three or all four.  This was beyond all conscience, but the widow was equal to the emergency, and suggested another solution.  Each of her daughters wore a waistcoat embroidered in jewels and gold.  Pa-chieh was to try these on in turn, and to marry the owner of the one which fitted him.  Pa-chieh put one on, but as he was tying the cord round his waist it transformed itself into strong coils of rope which bound him tightly in every limb.  He rolled about in excruciating agony, and as he did so the curtain of enchantment fell and the beauties and the palace disappeared.

Next morning the rest of the party on waking up also found that all had changed, and saw that they had been sleeping on the ground in the cypress-grove.  On making search they found Pa-chieh bound fast to a tree.  They cut him down, to pursue the journey a sadder and wiser Pig, and the butt of many a quip from his fellow-travellers.

The Lotus Cave

When the party left the Elephant Country, seeing a mountain ahead, the Master warned his disciples to be careful.  Sun said:  “Master, say not so; remember the text of the Sacred Book, ’So long as the heart is right there is nothing to fear.’” After this Sun kept a close watch on Pa-chieh, who, while professing to be on guard, slept most of the time.  When they arrived at Ping-ting Shan they were approached by a woodcutter, who warned them that in the mountain, which extended for 600 li (200 miles), there was a Lotus Cave, inhabited by a band of demons under two chiefs, who were lying in wait to devour the travellers.  The woodcutter then disappeared.  Accordingly, Pa-chieh was ordered to keep watch.  But, seeing some hay, he lay down and went to sleep, and the mountain demons carried him away to the Lotus Cave.

On seeing Pa-chieh, the second chief said:  “He is no good; you must go in search of the Master and the Monkey.”  All this time the Monkey, to protect his Master, was walking ahead of the horse, swinging his club up and down and to right and left.  The Demon-king saw him from the top of the mountain and said to himself:  “This Monkey is famous for his magic, but I will prove that he is no match for me; I will yet feast on his Master.”  So, descending the mountain, he transformed himself into a lame beggar and waited by the roadside.  The Master, out of pity, persuaded the Monkey to carry him.  While on the Monkey’s back the Demon, by magic skill, threw Mount Meru on to Sun’s head, but the Monkey warded it off with his left shoulder, and walked on.  Then the Demon threw Mount O-mei on to Sun’s head, and this he warded off with his right shoulder, and walked on, much to the Demon’s surprise.  Lastly the Demon caused T’ai Shan to fall on to his head.  This at last stunned the Monkey.  Sha Ho-shang now defended the Master with his staff, which was, however, no match for the Demon’s starry sword.  The Demon seized the Master and carried him under one arm and Sha Ho-shang under the other to the Lotus Cave.