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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: Tales of the Punjab
+
+Author: Flora Annie Steel
+
+Posting Date: October 12, 2014 [EBook #6145]
+Release Date: July, 2004
+First Posted: November 19, 2002
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopolûchî
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwâshbrâri, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasâlu Was Born
+How Raja Rasâlu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasâlu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasâlu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasâlu Became a Jôgi
+How Raja Rasâlu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasâlu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasâlu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasâlu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbâr_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprâsî_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbâr_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_âp ke darshan âe_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasâlu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniyâ, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Râm Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopolûchî brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniyâ's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--
+
+'Once upon a time--'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brâhman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brâhman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brâhman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brâhman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahrâmgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahrâmgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahrâmgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrûl whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl took Prince Bahrâmgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahrâmgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahrâmgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shâhpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrûl, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrûl used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahrâmgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--
+Prince Bahrâmgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahrâmgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahrâmgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shâhpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shâhpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shâhpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahrâmgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrûl appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanâk
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanâk Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanâk Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanâk Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanâk Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shâhpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahrâmgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shâhpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahrâmgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahrâmgor, and ordered Princess Shâhpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahrâmgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichrî_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichrî_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichrî_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichrî_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichrî_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichrî>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and--'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichrî_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichrî_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichrî_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichrî_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichrî_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichrî_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichrî_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichrî_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichrî_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichrî_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichrî_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichrî_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichrî_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one
+circumstance,--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakîr_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pîpal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pîpal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pîpal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pîpal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pîpal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa--'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLÛCHÎ
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopolûchî, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopolûchî said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopolûchî's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopolûchî could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopolûchî of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopolûchî, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--
+
+     'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopolûchî it began to howl--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopolûchî journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopolûchî had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopolûchî, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopolûchî, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopolûchî.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopolûchî pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopolûchî dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopolûchî reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopolûchî.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopolûchî at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopolûchî had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopolûchî and the robber]
+
+Now Bopolûchî was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopolûchî was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopolûchî, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopolûchî gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopolûchî went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopolûchî's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brâhman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him
+Vicky--Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakîr_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jôgi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jôgi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jôgi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jôgi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jôgi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jôgi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jôgi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jôgi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jôgi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichrî_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichrî_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the--_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichrî_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMÂN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brâhman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brâhman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brâhman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brâhman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brâhman first asked a _pîpal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pîpal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brâhman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brâhman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brâhman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brâhman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brâhman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brâhman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brâhman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brâhman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brâhman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by----'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brâhman, and the cage came
+walking by--no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brâhman--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord--'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--back
+already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--before
+the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--
+
+'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pîpal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pîpal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pîpal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pîpal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pîpal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pîpal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pîpal_ replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pîpal_ tree, and the _pîpal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pîpal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pîpal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pîpal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo--'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--I
+should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jôgi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jôgi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jôgi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jôgi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jôgi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jôgi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jôgi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jôgi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jôgi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichrî_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichrî_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jôgi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jôgi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jôgi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jôgi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jôgi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jôgi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jôgi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jôgi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jôgi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brâhman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brâhman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jôgi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWÂSHBRÂRI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwân was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Harâmukh, and Nangâ Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwân, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwâshbrâri, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwân from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwân is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwâshbrâri smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwân, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwâshbrâri was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwân shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwâshbrâri's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwân, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwâshbrâri's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwâshbrâri! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwâshbrâri smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwân--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwâshbrâri's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwân stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmîr, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwâshbrâri.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nîm_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazîr, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless--'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Sâlbâhan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhrâ, had a fair young son
+called Prince Pûran; but the younger, by name Lonâ, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Sâlbâhan's mind against his son, young
+Pûran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Sâlbâhan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Pûran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknâth came to the place, and finding Prince
+Pûran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Pûran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqîr_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknâth as a disciple, and
+was called Pûran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknâth gave him leave to visit his native town, and Pûran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Sâlbâhan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Pûran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhrâ, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqîr_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Pûran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lonâ, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqîr_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Sâlbâhan.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Sâlbâhan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lonâ, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqîr_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lonâ! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Pûran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lonâ returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jôgis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasâlu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasâlu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasâlu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Sâlbâhan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasâlu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jôgis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasâlu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Sâlbâhan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasâlu called scornfully to him across the hall--
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lonâ answered through her tears--
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasâlu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasâlu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasâlu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasâlu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasâlu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasâlu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasâlu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasâlu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasâlu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasâlu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasâlu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasâlu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasâlu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasâlu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasâlu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasâlu was moved to pity, and said--
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasâlu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Irâqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasâlu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasâlu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Irâqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasâlu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasâlu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasâlu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasâlu rode up on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasâlu, son of Raja Sâlbâhan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasâlu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasâlu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JÔGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasâlu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundrân, he saw an old Jôgi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasâlu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jôgi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundrân, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasâlu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jôgi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasâlu would not be denied, so the Jôgi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jôgi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jôgi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasâlu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasâlu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jôgi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasâlu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then the Jôgi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasâlu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jôgi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundrân's
+palace, in his Jôgi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jôgi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundrân, from within, heard Rasâlu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasâlu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasâlu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundrân's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasâlu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasâlu's hands, saying proudly--
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqîr_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jôgi, of me?'
+
+And Rasâlu, in his Jôgi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqîr_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundrân, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasâlu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jôgi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasâlu returned to the gate, and sang--
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasâlu smiled a scornful smile, saying--
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jôgi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jôgi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundrân gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jôgi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasâlu, taking the alms, replied--
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Sâlbâhan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasâlu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jôgi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasâlu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundrân waited for the Jôgi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jôgi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundrân.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jôgi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundrân; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jôgi Rasâlu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasâlu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasâlu, sitting down beside it, said--
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasâlu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasâlu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasâlu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasâlu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasâlu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasâlu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasâlu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasâlu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasâlu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasâlu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasâlu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasâlu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasâlu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasâlu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasâlu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasâlu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasâlu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasâlu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasâlu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasâlu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasâlu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasâlu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasâlu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasâlu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasâlu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Irâqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Irâqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasâlu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Irâqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasâlu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasâlu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasâlu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasâlu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasâlu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasâlu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Irâqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasâlu answered back--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasâlu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasâlu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasâlu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasâlu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqîr_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqîr_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqîr_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqîr_ was a very remarkable _faqîr_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqîr_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqîr_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqîr_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramâjît's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramâjît went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramâjît understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramâjît, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramâjît's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramâjît.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!  Glory to Bikramâjît!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramâjît?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramâjît were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramâjît,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramâjît, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikrû, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqîr's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqîr_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikrû knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqîr_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqîr_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then----oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikrû told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqîr_ agreed, and off went Bikrû with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqîr_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqîr_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqîr_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqîr_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqîr_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that--
+'--Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqîr_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqîr_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqîr_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikrû came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikrû, or Bikramâjît, took the _faqîr's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramâjît! the generous Bikramâjît!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramâjît is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqîr_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqîr_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqîr_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqîr's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqîr]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqîr_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqîr_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pîpal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pîpal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brâhman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brâhman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brâhman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brâhman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brâhman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brâhman?'
+
+Then the Brâhman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lâkh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brâhman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Mîyân Bhûngâ, which is Pânjabî for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhût_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hâth_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Bâdshâhzâdi Phûlî, Princess Flower, or
+Phûlâzâdî, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwál_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalmân origin, and must have been one in actual mediæval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--
+
+   _Kânâ, kâchrâ, hoch-gardanâ:  yeh tînon kamsât!
