting together, and as they rode along looking out for game they suddenly came upon
+the Queen and her son. Having heard her story, they mounted her and the boy upon a
+horse and carried them off to the King’s palace. The King at once took them under
+his protection, and gave orders that the boy should be brought up with his own sons,
+and he and his mother lodged in apartments in the palace.
+</p>
+<p>Baki grew rapidly in beauty and stature, and soon became an expert in all sports and
+games. One day he and the King’s three sons were out hunting together, when by chance
+they suddenly came upon a beautiful snow-white doe, who jumped up before them and
+galloped off towards the mountains. The four young men at once started off in pursuit;
+but the horses upon which the King’s sons were riding gradually tired, and one after
+another they dropped out of the hunt, leaving Baki to continue alone. As the chase
+continued the poor doe began to show signs of exhaustion, and Baki, who was close
+upon her heels, was feeling confident that he would soon catch her. All at once the
+deer galloped straight up to what appeared to be a precipitous rock, and touching
+the rock with her muzzle, it flew asunder, revealing the entrance to a great cave
+within; and as she crossed the threshold of the cave her skin fell from her, and she
+appeared in the form of a beautiful young woman. Baki, who was of a very courageous
+disposition, <span class="pageNum" id="pb152">[<a href="#pb152">152</a>]</span>did not hesitate for a moment, but, leaping from his horse, he followed the lady into
+the cave, and scarcely had he entered when the rock doors closed behind him with a
+loud crash. Following the form of the lady along a narrow passage, he emerged presently
+into a great lofty apartment, hollowed out in the centre of the rock, luxuriously
+furnished and brilliantly lighted, and with a row of great glass pillars running down
+the centre.
+</p>
+<p>The girl meanwhile had seated herself upon a couch in one corner of the room, and
+addressing the young man, she asked him who he was, and what he meant by thus thrusting
+himself upon the privacy of a lady. The young Prince apologised, and explained the
+circumstances of the case as best he could, whereupon the girl addressed him as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“You must know,” said she, “that the place where you now find yourself is the abode
+of a terrible and blood-thirsty Ogre, and that I, who am human like yourself, was
+captured by him some time ago, and he proposes shortly to make me his wife. Meanwhile
+he has taught me certain magic spells, which enable me to transform myself into any
+animal I please, and to come and go at my pleasure; but without the assistance of
+some human being it is impossible for me to escape from his clutches. But we will
+talk further regarding these matters to-morrow. It is now near the time for the Ogre’s
+return, and if he finds you here he will certainly kill you without the least hesitation,
+so you must hide now before he returns.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying she went over to the central glass pillar <span class="pageNum" id="pb153">[<a href="#pb153">153</a>]</span>and, unscrewing a portion of it, she showed him a cavity inside, within which he concealed
+himself.
+</p>
+<p>Scarcely was he securely hidden within the pillar when the door of the cave flew open,
+and a huge Ogre entered the central chamber. Calling the young lady to him, he commanded
+her to bring his dinner, and after making a sumptuous repast he sat down on some cushions
+and began playing the guitar. At the first sound of the music all the pillars in the
+room, with the exception of the one in which Baki was concealed, began a slow and
+stately dance, his pillar alone remaining firm and unshaken. When the Ogre saw that
+one of the pillars was not dancing as usual he grew very angry, and seizing a huge
+hammer in his hand, he advanced upon it, threatening to shatter it into a thousand
+fragments; but the young lady, seizing him by the arm, begged him to spare it.
+</p>
+<p>“Look,” said she “at the position of the pillar. It is the most central and the largest
+of them all. No doubt it feels some sense of dignity and wishes to be distinguished
+from the remainder. Spare it at any rate to-night, and it will probably dance as usual
+to-morrow.”
+</p>
+<p>The Ogre agreed to this, and shortly after retired to rest.
