Short Stories
"I, too, know filial piety and regard. But—" He hesitated, then
added, as though thinking aloud, "It is as much as my head is
worth."
"How much is your head worth ?" asked Pak Chung Chang
in a thin, small voice.
"A not remarkable head," said Yi Chin Ho. "An absurdly un-
remarkable head; but, such is my great foolishness, I value it at
nothing less than one hundred thousand strings of cash."
"So be it," said Pak Chung Chang, rising to his feet.
"I shall need horses to carry the treasure," said Yi Chin Ho,
"and men to guard it well as I journey through the mountains.
There are robbers abroad in the land."
"There are robbers abroad in the land," said Pak Chung
Chang, sadly. "But it shall be as you wish, so long as my ancient
and very-much-to-be-respected ancestor's nose abide in its ap-
pointed place."
"Say nothing to any man of this occurrence," said Yi Chin Ho,
"else will other and more loyal servants than I be sent to strike
off your father's nose."
And so Yi Chin Ho departed on his way through the moun-
tains, blithe of heart and gay of song as he listened to the jingling
bells of his treasure-laden ponies.
There is little more to tell. Yi Chin Ho prospered through the
years. By his efforts the jailer attained at length to the director-
ship of all the prisons of Cho-sen; the Governor ultimately be-
took himself to the Sacred City to be prime minister to the King,
while Yi Chin Ho became the King's boon companion and sat at
table with him to the end of a round, fat life. But Pak Chung
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