‘I am only going there to-morrow!’ said the Eastwind.  ’It will be a hundred years to-morrow since I have been there.  I have just come from China, where I danced round the porcelain tower till all the bells jingled.  The officials were flogged in the streets, the bamboo canes were broken over their shoulders, and they were all people ranging from the first to the ninth rank.  They shrieked “Many thanks, Father and benefactor,” but they didn’t mean what they said, and I went on ringing the bells and singing “Tsing, tsang, tsu!"’

‘You’re quite uproarious about it!’ said the old woman.  ’It’s a good thing you are going to the Garden of Paradise to-morrow; it always has a good effect on your behaviour.  Mind you drink deep of the well of wisdom, and bring a little bottleful home to me.’

‘That I will,’ said the Eastwind, ’But why have you put my brother from the south into the bag?  Out with him.  He must tell me about the phoenix; the Princess always wants to hear about that bird when I call every hundred years.  Open the bag! then you’ll be my sweetest mother, and I’ll give you two pockets full of tea as green and fresh as when I picked it!’

’Well, for the sake of the tea, and because you are my darling, I will open my bag!’

She did open it and the Southwind crept out, but he was quite crestfallen because the strange Prince had seen his disgrace.

‘Here is a palm leaf for the Princess!’ said the Southwind.  ’The old phoenix, the only one in the world, gave it to me.  He has scratched his whole history on it with his bill, for the hundred years of his life, and she can read it for herself.  I saw how the phoenix set fire to his nest himself and sat on it while it burnt, like the widow of a Hindoo.  Oh, how the dry branches crackled, how it smoked, and what a smell there was!  At last it all burst into flame; the old bird was burnt to ashes, but his egg lay glowing in the fire; it broke with a loud bang and the young one flew out.  Now it rules over all the birds, and it is the only phoenix in the world.  He bit a hole in the leaf I gave you; that is his greeting to the Princess.’

‘Let us have something to eat now!’ said the mother of the winds; and they all sat down to eat the roast stag, and the Prince sat by the side of the Eastwind, so they soon became good friends.

‘I say,’ said the Prince, ’just tell me who is this Princess, and where is the Garden of Paradise?’

‘Oh ho!’ said the Eastwind, ’if that is where you want to go you must fly with me to-morrow.  But I may as well tell you that no human being has been there since Adam and Eve’s time.  You know all about them I suppose from your Bible stories?’

‘Of course,’ said the Prince.

’When they were driven away the Garden of Eden sank into the ground, but it kept its warm sunshine, its mild air, and all its charms.  The queen of the fairies lives there.  The Island of Bliss, where death never enters, and where living is a delight, is there.  Get on my back to-morrow and I will take you with me; I think I can manage it!  But you mustn’t talk now, I want to go to sleep.’