<h2 class="label">LII</h2>
<h2 class="main">THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE</h2></div>
<div class="divBody">
<p class="par first">Prince Pa-song’s house was situated just
inside of the great East Gate, and before it was a large Hoi tree. On a
certain night the Prince’s son-in-law was passing by the roadway
that led in front of the archers’ pavilion. There he saw a great
company of bowmen, more than he could number, all shooting together at
the target. A moment later he saw them practising riding, some throwing
spears, some hurling bowls, some shooting from horseback, so that the
road in front of the pavilion was blocked against all comers. Some
shouted as he came by, “Look at that impudent rascal! He attempts
to ride by without dismounting.” They caught him and beat him,
paying no attention to his cries for mercy, and having no pity for the
pain he suffered, till one tall fellow came out of their serried ranks
and said in an angry voice to the crowd, “He is my master; why do
you treat him so?” He undid his bonds, took him by the arm and
led him home. When the son-in-law reached the gate he looked back and
saw the man <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="xd21e3150" href="#xd21e3150"
name="xd21e3150">230</SPAN>]</span>walk under the Hoi tree and disappear.
He then learned, too, that all the crowd of archers were spirits and
not men, and that the tall one who had befriended him was a spirit too,
and that he had come forth from their particular Hoi tree.</p>
<p class="par signed"><span class="sc">Yi Ryuk.</span> <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="xd21e3156" href="#xd21e3156" name=
"xd21e3156">231</SPAN>]</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ch53" class="div1 chapter"><span class="pagenum">[<SPAN href="#xd21e692">Contents</SPAN>]</span>
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