“I am going to the ogres’ island to carry off the riches that they have stored up there. Pray, then, make me some millet dumplings for my journey.”
So the old folk ground the millet, and made the dumplings for him; and Little Peachling, after taking an affectionate leave of them, cheerfully set out on his travels.
As he was journeying on, he fell in with an ape, who gibbered at him, and said: “Kia! kia! kia! where are you off to, Little Peachling?”
“I’m going to the ogres’ island, to carry off their treasure,” answered Little Peachling.
“What are you carrying at your girdle?”
“I’m carrying the very best millet dumplings in all Japan.”
“If you’ll give me one, I will go with you,” said the ape.
So Little Peachling gave one of his dumplings to the ape, who received it and followed him. When he had gone a little farther he heard a pheasant calling:
“Ken! ken! ken! where are you off to, Master Peachling?”
Little Peachling answered as before; and the pheasant, having begged and obtained a millet dumpling, entered his service, and followed him. A little while after this they met a dog, who cried:
“Bow! wow! wow! whither away, Master Peachling?”
“I’m going off to the ogres’ island, to carry off their treasure.”
“If you will give me one of those nice millet dumplings of yours, I will go with you,” said the dog.
“With all my heart,” said Little Peachling. So he went on his way, with the ape, the pheasant, and the dog following after him.
When they got to the ogres’ island, the pheasant flew over the castle gate, and the ape clambered over the castle wall, while Little Peachling, leading the dog, forced in the gate,
