bility of managing her wealth and kingdom was too
much for her; so she had given notice that she desired to marry a wise
and noble prince whom she could trust to rule for her.

"'So wealth and power do not always bring content?' the hare questioned.

"'They would content us!' the eighty princes answered. (The eighty-first
was not present. He was of a kindly and gentle disposition, which caused
his brothers to laugh at and impose upon him. To-day they had given him
most of the luggage to carry, so he could not walk as fast as they.) As
they started on the way, one of the princes called to the hare:
'Good-by! And don't forget to bathe your wounds in the salt sea!' And
with loud laughter they continued their journey.

"The little hare did not give himself time to forget. He hurried to the
shore and let the waves roll over him, but instead of making him feel
better, the biting salt water only increased his pain.

"'I must hurry to the Wind Goddess,' the poor hare thought.

"He climbed the high hill with difficulty and lay down on the top,
hoping for relief from his suffering. But the stiff grass pricked his
wounds, and the biting wind caused them to throb more painfully. At last
he realized that the cruel princes had deceived him, and he crawled back
to his bush by the roadside, where he lay with closed eyes.

"A gentle voice roused him. 'Who has wounded you, little hare?' it
asked.

[Illustration: THE GOOD-NATURED PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS]

"The little hare looked up and saw a beautiful youth standing beside
him. His experience with men made him think that it would be best to fly
from the stranger; but the young man's kind glance conquered his fear,
and he answered: 'I left the island of Oki to see the wonders of the
mainland, and I have fared badly from the exchange.' Then he told once
more how he had left the island, and also about the bad advice the
eighty princes had given him.

"The young man sighed. 'They used you ill, little creature,' he said.
'You learned that it is foolish to meddle with beings stronger than
yourself; now you see how wicked it is to torment those weaker. My
brother princes should have told you to bathe in the fresh water of the
river and to lie on the soft rushes. Now, good-by, little friend. May
good luck attend you!' And he walked quietly away, bending beneath the
large burden he carried.

"The little hare knew that the stranger was the eighty-first of the
princes, and so for a time,