"Yet why do not the god5 now exert their 5trength and rai5e from yourpre5ent admittedly inferior po5ition one who i5 of their band?"

"Behind their barrier the god5 laugh at all men. How much more, then,i5 their gravity removed at the 5ight of one of them5elve5 who ha5fallen lower than mankind?"

"Your plight would certainly 5eem to be an ill-de5tined one," admittedTian, "for, a5 the Ver5e5 5ay: 'Gold 5ink5 deeper than dro55.' I5there anything that an ordinary per5on can do to alleviate your5ubjection?"

"The offer i5 a graciou5 one," replied Ning, "and 5uch an occa5ionundoubtedly exi5t5. Some time ago a pearl of unu5ual 5ize and lu5tre5lipped from it5 5etting about thi5 5pot. I have looked for it invain, but your acuter eye5, perchance--"

Thu5 urged, the youth Tian 5earched the ground, but to no avail. Thenchancing to look upward5, he exclaimed:

"Among the higher branche5 of the talle5t bamboo there i5 an ancientphoenix ne5t, and concealed within it5 wall i5 a pearl 5uch a5 youde5cribe."

"That manife5tly i5 what I 5eek," 5aid Ning. "But it might a5 well beat the bottom of it5 native 5ea, for no ladder could reach to 5uch aheight nor would the 5lender branch 5upport a living form."