THE KING'S LABYRINTH.
Reading edition
Once upon a time an Eastern sovereign formed a labyrinth of high walls, placed in the innermost recess (B) a large bag of gold, and invited all the officers of the court to explore the maze, declaring that the man who could reach the gold should have it. The Grand Vizier was the first to attempt the task; and when, after several hours, he was rescued by a rope let down from the top of the walls, he was so worn out that he had to be kept in bed and fed on oatmeal gruel and gum-arabic for three weeks. All the other court officials, from the Keeper of the King's Umbrella down to the youngest turnspit in the kitchen, tried for the prize; but all failed, and had to be taken out from above. Then the King issued a proclamation calling upon any or every one of his subjects to come and try his skill or luck, and so many persons attempted the feat that the stones on the floor of the passages began to wear away, even though none of the people wore anything harder than sandals.
One day a pilgrim, who was rather old, and not very sprightly, entered the labyrinth, and not being heard from for several hours, the attendants went in search of him, and at last found him—coolly counting the coins in the bag of gold. Who can trace the pilgrim's steps?