+   Jablag has apnâ chale, to koî na pûchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghûl_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhût_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar kâ akhârâ_ or _Indrâsan Sabhâ_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Gharâ_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_châtî_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--
+
+  _Gaderî gader! gaderî gader!
+  Râjâ dî betî chûhâ le giâ gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Râjâ's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pîrhî, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchîs_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahrâmgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjâb in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Hasan Bâno_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahrâmgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahrâmgor and
+Dilârâm_.  Bahrâmgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostân_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrûl_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Râî, through Râwal (_rûl_) = Râo
+= Râî; thus Jasrat Râî = Jasrat Râwal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrûl. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Râma Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shâhpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghâní_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahrâmgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nûnak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nânaksâ (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nânaksâ,
+obviously Nânak Shâh or Bâbâ Nânak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqîr_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahrâmgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfûr, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfûr = Baghbûr = Bagh Pûr, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shâh Pûr = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifûr in the
+same way = Shâh Pûr.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kâjal_. _Kâjal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yâch_
+of Kashmîr see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chû-û-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichrî_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dâl_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himâlayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryâr Shahrâbâd, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sânwâlâ_, _lohár_, _tarkhân_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhût_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhût_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pîpal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhrâ_,
+Panjâbî for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jânn,
+Jinn, Shaitân, 'Ifrît, and Mârid.  They are all mentioned in Musalmân
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_mânushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Mainâ_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in
+folk-tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Donâ_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutnî_ and _paphe-kutnî_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutnî_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dolâ_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjâbî, _lelâ_, _lerâ_,
+_lekrâ_, and _lelkarâ_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjâbî--
+
+  _Nânî kol jâwângû:
+  Motâ tâjâ âwângâ
+  Pher tûn main nûn khâwângâ._
+
+Of the second song--
+
+  _Wan piâ lelkarâ:  wan pî tû.
+  Chal dhamkiriâ!  Dham!  Kâ!  Dhû!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _kâ_,
+_dhû_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkîriâ_ or _dhamkirî_ in Panjâbî is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyâlâ_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopolûchî_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mâmû_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhrâ_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjârâ_ or _banjârâ_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--
+
+  _Bopo Lûchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthî,
+  Thag nâl thagî gai._
+
+  Bopo Lûchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjâbî bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Bâdshâhzâdî._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhântâ is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjâl;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjâbîs.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkhâ
+hâr,_ or nine-_lâkh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkhâ_ means worth nine lâkhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkhâ_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Mahârâjâ of Patiâlâ,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiâlâ.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khân, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khân.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattû, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattû is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khân.  See _Proper Names of Panjâbîs, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakîr,_--Properly _faqîr_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilâyatî_ _fuqrâ_, European _faqîrs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dâyan_.  In the Panjâb a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dâyan kâ mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dâkinî_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jôgi's wonderful cow_--The _jôgi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqîr_, _jôgi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yôgi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kâmdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kâmdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jôgi_ of the tale. _Kâmdhain_ and _Kâmdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--
+
+  _Tû Chhappar Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Deo paneriyâ, Dhoven
+  chucheriyâ, Khâwen khijeriyâ, Dekh chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ, Main
+  kâng sapariyâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tû Lohâr Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Tû deo pharwâ, Main khodûn
+  ghasarwâ, Khilâwen bhainsarwâ, Chowen dûdharwâ, Pilâwen
+  hirnarwâ, Toren singarwâ, Khôden chalarwâ, Nikâlen panarwâ,
+  Dhoven chunjarwâ, Khâwen khijarwâ, Dehk chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ,
+  Main kâng saparwâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhâgavata Purâna_ and the
+_Gul Bakâolâ_, and in the _Amvâr-i-Suhelî_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_mandâ hâl wâng Jatt jharî
+de_--as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjâbî cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Bâdshâh
+Ghariâl.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjâb that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndî_ or _hinâ_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bâr_ or wilds of the Gujrânwâlâ District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bâr, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Gîrî_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gittâ_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjâbî proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Mâsî, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjâb forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daurâ_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--
+
+  _Kyûn garjâe badalâ garkanâe?
+  Gaj karak sâre des;
+  Ohnân hirnîân de than pasmâe:
+  Gitetâ Râm gîâ pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Gitetâ Râm has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khudâ_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kabâbs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyâghra-nâyaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmîrî woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau kî roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihûn kî
+rotî_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--
+
+  _Kahîn mat jâo khâlî pet.
+  Hove mâgh yâ hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--
+
+  _Jo nar totâ mârkar khâve per ke heth, Kuchh sansâ man na
+  dhare, woh hogâ râjâ jeth. Jo mainâ ko mâr khâ, man men rakhe
+  dhîr; Kuchh chintâ man na kare, woh sadâ rahegâ wazîr._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdâr_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdahâ_, _izhdâr_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hâthî_ or _dhaulâ gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Râjâs as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwâr_)
+with sweet cakes (_chûrîs_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Râjâ and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Râjâ himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Mahârâjâ hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowâr_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Mahârâjâ dhaulâ gajpati kidohâî_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for Ælian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lotâ_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _râkhas_ = the Sanskrit _râkhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _râkhasa_
+(_râkhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _râkhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tâtar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_râkhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdahâ_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  Chândî dâ merâ chauntrâ, koî sonâ lipâî!
+  Kâne men merâ gûkrû, shâhzâdâ baithâ hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Hadî dâ terâ chauntrâ, koî gobar lipaî!
+  Kâne men terî jûtî; koî gîdar baithâ hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhî,
+  Main bhî rangan men parî,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik sarî, ik balî;
+  Ik hinak mode charhî,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--
+
+  _Ik sarî, dûî balî;
+  Dûî jâî mûnde charhî._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hûî;
+  Chirî rangan charhî;
+  Chirâ bedan karî;
+  Pîpal patte jharî;
+  Mahîn sing jharî;
+  Naîn bahí khârî;
+  Koïl hûî kânî;
+  Bhagtû diwanî;
+  Bandî padnî;
+  Rânî nâchnî;
+  Putr dholkî bajânî;
+  Râjâ sargî bajânî;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pîpal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtû went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shâhzâdî Mirchâ_ or
+_Filfil Shâhzâdî:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwâ_, male, and _chakwî_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brâhmanî
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brâhmanî ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--
+
+  _Chakwâ, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwî!_
+  _Chakwî, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwâ!_
+
+  Chakwâ, shall I come?  No, Chakwî!
+  Chakwî, shall I come?  No, Chakwâ!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mûngo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mûng_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardân_--'Ali Mardân Khân belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmîr, under
+the Emperor Shâh Jahân, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmîr ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamiâ_, said in Kashmîr to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwâ_.  In this tale the _Lamiâ_ is described as being a
+_Wâsdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wâsdeo_ is the same as
+Vâsudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarâma, so Balarâma was a
+Vâsudeva.  Balarâma in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sèsha
+(now Sesh Nâg), a king of serpents, and with Vâsuki (Bâsak Nâg), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vâsuki and Sêsha, is mixed not only with
+Balarâma, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wâsdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamiâ is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediæval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamiâ or Λαμια' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibâd_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmîr.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musâlman tales.  Kashmîr is essentially a
+Musalmân country._
+
+_Shalimâr gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardân Khân by a generation, for Nûr Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Dîwân-i-Khâs (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--
+
+  _Agar firdûs ba rû-e-zamîn ast,
+  Hamîn ast o hamîn ast o hamîn ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shâh Jahân built the Shâlimâr gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjît Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangâbal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Harâmukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmîr.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichrî_.--Sweet khichrî consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichrî of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _pâras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardân, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hotî Mardân probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundrâ_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunkâ_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Mâsî_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--
+
+  _Phir gîâ billî ke pâs,
+  'Billî, rî billî, mûsâ khâogî'
+  Khâtî khûnd pâr nâ!
