in ion of bows and quivers escaped It has already been stated that a villager
from the police and afterwards rescued the "strange child' from a watery grave. This man fled to a city called Pao and in a village near by found a home for his protege. The village was unknown to fame and the persons that received the child were only poor peasants. The master of the house was named Sze Te. His wife had already presented him with a daughter but the child was now dead. This pair took charge of the strange child? and in consideration of their kindness received several pieces of linen cloth. lhe child was named Pao Shih.
We learn nothing more about the girl for 14 years. In that quiet village home, however, she must have enjoyed a happy life. At the age of 14 she might as regards physique have been taken for a gill of 16 or 17 years, She had even a marringeable appearance. over her eyes were handsome, her lips ruddy, her teeth white. Her' hair was raven black and her fingers resembled 1 set of cut gems, In fact her beauty was, such that it might ruin a city or subvert a kingdom. However, her surpassing beauty notwithstanding, partly because of the humble character of the village and partly because of her tender age, no man had yet betrothed Pao Shih.
The imprisoned Minister Pao Hsiang had called Hung Te. his gon in connection with the ingathering of harvest unintentionally entered Sze 'l'a's village. It 80 happened that at this moment Pao Shih was outside her home engaged in drawing water. However, her rusticity did not cou-coal her great natural charms. That a arable vitfage should contain so peerless beauty as she, greatly astonished Hung The beauty of Pao Shih suggested an idea to the mind of Hung TS. "His father had been already imprisoned for throe years. The son now thought that he might possibly secure his parent's Tease by possessing himself of the village beauty and presenting her to the Kil Consequently he first made enquiries concerning the name and antecedents of the girl and then returned home to consult his mother about the matter. He argued thus: True, my father offended the King by reproving him but ho did not commit an unpardonable offence. The King is licentious and unrighteous and fills his harem with pretty girls from all quarters. The daughter of Sze Ts is uncommonly beautiful. We could, however, possess her person by means of much vold and silk, We might then present her to the King and afterwards implore him to pardon my father, Ishould thus play the part of San Yi-sheng when he obtained the release of King Wen."
His mother fell in with his plan. Hung 'T@ after borrowing sufficient gold and sil visited Mr. and Mrs. Sze and agreed to give 300 lengths of silk and linen cloth me: change for their daughter, and then ro-turned home taking the girl with him.
Upon her arrival at her new home, Pao Shih was bathed in a scented bath, supplied with rich food, adorned with embroidered apparel and taught the etiquette of polite society. She was afterwards removed to the capital city of Hao, made a friend of Duke Kua nnd thus in-By presents of gold and silver Hung 76 duced him to bring the matter before the King. Duke Kua undertook to report thas to King Vu, that the imprisoned officer felt that his offence deserved 10,000 deaths. Further, his son being overcome at the thought of his father's death and not darin; to out-live him had sought oura fair damsel and sent her to the King, hoping thereby to obtain forgiveness for his father. Duke Kua also expressed the hope that the Royal clemency would he exercised. King Vu gave orders that Pao Shih should be brought into the Reception Hall. When the core-monies of audience were completed the King raised his head, when lo s form of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.