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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ XVIII _I continue my search for the labyrinth and come upon a hermit who relates a rather interesting story, which decides my course of action._ I HAD lived a bachelor’s life for the reason I have heretofore given, and had been exceedingly contented. But now nothing but an overpowering desire for connubial felicity found place in my thoughts, and that felicity persisted in centering around the writer of the message I have set forth at length. I had been made much of by many admirable women, owing to my many adventures and traveling experiences, as, somehow or other, women like brave men, and a man who has traveled a great deal they think must of necessity be brave. I do not wish to be understood as saying they made love to me; far from it; they were too polished: but I doubt not, had I been so inclined, my suit would have received favor. But now my soul was consuming for the presence of this unknown. The days of magic were over, else I would have sought its aid. And yet I was in a land of mystery. Might I not find some one whose vision might locate this fair one? I searched among the tribes of nomads diligently, without any degree of success. Many there were told me much I knew, and more of which I have not ascertained the truth or lack of it.