+  Khûnd chanâ de nâ!
+  Râjâ khâtî dande nâ!
+  Râjâ rânî russe nâ!
+  Sapnâ rânî dase nâ!
+  Lâthî sapnâ mâre nâ!
+  Âg lâthî jalâve nâ!
+  Samundar âg bujhâve nâ!
+  Hâthî samundar sukhe nâ!
+  Nâre hâthî bandhe nâ!
+  Mûsâ nâre kâte nâ!
+  Lûngâ phir chorûn? nâ!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Usne kahâ, 'Lap, lap, khâûngî!'
+  Phir gîâ mûsâ ke pâs, 'Mûsâ, re mûsâ, ab khâ jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    nâre katenge.'
+  Phir gîâ nâre ke pâs, 'Nâre, re nâre, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    hâthî bandhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ hâthî ke pâs, 'Hâthî, re hâthî, ab bandhe jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî samundar sûkhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samundar ke pâs, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jâoge?'  'Ham bhî âg bujhâenge.'
+  Phir gîâ âg ke pâs, 'Âg, rî âg, ab bujhâî jâogi?'  'Ham bhî lâthî
+    jalâvenge.'
+  Phir gîâ lâthî ke pâs, 'Lâthî, re lâthî, ab jal jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    sâmp mârenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samp ke pâs, 'Sâmp, re sâmp, ab mâre jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    rânî dasenge?'
+  Phir gîâ rânî ke pâs, 'Rânî, rî rânî, ab dasî jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    râjâ rusenge.'
+  Phir gîâ râjâ ke pâs, 'Râjâ, re raja, ab rânî rus jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khâtî dândenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khâtî ke pâs, 'Khâtî, re khâtî, ab dande jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khund kâtenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khund ke pâs, 'Khund, re khund, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî chanâ denge.'
+  Phir woh chanâ lekar chalâ gîâ?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lîdû_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Râm_--Râma Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kâl_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwâshbrâri, etc_.--The Westarwân range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmîr.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmîr, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladâk_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pîr
+Panjâl and Mid-Himâlayan Range.  Nangâ Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Harâ Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwâshbrâri or Kolahoî, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwân is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khrû and Sotûr, right into the Kashmîr valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwân does not lay his head anywhere near Gwâshbrâri's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khrû, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khrû and Sesh Nâg, traversing most of that lying between Westarwân and
+Gwâshbrâri, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmîr Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pîpal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Parî_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Gâdar, ghar kyâ lâyâ?
+  Kyâ chîz kamâyâ?
+  Ki merâ khâtir pâyâ._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasâlu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjâb, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Sâlivâhana,
+who established the Sâka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjâb his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonân, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Siâlkot and Kallowâl.
+
+_Gurû Gorakhnâth_--The ordinary _deux ex machinâ_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brâhmanical opponent of the mediæval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Pûran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Pûran Bhagat_.--Is in story Râjâ Rasâlû's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasâlu and
+Pûran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramâditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Irâqi_.--The name of Rasâlu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Irâqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Main âiâ thâ salâm nûn, tûn baithâ pîth maror!
+  Main nahîn terâ râj wandânundâ; main nûn nahîn râj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlân de vich baithîe, tûn ro ro na sunâ! Je tûn merî mâtâ
+  hain, koî mat batlâ! Matte dendî hai mân tain nûn, putar:  gin
+  gin jholî ghat! Châre Khûntân tûn râj kare, par changâ rakhîn
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Thorâ thorâ, betâ, tûn disîn, aur bahotî disî dhûr:
+  Putr jinân de tur chale, aur mâwân chiknâ chûr._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihâlîân, ajj sutâ suthrâ ghâs!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jâhan âeajj dî rât!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Nâga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _âfat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--
+
+  _Sadâ na phûlan torîân, nafrâ:  sadâ na Sâwan hoe:
+  Sadâ na joban thir rahe:  sadâ na jive koe:
+  Sadâ na râjiân hâkimî:  sâda na râjiân des:
+  Sadâ na hove ghar apnâ, nafrâ, bhath piâ pardes_.
+
+  _Tcrîs_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Râkshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nîlâ city_--Most probably Bâgh Nîlâb on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholîe:  na aswân dhalkâe: Tere bete ki 'îvaz main
+  sir desân châe. Nîle-ghorewâlîd Râjâ, munh dhârî, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte âunde, jin khâiâ sârâ jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhâîo!  Dekho koî gali! Tehrî agg dhonkaî, so
+  sir te ân balî! Sûjhanhârî sûjh gae; hun laihndî charhdî jâe!
+  Jithe sânûn sûkh mile, so jhatpat kare upâe!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodînagarî_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjâb
+geography:  Hodînagarî, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjâb, from Siâlkot to
+Jalâlâbâd in Afghânistân beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawâl Pindi or Hazârâ Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rânî Sundrân_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Jâe bûhe te kilkiâ:  lîa nâm Khudâ:
+  Dûron chalke, Rânî Sundrân, terâ nâ:
+  Je, Rânî, tû sakhî hain, kharî faqîrân pâ:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rânî Sundrân, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rânî, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalmân_ word _Khudâ_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasâlû was personating a _Hindu jôgi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab kî pâî mundran?  Kab kâ hûâ faqîr? Kis ghatâ mânion?  Kis
+  kâ lâgâ tîr! Kete mâen mangiâ?  Mere ghar kî mangî bhîkh? Kal
+  kî pâî mundrân!  Kal kâ hûâ faqîr! Na ghat, mâîân, mâniân:  kal
+  kâ lagâ tîr. Kuchh nahîn munh mangî:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhîkh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqîr?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqîr_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Tarqas jariâ tîr motîân; lâlân jarî kumân; Pinde bhasham
+  lagâiâ:  yeh mainân aur rang; Jis bhikhiâ kâ lâbhî hain tû wohî
+  bhikhiâ mang. Tarqas jariâ merâ motîân:  lâlân jarî kumân. Lâl
+  na jânâ bechke, motî be-wattî. Motî apne phir lai; sânûn pakkâ
+  tâm diwâ._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Kahân tumhârî nagari? kahân tumhârâ thâon? Kis râjâ kâ betrâ
+  jôgî? kyâ tumhârâ nâon? Siâlkot hamârî nagarî; wohî hamârâ
+  thâon. Râjâ Sâlivâhan kâ main betrâ:  Lonâ parî merâ mâon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagâe, dekhan terî jâon. Tainûn dekhke chaliâ:  Râjâ
+  Rasâlu merâ nâon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jôgi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Râjâ Sâlivâhan's son:  the fairy Lonâ is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Râjâ Rasâlû is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Bâre andar piâ karanglâ, na is sâs, na pâs. Je Maullâ is nûn
+  zindâ kare, do bâtân kare hamâre sâth. Laihndion charhî badalî,
+  hâthân pâiâ zor: Kehe 'amal kamâio, je jhaldi nahîn ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  Asîn bhî kadîn duniyân te inhân the;
+  Râjâ nal degrîân pagân banhde,
+    Turde pabhân bhâr.
+  Âunde tara, nachâunde tara,
+    Hânke sawâr.
+  Zara na mitthî jhaldî Râjâ
+    Hun sau manân dâ bhâr.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjâb_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Nîle-ghorewâliâ Râjâ, niven neze âh!
+  Agge Râjâ Sarkap hai, sir laisî ulâh!
+  Bhâla châhen jo apnâ, tân pichhe hî mur jâh!
