Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/58

42 this than he was seized with a great desire to go in search of his father and mother and uncles, and if he could find them alive to bring them home again. On learning his determination his aunts were much alarmed, saying, "We have lost our husbands and our sister and her husband and you are now our only hope; if you go away, what shall we do?" But he replied, "Do not be discouraged; I will soon return, and if it is possible will bring my mother and father and uncles with me." So he set out on his travels, but for several months could learn nothing that would help him in his search.

After journeying many hundreds of weary miles, and having become almost hopeless of hearing anything further of his parents and uncles, he reached a country that was full of rocks and stones and trees, and there he saw a large palace with a high tower, near which was a Malee's little house.

As he was looking about the Malee's wife saw him, and ran out of the house and said:

"My dear boy, who are you that dare venture to this dangerous place?"

He answered, "I am a Rajah's son, and I