Page 125 - 401_

124

So the Magician fell upon him, and beat him, and loaded him with
chains, and cast him again into the dungeon.
And on the morrow the Magician came to him, and said, "If to-
day thou bringest me the piece of red gold I will set thee free, but if
thou bringest it not I will surely slay thee."
So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he
searched for the piece of red gold, but nowhere could he find it. And
at evening he sat him down and wept, and as he was weeping there
came to him the little Hare.
And the Hare said to him, "The piece of red gold that thou
seekest is in the cavern that is behind thee. Therefore weep no more
but be glad."
"How shall I reward thee?" cried the Star- Child, "for lo! this is
the third time thou hast succoured me."
"Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first," said the Hare, and it ran
away swiftly.
And the Star-Child entered the cavern, and in its farthest corner
he found the piece of red gold. So he put it in his wallet, and hurried
to the city. And the leper seeing him coming, stood in the centre of
the road, and cried out, and said to him, "Give me the piece of red
money, or I must die," and the Star-Child had pity on him again, and
gave him the piece of red gold, saying, "Thy need is greater than
mine." Yet his heart was heavy, for he knew what evil fate awaited
him.

But lo! as he passed through the gate of the city, the guards
bowed down and made obeisance to him, saying, "How beautiful is
our lord!" and a crowd of citizens followed him, and cried out,
"Surely there is none so beautiful in the whole world!" so that the
Star-Child wept, and said to himself, "They are mocking me, and
making light of my misery." And so large was the concourse of the
people, that he lost the threads of his way, and found himself at last in
a great square, in which there was a palace of a King.
And the gate of the palace opened, and the priests and the high
officers of the city ran forth to meet him, and they abased themselves
before him, and said, "Thou art our lord for whom we have been
waiting, and the son of our King."