+</p>
+<p>Next morning at daybreak he set off about his business, and as soon as he was gone
+the girl opened the pillar and released Baki, and after giving him a good breakfast,
+she spoke to him as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“It is a very difficult thing,” said she, “for a human being to kill an Ogre, for
+whatever damage you may do <span class="pageNum" id="pb154">[<a href="#pb154">154</a>]</span>to his body is of no avail unless you can also destroy the object with which his spirit
+is bound up. Now this particular Ogre’s existence depends upon the life of a green
+Parrot, which is carefully hidden from human view, but I have ascertained where it
+is kept, and will explain to you how you may find it. Behind the rock in which we
+are now living you will find another great rock standing by itself. You must go up
+to this, and, kicking it three times with your right foot, you must exclaim at each
+kick, ‘Great Raven, open the door.’ As you pronounce these words for the third time
+the door will open, disclosing a large cave, in the centre of which, seated upon a
+red stone, you will see a green Parrot. If you can kill this Parrot you will also
+destroy the Ogre without any danger to yourself.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this Baki at once promised to follow the lady’s directions, and she released
+him from the cavern. Going round to the back of the rock, he found himself face to
+face with another great rock standing by itself. Kicking this rock three times with
+his right foot, he pronounced the magic words, and as he said them for the third time
+two rocky doors flew open, disclosing a cave inside. Entering the cave he saw a green
+Parrot seated on a red stone in the centre, and he at once seized the bird and wrung
+its neck. As soon as he had accomplished this he ran hastily back to the main cavern,
+and as he approached the entrance he saw the Ogre, who had just been returning to
+his home, lying across the threshold stone dead, with his neck all twisted. The young
+lady was greatly rejoiced at the successful issue <span class="pageNum" id="pb155">[<a href="#pb155">155</a>]</span>of their adventure, and the two, leaving the Ogre’s body behind them, proceeded forthwith
+to the capital of the country, where the King’s palace was situated.
+</p>
+<p>On arriving at the capital Baki decided to hire a small house, where he could lodge
+the young lady and change his own dress before proceeding to pay his respects to the
+King; so having taken a house in the suburbs, he left the lady there while he went
+out himself into the streets to hear the news. He soon found out that during his absence
+the King had announced his intention of marrying Baki’s mother, and the poor lady,
+now that she had no son to protect her, had protested in vain, saying that she was
+already the wife of another. Baki was very indignant when he heard of this treacherous
+conduct on the part of the King, and determined to foil his plans. So returning to
+the young lady, he related to her all that he had heard.
+</p>
+<p>“Do not be anxious,” said she. “If you will follow my advice I will show you how you
+may yet get the better of the King<span class="corr" id="xd33e1858" title="Source: ,">.</span>”
+</p>
+<p>And she forthwith instructed him in certain magic spells, which she had learned from
+the Ogre.
+</p>
+<p>Armed with these, Baki proceeded at once to the palace. When he arrived in the courtyard
+he sat himself down upon the King’s mounting-block, and muttering the necessary spell,
+he was at once transformed into a large cowrie-shell. After lying on the mounting-block
+for some time it chanced that one of the grooms of the palace passed by, and, seeing
+the shell, he paused to look at it, and remarked to himself:
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb156">[<a href="#pb156">156</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“What a beautiful cowrie-shell!”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, I am a very handsome shell,” replied the cowrie, to the terror and astonishment
+of the groom.
+</p>
+<p>“Why,” said he, “what sort of a shell are you? What can you know about cowries, or
+anything else?”
+</p>
+<p>“I know a great deal,” said the shell. “For instance, I could tell the King something
+about Prince Baki, which perhaps he would not like to hear.”
+</p>
+<p>When the groom heard this he ran straight into the palace and informed the Prime Minister
+all that the shell had said. The Minister, having told the King of the matter, the
+King gave orders that the shell should at once be brought into his presence and placed
+upon a table before him. When this had been done the King addressed the shell, saying:
+</p>
+<p>“What are you, and what do you know about Prince Baki?”
+</p>
+<p>“I can tell you this,” replied the shell, “that if you attempt to marry Prince Baki’s
+mother you will find yourself in a very unpleasant position.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the King was very much incensed, and he ordered one of his servants
+to bring in a big hammer to smash the shell to fragments, saying that he would not
+be browbeaten by a wretched little object like a shell. So one of the servants, bringing
+up a hammer, struck the shell a violent blow and broke it to pieces. In an instant
+each piece of the shell turned into an armed man, and Prince Baki himself appeared
+amongst them in his proper form.
+</p>
+<p>Great confusion now arose amongst the courtiers; <span class="pageNum" id="pb157">[<a href="#pb157">157</a>]</span>some fled in one direction and some in another, whilst others, drawing their swords,
+prepared to fight with the strangers. Meanwhile the armed men, who were in reality
+demons, placed temporarily under the command of Prince Baki, looked fiercely around
+them, and waving their swords, shouted to the Prince, “Whom shall we kill? Whom shall
+we kill?”
+</p>
+<p>Baki now pointed to the King, and in a moment the band of armed men fell upon him,
+cut him to pieces, and disappeared with shouts of triumph through the roof of the
+palace. When the courtiers saw what had happened, they hastened to prostrate themselves
+before the feet of so powerful a magician, and installed Baki as their new king.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as he was seated upon his throne he sent for the young lady whom he had rescued
+from the Ogre’s cave, and, having married her, they lived happily for many years.
