Gratitude of the Sambito 6 



Next morning the two, taking plenty of wine 

 and fish with them, went to the Seta bridge, and 

 rested there, and feasted. After having drunk a 

 great deal of wine, the Samebito began to gaze 

 in the direction of the Dragon -Kingdom, and to 

 think about the past. And gradually, under the 

 softening influence of the wine, the memory of 

 happier days filled his heart with sorrow, and the 

 pain of homesickness came upon him, so that he 

 could weep profusely. And the great red tears 

 that he shed fell upon the bridge in a shower of 

 rubies ; and Totaro gathered them as they fell, 

 and put them into a casket, and counted them 

 until he had counted the full number of ten 

 thousand. Then he uttered a shout of joy. 



Almost in the same moment, from far away 

 over the lake, a delightful sound of music was 

 heard; and there appeared in the offing, slowly 

 rising from the waters, like some fabric of cloud, 

 a palace of the color of the setting sun. 



At once the Samebito sprang upon the parapet 

 of the bridge, and looked, and laughed for joy. 

 Then, turning to Totaro, he said : 



" There must have been a general amnesty 

 proclaimed in the Dragon-Realm ; the Kings are 

 calling me. So now I must bid you farewell. 

 5 



