Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/116

100 lives near by. We will go to him, and he will cut these bonds." They accordingly directed their flight to the hole of Golden-skin.

They soon arrived at the home of the Mouse-king, and Speckle-neck called to his friend to come out. Golden-skin came to the entrance, and told his friend how pleased he was to see him. "But what does this mean?" he exclaimed, looking at the pigeons all tangled up in the net.

Speckle-neck told him what had happened to them, and without a word the Mouse-king began to gnaw at the strings which held his friend. But the worthy Pigeon-king bade him to release the others first, and leave him until the last.

To this Golden-skin objected, but King Spreckle-neck said that he could not bear to see those who depended upon him in such distress. Such heroism made the Mouse-king's fur bristle up for pure pleasure.

"Nobly spoken!" said he. "Such tenderness for those who are dependent upon you makes me proud to be your friend." With this, he