+And the Queen, his mother, soon after returned to King Bacha, and having agreed with
+him never more to argue on trivial matters, they had no more disputes or quarrels,
+and long reigned together over a contented and prosperous kingdom.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb158">[<a href="#pb158">158</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s22" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e380">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="label">STORY No. XXII.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">THE STORY OF THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>
+<h2 class="main">HOW HE FOUND THE LOST TURQUOISE.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">There was once an old woman living in Tibet whose husband had died and left her alone
+with her only son.
+</p>
+<p>As the Boy grew up, his Mother grew more and more fond of him, and disliked parting
+from him even for a moment. She was afraid that if he left her house and began wandering
+about by himself some accident might happen to him, and she would be left desolate
+in her old age. So the older he grew the more careful she became, until at last she
+saw that it was impossible to restrain the Boy any longer, and it would be necessary
+for him to go out into the world to seek his fortune, just as other young men of his
+age had to do. So when he had reached the age of fifteen she waited till the fifteenth
+day of the sixth month, which is a very auspicious date, and calling the Boy to her,
+she presented him with a new suit of clothes, a horse, a dog, a gun and a sword; and
+she told him that he was now at liberty to leave his home and to go out into the world
+to seek his fortune.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb159">[<a href="#pb159">159</a>]</span></p>
+<p>The Boy was greatly delighted at receiving these gifts and with the prospect of meeting
+with some adventures, so after saying farewell to his Mother, he mounted his horse,
+and with the dog trotting at his heels he started away down the road. All day he rode
+quietly along by himself without meeting with any adventures, and towards evening
+he reached a high plateau near the top of a range of mountains. As he was crossing
+the plateau a fox jumped up in front of him and ran off towards the mountains. The
+dog, on seeing the fox, started to chase it; while the young Man, thinking he was
+to have some fun at last, galloped after the dog as fast as he could.
+</p>
+<p>After running for some distance the fox suddenly disappeared into his earth, and the
+Boy, riding up, dismounted at the mouth of the hole, and began to scheme how he was
+to catch the fox when he came out. So he took off his cloak<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e1895src" href="#xd33e1895" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> and fastened it to the saddle with his sword and his gun, and then placed his horse
+a little to one side of the fox’s earth, whilst his dog stood ready at the other side;
+and he himself took off his hat and put it over the mouth of the hole, and taking
+a large stone in his hand, he crouched down ready to slay the fox when it came out.
+</p>
+<p>After sitting waiting for some time the fox all of a sudden darted out of its earth,
+and ran off towards the hills, with the Boy’s hat sticking over its head. It came
+so suddenly that he had no time to hit <span class="pageNum" id="pb160">[<a href="#pb160">160</a>]</span>it with his stone, or to interrupt its flight. The dog, on seeing the fox go off,
+at once started in full pursuit; and the horse, excited by the dog’s cries, galloped
+off after the pair, and in a few moments all three were lost to sight in the gathering
+darkness. The poor Boy found himself in a moment bereft of all his possessions—his
+horse, his dog, his gun, his sword, his hat, and even his outer robe, which he had
+strapped on his saddle, had all disappeared. After running after his horse for some
+distance he gave it up in despair, and lay down to pass the night as best he could
+under a big <span class="corr" id="xd33e1902" title="Source: poplar tree">poplar-tree</span>.
+</p>
+<p>He woke towards dawn, and, looking up into the branches of the tree, he saw a large
+Raven’s nest, on which an old Raven was sitting hatching her eggs, whilst Father Raven
+perched on a branch near by. When day broke the two Ravens began talking to one another.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the old bird on the nest, “who is this sleeping
+under our tree?”
+</p>
+<p>“That,” replied Father Raven, “is a foolish home-bred Boy who has no experience of
+the world. In trying to catch a fox last night he lost his horse, his gun, his sword,
+his dog, and even his clothes, and now he has not the least idea where to find them.”
+</p>
+<p>“Yes, so I see,” replied Mother Raven, “but it is clear, nevertheless, that all he
+has to do is to go towards the villages which lie towards the east from here—there
+he will meet with good fortune.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this the Boy at once started off towards the east, and proceeding for some
+little distance, he met <span class="pageNum" id="pb161">[<a href="#pb161">161</a>]</span>an old Beggar Man, to whom he related the whole of his story, and asked him if by
+any chance he had seen the missing property. The old Man, seeing before him only a
+poor Boy, without even a hat or a cloak, did not believe a word of this story, so
+he only laughed at him and mocked him; and finally, when the Boy grew angry, gave
+him a sound beating, and left him to go on his way disconsolate.
