Four Friends Indeed (continued)

Another day the snake, who also lived near by, was also passing by and noticed Han sitting in his cell. The snake asked how it was that he happened to be in the prison. Han told him the story and the snake said, "Never mind, I'll arrange for your freedom."

Every day the snake would visit Han in his cell, and then go to the King’s chamber where he would sit and stare at the king until nightfall and leave. This was very unusual behaviour for a snake, and very unnerving for the King. So the king called for his great men, his wise men and his lamas in order to determine why this snake would come into his chamber every day and simply stare at him. The king’s counsellors followed the snake through the night, until he went to visit Han in the prison. They went back to the king and told him that the snake was protecting Han, the man in the prison, and if he would release the prisoner and treat him kindly, his troubles would cease. So he called for the prisoner to be brought before him. He asked Han, how it was that he befriended a snake. Han told the king his story.

The king was sorry that he had not listened to Han before. He was very angry at Shu, who, because of greed, had simply taken the reward without regard to Han’s innocence. He sent out his soldiers once more, ordering them to take what ever possessions Shu had and to give them to Han, then they were to take Shu and put him in prison for a very long time.