LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| A huge number of visitors (Colour) | [Frontispiece] | |
| There came two through the forest | Facing page | [16] |
| One day the rain came | ” ” | [34] |
| She pulled out his feathers | ” ” | [48] |
| Two-Legs had made a good choice (Colour) | ” ” | [74] |
| ‘He shot an arrow into my left wing’ | ” ” | [78] |
| He stood at the edge of the wood | ” ” | [82] |
| There was no time to lose (Colour) | ” ” | [98] |
| ‘Very well, you are neither bad nor good’ | ” ” | [108] |
| ‘Catch me! Use me!’ (Colour) | ” ” | [122] |
| Two-Legs stood up (Colour) | ” ” | [154] |
PROLOGUE
THE STORY OF THE FAIRY-TALE
Once upon a time, ever so many years ago, Truth suddenly vanished from out of the world.
When people perceived this, they were greatly alarmed and at once sent five wise men in search of it. They set out, one in this direction and one in that, all plentifully equipped with travelling-expenses and good intentions. They sought for ten long years. Then they returned, each separately. While still at a distance, they waved their hats and shouted that they had found Truth.
The first stepped forward and declared that Truth was Science. He was not able to finish his report, however, for, before he had done, another thrust him aside and shouted that that was a lie, that Truth was Theology and that he had found it. Now, while these two were at loggerheads—for the Science man replied vigorously to the attack—there came a third and said, in beautiful words, that Truth was Love, without a doubt. Then came the fourth and stated, quite curtly, that he had Truth in his pocket, that it was Gold and that all the rest was childish nonsense. At last came the fifth. He could not stand on his legs, gave a hiccoughing laugh and said that Truth was Wine. He had found Truth in Wine, after looking for it everywhere.
Then the five wise men began to fight and they pummelled one another so lustily that it was horrible to see. Science had its head broken and Love was so ill-treated that it had to change its clothes before it could show itself again in respectable society. Gold was so thoroughly stripped of every covering that people felt awkward about knowing it; and the bottle broke and Wine flowed away into the mud. But Theology came off worst of all; everybody had a blow at it; and it received such a basting that it became the laughing-stock of all beholders.