+</p>
+<p>Wandering on a little further, he came to a big house where a wedding feast was being
+celebrated. Coming timidly up to the door of the house, he peeped in at the guests,
+and presently one of the servants happening to pass by, he related his sad story.
+But just then the Bridegroom caught sight of him, and called out in a rough voice:
+</p>
+<p>“Who are you who come crying here at my wedding feast? We want no woebegone faces
+here to-day to bring us bad luck. Go away, you ill-omened creature.”
+</p>
+<p>So the poor Boy slank away sadly, and after wandering about till nightfall he reached
+another large house further towards the east. After the reception he had received
+from the wedding party he was afraid to go in or to knock at the door, so creeping
+into the backyard he dug himself a nest in the manure heap, and crouched down in this
+for warmth, all hidden except his head. Thus he spent the night comfortably enough.
+</p>
+<p>Early next morning the pigs belonging to the place began to poke about the yard and
+the manure heap, and several of them, as they passed, rooted at his head with their
+snouts to see if he was anything good to eat.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb162">[<a href="#pb162">162</a>]</span></p>
+<p>He could not stand this very long, so finally, screwing up his courage, he went to
+the back door of the house, and asked one of the servants to lend him a knife, saying
+that he wanted it to cut up the dry meat which formed his breakfast. The servant lent
+him a knife, and as soon as he had got it he enticed one of the pigs away to a quiet
+corner, where he killed it and cut off its head; and taking with him some strips of
+its flesh, he returned to his nest in the manure, and hid himself there again, together
+with the pig’s head, waiting to see what would turn up.
+</p>
+<p>Towards noon the Lady of the house came out into the yard, and as she was moving about
+superintending the various farming operations, it happened that a large and valuable
+turquoise fell out of her headdress without her noticing it. When, after a few minutes,
+she went back into the house, leaving the turquoise lying in the middle of the yard,
+the Boy thought that this would be a good opportunity of getting the turquoise for
+himself, but he was afraid to leave his nest for fear of being noticed; so picking
+up a piece of rag from amongst the manure he threw it over the turquoise, concealing
+it from sight.
+</p>
+<p>Shortly after, one of the maid-servants came out of the house, and seeing a piece
+of rag lying in the middle of the yard, she picked it up, and the turquoise with it,
+and thrust them both into a crevice in the wall.
+</p>
+<p>Just then a great uproar arose from the house, where the Lady had discovered the loss
+of her turquoise. The <span class="pageNum" id="pb163">[<a href="#pb163">163</a>]</span>whole household was summoned, and set to work to search for the missing jewel. For
+some time great bustle prevailed, everyone searching hither and thither, and ransacking
+every hole and corner; but no one thought of examining the piece of dirty rag thrust
+carelessly into a crevice of the farmyard wall.
+</p>
+<p>Finding that all their efforts were of no avail, the Lady of the house sent off in
+hot haste to summon all the most famous diviners, magicians, and lamas of the neighbourhood,
+and these, when they arrived, began practising all kinds of spells and casting auguries
+in the hope of discovering what had become of the turquoise; but all in vain, and
+when nightfall arrived, they were no better off than they were before.
+</p>
+<p>Towards evening they packed up their various magical instruments and spells, and went
+away very downhearted; and as soon as they were gone the Boy emerged from his hiding-place,
+and going boldly to the house, he said that he was a famous magician and could find
+the turquoise for them; and he asked that on the following morning all the diviners
+and lamas should again be summoned, as well as the inhabitants of all the neighbouring
+houses. The Lady of the house was at first inclined to ridicule the idea of this disreputable-looking
+beggar being able to accomplish what none of these famous sorcerers could do; but
+thinking it worth while to give the Boy a chance, she decided to do what he suggested,
+and meanwhile ordered her servants to let him have a good supper, of which he stood
+badly in need.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb164">[<a href="#pb164">164</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Next morning, about ten o’clock, a large crowd of people assembled in the courtyard
+of the house. In addition to the magicians and lamas of the day before, a great many
+of the neighbours had obeyed the summons, and amongst them were the people who had
+treated the poor Boy so badly during their wedding feast, and the Beggar who had reviled
+and beaten him. As soon as they were all seated in rows ready to see what was going
+to happen, the Boy, holding the pig’s head under his arm, presented himself before
+them all, and addressed them as follows:
+</p>
+<p>“Now,” said he, “I hope in a few minutes to be able to discover the missing turquoise,
+for I am possessed of magic qualities of unusual power. In my search I shall be assisted
+by this enchanted pig’s head which I hold under my arm. Owing to the spell I have
+cast upon it, it is able at once to detect a thief or a dishonest person, and also
+to discover stolen property.”