+  Dûron bîrâ chukiâ ithe pahutâ âh:
+  Sarkap dâ sir katke tote kassân châr.
+  Tainûn banâsân wohtrî, main bansân mihrâj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Râjâ, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Râjâ Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajpût katdâ mâromâr, Paske lârhân kapiân sittîâ
+  sîne bhâr. Dharîn dharin bheren bhanîân aur bhane ghariâl! Taîn
+  nûn, Râjâ, marsî ate sânûn kharsî hâl._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Chhotî nagarî dâ waskîn, Rânî wadî karî pukâr.
+  Jân main niklân bâhar, tân merî tan nachâve dhâl.
+  Fajre rotî tân khâsân, sir laisân utâr._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Râjâ_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Sakhî samundar jamiân, Râjâ lîo rud gar thâe: Âo to charho
+  merî pîth te, kot tudh kharân tarpâe. Urde pankhî main na desân,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Râjâ, pârâ khelsiâ, jeb hâth to
+  pâe._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Râjâ
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Na ro, Râjiâ bholiâ; nâ main charsân ghâh,
+  Na main tursân râh.
+  Dahnâ dast uthâeke jeb de vich pâh!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Râjâ, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwin ithe basante lok! Sarân dharân han
+  bâziân, jehrî Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwen, ithe
+  basanlâ lok! Sarân dharân te bâzian!  Jehrî Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Hor râje murghâbîân, tu râjâ shâhbâz!
+  Bandî bânân âe band khalâs kar! umar terî drâz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Mûrtî Hills_.--Near Râwal Pindî to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilân_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhî_) on the top of Pindî Point at the Murree (_Marhî_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pându, and
+a great hero in the _Mahâbhârata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mânsarobar Lake_.--The Mânasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Mâphan) in the
+Kailâsa Range of the Himâlayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladâk_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramâjît_.--The great Vikramâditya of Ujjayinî,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikrû is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikrâmaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Râm and Vich Râm.  He also goes by the name of
+Bîr Bikramâjît or Vîr Vikram, i.e.  Vikramâditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhiâ_ in the original form; _âdhâ_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachiân diân Mâwân,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjâb.
+The object is to attract _faqîrs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'ljî_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjâb
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: Tales of the Punjab
+
+Author: Flora Annie Steel
+
+Posting Date: October 12, 2014 [EBook #6145]
+Release Date: July, 2004
+First Posted: November 19, 2002
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopolûchî
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwâshbrâri, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasâlu Was Born
+How Raja Rasâlu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasâlu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasâlu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasâlu Became a Jôgi
+How Raja Rasâlu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasâlu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasâlu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasâlu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbâr_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprâsî_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbâr_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_âp ke darshan âe_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasâlu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniyâ, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Râm Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopolûchî brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniyâ's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--
+
+'Once upon a time--'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brâhman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brâhman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brâhman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brâhman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahrâmgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahrâmgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahrâmgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrûl whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl took Prince Bahrâmgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahrâmgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahrâmgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shâhpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrûl, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrûl used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahrâmgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--
+Prince Bahrâmgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahrâmgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahrâmgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shâhpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shâhpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shâhpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahrâmgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrûl appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanâk
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanâk Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanâk Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanâk Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanâk Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shâhpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahrâmgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shâhpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahrâmgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahrâmgor, and ordered Princess Shâhpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahrâmgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichrî_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichrî_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichrî_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichrî_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichrî_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichrî>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and--'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichrî_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichrî_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichrî_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichrî_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichrî_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichrî_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichrî_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichrî_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichrî_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichrî_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichrî_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichrî_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichrî_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one
+circumstance,--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakîr_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pîpal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pîpal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pîpal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pîpal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pîpal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa--'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLÛCHÎ
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopolûchî, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopolûchî said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopolûchî's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopolûchî could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopolûchî of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopolûchî, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--
+
+     'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopolûchî it began to howl--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopolûchî journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopolûchî had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopolûchî, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopolûchî, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopolûchî.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopolûchî pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopolûchî dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopolûchî reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopolûchî.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopolûchî at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopolûchî had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopolûchî and the robber]
+
+Now Bopolûchî was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopolûchî was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopolûchî, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopolûchî gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopolûchî went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopolûchî's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brâhman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him
+Vicky--Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakîr_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jôgi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jôgi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jôgi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jôgi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jôgi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jôgi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jôgi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jôgi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jôgi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichrî_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichrî_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the--_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichrî_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMÂN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brâhman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brâhman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brâhman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brâhman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brâhman first asked a _pîpal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pîpal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brâhman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brâhman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brâhman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brâhman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brâhman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brâhman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brâhman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brâhman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brâhman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by--'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brâhman, and the cage came
+walking by--no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brâhman--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord--'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--back
+already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--before
+the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--
+
+'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pîpal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pîpal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pîpal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pîpal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pîpal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pîpal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pîpal_ replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pîpal_ tree, and the _pîpal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pîpal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pîpal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pîpal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo--'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--I
+should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jôgi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jôgi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jôgi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jôgi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jôgi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jôgi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jôgi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jôgi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jôgi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichrî_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichrî_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jôgi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jôgi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jôgi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jôgi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jôgi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jôgi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jôgi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jôgi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jôgi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brâhman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brâhman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jôgi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWÂSHBRÂRI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwân was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Harâmukh, and Nangâ Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwân, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwâshbrâri, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwân from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwân is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwâshbrâri smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwân, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwâshbrâri was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwân shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwâshbrâri's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwân, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwâshbrâri's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwâshbrâri! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwâshbrâri smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwân--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwâshbrâri's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwân stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmîr, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwâshbrâri.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nîm_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazîr, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless--'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Sâlbâhan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhrâ, had a fair young son
+called Prince Pûran; but the younger, by name Lonâ, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Sâlbâhan's mind against his son, young
+Pûran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Sâlbâhan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Pûran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknâth came to the place, and finding Prince
+Pûran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Pûran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqîr_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknâth as a disciple, and
+was called Pûran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknâth gave him leave to visit his native town, and Pûran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Sâlbâhan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Pûran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhrâ, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqîr_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Pûran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lonâ, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqîr_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Sâlbâhan.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Sâlbâhan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lonâ, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqîr_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lonâ! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Pûran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lonâ returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jôgis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasâlu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasâlu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasâlu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Sâlbâhan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasâlu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jôgis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasâlu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Sâlbâhan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasâlu called scornfully to him across the hall--
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lonâ answered through her tears--
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasâlu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasâlu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasâlu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasâlu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasâlu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasâlu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasâlu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasâlu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasâlu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasâlu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasâlu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasâlu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasâlu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasâlu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasâlu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasâlu was moved to pity, and said--
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasâlu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Irâqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasâlu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasâlu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Irâqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasâlu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasâlu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasâlu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasâlu rode up on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasâlu, son of Raja Sâlbâhan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasâlu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasâlu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JÔGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasâlu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundrân, he saw an old Jôgi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasâlu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jôgi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundrân, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasâlu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jôgi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasâlu would not be denied, so the Jôgi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jôgi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jôgi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasâlu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasâlu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jôgi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasâlu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then the Jôgi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasâlu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jôgi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundrân's
+palace, in his Jôgi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jôgi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundrân, from within, heard Rasâlu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasâlu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasâlu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundrân's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasâlu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasâlu's hands, saying proudly--
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqîr_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jôgi, of me?'
