" Hsiian Tsang accordingly bade him farewell and proceeded on his way. But he had not gone more than a mile or two before he came to a stream of rushing water about a league in breadth, with not a trace of any living being in sight. At this he was somewhat startled, and turning to Wu-k'ung (the name of the monkey) said, ' Our guide must surely have misdirected us. Look at that broad and boiling river ; how shall we ever get across without a boat ? ' ' There is a bridge over there,' cried Wu-k'ung, ' which you must cross over in order to complete your salvation.' At this Hsiian Tsang and the others advanced in the direction indicated, and saw by the side of the bridge a notice-board on which was written, 'The Heavenly Ford.' Now the bridge itself consisted of a simple plank ; on which Hsiian Tsang remarked, ' I am not going to trust myself to that frail and slippery plank to cross that wide and rapid stream. Let us try somewhere else.' ' But this is the true path/ said Wu-k'ung ; ' just wait a moment and see me go across.' Thereupon he jumped on to the bridge, and ran along the shaky vibrating plank until he reached the other side, where he stood shouting out to the rest to come on. But Hsiian Tsang waved his hand in the negative, while his companions stood by biting their ringers and crying out, ' We can't ! we can't ! we can't ! ' So Wu-k'ung ran back, and seizing Pa-chieh (the pig) by the arm, began dragging him to the bridge, all the time calling him a fool for his pains. Pa-chieh then threw himself on the ground, roaring out, ' It's too slippery it's too slippery. I can't do it. Spare me ! spare me ! ' ' You must cross by this bridge/ replied Wu-k'ung, ' if you want to become a Buddha ; ' at which Pa-chieh said, 'Then I can't be a Buddha, sir.
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