omething in the outline of the vista
stirs the retentive tablets of his mind: it was on this spot that he
first encountered Hia, and from that involvement began the cycle of
his unending ill.

As he stood thus, implicated with his own inner emotions, a figure
emerged from the river at its nearest point and, crossing the
intervening sward, approached. He had the aspect of being a young man
of high and dignified manner, and walked with the air of one
accustomed to a silk umbrella, but when Ning looked more closely, to
see by his insignia what amount of reverence he should pay, he
discovered that the youth was destitute of the meagrest garment.

"Rise, venerable," said the stranger affably, for Ning had prostrated
himself as being more prudent in the circumstances. "The one before
you is only Tian, of obscure birth, and himself of no particular merit
or attainment. You, doubtless, are of considerably more honourable
lineage?"

"Far from that being the case," replied Ning, "the one who speaks
bears now the commonplace name of Lieu, and is branded with the brand
of Sun Wei. Formerly, indeed, he was a god, moving in the Upper Space
and known to the devout as Ning, but now deposed by treachery."

"Unless the subject is one that has painful associations," remarked
Tian considerately, "it is one on which this person would willingly
learn somewhat deeper. What, in short, are the various differences
existing between gods and men?"

"The gods are gods; men are men," replied Ning. "There is no other
difference."

"Yet why do not the gods now exert their strength and raise from your
present admittedly inferior position one who is of their band?"

"Behind their barrier the gods laugh at all men. How much more, then,
is their gravity removed at the sight of one of themselves who has
fallen lower than mankind?"

"Your plight would certainly seem to be an ill-destined one," admitted
Tian, "for, as the Verses say: 'Gold sinks deeper than dross.' Is
there anything that an ordinary person can do to alleviate your
subjection?"

"The offer is a gracious one," replied Ning, "and such an occasion
undoubtedly exists. Some time ago a pearl of unusual size and lustre
slipped from its setting about this spot. I have looked for it in
vain, but your acuter eyes, perchance--"

Thus urged, the youth Tian searched the ground, but to no avail. Then
chancing to look upwards, he exclaimed:

"Among the higher branches of the tallest bamboo th