THE HONOURED CROW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 14

THE HONOURED CROW

Many years ago, in the far-off land °f China, an army of rebels had gained a victory over the soldiers of the empire, and the Emperor himself was a fugitive. Weary and footsore, he could go no father. A band of faithful followers had hastened on to summon the loyal troops m the south of the province to come with all speed to their royal master s assistance. the Emperor, worn-out witxi fatigue, had sought refuge in the green depths of a dark forest through which m happier days he had often passed on hunting expeditions. a space of time he had rested on the mossy ground under the shady boughs of a Tree of Heaven, shut in a tangle of bushes—a humble seat tor one accustomed to the wondrous Dragon Throne in a palace of marble where, so people said, the roofs and the pillars and the vases were made of gold and silver. Rut though the drowsy scents of the wood ami the shade of the trees refreshed rum, his heart was not at peace. At every distant sound he started, for at any moment his pursuers might discover his hiding-place and drag him forth to a fate which he dared not picture. At last, feeling somewhat rested, he sL etched his limbs and. wrapping around him his russet gown, he stood upon his feet to look around him. A.s so he heard a mirthless laugh Silently he stood like a tliijig of stone, hardly daring to breathe. Anv movement might betray his presence. He cou.d see nothing but he could hear mens voices. They were arguIt is certain,” said one. “that the Emperor came this way. He followed safd ” d tD the south - the Peasants ecZTl anCe r hat was shadow and echo talk. For my part, Ido not ■believe he came this way at all.” “ ’Twould be an excellent hidingTiV? C S' K K; i ld T another - ‘ The trees are thick, but I can see no trace of footmarks on the soft earth.” mnvl ay i Methought I saw something Heaven/’ amons the Trees of lou are not wrong. I too saw the swaying of a branch.” Goosehead: ‘What you are looking tree/’ nothins bu t the stump of an old thh,g d of stone® Emperor stood like a r s J : } lm P of an old tree, sav you o 1 see no such thing.” ’ * Wnieh is not surprising,” said the one who had first spoken, “seeing that Tmm are *° okins in vvronl direction* there!” le l ° the eastward—over Of 'tv?iw£- See jr. now ; hut. to my way • tls more like a 'barestumfoTTtfeef’^ 0 " 11 tU ” ic than ,-fl** ll t I I6 Emperor stood, hardly darker 0 fe ea h he- When ’ with a sudden touch'on e hi b s eC h a ”|. a " arC ° f a Usht several S ? e Tou!” exclaimed several voices at once. “Who now that yonder stump of a tree ls i a man in a brown tunic? The crow there^nihTtop 3 ?” s '° U 566 U arched iSS- -n b one St ES a tU man° C a tree like , ‘‘f larc h!” cried their leader ”’Tls caw d fllpped r °itW " lth a triumphant IlSSlffil Dragon Throne he let ° £ r hS> eVery be of 'the h rebeis° m fal “ns'tnto’uJe I hands