+
+And Rasâlu, in his Jôgi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqîr_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundrân, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasâlu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jôgi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasâlu returned to the gate, and sang--
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasâlu smiled a scornful smile, saying--
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jôgi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jôgi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundrân gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jôgi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasâlu, taking the alms, replied--
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Sâlbâhan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasâlu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jôgi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasâlu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundrân waited for the Jôgi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jôgi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundrân.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jôgi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundrân; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jôgi Rasâlu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasâlu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasâlu, sitting down beside it, said--
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasâlu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasâlu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasâlu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasâlu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasâlu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasâlu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasâlu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasâlu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasâlu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasâlu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasâlu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasâlu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasâlu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasâlu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasâlu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasâlu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasâlu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasâlu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasâlu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasâlu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasâlu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasâlu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasâlu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasâlu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasâlu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Irâqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Irâqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasâlu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Irâqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasâlu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasâlu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasâlu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasâlu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasâlu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasâlu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Irâqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasâlu answered back--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasâlu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasâlu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasâlu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasâlu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqîr_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqîr_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqîr_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqîr_ was a very remarkable _faqîr_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqîr_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqîr_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqîr_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramâjît's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramâjît went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramâjît understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramâjît, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramâjît's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramâjît.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!  Glory to Bikramâjît!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramâjît?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramâjît were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramâjît,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramâjît, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikrû, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqîr's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqîr_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikrû knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqîr_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqîr_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then--oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikrû told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqîr_ agreed, and off went Bikrû with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqîr_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqîr_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqîr_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqîr_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqîr_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that--
+'--Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqîr_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqîr_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqîr_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikrû came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikrû, or Bikramâjît, took the _faqîr's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramâjît! the generous Bikramâjît!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramâjît is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqîr_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqîr_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqîr_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqîr's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqîr]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqîr_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqîr_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pîpal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pîpal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brâhman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brâhman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brâhman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brâhman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brâhman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brâhman?'
+
+Then the Brâhman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lâkh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brâhman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Mîyân Bhûngâ, which is Pânjabî for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhût_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hâth_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Bâdshâhzâdi Phûlî, Princess Flower, or
+Phûlâzâdî, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwál_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalmân origin, and must have been one in actual mediaeval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--
+
+   _Kânâ, kâchrâ, hoch-gardanâ:  yeh tînon kamsât!
+   Jablag has apnâ chale, to koî na pûchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghûl_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhût_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar kâ akhârâ_ or _Indrâsan Sabhâ_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Gharâ_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_châtî_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--
+
+  _Gaderî gader! gaderî gader!
+  Râjâ dî betî chûhâ le giâ gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Râjâ's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pîrhî, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchîs_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahrâmgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjâb in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Hasan Bâno_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahrâmgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahrâmgor and
+Dilârâm_.  Bahrâmgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostân_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrûl_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Râî, through Râwal (_rûl_) = Râo
+= Râî; thus Jasrat Râî = Jasrat Râwal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrûl. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Râma Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shâhpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghâní_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahrâmgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nûnak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nânaksâ (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nânaksâ,
+obviously Nânak Shâh or Bâbâ Nânak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqîr_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahrâmgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfûr, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfûr = Baghbûr = Bagh Pûr, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shâh Pûr = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifûr in the
+same way = Shâh Pûr.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kâjal_. _Kâjal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yâch_
+of Kashmîr see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chû-û-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichrî_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dâl_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himâlayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryâr Shahrâbâd, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sânwâlâ_, _lohár_, _tarkhân_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhût_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhût_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pîpal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhrâ_,
+Panjâbî for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jânn,
+Jinn, Shaitân, 'Ifrît, and Mârid.  They are all mentioned in Musalmân
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_mânushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Mainâ_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in
+folk-tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Donâ_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutnî_ and _paphe-kutnî_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutnî_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dolâ_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjâbî, _lelâ_, _lerâ_,
+_lekrâ_, and _lelkarâ_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjâbî--
+
+  _Nânî kol jâwângû:
+  Motâ tâjâ âwângâ
+  Pher tûn main nûn khâwângâ._
+
+Of the second song--
+
+  _Wan piâ lelkarâ:  wan pî tû.
+  Chal dhamkiriâ!  Dham!  Kâ!  Dhû!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _kâ_,
+_dhû_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkîriâ_ or _dhamkirî_ in Panjâbî is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyâlâ_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopolûchî_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mâmû_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhrâ_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjârâ_ or _banjârâ_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--
+
+  _Bopo Lûchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthî,
+  Thag nâl thagî gai._
+
+  Bopo Lûchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjâbî bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Bâdshâhzâdî._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhântâ is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjâl;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjâbîs.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkhâ
+hâr,_ or nine-_lâkh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkhâ_ means worth nine lâkhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkhâ_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Mahârâjâ of Patiâlâ,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiâlâ.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khân, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khân.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattû, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattû is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khân.  See _Proper Names of Panjâbîs, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakîr,_--Properly _faqîr_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilâyatî_ _fuqrâ_, European _faqîrs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dâyan_.  In the Panjâb a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dâyan kâ mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dâkinî_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jôgi's wonderful cow_--The _jôgi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqîr_, _jôgi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yôgi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kâmdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kâmdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jôgi_ of the tale. _Kâmdhain_ and _Kâmdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--
+
+  _Tû Chhappar Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Deo paneriyâ, Dhoven
+  chucheriyâ, Khâwen khijeriyâ, Dekh chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ, Main
+  kâng sapariyâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tû Lohâr Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Tû deo pharwâ, Main khodûn
+  ghasarwâ, Khilâwen bhainsarwâ, Chowen dûdharwâ, Pilâwen
+  hirnarwâ, Toren singarwâ, Khôden chalarwâ, Nikâlen panarwâ,
+  Dhoven chunjarwâ, Khâwen khijarwâ, Dehk chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ,
+  Main kâng saparwâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhâgavata Purâna_ and the
+_Gul Bakâolâ_, and in the _Amvâr-i-Suhelî_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_mandâ hâl wâng Jatt jharî
+de_--as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjâbî cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Bâdshâh
+Ghariâl.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjâb that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndî_ or _hinâ_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bâr_ or wilds of the Gujrânwâlâ District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bâr, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Gîrî_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gittâ_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjâbî proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Mâsî, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjâb forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daurâ_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--
+
+  _Kyûn garjâe badalâ garkanâe?
+  Gaj karak sâre des;
+  Ohnân hirnîân de than pasmâe:
+  Gitetâ Râm gîâ pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Gitetâ Râm has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khudâ_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kabâbs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyâghra-nâyaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmîrî woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau kî roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihûn kî
+rotî_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--
+
+  _Kahîn mat jâo khâlî pet.
+  Hove mâgh yâ hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--
+
+  _Jo nar totâ mârkar khâve per ke heth, Kuchh sansâ man na
+  dhare, woh hogâ râjâ jeth. Jo mainâ ko mâr khâ, man men rakhe
+  dhîr; Kuchh chintâ man na kare, woh sadâ rahegâ wazîr._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdâr_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdahâ_, _izhdâr_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hâthî_ or _dhaulâ gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Râjâs as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwâr_)
+with sweet cakes (_chûrîs_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Râjâ and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Râjâ himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Mahârâjâ hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowâr_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Mahârâjâ dhaulâ gajpati kidohâî_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for AElian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lotâ_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _râkhas_ = the Sanskrit _râkhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _râkhasa_
+(_râkhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _râkhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tâtar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_râkhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdahâ_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  Chândî dâ merâ chauntrâ, koî sonâ lipâî!
+  Kâne men merâ gûkrû, shâhzâdâ baithâ hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Hadî dâ terâ chauntrâ, koî gobar lipaî!