+</p>
+<p>So saying he took the pig’s head in both hands, and holding its snout towards the
+company, he went round from person to person, halting for a moment in front of each.
+Presently he arrived in front of the Bridegroom, who had been so rude to him some
+days before, and the pig’s head at once became violently agitated, and kept poking
+itself towards this man.
+</p>
+<p>“Ah!” said the Boy, “here is evidently a dishonest man; it is no good our proceeding
+any further in our search until he has been beaten and turned out of here.”
+</p>
+<p>The other people at once seized upon the wretched man, <span class="pageNum" id="pb165">[<a href="#pb165">165</a>]</span>and after giving him a severe thrashing, they turned him out of the place. Next to
+him was sitting the Beggar who had so insulted the Boy, and who had disbelieved his
+story. Here, again, the pig’s head became violently agitated, and the Beggar, too,
+was well beaten and turned out. Having got rid of these two persons, the Boy now began
+to walk round the yard, the pig’s snout apparently sniffing carefully at every part
+of the wall in the farm buildings. Presently, coming to the crevice into which the
+rag had been thrust by the servant-maid, he moved the pig’s head violently to and
+fro.
+</p>
+<p>“Ah!” cried he, “the missing turquoise must be somewhere near here.”
+</p>
+<p>On hearing this everyone began to search about in that neighbourhood, and in a few
+minutes the turquoise was found inside the rag thrust into the crevice of the wall.
+</p>
+<p>The Mistress of the house on recovering her turquoise was greatly elated. She took
+the Boy into the house, and having presented him with a new suit of clothes, and given
+him all he wanted to eat and drink, she handed him a large sum of money, and he went
+on his way in a far better plight than when he had first arrived there.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb166">[<a href="#pb166">166</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e1895">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e1895src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> In Tibetan “chu-ba,” the outer garment, like a dressing-gown, worn by all Tibetans.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e1895src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s22-2" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e387">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>
+<h2 class="sub">HOW HE DISLODGED THE SPIDER.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">After leaving the house where he had found the turquoise, the home-bred Boy wandered
+along until, towards nightfall, he arrived at the same poplar-tree where he had previously
+stayed the night, and, lying down under its branches, he fell fast asleep, and did
+not wake up until towards morning.
+</p>
+<p>As day was dawning the two Ravens overhead began talking to one another as before,
+and the boy overheard their conversation.
+</p>
+<p>“Good-morning, Father Raven,” said the hen bird on the nest. “What kept you so late
+last night?”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” replied Father Raven, “the fact is, I was visiting a farmhouse down yonder,
+where the mistress of the house, as it happens, is very ill. She is suffering from
+a severe pain in her left ear, which drives her almost distracted, and no one about
+the place knows what it is nor how to cure it. They have consulted all of the most
+famous doctors and lamas in the neighbourhood without, however, affording her any
+relief at all. Indeed, no one knows what is the cause of the disease except myself.
+I have ascertained that the pain in her <span class="pageNum" id="pb167">[<a href="#pb167">167</a>]</span>ear is due to the fact that some days ago a large Spider effected an entrance during
+her sleep, and that the Spider and her young ones have now taken up their abode inside
+the Lady’s head. It is impossible to dislodge them except by a stratagem. As you are
+aware, Spiders are in the habit of sleeping all through the winter months, and only
+wake up and emerge from their retreat in the spring. If it were possible to make the
+Spiders believe that spring had arrived, they would come out of the ear at once; otherwise
+they will remain there all through the winter.”
+</p>
+<p>“Indeed,” replied Mother Raven, “that is very interesting; but how would it be possible
+to make the Spider believe that spring had come?”
+</p>
+<p>“There is a very simple stratagem, which I have often seen employed,” replied Father
+Raven, “which is as follows: a piece of green cloth must first be spread upon a table
+and well sprinkled with water, and the Lady must bend her ear over this so that the
+Spiders can see it. It will appear to them to be a green field, wet with the spring
+rains, and they will imagine it is time to come out; and then, if they still display
+any reluctance to emerge, it is only necessary to beat a drum to simulate thunder.
+Thunderstorms, as you know, only occur in the spring, and the Spiders on hearing this
+noise will feel convinced that spring has really come, and will emerge without any
+further hesitation. The moment they come out on the table they must be wrapped up
+in the cloth with the greatest expedition and carried away and killed, for if this
+is not done, they will always be <span class="pageNum" id="pb168">[<a href="#pb168">168</a>]</span>ready at the slightest alarm to climb back into the ear by the threads which they
+have left suspended behind them.”
+</p>
+<p>Mother Raven thanked Father Raven for his information, and she then said:
+</p>
+<p>“But you yourself are not looking at all well this morning, what is the matter with
+you?”
