After weary years of saving, a few cash each calendar, Hai Lee removed
from the mountains, where nothing ever happens, and bought a tiny house
that stood near Ying Ling toll road, which is the King’s road, and where
strange sights are seen. In that region the people have a saying, “He
who lives on the King’s road has seen the whole world.”
With him the newcomer brought his little brother, Hai Low. Hai Low was
to keep house, while Hai Lee worked in field and forest. The new house
was no larger than two by twice, and poorly furnished. Nevertheless, Hai
Lee and Hai Low imagined it to be grand. For they had always lived in a
mountain cave.
Many times Hai Lee cautioned his brother to take good care that no harm
came to their magnificent house. And Hai Low promised faithfully to
guard. His eyes would be unblinkingly open. Have no fear.
Upon the very first day, as Hai Low kept house, a fox dashed under the
flooring. A band of hunters soon appeared. The hunters said, “We hope
you enjoyed a tasty dinner.” That by way of greeting. “Our fox has
hidden beneath your house. He is a very damage-doing fox, and we desire
his ears. For permission to dig we will thank you a thousand times—and
more if the fur be of good quality.”
Hai Low thought of his brother’s warning. Whereupon he replied to the
hunters: “Your digging might injure the house, and my honorable brother
has told me to keep all harm away. Therefore, excellent huntsmen, I
must, in sorrow, give you no. Dig you cannot, for the house might fall.”
With soft voices the hunters wheedled. Hai Low said no. With harsh
voices the hunters blustered and threatened. Hai Low said no. Money the
hunters offered. Hai Low said no. His mind was fixed and nothing could
move it. No once. No twice. No thrice. And again no. The hunters
departed. The fox remained. And Hai Low believed he had done well for
his first day of housekeeping. He imagined that his brother would praise
him.
The opposite came to pass. Hai Lee frowned. “That was wrong and stupidly
done, Small Brother. A little digging could have given no hurt. The fox
is an evil enemy. He will catch all of our fowls, even to the last
speckled hen. We must get rid of that scamp. If any more hunters
come—tell them to dig.”
Upon the next day, as Hai Low kept house, he beheld two men with
crossbows. In joy he rushed to greet them. With much bowing and scraping
he said: “I hope that your rice was well cooked, and you had plenty of
it. Will you not come to the house and dig?”
One of the men said, “This fellow reminds me of the way Wu Ta Lang got
out of the cherry tree—it was quite simple.” But the other, who was
more crafty, squinted an eye to say, “Be quiet.” Then, using his tongue,
he spoke to Hai Low: “For nothing else we came. With all our hearts will
we dig. Only open the door. Our rice was well cooked.” He entered the
house and began to tear up stones from the hearth. Hai Low said, “Do you
not think the fox will be alarmed and try to escape through the hole by
which he entered?” The hunter replied: “A wise question, truly. What
shall we do? Can you not sit with your back to the entrance? Then the
fox will be unable to depart.” Hai Low readily agreed to aid. He went
outside and sat with his back to the wall. The hunters struck many blows
upon the hearth, laughing all the while. Presently they each said, “Oh,”
and stopped digging. “Have you got it?” asked Hai Low. “We have,” the
elder huntsman answered. “We have it in a sack. How fortunate that you
invited us in. Our digging was most successful.” He was greatly pleased.
The other hunter seemed equally as well pleased. Hai Low, too, was
delighted. A very fine thing he thought it that the fox had been
captured. He felt sure that his brother would speak words of praise.
But such was far from being. Hai Lee tossed a sack upon the table and
said, “Oh, my Little Brother, a sad mistake you made this day. Not
hunters, but thieves were those men. Not a fox, but all of our money
they carried off in the sack. By chance alone, I regained it. But such
good luck rarely happens a second time. Now heed my words. Never again
permit strangers to enter the house. Never.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, the door shook with a great knocking.
The boy peeped from a window. He beheld an old man, beating the door.
Said Hai Low: “I hope you relished your dinner—but you must go away. My
brother says that I am to admit no strangers. Go away. You cannot
enter.”
The old man remarked, in a loud tone, that Hai Low spoke nonsense. “Open
the door that I may enter, you who deserve a bamboo upon your back. Is
this any way to treat your own flesh and blood?” Hai Low repeated his
command. “You cannot enter. Go away hurriedly—else I shall pour hot
water.” He tilted a kettle and began to pour. Whereupon the old man took
to his heels, for the water steamed, hot from a fire. Hai Low was well
pleased with himself. Beyond doubt, he would receive great praise from
his brother.