+  Kâne men terî jûtî; koî gîdar baithâ hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhî,
+  Main bhî rangan men parî,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik sarî, ik balî;
+  Ik hinak mode charhî,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--
+
+  _Ik sarî, dûî balî;
+  Dûî jâî mûnde charhî._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hûî;
+  Chirî rangan charhî;
+  Chirâ bedan karî;
+  Pîpal patte jharî;
+  Mahîn sing jharî;
+  Naîn bahí khârî;
+  Koïl hûî kânî;
+  Bhagtû diwanî;
+  Bandî padnî;
+  Rânî nâchnî;
+  Putr dholkî bajânî;
+  Râjâ sargî bajânî;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pîpal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtû went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shâhzâdî Mirchâ_ or
+_Filfil Shâhzâdî:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwâ_, male, and _chakwî_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brâhmanî
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brâhmanî ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--
+
+  _Chakwâ, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwî!_
+  _Chakwî, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwâ!_
+
+  Chakwâ, shall I come?  No, Chakwî!
+  Chakwî, shall I come?  No, Chakwâ!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mûngo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mûng_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardân_--'Ali Mardân Khân belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmîr, under
+the Emperor Shâh Jahân, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmîr ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamiâ_, said in Kashmîr to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwâ_.  In this tale the _Lamiâ_ is described as being a
+_Wâsdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wâsdeo_ is the same as
+Vâsudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarâma, so Balarâma was a
+Vâsudeva.  Balarâma in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sêsha
+(now Sesh Nâg), a king of serpents, and with Vâsuki (Bâsak Nâg), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vâsuki and Sêsha, is mixed not only with
+Balarâma, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wâsdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamiâ is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediaeval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamiâ or [Greek] Lamia' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibâd_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmîr.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musâlman tales.  Kashmîr is essentially a
+Musalmân country._
+
+_Shalimâr gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardân Khân by a generation, for Nûr Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Dîwân-i-Khâs (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--
+
+  _Agar firdûs ba rû-e-zamîn ast,
+  Hamîn ast o hamîn ast o hamîn ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shâh Jahân built the Shâlimâr gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjît Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangâbal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Harâmukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmîr.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichrî_.--Sweet khichrî consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichrî of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _pâras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardân, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hotî Mardân probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundrâ_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunkâ_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Mâsî_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--
+
+  _Phir gîâ billî ke pâs,
+  'Billî, rî billî, mûsâ khâogî'
+  Khâtî khûnd pâr nâ!
+  Khûnd chanâ de nâ!
+  Râjâ khâtî dande nâ!
+  Râjâ rânî russe nâ!
+  Sapnâ rânî dase nâ!
+  Lâthî sapnâ mâre nâ!
+  Âg lâthî jalâve nâ!
+  Samundar âg bujhâve nâ!
+  Hâthî samundar sukhe nâ!
+  Nâre hâthî bandhe nâ!
+  Mûsâ nâre kâte nâ!
+  Lûngâ phir chorûn? nâ!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Usne kahâ, 'Lap, lap, khâûngî!'
+  Phir gîâ mûsâ ke pâs, 'Mûsâ, re mûsâ, ab khâ jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    nâre katenge.'
+  Phir gîâ nâre ke pâs, 'Nâre, re nâre, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    hâthî bandhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ hâthî ke pâs, 'Hâthî, re hâthî, ab bandhe jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî samundar sûkhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samundar ke pâs, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jâoge?'  'Ham bhî âg bujhâenge.'
+  Phir gîâ âg ke pâs, 'Âg, rî âg, ab bujhâî jâogi?'  'Ham bhî lâthî
+    jalâvenge.'
+  Phir gîâ lâthî ke pâs, 'Lâthî, re lâthî, ab jal jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    sâmp mârenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samp ke pâs, 'Sâmp, re sâmp, ab mâre jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    rânî dasenge?'
+  Phir gîâ rânî ke pâs, 'Rânî, rî rânî, ab dasî jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    râjâ rusenge.'
+  Phir gîâ râjâ ke pâs, 'Râjâ, re raja, ab rânî rus jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khâtî dândenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khâtî ke pâs, 'Khâtî, re khâtî, ab dande jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khund kâtenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khund ke pâs, 'Khund, re khund, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî chanâ denge.'
+  Phir woh chanâ lekar chalâ gîâ?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lîdû_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Râm_--Râma Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kâl_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwâshbrâri, etc_.--The Westarwân range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmîr.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmîr, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladâk_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pîr
+Panjâl and Mid-Himâlayan Range.  Nangâ Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Harâ Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwâshbrâri or Kolahoî, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwân is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khrû and Sotûr, right into the Kashmîr valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwân does not lay his head anywhere near Gwâshbrâri's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khrû, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khrû and Sesh Nâg, traversing most of that lying between Westarwân and
+Gwâshbrâri, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmîr Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pîpal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Parî_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Gâdar, ghar kyâ lâyâ?
+  Kyâ chîz kamâyâ?
+  Ki merâ khâtir pâyâ._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasâlu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjâb, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Sâlivâhana,
+who established the Sâka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjâb his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonân, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Siâlkot and Kallowâl.
+
+_Gurû Gorakhnâth_--The ordinary _deux ex machinâ_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brâhmanical opponent of the mediaeval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Pûran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Pûran Bhagat_.--Is in story Râjâ Rasâlû's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasâlu and
+Pûran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramâditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Irâqi_.--The name of Rasâlu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Irâqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Main âiâ thâ salâm nûn, tûn baithâ pîth maror!
+  Main nahîn terâ râj wandânundâ; main nûn nahîn râj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlân de vich baithîe, tûn ro ro na sunâ! Je tûn merî mâtâ
+  hain, koî mat batlâ! Matte dendî hai mân tain nûn, putar:  gin
+  gin jholî ghat! Châre Khûntân tûn râj kare, par changâ rakhîn
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Thorâ thorâ, betâ, tûn disîn, aur bahotî disî dhûr:
+  Putr jinân de tur chale, aur mâwân chiknâ chûr._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihâlîân, ajj sutâ suthrâ ghâs!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jâhan âeajj dî rât!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Nâga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _âfat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--
+
+  _Sadâ na phûlan torîân, nafrâ:  sadâ na Sâwan hoe:
+  Sadâ na joban thir rahe:  sadâ na jive koe:
+  Sadâ na râjiân hâkimî:  sâda na râjiân des:
+  Sadâ na hove ghar apnâ, nafrâ, bhath piâ pardes_.
+
+  _Tcrîs_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Râkshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nîlâ city_--Most probably Bâgh Nîlâb on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholîe:  na aswân dhalkâe: Tere bete ki 'îvaz main
+  sir desân châe. Nîle-ghorewâlîd Râjâ, munh dhârî, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte âunde, jin khâiâ sârâ jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhâîo!  Dekho koî gali! Tehrî agg dhonkaî, so
+  sir te ân balî! Sûjhanhârî sûjh gae; hun laihndî charhdî jâe!