+</p>
+<p>“Well,” said he, “I am sorry to say I over-ate myself yesterday. The people of the
+house kept praying to the gods, and were all day long occupied in making offerings
+of rice and flour. Most of these offerings were thrown out into the garden, and I
+was able to eat as much as I wanted. In fact, I ate a great deal too much, and I fear
+that I am going to die. If I do, you must faithfully promise to remain in mourning
+for me, in accordance with Tibetan custom, for three years, three months and three
+days.”
+</p>
+<p>Mother Raven, on hearing this, was greatly affected, and solemnly vowed to carry out
+the wishes of her husband, and poor old Father Raven, getting into the nest, shortly
+after breathed his last.
+</p>
+<p>As soon as he was dead Mother Raven remarked to herself that she had a great deal
+too much to do in looking after her family and household duties to think for a moment
+of following so absurd a custom as mourning for a dead bird for any period at all.
+So she pushed old Father Raven’s body out of the nest with her bill and let it fall
+to the ground below, while she herself flew off to find food for the young ravens,
+which had just been hatched out.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb169">[<a href="#pb169">169</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Meanwhile the Boy, who had listened attentively to the colloquy of the Ravens overhead,
+went straight off to hunt for the house where the Lady was suffering from pains in
+her ear, and he decided in his own mind to make this another opportunity for displaying
+his magical powers. He soon arrived at the house in question, and found the whole
+family in great grief, and the poor mistress of the house suffering torments with
+the pain in her ear. Going to the house he asked what was the matter, and on hearing
+the cause of their sorrow he at once announced that he was possessed of very wonderful
+magic powers, and was prepared to effect a cure. The people of the house who had seen
+him on the previous day, when he had found the turquoise, were inclined to believe
+him, and asked him what they should do to procure relief for their mistress.
+</p>
+<p>“All that is necessary,” replied he, “is a square piece of green cloth, some clean
+water in a jug and a couple of drums.”
+</p>
+<p>When these things had been made ready he spread the piece of green cloth on the table
+and sprinkled some water over it, and he then told the Lady of the house to lean across
+the table so that her painful ear should come above the patch of green cloth. No sooner
+had she done so than the Spiders inside, seeing the green expanse with water still
+lying upon it, thought that the spring had come and began moving about, and the old
+Mother Spider at once let herself down by a thread to see if it was really spring.
+</p>
+<p>The people of the house were greatly astonished at <span class="pageNum" id="pb170">[<a href="#pb170">170</a>]</span>seeing the Spider emerge, but the Boy ordered them not to touch her; and having satisfied
+herself that there was really water on the cloth, she climbed again up her thread,
+and went back into the Lady’s ear to impart the good news to her family. The Boy now
+ordered the drums to be beaten, and on hearing this sound the whole of the spider
+family, thinking that the noise was thunder, and that spring had undoubtedly arrived,
+hastily emerged from the Lady’s ear and let themselves down, one after another, on
+to the green cloth. As soon as they were all, to the number of seven, arrived upon
+the table, the Boy snatched up the piece of cloth, and wrapping up the spiders inside
+it, he carried them all outside and destroyed them.
+</p>
+<p>The Lady of the house was now completely cured and overwhelmed the Boy with gifts
+and compliments, and he left the house carrying with him a large sum of gold, in addition
+to that which he had received the day before. He now bent his steps towards his Mother’s
+house, and as he was going along the road to his home he suddenly came face to face
+with the old Beggar who had previously insulted him, and whom he had had beaten and
+turned out when he was looking for the turquoise. The old man, who was of a very jealous
+and vindictive temper, was very much incensed against the Boy, and had determined
+to avenge himself upon him. As the Boy came down the road the old Beggar suddenly
+emerged from behind a clump of bushes, holding a sword in his right hand and a fly
+in the hollow of his left fist.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb171">[<a href="#pb171">171</a>]</span></p>
+<p>“Now,” said he, “I believe you to be an impostor. You have twice made pretence to
+magical powers, which in reality you do not possess, and I am about to put you to
+a final test. If you can tell me what I hold in my left hand I shall let you go free;
+but if you fail to do so, I shall immediately kill you with this sword.”
+</p>
+<p>The poor Boy was greatly alarmed at hearing these words, and having no weapon himself
+he was completely at the old man’s mercy. So at a loss to know what to say, he replied:
+</p>
+<p>“Well, then, you can kill me if you like, for I am as much in your power as though
+I were a fly which you hold in your left hand and which you can crush at your pleasure.”
