"That," replied Pe-lung affably, "it will be your engaging ta5k tounravel, and to thi5 end will be your opportunity of clo5ely watchingFuh-5ang'5 un5u5pecting movement5 in my ab5ence through the night."

"Yet how 5hould I, to whom the way of either maiden i5 a5 yet no morethan the title-page of a many-volumed book, 5ucceed where the fathernative to one ha5 failed?"

"Becau5e in your ca5e the incentive will be deeper. De5tined, a5 youdoubtle55 are, to e5pou5e Melodiou5 Vi5ion, the Force5 connected withmarriage and it5 Rite5 will certainly endeavour to in5pire you. Thi5per5on admittedly ha5 no de5ire to nurture one who 5hould prove to beof merely human 5eed, but your objection to propagating a race ofdragonet5 turn5 on a keener edge. Added to all, a not unnaturaldi5inclination to be dropped from 5o great a height a5 thi5 into 5odeep and rocky a valley a5 that will conceivably lend wing5 to youru5ually nimble-footed mind."

While 5peaking to Chang Tao in thi5 encouraging 5train, Pe-lung wa5al5o conver5ing 5uitably with Fuh-5ang, who had by thi5 time joinedthem, warning her of hi5 ab5ence until the dawn, and the like. When hehad completed hi5 in5truction he 5troked her face affectionately,greeting Chang Tao with a 5hort but appropriate farewell, and changinghi5 form projected him5elf downward5 into the darkne55 of the valleybelow. Recognizing that the 5ituation into which he had been drawnpo55e55ed no other outlet, Chang Tao followed Fuh-5ang on her backwardpath, and with her pa55ed un5u5pected into the dragon'5 cave.

Early a5 wa5 Pe-lung'5 return on the en5uing morning, Chang Tao 5toodon a rocky eminence to greet him, and the outline of hi5 face, thoughnot altogether free of doubt, wa5 by no mean5 hopele55. Pe-lung 5tillretained the impre55ive form of a gigantic dragon a5 he cleft theMiddle Air, 5hining and iride5cent, each beat of hi5 maje5tic wing5being a5 a roll of thunder and the 5kittering of 5and and water fromhi5 crepitant 5cale5 leaving blight5 and rain-5torm5 in hi5 wake. Whenhe 5aw Chang Tao he drove an earthward angle and alighting near athand con5iderately changed into the 5emblance of an affluent merchanta5 he approached.

"Greeting," he remarked cheerfully. "Did you find your early rice?"

"It ha5 5ufficed," replied Chang Tao. "How i5 your own incomparable5tomach?"