he bearers carried him to the city in which dwelt the
king, the queen and their daughter.

When the other youth had brought back the king's daughter, it was
decided to hold the wedding. But the king's daughter was not willing,
and said: "He is not the right man. My deliverer will come and bring
with him half of the long pin for my hair, and half my silken kerchief
as a token." But when the youth did not appear for so long a time, and
the other one pressed the king, the king grew impatient and said: "The
wedding shall take place to-morrow!" Then the king's daughter went
sadly through the streets of the city, and searched and searched in
the hope of finding her deliverer. And this was on the very day that
the litter arrived. The king's daughter saw the half of her silken
handkerchief in the youth's hand, and filled with joy, she led him to
her father. There he had to show his half of the long pin, which
fitted the other exactly, and then the king was convinced that he was
the right, true deliverer. The false bridegroom was now punished, the
wedding celebrated, and they lived in peace and happiness till the end
of their days.

Note: "The Bird With Nine Heads" is a traditionally
narrated fairy-tale. The long hair needle is an example
of the halved jewel used as a sign of recognition by
lovers (see No. 68, "Yang Gui Fe"). The "Fish" in the
cave is the dragon's son, for like East Indian
_Nagaradjas_, the Chinese dragons are often sea-gods.
Gourd flasks often occur as magic talismans in Chinese
fairy-tales, and spirits who serve their owners are
often imprisoned in them. See No. 81.

VIII

THE CAVE OF THE BEASTS

Once upon a time there was a family in which there were seven
daughters. One day when the father went out to gather wood, he found
seven wild duck eggs. He brought them home, but did not think of
giving any to his children, intending to eat them himself, with his
wife. In the evening the oldest daughter woke up, and asked her mother
what she was cooking. The mother said: "I am cooking wild duck eggs. I
will give you one, but you must not let your sisters know." And so she
gave her one. Then the second daughter woke up, and asked her mother
what she was cooking. She said: "Wild duck eggs. If you will not tell
your sisters, I'll give you one." And so it went. At last the
daughters had eaten all the eggs, and there were none left.

In the morning the father was very an