Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens

“ So they gave him a little bottle and before he had time to say "Thank you!" a white crane came sailing past and lighted on the ground close to the cave.
"The crane will take you wherever you like," said the old men. "Go now, and leave us in peace."
So Wang Chih sat on the white crane's back, and was taken up and up through the sky to the cloud-cave where the sky-dragon lived. And the dragon had the head of a camel, the horns of a deer, the eyes of a rabbit, the ears of a cow, and the claws of a hawk. ”

“ For that you must mix the elixir of life with some water out of the sky-dragon's mouth."
"And where is the sky-dragon to be found?" inquired Wang Chih.
"In the sky, of course. You really ask very stupid questions. He lives in a cloud-cave. And when he comes out of it he breathes fire, and sometimes water. If he is breathing fire you will be burned up, but if it is only water, you will easily be able to catch some in a little bottle. What else do you want?" ”

“ He had been both hungry and thirsty when he came into the cave, as he had not waited to have his mid-day meal with the other field-workers; but now he felt quite comforted and refreshed.
He sat there some time longer, and noticed that as the old men frowned over the chessboard, their beards grew longer and longer, until they swept the floor of the cave, and even found their way out of the door.
"I hope my beard will never grow as quickly," said Wang Chih, as he rose and took up his axe again.
Then one of the old men spoke, for the first time. "Our beards have not grown quickly, young man. ”