e mandarins of the first
class hastened to obey the orders of Youantee; their furred and velvet
cloaks, rich in gold and silver ornaments, were spread from the tower to
the dragon at the terrace, forming a path rich and beautiful as the
milky way in the heavens. The pearl beyond price, the peerless
Chaoukeun, like the moon in her splendour, passed over it into the
presence of the great Youantee.

"Immortal Fo," exclaimed the emperor, as the attendants raised their
lanterns, so as to throw light upon her countenance, "by what black
mischance have such charms been hidden from our sight?"

Then did the peerless Chaoukeun narrate, in few words, the treachery and
avarice of Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow.

"Hasten, O mandarins, let the scissors of disgrace cut off the two tails
of this wretch, and then let the sword of justice sever off his head."

But the rumour of his sentence flew on the wind to Suchong Pollyhong
Ka-te-tow; and before the executioner could arrive, he had mounted a
horse fleeter than the wind, and with the portrait of the peerless
Chaoukeun in his vest, had left even rumour far behind.

Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti.

And to whom did the miscreant minister fly, to hide his devoted head?
He flew to the wild nations of the north, the riders of wild horses,
with sharp scimitars and long lances. For three days and three nights
did the hoofs of his fiery steed strike fire upon the flints, which he
spurned in his impetuous course, and then, as an immortal poet hath
already sung, "he bowed his head and died," With the portrait of the
peerless Chaoukeun in his bosom, and his mandarin garments raised up
under each arm, the miscreant Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow reached the
presence of the Great Khan. "O khan of Tartary," said he, "may thy
sword be ever keen, thy lance unerring, and thy courser swift. I am thy
slave. O thou who commandest an hundred thousand warriors--hath thy
slave permission to address thee?"

"Speak, and be damned," replied the warrior chief, of few words, whose
teeth were busy with some pounds of horse-flesh.

"Thou knowest, O khan, that it hath been the custom for ages, that the
celestial empire should provide for thee a fair damsel for thy nuptial
bed, and that this hath been the price paid by the celestial court, to
prevent the ravages of thy insatiate warriors. O khan, there is a maid,
whose lovely features I now have with me, most worthy to be raised up to