But Hai Lee came home in a huff. Angry, dismayed, was the big brother.
“Oh, you wrong-doing Little Brother, you have ruined our future. The man
whom you chased away was Grandfather Hai Ho, wealthy and about to make
us his heirs. Now he says he will leave us not so much as one cash, not
one. For pity’s sake, Small Brother, be more tactful. We have another
rich grandfather. When the next stranger comes, ask him if he is your
grandfather, before you pour heated water.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, the door rattled and banged. Someone
wished to come in. At least, it seemed probable. Hai Low peered from a
window. He beheld a man, well dressed and round, at the door. Behind the
impatient one were many slaves. At once Hai Low thought of his other
rich grandfather. Said he: “I hope your rice was served on a golden
dish. Are you my grandfather?”
“What?” roared the stranger. “What? What impudence were you saying?” Hai
Low used a full breath to shout, “I asked, are you my grandfather. My
Grandfather.” At that the large stranger tottered. His slaves made a
tremendous breeze with fans, seeking to revive him. Still fanning, they
carried him away. Hai Low was somewhat puzzled. And puzzled he remained
until his brother came home.
The brother was frightened, likewise angry. “Oh, dear me, Small Brother,
why were you so rude to the Governor? You have insulted the Governor,
and will be lucky if you escape with your life. Even if you are not
beheaded, you will have to pay a fine of a thousand large coins. All
because of your foolish questions. I beseech you, don’t ask visitors any
more questions. Don’t open your mouth to a stranger.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he chanced to glance at the stable. The
stable door was open. Before the boy could close it, a stranger came
out, leading Hai Lee’s fine donkey. Hai Low began to imagine that
mischief was being done. Thrice he opened his mouth, but each time he
remembered his brother’s instruction to ask no questions. So he remained
silent. The donkey was soon saddled. Away it went, with the stranger
astride.
When big brother returned home for Evening Rice, he spoke harshly to Hai
Low. “Goodness, gracious me, Very Small Brother, you will ruin us yet.
Now you’ve let a rogue take my trotting donkey, and only by a lucky
accident was I able to recover the beast. Really, your housekeeping is a
bad thing altogether. Never let another stranger approach the stable. He
might take our milking cow. If another stranger goes near the
stable—shoot him.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he sat upon the door step. In his hand
he clenched a bow. Again and again he glanced toward the stable. No
person should take the milking cow. Not without regret. Beware, rogues,
or suffer.
A traveler came down the road. He was a rich man and wore a hat that was
high and covered with feathers. It was such a hat as the wind demons
love for a toy. A sudden breeze lifted the traveler’s hat and whirled it
fast and far. It came to earth in front of the stable. Of course, the
stranger followed it, running, to the stable door.
Hai Low remembered his brother’s command. He made a V of the bow string.
His hurried arrow went seeking a mark. The traveler gave up all thought
of recovering his hat. Down the road he dashed madly, shouting that he
had been killed. However, he was a traveler, and travelers are noted for
stories hard to believe. Hai Low sat on the steps and had practice with
his bow. No man should take the milking cow, without taking an arrow
also. A thief had best wear clothes of iron.
[Illustration: He made a V of the bowstring.]
When Big Brother Hai Lee came home, his voice was doleful. “Oh, Brother,
my Brother, you have put us into vast trouble. Why on earth did you
shoot an arrow into the traveler’s quilted coat? He is a foreign
ambassador and says that his country will instantly declare war upon us.
Think of the sadness your act will cause. I beg of you be not so rash in
future. The next time you see a stranger lose his hat, don’t shoot.
Instead, be polite, and chase the hat.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he noticed a great company of men
approaching. Gong beaters led. Behind them came carriers of banners;
tablet men; keepers of the large umbrellas; warriors; more gong
musicians; fan carriers; incense swingers—a long procession it was. Hai
Low knew that it must be the marching train of a truly great man. He
hoped that he might behold the high and mighty one. And so he did. As
the gilded sedan chair was borne past, a breeze threshed its curtains. A
hat soared out of the sedan. Carried by the wind demons, it rolled
across turnip patch and radish. Hai Low dashed away in chase. He thought
himself being polite and useful—to rescue the great one’s hat.
Alas, a hundred bludgeon men and spear wavers rushed after him. They
shouted that he must stop and be killed for his sin. Hai Low had no idea
why they wished to slay him. Neither had he the faintest idea of
stopping. He lifted his heels with such rapidity that he gained a
thicket three leaps ahead of the foremost warrior men. In the heavy
growth of briers and bushes he was safe, for he knew the tangle in all
its winding ways. To follow was folly.
