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The fighting quails (3)
Some men at once stepped forward, and the Prince gave
orders for the quails to be released; but at the first
strike the stranger's quail was knocked out of time. The
Prince smiled, and by-and-by won several more mains, until
at last the landlord said, "Now's our time," and went up
together with Wang. The Prince looked at their bird and
said, "It has a fierce-looking eye and strong feathers. We
must be careful what we are doing." So he commanded his
servants to bring out Iron Beak to oppose Wang's bird; but,
after a couple of strikes, the Prince's quail was signally
defeated. He sent for a better bird, but that shared the
same fate; and then he cried out, "Bring the Jade Bird from
the palace!" In a little time it arrived, with pure white
feathers like an egret, and an unusually martial appearance.
Wang was much alarmed, and falling on his knees prayed to be
excused this main, saying, "Your highness's bird is too
good. I fear lest mine should be wounded, and my livelihood
be taken from me." But the Prince laughed and said, "Go on.
If your quail is killed I will make it up to you
handsomely." Wang then released his bird, and the Prince's
quail rushed at it at once; but when the Jade Bird was close
by, Wang's quail awaited its coming head down and full of
rage. The former made a violent peck at its adversary, and
then sprang up to swoop down on it. Thus they went on up and
down, backwards and forwards, until at length they got hold
of each other, and the Prince's bird was beginning to show
signs of exhaustion. This enraged it all the more, and it fought more violently than ever; but soon a perfect snowstorm of feathers began
to fall, and, with drooping wings, the Jade Bird made its escape.
The spectators were much moved by the result, and the Prince
himself, taking up Wang's bird, examined it closely from beak to
claws, finally asking if it was for sale. "My sole dependence,"
replied Wang, "is upon this bird. I would rather not part with
it."
"But," said the Prince, "if I give you as much as the capital,
say, of an ordinary tradesman, will not that tempt you?" Wang
thought some time, and then answered, "I would rather not sell my bird; but as your highness has taken a fancy to it I will only
ask enough to find me in food and clothes."
"How much do you want?" inquired the Prince; to which
Wang replied that he would take a thousand ounces of silver.
"You fool!" cried the Prince; "do you think your bird is such a
jewel as all that?"
"If your highness," said Wang, "does not think the bird a
jewel, I value it more than that legendary stone which was priced
at fifteen cities."
"How so?" asked the Prince.
"Why," said Wang, "I take my bird every day into the
market-place. It there wins for me several ounces of silver, which
I exchange for rice; my family, over ten in number, has nothing
to fear from either cold or hunger. What jewel could do that?"
"You shall not lose anything," replied the Prince, "I
will give you two hundred ounces." But Wang would not
consent, and then the Prince added another hundred;
whereupon Wang looked at the landlord, who, however, made no
sign. Wang then offered to take nine hundred; but the Prince
ridiculed the idea of paying such a price for a quail, and
Wang was preparing to take his leave with the bird, when the
Prince called him back, saying, "Here! here! I will give you
six hundred. Take it or leave it as you please." Wang here
looked at the landlord, and the landlord remained motionless as before. However, Wang was satisfied him-
self with this offer, and being afraid of missing his chance, said to
his friend, "If I get this price for it I shall be quite content. If we
go on haggling and finally come to no terms, that will be a very
poor end to it all." So he took the Prince's offer, and the latter,
overjoyed, caused the money to be handed to him. Wang then
returned with his earnings; but the landlord said to him, "What
did I say to you? You were in too much of a hurry to sell.
Another minute, and you would have got eight hundred."
When Wang got back he threw the money on the table and told
the landlord to take what he liked; but the latter would not, and it
was only after some pressing that he would accept payment for
Wang's board. Wang then packed up and went home, where he
told his story and produced his silver, to the great delight of all of
them. The old lady counseled the purchase of a quantity of land,
the building of a house, and the purchase of implements; and in a
very short time they became a wealthy family. The old lady
always got up early in the morning and made Wang attend to the
farm, his wife to her spinning; and rated them soundly at any
signs of laziness. The husband and wife henceforth lived in
peace, and no longer abused each other, until at the expiration of
three years the old lady declared her intention of bidding them
adieu. They both tried to stop her, and with the aid of tears
succeeded in persuading her; but the next day she had disappeared.
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