"Our Empress Jokwa has already repaired the roads with the wonderful stones of five colors, so we beg to a.s.sure your Majesties that the roads are just as they were before the eruption took place."
But the Sun and the Moon still hesitated, saying that they had heard that one of the pillars of Heaven had been broken as well, and they feared that, even if the roads had been remade, it would still be dangerous for them to sally forth on their usual journeys.
"You need have no anxiety about the broken pillar," said the two amba.s.sadors. "Our Empress restored it with the legs of a great tortoise, and it is as firm as ever it was."
Then the Sun and Moon appeared satisfied, and they both set out to try the roads. They found that what the Empress"s deputies had told them was correct.
After the examination of the heavenly roads, the Sun and Moon again gave light to the earth. All the people rejoiced greatly, and peace and prosperity were secured in China for a long time under the reign of the wise Empress Jokwa.
THE END.