When late, the boy reached home, he found his brother waiting. Hai Lee’s
despair was shown in tears and quavering words. “Oh, Brother of mine, I
fear that your life is worth less than a withered carrot. Why did you
lay hands upon His Majesty’s right royal hat? Do you not know that death
is the penalty for so doing? Soldiers have sought you high and low. If
they find you—I cannot bear to say what will happen. Now please have
regard for my words, Little Brother. Go into the house, and crawl under
a bed—and stay there. Stay there.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he kept it beneath a bed. So still he
lay that a mouse took a nap at his side. Soldiers came and emptied the
pantry, eating and drinking as only King’s men can. None of them thought
to glance under the bed. And that was just as well—just as well for Hai
Low. It was for him that they had come to search.
Soon after the soldiers had departed, an odor of burning filled the air.
The house was afire. Hai Low coughed, but he dared not crawl from his
shielding bed. He had no doubt the fire had been set in an effort to
rout him from hiding.
The door flew open and in rushed big brother Hai Lee. Hai Lee flung
water upon the flames, then pulled little brother from beneath the bed.
He was greatly exasperated. “My word and all, not very large Brother,
would you let the house burn and not fling a bucket? The soldiers were
gone. Why didn’t you arise and douse the flames? Now hear what I speak,
Little Brother. The next time you see flames—pour on water. Pour on
water.”
Next day, as Hai Low kept house, he chanced to gaze down the road. A
brisk fire burned in the open. With two filled buckets the boy hastened
to obey his brother’s order. In no time he wetted the fire out of
burning.
Scarce had he entered the house when Big Brother Hai Lee entered. Hai
Lee had his tongue on edge for scolding. “My very own Brother, why must
you be always at mischief? What in all the green earth and the blue sky
made you throw water upon that fire? A traveler was boiling his
rice—and you with water put out his fire. It was outrageous. Now then,
to atone for your impishness, take this stick of dry wood to the
traveler so that he can boil his rice. And, as you give him the stick,
be sure to apologize. Ask for pardon.”
Away went Hai Low at his fastest, bearing a huge bamboo. The traveler
beheld him, and promptly mounted a horse. Many robbers made misery in
that region. The traveler had gained saddening experience of them. He
imagined that Hai Low must be a robber—else why did the fellow wave a
long bamboo? So the traveler put heels to his horse and galloped. But
Hai Low was not to be left far behind. He followed swiftly, shouting
words that mean stop, wait, hold on, tarry. And the more he shouted, the
more determined grew the traveler never to stop until he had found
protection in a camp of soldiers.
Several young men let curiosity lead them to follow Hai Low. They wished
to discover why he pursued the traveler. As they raced through a
village, other men joined. Another village gave a dozen more. A town
furnished twice as many. Soon Hai Low had an enormous crowd at his
heels. Dust hung above in a blinding curtain. The trample of feet and
the excited shouts could be heard for distant miles. More dust and more,
more men and more. At first they asked, “What’s it all about?” Later,
“Catch him,” and “Kill him,” they cried.
Hai Low had long since lost sight of the fast fleeing horseman. But he
reasoned that the traveler would enter Ying Ling, the capital city.
Hence, he too, leading his curious host, entered Ying Ling. He was
determined to do as his brother had bidden.
Now it chanced that King How Wang was a most unpopular ruler. Threats
had been made against him. A prince from the north was said to be
raising an army of rebels. Hence, when King How Wang beheld Hai Low’s
approach at the head of a vast army, he imagined Hai Low to be the
northern prince. Hai Low’s curious rabble he thought a rebel army. So
thinking, he called for his horse. . . . And what became of him no one
can say. He vanished, for good and all.
The royal generals, instead of ordering a fight, promptly knelt before
Hai Low and bumped their heads in the dust. Said they, “We bow unto our
new King.” The palace soldiers said, “Hail to our new King.” And the
breathless mob shouted, “Long live our new King.” The crown was placed
upon astonished Hai Low’s head. The mace of authority was placed in his
hand. And “Hail,” and “Hail,” and “Hail.”
[Illustration: The royal generals . . . knelt before Hai Low and bumped
their heads in the dust.]
Thus did Hai Low, in chase of an unknown traveler, become King upon a
throne. His days of housekeeping were ended. And so is the book . . .
ended.
[Illustration]
THE END