+</p>
+<p>The old man was so much astonished at hearing this reply, which he looked upon as
+a proof of the Boy’s supernatural powers, that he forthwith became one of his most
+ardent admirers; and as he had seen where the Boy’s horse, dog, and other belongings
+had disappeared to on the occasion when they had all followed the fox, he was able
+to lead the boy to a distant valley, where he found his horse and dog together. Here
+having recovered his sword and his gun, his clothing and other possessions, he mounted
+upon his horse and followed by his dog he returned to his Mother’s house a very much
+richer Boy than when he had left it.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb172">[<a href="#pb172">172</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="s22-3" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e396">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">THE HOME-BRED BOY.</h2>
+<h2 class="sub">HOW HE DEFEATED THE ENEMY.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">On his return to his home the home-bred Boy found that he was now famous far and wide
+for his supposed magical powers, and he was constantly consulted by people of all
+classes, who wanted his assistance in their various affairs.
+</p>
+<p>It happened not long afterwards that a war broke out with a neighbouring country,
+and the King sent for the Boy, and asked him whether he would be able to give any
+assistance in the campaign against the enemy. The Boy was rather alarmed at this request
+of the King’s, for he did not in the least know how he should set about defeating
+the foe, but he allowed no sign of hesitation to appear in his manner, and he answered
+boldly that he was prepared to undertake the job; whereupon the King presented him
+with a magnificent charger and begged him to do his best.
+</p>
+<p>Now as it happened, the Boy was in reality a very bad rider, and did not at all fancy
+the idea of riding about on a spirited horse, but for very shame he could not refuse
+the King’s gift. So early next morning, when he mounted his horse with the intention
+of riding out and reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, in order to see what <span class="pageNum" id="pb173">[<a href="#pb173">173</a>]</span>could be done, he made his servant tie his feet together with a rope under the horse’s
+belly, so that he should not fall off if it ran away or played any pranks with him.
+Having ridden for some distance he reached the top of a hill, whence he could obtain
+a clear view of the enemy’s camp, and as he was sitting on his horse watching the
+scene below a trumpet suddenly sounded. The noise of the trumpet frightened the horse,
+which, after giving one or two preliminary plunges, dashed off down the hill at full
+gallop straight towards the enemy’s camp.
+</p>
+<p>The poor Boy was much terrified at this untoward event, and did all he could to stop
+his horse by pulling the bridle and speaking to it, but with no avail. Just before
+reaching the camp the horse carried him under a dead tree, and the Boy, raising his
+arms, seized one of the branches with both hands in the hope of checking the horse’s
+mad career; but the rotten bough broke in his grasp, and the horse continued its gallop
+right into the camp, with the Boy holding in his hands a huge branch of the tree.
+</p>
+<p>Hither and thither rushed the horse amongst the tents of the enemy, trampling the
+frightened soldiers underfoot, whilst the Boy in his struggles to maintain his balance,
+swept his great branch to and fro with equally disastrous effect. During his gallop
+his hair had become loosened, and was now flying wildly in the air, and his shouts
+and adjurations to his horse increased the terror of his appearance. The enemy’s soldiers
+had never seen such a terrific-looking object before, and one and all <span class="pageNum" id="pb174">[<a href="#pb174">174</a>]</span>came to the conclusion that he must undoubtedly be a demon that was attacking them,
+and that he would soon compass their entire destruction. So instead of opposing him
+they tried to soothe and conciliate him, offering him silken scarfs and other presents
+as he galloped to and fro. But he made no reply to them, and continued to shout fiercely
+at his horse.
+</p>
+<p>These shouts were taken by the soldiers to be threats of vengeance against themselves,<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2003src" href="#xd33e2003" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> and, finally, the General and all the principal officers, coming out in a body with
+scarfs, begged him to make peace and to allow them to go away quietly. The Boy, who
+heard what they said, was quite willing to agree, but was totally unable to control
+his horse, so he shouted to them that he accepted their submission on condition that
+they were able to stop his horse. So running on either side of him, they seized the
+bridle and soon brought the animal to a standstill, when the Boy formally accepted
+their surrender, and dictated to them terms of peace; and they on their part were
+only too thankful to have escaped from such a danger, and gladly consented to withdraw
+at once to their own country.
+</p>
+<p>When the King heard what had happened, he sent for the Boy and thanked him very heartily
+for his services; and as a reward for what he had done, he raised him to the highest
+rank, and presented him with lands and gold, and the young Man and his Mother lived
+happily ever afterwards.
