“Knowest thou not, O most rash and foolish of men, that thou leadest the people only into the mouth of the Dragon of Destruction?  Knowest thou not, also, that the people of my kingdom are the first-born of the Master of Heaven?  So it hath been written that he who doth needlessly subject the people to wounds and death shall not be suffered by Heaven to live!  Thou who wouldst subvert those laws founded by the wise,—­those laws in obedience to which may happiness and prosperity alone be found,—­thou art committing the greatest of all crimes,—­the crime that is never forgiven!

“O my people, think not that I your Emperor, I your Father, seek your destruction.  I desire only your happiness, your prosperity, your greatness; let not your folly provoke the severity of your Celestial Parent.  Follow not after madness and blind rage; hearken rather to the wise words of my messenger.”

“Hoo! hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo!” roared the people, gathering fury. “Hoo! hoo-oo-oo-oo!”—­till the mountains rolled back the cry like the rolling of a typhoon; and once more the pealing of the gongs paralyzed voice and hearing.  Then Tchin-King, looking at Hi-lie, saw that he laughed, and that the words of the letter would not again be listened to.  Therefore he read on to the end without looking about him, resolved to perform his mission in so far as lay in his power.  And having read all, he would have given the letter to Hi-lie; but Hi-lie would not extend his hand to take it.  Therefore Tchin-King replaced it in his bosom, and folding his arms, looked Hi-lie calmly in the face, and waited.  Again Hi-lie waved his gilded wand; and the roaring ceased, and the booming of the gongs, until nothing save the fluttering of the Dragon-banner could be heard.  Then spake Hi-lie, with an evil smile,—­

“Tchin-King, O son of a dog! if thou dost not now take the oath of fealty, and bow thyself before me, and salute me with the salutation of Emperors,—­even with the luh-kao, the triple prostration,—­into that fire thou shalt be thrown.”

But Tchin-King, turning his back upon the usurper, bowed himself a moment in worship to Heaven and Earth; and then rising suddenly, ere any man could lay hand upon him, he leaped into the towering flame, and stood there, with folded arms, like a God.

Then Hi-lie leaped to his feet in amazement, and shouted to his men; and they snatched Tchin-King from the fire, and wrung the flames from his robes with their naked hands, and extolled him, and praised him to his face.  And even Hi-lie himself descended from his seat, and spoke fair words to him, saying:  “O Tchin-King, I see thou art indeed a brave man and true, and worthy of all honor; be seated among us, I pray thee, and partake of whatever it is in our power to bestow!”

But Tchin-King, looking upon him unswervingly, replied in a voice clear as the voice of a great bell,—­

“Never, O Hi-lie, shall I accept aught from thy hand, save death, so long as thou shalt continue in the path of wrath and folly.  And never shall it be said that Tchin-King sat him down among rebels and traitors, among murderers and robbers.”