Page:Folk Tales from Tibet (1906).djvu/101

Rh In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks flying in from all directions.

"Now," said the first Peacock, "come along to the palace."

So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their claws, and they all flew together over the tops of the trees to the King's palace.

When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King, and the King seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready to receive them.

The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King's throne, and arranged themselves in rows behind him, with their tails spread.

"Here, oh King!" said the Boy, "are all the finest Peacocks I could find in the forest. You can have your pick of any four of them."

The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected the four best Peacocks, and sent away the rest.

But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few days later, he sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his Mother Mouse could fight single-handed with the King's state Elephant and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the Boy a slave.

The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it possible that the little Mouse could compete successfully with the King's great Elephant; so he went home very sadly and told his mother the whole story. But the Mouse told him he was not to be