+<span class="pageNum" id="pb175">[<a href="#pb175">175</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2003">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2003src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> There is a play on the words of the Tibetan original here which explains this point,
+but which is incapable of adequate translation into English.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2003src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div id="verses" class="div1 story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#xd33e405">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS.</h2>
+</div>
+<div class="divBody">
+<p class="first">A woman sings to a man whose affection for her is waning:
+</p>
+<div class="lgouter">
+<p class="line">“As a great mountain, with its cooling streams,
+</p>
+<p class="line">Nourishes the little fields far down below,
+</p>
+<p class="line">Do you, my lover, with a stream of love,
+</p>
+<p class="line">Nourish the heart of her who loves you so.”</p>
+</div>
+<p class="first">The man replies to the woman:
+</p>
+<div class="lgouter">
+<p class="line">“When autumn chills destroy the honeyed flowers,
+</p>
+<p class="line">The bees must do without their favourite food;
+</p>
+<p class="line">So when my passion cools, and dies my love,
+</p>
+<p class="line">You should submit to this my changéd mood.”</p>
+</div>
+<p class="first">A man sings to a woman:
+</p>
+<div class="lgouter">
+<p class="line">“Up every rocky cliff some path exists,
+</p>
+<p class="line">If one can find a guide to show the way;
+</p>
+<p class="line">So to your heart some avenue must lead,
+</p>
+<p class="line">Teach me, forthwith, that path of love, I pray.”</p>
+</div>
+<p class="first">The woman replies:
+</p>
+<div class="lgouter">
+<p class="line">“Were I inclined to grant this fruit<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2033src" href="#xd33e2033" title="Go to note 1.">1</a> to you,
+</p>
+<p class="line">The gift were thine at once—to-day, to-morrow.
+</p>
+<p class="line">But oh! I fear that lurking at your back,
+</p>
+<p class="line">Are demons red<a class="noteRef" id="xd33e2041src" href="#xd33e2041" title="Go to note 2.">2</a> to bring me endless sorrow.”</p>
+</div>
+<p><span class="pageNum" id="pb176">[<a href="#pb176">176</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+<div class="footnotes">
+<hr class="fnsep">
+<div class="footnote-body">
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2033">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2033src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">1</a></span> <i>I.e.</i>, her heart. She compares her heart ripe with love to a ripe fruit.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2033src" title="Return to note 1 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+<div class="fndiv" id="xd33e2041">
+<p class="footnote"><span class="fnlabel"><a class="noteRef" href="#xd33e2041src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">2</a></span> Presumably she means the man’s passions. She compares them to the terrific demons
+(red is the angry colour) of Tibetan Lamaist mythology.&nbsp;<a class="fnarrow" href="#xd33e2041src" title="Return to note 2 in text.">↑</a></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="div1 last-child story"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divHead">
+<h2 class="main">LOVE SONG.</h2>
+<div class="lgouter">
+<div class="lg">
+<p class="line">Could I but win the maiden
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">For whom my heart doth pine,
+</p>
+<p class="line">I’d prize her as a jewel
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">From depths of ocean brine.
+</p>
+</div>
+<div class="lg">
+<p class="line">I’d guard her fragrant body,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">Like white turquoise so rare.
+</p>
+<p class="line">My wanderings all behind me,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">I’d know no earthly care.
+</p>
+</div>
+<div class="lg">
+<p class="line">As luscious fruit well ripened,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">Hangs tempting on the tree;
+</p>
+<p class="line">So is thy beauty, maiden,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">Temptation sore to me.
+</p>
+</div>
+<div class="lg">
+<p class="line">From longing for thy beauty,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">How can I sleep at night?
+</p>
+<p class="line">By day I seek thee vainly,
+</p>
+<p class="line xd33e2050">My heart is tired quite.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="back">
+<div class="div1 imprint"><span class="pageNum">[<a title="Go to the table of contents" href="#toc">Contents</a>]</span><div class="divBody">
+<p class="first center small"><i>Printed by The Chapel River Press, Kingston, Surrey.</i>
+</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="transcriberNote">
+<h2 class="main">Colophon</h2>
+<h3 class="main">Revision History</h3>
+<ul>
+<li>2024-11-23 Started.
+</li>
+</ul>
+<h3 class="main">Corrections</h3>
+<p>The following 5 corrections have been applied to the text:</p>
+<table class="correctionTable">
+<tr>
+<th>Page</th>
+<th>Source</th>
+<th>Correction</th>
+<th>Edit distance</th>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e524">2</a></td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+</td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">.</td>
+<td class="bottom">1</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1118">64</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1363">94</a></td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+</td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">”</td>
+<td class="bottom">1</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1858">155</a></td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">,</td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">.</td>
+<td class="bottom">1</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd33e1902">160</a></td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">poplar tree</td>
+<td class="width40 bottom" lang="en">poplar-tree</td>
+<td class="bottom">1</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75000 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+