“HE SAT BESIDE HER, NOT DARING TO MOVE”
Then the young warrior said, “I will find one. There must be a fox somewhere in the wildwood for this gentle little heart who loved all animals.”
Then Ito San hunted far and wide, but he found no foxes; for the cunning animals had heard the proclamation of the emperor and had hidden themselves. So Ito San returned to the palace with grief in his heart, ready to slay himself in his despair.
At that moment he felt a hand touch his sleeve, and turning quickly he saw a little old woman, with a queer little pointed face, and a mantle of red fur wrapped about her. In her hand she bore a jar, and she said, “Take this quickly and the princess will be well.”
“What is the price?” he asked.
“Alas!” she burst into tears. “The price is more than you could ever pay, but the princess paid it long ago. Hasten to her!”
Then Ito saw that the jar contained fox’s liver and his heart bounded for joy. He hurried to the palace, the words of the song in his ears.
“Serve to the little princess
Broth of the finest rice;