296 STRANGE STORIES FROM
a stray and unknown traveller like myself, guilty of spoiling your Highnesses handkerchief, should have escaped the fate he deserved, was already more than could be expected ; but now to receive you in marriage — this, indeed, far surpasses my wildest expectations." " My mother," re- plied the Princess, *' is married to the King of this lake, and is herself a daughter of the River Prince. Last year, when on her way to visit her parents, she happened to cross the lake, and was wounded by an arrow ; but you saved her life, and gave her plaster for the wound. Our family, therefore, is grateful to you, and can never forget your good act. And do not regard me as of another species than yourself ; the Dragon King has bestowed upon me the elixir of immortality, and this I will gladly share with you." Then Ch'en knew that his wife was a spirit, and by-and-by^he asked her how the slave-girl had recognised him ; to which she replied, that the girl was the small fish which had been found hanging to the dolphin's tail. He then inquired why, as they didn't intend to kill him, he had been kept so long a prisoner. '* I was charmed with your literary talent," answered the Princess, '* but I did not venture to take the responsibility upon myself ; and no one saw how I tossed and turned the livelong night." " Dear friend," said Ch'en ; " but, come, tell me who was it that brought my food." " A trusty waiting-maid of mine," replied the Princess ; " her name is A-nien." Ch'en then asked how he could ever repay her, and the Princess told him there would be plenty of time to think of that ; and when he inquired where the King, her fatlier, was, she said he had gone off with the God of War to fight against Ch'ih-yu,' and had not returned. A few days* passed, and Ch'en began to think his people at home would be anxious about him ; so he sent off his servant with a letter to tell them he was safe and sound, at which they were all overjoyed, believing him to have been lost in the wreck of the boat, of which event news had already reached them. However, they were unable to send him any reply, and were considerably distressed
' A rebel chieftain of the legendary period of China's history, who took up arms against the Emperor Huang Ti (b.c. 2698- 2598), but was subsequently defeated in what was perhaps the first decisive battle of the world.
