THE WALLET OF KAI LUNG

“Ho, illustrious passers-by!” says Kai Lung as he spreads out hisembroidered mat under the mulberry-tree. “It is indeed unlikely that youcould condescend to stop and listen to the foolish words of such aninsignificant and altogether deformed person as myself. Nevertheless, if youwill but retard your elegant footsteps for a few moments, this exceedinglyunprepossessing individual will endeavour to entertain you.” This is acollection of Kai Lung’s entertaining tales, told professionally in themarket places as he travelled about; told sometimes to occupy and divert theminds of his enemies when they were intent on torturing him.

Contents

I.
THE TRANSMUTATION OF LING

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

The sun had dipped behind the western mountains before Kai Lung, with twenty lior more still between him and the city of Knei Yang, entered the camphor-laurelforest which stretched almost to his destination. No person of consequence evermade the journey unattended; but Kai Lung professed to have no fear, remarkingwith extempore wisdom, when warned at the previous village, that a worthlessgarment covered one with better protection than that afforded by an army ofbowmen. Nevertheless, when within the gloomy aisles, Kai Lung more than oncewished himself back at the village, or safely behind the mud walls of KneiYang; and, making many vows concerning the amount of prayer-paper which hewould assuredly burn when he was actually through the gates, he stepped outmore quickly, until suddenly, at a turn in the glade, he stopped altogether,while the watchful expression into which he had unguardedly dropped at oncechanged into a mask of impassiveness and extreme unconcern. From behind thenext tree projected a long straight rod, not unlike a slender bamboo at adistance, but, to Kai Lung’s all-seeing eye, in reality the barrel of amatchlock, which would come into line with his breast if he took another step.Being a prudent man, more accustomed to guile and subservience to destiny thanto force, he therefore waited, spreading out his hands in proof of his peacefulacquiescence, and smiling cheerfully until it should please the owner of theweapon to step forth. This the unseen did a moment later, still keeping his gunin an easy and convenient attitude, revealing a stout body and a scarred face,which in conjunction made it

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