+  Jithe sânûn sûkh mile, so jhatpat kare upâe!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodînagarî_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjâb
+geography:  Hodînagarî, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjâb, from Siâlkot to
+Jalâlâbâd in Afghânistân beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawâl Pindi or Hazârâ Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rânî Sundrân_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Jâe bûhe te kilkiâ:  lîa nâm Khudâ:
+  Dûron chalke, Rânî Sundrân, terâ nâ:
+  Je, Rânî, tû sakhî hain, kharî faqîrân pâ:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rânî Sundrân, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rânî, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalmân_ word _Khudâ_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasâlû was personating a _Hindu jôgi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab kî pâî mundran?  Kab kâ hûâ faqîr? Kis ghatâ mânion?  Kis
+  kâ lâgâ tîr! Kete mâen mangiâ?  Mere ghar kî mangî bhîkh? Kal
+  kî pâî mundrân!  Kal kâ hûâ faqîr! Na ghat, mâîân, mâniân:  kal
+  kâ lagâ tîr. Kuchh nahîn munh mangî:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhîkh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqîr?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqîr_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Tarqas jariâ tîr motîân; lâlân jarî kumân; Pinde bhasham
+  lagâiâ:  yeh mainân aur rang; Jis bhikhiâ kâ lâbhî hain tû wohî
+  bhikhiâ mang. Tarqas jariâ merâ motîân:  lâlân jarî kumân. Lâl
+  na jânâ bechke, motî be-wattî. Motî apne phir lai; sânûn pakkâ
+  tâm diwâ._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Kahân tumhârî nagari? kahân tumhârâ thâon? Kis râjâ kâ betrâ
+  jôgî? kyâ tumhârâ nâon? Siâlkot hamârî nagarî; wohî hamârâ
+  thâon. Râjâ Sâlivâhan kâ main betrâ:  Lonâ parî merâ mâon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagâe, dekhan terî jâon. Tainûn dekhke chaliâ:  Râjâ
+  Rasâlu merâ nâon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jôgi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Râjâ Sâlivâhan's son:  the fairy Lonâ is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Râjâ Rasâlû is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Bâre andar piâ karanglâ, na is sâs, na pâs. Je Maullâ is nûn
+  zindâ kare, do bâtân kare hamâre sâth. Laihndion charhî badalî,
+  hâthân pâiâ zor: Kehe 'amal kamâio, je jhaldi nahîn ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  Asîn bhî kadîn duniyân te inhân the;
+  Râjâ nal degrîân pagân banhde,
+    Turde pabhân bhâr.
+  Âunde tara, nachâunde tara,
+    Hânke sawâr.
+  Zara na mitthî jhaldî Râjâ
+    Hun sau manân dâ bhâr.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjâb_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Nîle-ghorewâliâ Râjâ, niven neze âh!
+  Agge Râjâ Sarkap hai, sir laisî ulâh!
+  Bhâla châhen jo apnâ, tân pichhe hî mur jâh!
+  Dûron bîrâ chukiâ ithe pahutâ âh:
+  Sarkap dâ sir katke tote kassân châr.
+  Tainûn banâsân wohtrî, main bansân mihrâj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Râjâ, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Râjâ Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajpût katdâ mâromâr, Paske lârhân kapiân sittîâ
+  sîne bhâr. Dharîn dharin bheren bhanîân aur bhane ghariâl! Taîn
+  nûn, Râjâ, marsî ate sânûn kharsî hâl._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Chhotî nagarî dâ waskîn, Rânî wadî karî pukâr.
+  Jân main niklân bâhar, tân merî tan nachâve dhâl.
+  Fajre rotî tân khâsân, sir laisân utâr._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Râjâ_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Sakhî samundar jamiân, Râjâ lîo rud gar thâe: Âo to charho
+  merî pîth te, kot tudh kharân tarpâe. Urde pankhî main na desân,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Râjâ, pârâ khelsiâ, jeb hâth to
+  pâe._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Râjâ
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Na ro, Râjiâ bholiâ; nâ main charsân ghâh,
+  Na main tursân râh.
+  Dahnâ dast uthâeke jeb de vich pâh!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Râjâ, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwin ithe basante lok! Sarân dharân han
+  bâziân, jehrî Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwen, ithe
+  basanlâ lok! Sarân dharân te bâzian!  Jehrî Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Hor râje murghâbîân, tu râjâ shâhbâz!
+  Bandî bânân âe band khalâs kar! umar terî drâz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Mûrtî Hills_.--Near Râwal Pindî to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilân_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhî_) on the top of Pindî Point at the Murree (_Marhî_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pându, and
+a great hero in the _Mahâbhârata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mânsarobar Lake_.--The Mânasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Mâphan) in the
+Kailâsa Range of the Himâlayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladâk_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramâjît_.--The great Vikramâditya of Ujjayinî,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikrû is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikrâmaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Râm and Vich Râm.  He also goes by the name of
+Bîr Bikramâjît or Vîr Vikram, i.e.  Vikramâditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhiâ_ in the original form; _âdhâ_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachiân diân Mâwân,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjâb.
+The object is to attract _faqîrs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'ljî_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjâb
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: Tales of the Punjab
+
+Author: Flora Annie Steel
+
+Posting Date: October 12, 2014 [EBook #6145]
+Release Date: July, 2004
+First Posted: November 19, 2002
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopoluchi
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwashbrari, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasalu Was Born
+How Raja Rasalu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasalu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasalu Became a Jogi
+How Raja Rasalu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasalu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasalu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasalu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbar_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprasi_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbar_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_ap ke darshan ae_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasalu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniya, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Ram Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopoluchi brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniya's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--
+
+'Once upon a time--'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brahman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brahman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brahman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brahman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahramgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahramgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahramgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahramgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrul whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul took Prince Bahramgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahramgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shahpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahramgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shahpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrul, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahramgor and the Fairy Princess Shahpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrul used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahramgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--
+Prince Bahramgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahramgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahramgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shahpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shahpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shahpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahramgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrul appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanak
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanak Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahramgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanak Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanak Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanak Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shahpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahramgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shahpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahramgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahramgor, and ordered Princess Shahpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahramgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichri_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichri_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichri_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichri_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichri_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichri>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and--'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichri_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichri_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichri_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichri_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichri_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichri_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichri_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichri_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichri_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichri_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichri_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichri_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichri_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one
+circumstance,--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakir_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pipal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pipal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pipal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pipal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pipal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa--'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopoluchi, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopoluchi said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopoluchi's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopoluchi could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopoluchi of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--
+
+  'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopoluchi, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--
+
+     'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopoluchi it began to howl--
+
+  'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopoluchi journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopoluchi had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopoluchi, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopoluchi, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopoluchi.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopoluchi pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopoluchi dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopoluchi reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopoluchi.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopoluchi at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopoluchi had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopoluchi and the robber]
+
+Now Bopoluchi was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopoluchi was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopoluchi, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopoluchi gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopoluchi went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopoluchi's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brahman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him
+Vicky--Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakir_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jogi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jogi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jogi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jogi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jogi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jogi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jogi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jogi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jogi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichri_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichri_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the--_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichri_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brahman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brahman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brahman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brahman first asked a _pipal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pipal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brahman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brahman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brahman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brahman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brahman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by--'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came
+walking by--no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brahman--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage--'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord--'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--back
+already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--before
+the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--
+
+'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--
+
+  'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--
+
+  'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pipal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pipal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pipal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pipal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pipal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pipal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pipal_ replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pipal_ tree, and the _pipal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pipal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pipal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pipal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo--'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--I
+should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jogi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jogi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jogi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jogi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jogi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jogi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jogi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jogi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jogi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichri_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichri_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jogi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jogi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jogi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jogi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jogi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jogi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jogi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jogi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jogi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brahman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brahman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jogi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWASHBRARI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwan was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Haramukh, and Nanga Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwan, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwashbrari, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwan from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwan is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwashbrari smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwan, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwashbrari was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwan shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwashbrari's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwan, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwashbrari's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwashbrari! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwashbrari smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwan--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwashbrari's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwashbrari's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwan stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmir, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwashbrari.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nim_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazir, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless--'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Salbahan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhra, had a fair young son
+called Prince Puran; but the younger, by name Lona, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Salbahan's mind against his son, young
+Puran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Salbahan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Puran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknath came to the place, and finding Prince
+Puran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Puran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqir_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknath as a disciple, and
+was called Puran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknath gave him leave to visit his native town, and Puran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Salbahan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Puran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhra, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqir_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Puran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lona, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqir_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Salbahan.
