46 Nature Myths and Stories.

Her father led him to the chamber. Just at mid-
night Ito felt his eyes grow heavy.

He rose and held his sword above his head.
“Rather will I die than sleep,” he said.

Then came a great struggle. Often his head
nodded, but by his love and strength Ito conquered
sleep.

Suddenly he heard a voice which said, “Grate
foxes’ livers in the princess’ rice broth and all her
ills will disappear.”

The next morning the hunters searched far and
near for foxes. They knew that to the emperor a
fox was worth its weight in gold. All day and
night they were in the woods without food or rest.

At last they came sadly back to their homes.
They brought no fox.

“All the foxes know,” they said, “and have hidden
themselves away.”

The emperor in grief and anger cried, “Must my
child perish? Shall a princess die for the lack of
one poor foxe

“She was never willing that one should be slain
and this is her reward.”

Ito said, “I will get the fox.” He started out
with knife and net to seek it.

At the entrance of the town he met a woman
dressed in strange garments. Very small and
stooped she seemed to Ito. She carried a jar in
her arms. She bowed low before Ito, and said,