XVII
In which I give an account of the receipt of a curious message concerning a most beautiful princess and a labyrinth, and start out in search of both. I also give some details on transactions on the way, which I trust will be diverting.
ON reaching an oasis, I was very thirsty, and sought the well, to which I descended, and had about satisfied myself, when I observed a peculiar stone at the bottom, which I procured and was examining when I discovered it was hollow. Now, I knew not whether to break it open or seek some other means of ascertaining whether or not it contained anything of value. I pondered a while on the problem, when I found the stone was quite soft and easily crumbled in my hand. I was about to throw it away when I saw what appeared to be a piece of parchment rolled into a very small parcel. It proved to be what I had supposed it was, and upon it was written the following.:
To him who shall find this message I send greeting, and say unto him that I am of great beauty and wealth, and that I have sent this message forth in this manner in order that I may know that he who shall bring it to me is a man of strength of purpose and goodness of heart.
For I am lone and lonely, having placed myself in the center of a troublesome labyrinth, which will test the powers of the most acute.
But unto him who shall come to me and bring this message, I will give my love and my wealth and my devotion.
He will know the labyrinth, for it is surrounded by pure white trees in triple rows, and it is not many leagues from this place.
Tete Tete.
Now, of all the things I most desired to encounter, a labyrinth was the thing. And as I considered about it, it occurred to me that of the world I had seen enough; in fact, about all there was to be seen, and a great longing for quiet and rest and the companionship of a loving wife came over me, and decided the matter.
But in which direction I was to look for the prize, I at once knew not, for as far as I could see was barren waste and sand.
I climbed to the top of a great palm tree, and gazed about me, but was no wiser.
So I lay down to rest, fell asleep, and dreamed of the princess and the troublesome labyrinth until the following day was well along.