The Grateful Foxes. 47

“What you seek is inthe jar. I have brought it
from afar.”

“Here is gold,” said Ito. ‘What is the price?”

The woman pulled the blue hood farther over
her face and said, “Another time will do, I can wait.
Hasten now to the princess.”

Gladly Ito obeyed.

They made the broth in a bowl of beaten gold and
fed it to O Haru San. .

Immediately she was well and all was joy in the
emperor’s house.

The emperor said, “Ito, is she, who brought this
blessing, paidP”

Ito answered, “Yonder she waits at oe entrance
of the town.”

The emperor himself in his great joy went with
Ito to meet her..,

But they found only a dog-fox dead.

Around his neck they read this message, “This
is my husband here.

“For his child he gives his liver to the princess,
dear. I, his very lowly wife, have brought it.”