_In which I give an account of the receipt of a
curious message concerning a most beautiful princess
and a labyrinth, and start out in search of both. I
also give some details on transactions on the way,
which I trust will be diverting._
ON reaching an oasis, I was very thirsty, and sought the well, to which
I descended, and had about satisfied myself, when I observed a peculiar
stone at the bottom, which I procured and was examining when I
discovered it was hollow. Now, I knew not whether to break it open or
seek some other means of ascertaining whether or not it contained
anything of value. I pondered a while on the problem, when I found the
stone was quite soft and easily crumbled in my hand. I was about to
throw it away when I saw what appeared to be a piece of parchment rolled
into a very small parcel. It proved to be what I had supposed it was,
and upon it was written the following.:
To him who shall find this message I send greeting, and say unto
him that I am of great beauty and wealth, and that I have sent
this message forth in this manner in order that I may know that
he who shall bring it to me is a man of strength of purpose and
goodness of heart.
For I am lone and lonely, having placed myself in the center of
a troublesome labyrinth, which will test the powers of the most
acute.
But unto him who shall come to me and bring this message, I will
give my love and my wealth and my devotion.
He will know the labyrinth, for it is surrounded by pure white
trees in triple rows, and it is not many leagues from this
place.