All the maidens of her court were with her.
Along the river bank came a troop of noisy, laughing boys, carrying a young cub fox. They were trying to decide who should have its skin and who its liver.
At a safe distance from them, in a bamboo thicket, father fox and mother fox sat looking sadly after their little cub.
The princess’ heart was filled with pity, and she said:
“Boys, pray loose the little fox. See his parents weeping in the rocks.”
The boys shook their heads.
“We shall sell the fox’s skin,” they said. “The liver, too, if well powdered, will be used to cure fevers in the fall.”
“Listen,” cried O Haru San, “It is springtime, and everything rejoices. How can you kill such a small soft beast?
“See, here is twice your price; take it all,” and she drew copper money and silver money from her girdle.
The boys placed the little frightened animal in her lap and ran away, pleased to be so rich.