unceasing protests to the protecting Powers, he was impetuously
deposited within this hollow trunk."

"Not unreasonably is it said, 'A bird in the soup is better than an
eagle's nest in the desert,'" exclaimed Hien. "The pursuit of a fair
and lofty object is set about with hidden pitfalls to others beyond
you, O noble Chief Examiner! By what nimble-witted act of adroitness
is it now your enlightened purpose to extricate yourself?"

At this admittedly polite but in no way inspiring question a silence
of a very acute intensity seemed to fall on that part of the forest.
The mild and inscrutable expression of Hien's face did not vary, but
into Fa Fei's eyes there came an unexpected but not altogether
disapproving radiance, while, without actually altering, the
appearance of the tree encircling Thang-li's form undoubtedly conveyed
the impression that the benevolent smile which might hitherto have
been reasonably assumed to exist within had been abruptly withdrawn.

"Your meaning is perhaps well-intentioned, gracious Hien," said
Thang-li at length, "but as an offer of disinterested assistance your
words lack the gong-like clash of spontaneous enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, if you will inconvenience yourself to the extent of
climbing this not really difficult tree for a short distance you will
be able to grasp some outlying portion of this one's body without any
excessive fatigue."

"Mandarin," replied Hien, "to touch even the extremity of your
incomparable pig-tail would be an honour repaying all earthly
fatigue--"

"Do not hesitate to seize it, then," said Thang-li, as Hien paused.
"Yet, if this person may without ostentation continue the analogy, to
grasp him firmly by the shoulders must confer a higher distinction and
would be even more agreeable to his own feelings."

"The proposal is a flattering one," continued Hien, "but my hands are
bound down by the decree of the High Powers, for among the most
inviolable of the edicts is it not written: 'Do the lame offer to
carry the footsore; the blind to protect the one-eyed? Distrust the
threadbare person who from an upper back room invites you to join him
in an infallible process of enrichment; turn aside from the one devoid
of pig-tail who says, "Behold, a few drops daily at the hour of the
morning sacrifice and your virtuous head shall be again like a
well-sown rice-field at the time of harvest"; and towards the passing
stranger who offers you that mark of confidence which