es about the talking fox of Tower Mountain
for more than a hundred years when one fine day, a skilful archer came
to that part of the country who saw a creature like a fox, with a
fiery-red pelt, whose back was striped with gray. It was lying under a
tree. The archer aimed and shot off its hind foot.

At once it said in a human voice: "I brought myself into this danger
because of my love for sleep; but none may escape their fate! If you
capture me you will get at the most no more than five thousand pieces
of copper for my pelt. Why not let me go instead? I will reward you
richly, so that all your poverty will come to an end."

But the archer would not listen to him. He killed him, skinned him
and sold his pelt; and, sure enough, he received five thousand pieces
of copper for it.

From that time on the fox-spirit ceased to show itself.

Note: The silver fox is known in Chinese as "Pi," the
same word also being used for "panthers," since this
legendary beast partakes of the nature of both animals.
"The Old Mother" is really the mother-goddess of the
Taischan. But in other localities she is chiefly honored
as a child-giving goddess. "A picture of the head priest
of the Taoists": Talismans painted by the head priest of
the Taoists or the Taoist pope, the so-called "Master of
the Heavens," (Tian Schi) have special virtues against
all kinds of sorcery and enchantment. The war god Guan
Di also is appealed to as a savior in all sorts of
emergencies.

L

THE CONSTABLE

In a city in the neighborhood of Kaiutschou there once lived a
constable by the name of Dung. One day when he returned from a hunt
after thieves the twilight had already begun to fall. So before he
waded through the stream that flowed through the city he sat down on
the bank, lit a pipe and took off his shoes. When he looked up, he
suddenly saw a man in a red hat dressed as a constable crouching
beside him.

Astonished, he inquired: "Who are you? Your clothes indicate that you
are a member of our profession, but I have never yet seen you among
the men of our local force. Tell me, pray, whence you come?"

The other answered: "I am weary, having come a long journey, and would
like to enjoy a pipeful of tobacco in your company. I am sure you will
not object to that."

Dung handed him a pipe and tobacco.

But the other constable said: "I do not need them. Just you keep on
smoking. It is enough fo