If　you　do　not；　I　may　have　to　send　one　of　my　flying　swords　after　your　head　one　day。〃

〃You　are　one　of　his　secret　agents；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　suddenly　enraged。　〃Seize　him！〃　cried　he　to　his　lictors。

They　did　so；　while　the　Taoist　laughed。　And　Zuo　Ci　continued　to　laugh　as　they　dragged　him　down　to　the　dungeons；　where　they　beat　him　cruelly。　And　when　they　had　finished；　the　Taoist　lay　there　gently　respiring　in　a　sound　sleep；　just　as　if　he　felt　nothing　whatever。

This　enraged　Cao　Cao　still　more；　and　he　bade　them　put　the　priest　into　the　large　wooden　collar　and　nail　it　securely　and　then　chain　him　in　a　cell。　And　Cao　Cao　set　guards　over　him；　and　the　guards　saw　the　collar　and　chains　just　fall　off　while　the　victim　lay　fast　asleep　not　injured　in　the　least。

The　Taoist　lay　in　prison　seven　days　without　food　or　water。　But　when　they　went　to　look　at　him；　he　was　sitting　upright　on　the　ground；　quite　well　and　rosy　looking。

The　gaolers　reported　these　things　to　Cao　Cao；　who　had　the　prisoner　brought　in。

〃I　do　not　mind　going　without　food　for　years；〃　said　the　victim；　when　Cao　Cao　questioned　him；　〃yet　I　could　eat　a　thousand　sheep　in　a　day。〃

Cao　Cao　was　at　the　end　of　his　resources。　He　could　prevail　nothing　against　such　a　man。

That　day　there　was　to　be　a　great　banquet　at　the　new　Palace；　and　guests　came　in　crowds。　When　the　banquet　was　in　progress　and　the　wine　cup　passing　freely；　suddenly　the　same　Taoist　appeared。　He　had　wooden　clogs　on　his　feet。　All　faces　turned　in　his　direction　and　not　a　few　were　afraid；　others　wondered。

Standing　there　in　front　of　the　great　assembly；　the　Taoist　said；　〃O　Powerful　Prince；　here　today　you　have　every　delicacy　on　the　table　and　a　glorious　pany　of　guests。　You　have　rare　and　beautiful　objects　from　all　parts　of　the　world。　Is