Then Hi-lie in sudden fury, smote him with his sword; and Tchin-King fell to the earth and died, striving even in his death to bow his head toward the South,—­toward the place of the Emperor’s palace,—­toward the presence of his beloved Master.

* * * * *

Even at the same hour the Son of Heaven, alone in the inner chamber of his palace, became aware of a Shape prostrate before his feet; and when he spake, the Shape arose and stood before him, and he saw that it was Tchin-King.  And the Emperor would have questioned him; yet ere he could question, the familiar voice spake, saying: 

“Son of Heaven, the mission confided to me I have performed; and thy command hath been accomplished to the extent of thy humble servant’s feeble power.  But even now must I depart, that I may enter the service of another Master.”

And looking, the Emperor perceived that the Golden Tigers upon the wall were visible through the form of Tchin-King; and a strange coldness, like a winter wind, passed through the chamber; and the figure faded out.  Then the Emperor knew that the Master of whom his faithful servant had spoken was none other than the Master of Heaven.

Also at the same hour the gray servant of Tchin-King’s house beheld him passing through the apartments, smiling as he was wont to smile when he saw that all things were as he desired.  “Is it well with thee, my lord?” questioned the aged man.  And a voice answered him:  “It is well”; but the presence of Tchin-King had passed away before the answer came.

* * * * *

So the armies of the Son of Heaven strove with the rebels.  But the land was soaked with blood and blackened with fire; and the corpses of whole populations were carried by the rivers to feed the fishes of the sea; and still the war prevailed through many a long red year.  Then came to aid the Son of Heaven the hordes that dwell in the desolations of the West and North,—­horsemen born, a nation of wild archers, each mighty to bend a two-hundred-pound bow until the ears should meet.  And as a whirlwind they came against rebellion, raining raven-feathered arrows in a storm of death; and they prevailed against Hi-lie and his people.  Then those that survived destruction and defeat submitted, and promised allegiance; and once more was the law of righteousness restored.  But Tchin-King had been dead for many summers.

And the Son of Heaven sent word to his victorious generals that they should bring back with them the bones of his faithful servant, to be laid with honor in a mausoleum erected by imperial decree.  So the generals of the Celestial and August sought after the nameless grave and found it, and had the earth taken up, and made ready to remove the coffin.