The next morning the hunters searched far and near for foxes. They knew that to the emperor a fox was worth its weight in gold. All day and night they were in the woods without food or rest.
At last they came sadly back to their homes. They brought no fox.
“All the foxes know,” they said, “and have hidden themselves away.”
The emperor in grief and anger cried, “Must my child perish? Shall a princess die for the lack of one poor fox?
“She was never willing that one should be slain and this is her reward.”
Ito said, “I will get the fox.” He started out with knife and net to seek it.
At the entrance of the town he met a woman dressed in strange garments. Very small and stooped she seemed to Ito. She carried a jar in her arms. She bowed low before Ito, and said, “What you seek is in the jar. I have brought it from afar.”
“Here is gold,” said Ito. “What is the price?”
The woman pulled the blue hood farther over her face and said, “Another time will do, I can wait. Hasten now to the princess.”
Gladly Ito obeyed.