+
+Then Puran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Salbahan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lona, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqir_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Puran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lona! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Puran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lona returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jogis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasalu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasalu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasalu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Salbahan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasalu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jogis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasalu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Salbahan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasalu called scornfully to him across the hall--
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lona answered through her tears--
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasalu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasalu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasalu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasalu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasalu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasalu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasalu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasalu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasalu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasalu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasalu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasalu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasalu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasalu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasalu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasalu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasalu was moved to pity, and said--
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasalu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Iraqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasalu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasalu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasalu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Iraqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasalu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasalu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasalu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasalu rode up on Bhaunr
+Iraqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasalu, son of Raja Salbahan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasalus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasalu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasalus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasalu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasalu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasalu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundran, he saw an old Jogi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasalu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jogi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundran, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasalu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jogi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasalu would not be denied, so the Jogi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jogi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundran.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jogi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasalu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasalu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jogi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasalu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundran.
+
+Then the Jogi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasalu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jogi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasalu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundran's
+palace, in his Jogi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jogi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundran, from within, heard Rasalu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasalu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasalu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundran's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasalu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundran rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasalu's hands, saying proudly--
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqir_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jogi, of me?'
+
+And Rasalu, in his Jogi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqir_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundran, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasalu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jogi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasalu returned to the gate, and sang--
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundran rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasalu smiled a scornful smile, saying--
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jogi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundran took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jogi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundran gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jogi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasalu, taking the alms, replied--
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Salbahan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasalu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jogi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasalu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundran waited for the Jogi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jogi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundran.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jogi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundran; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jogi Rasalu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasalu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasalu, sitting down beside it, said--
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasalu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasalu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasalu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasalu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasalu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasalu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Iraqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasalu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasalu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasalu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasalu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasalu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasalu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasalu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasalu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasalu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasalu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasalu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasalu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasalu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasalu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasalu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasalu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasalu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasalu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasalu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasalu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasalu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Iraqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Iraqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasalu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Iraqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasalu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasalu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasalu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasalu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasalu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasalu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Iraqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasalu answered back--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasalu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasalu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasalu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasalu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqir_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqir_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqir_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqir_ was a very remarkable _faqir_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqir_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqir_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqir_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramajit's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramajit went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramajit understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramajit, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramajit's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramajit.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramajit!  Glory to Bikramajit!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramajit!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramajit?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramajit were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramajit,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramajit, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikru, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqir's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqir_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikru knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqir_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqir_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then--oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikru told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqir_ agreed, and off went Bikru with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqir_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqir_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqir_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqir_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqir_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that--
+'--Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqir_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqir_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqir_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikru came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikru, or Bikramajit, took the _faqir's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramajit! the generous Bikramajit!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramajit is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqir_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqir_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqir_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqir's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqir]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqir_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqir_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pipal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pipal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brahman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brahman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brahman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brahman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brahman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brahman?'
+
+Then the Brahman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lakh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brahman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Miyan Bhunga, which is Panjabi for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhut_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hath_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Badshahzadi Phuli, Princess Flower, or
+Phulazadi, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwal_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalman origin, and must have been one in actual mediaeval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--
+
+   _Kana, kachra, hoch-gardana:  yeh tinon kamsat!
+   Jablag has apna chale, to koi na puchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghul_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhut_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar ka akhara_ or _Indrasan Sabha_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Ghara_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_chati_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--
+
+  _Gaderi gader! gaderi gader!
+  Raja di beti chuha le gia gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Raja's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pirhi, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchis_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahramgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjab in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahramgor and the Fairy Hasan Bano_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahramgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahramgor and
+Dilaram_.  Bahramgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostan_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrul_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Rai, through Rawal (_rul_) = Rao
+= Rai; thus Jasrat Rai = Jasrat Rawal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrul. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Rama Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shahpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghani_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahramgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nunak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nanaksa (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nanaksa,
+obviously Nanak Shah or Baba Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqir_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahramgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfur, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfur = Baghbur = Bagh Pur, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shah Pur = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifur in the
+same way = Shah Pur.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kajal_. _Kajal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yach_
+of Kashmir see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chu-u-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichri_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dal_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himalayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryar Shahrabad, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sanwala_, _lohar_, _tarkhan_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhut_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhut_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pipal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhra_,
+Panjabi for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jann,
+Jinn, Shaitan, 'Ifrit, and Marid.  They are all mentioned in Musalman
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_manushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Maina_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in
+folk-tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Dona_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutni_ and _paphe-kutni_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutni_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dola_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjabi, _lela_, _lera_,
+_lekra_, and _lelkara_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjabi--
+
+  _Nani kol jawangu:
+  Mota taja awanga
+  Pher tun main nun khawanga._
+
+Of the second song--
+
+  _Wan pia lelkara:  wan pi tu.
+  Chal dhamkiria!  Dham!  Ka!  Dhu!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _ka_,
+_dhu_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkiria_ or _dhamkiri_ in Panjabi is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyala_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopoluchi_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mamu_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhra_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjara_ or _banjara_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--
+
+  _Bopo Luchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthi,
+  Thag nal thagi gai._
+
+  Bopo Luchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjabi bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Badshahzadi._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhanta is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjal;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjabis.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkha
+har,_ or nine-_lakh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkha_ means worth nine lakhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkha_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Maharaja of Patiala,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiala.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khan, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khan.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattu, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattu is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khan.  See _Proper Names of Panjabis, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakir,_--Properly _faqir_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilayati_ _fuqra_, European _faqirs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dayan_.  In the Panjab a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjab Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dayan ka mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dakini_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jogi's wonderful cow_--The _jogi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqir_, _jogi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yogi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kamdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kamdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jogi_ of the tale. _Kamdhain_ and _Kamdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--
+
+  _Tu Chhappar Das, Main Kang Das, Deo paneriya, Dhoven
+  chucheriya, Khawen khijeriya, Dekh chiriya ka chuchla, Main
+  kang sapariya._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichri_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tu Lohar Das, Main Kang Das, Tu deo pharwa, Main khodun
+  ghasarwa, Khilawen bhainsarwa, Chowen dudharwa, Pilawen
+  hirnarwa, Toren singarwa, Khoden chalarwa, Nikalen panarwa,
+  Dhoven chunjarwa, Khawen khijarwa, Dehk chiriya ka chuchla,
+  Main kang saparwa._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichri_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhagavata Purana_ and the
+_Gul Bakaola_, and in the _Amvar-i-Suheli_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_manda hal wang Jatt jhari
+de_--as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjabi cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Badshah
+Gharial.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjab that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndi_ or _hina_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bar_ or wilds of the Gujranwala District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bar, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Giri_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gitta_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjabi proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Masi, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjab forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daura_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--
+
+  _Kyun garjae badala garkanae?
+  Gaj karak sare des;
+  Ohnan hirnian de than pasmae:
+  Giteta Ram gia pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Giteta Ram has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khuda_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kababs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyaghra-nayaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmiri woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau ki roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihun ki
+roti_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--
+
+  _Kahin mat jao khali pet.
+  Hove magh ya hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--
+
+  _Jo nar tota markar khave per ke heth, Kuchh sansa man na
+  dhare, woh hoga raja jeth. Jo maina ko mar kha, man men rakhe
+  dhir; Kuchh chinta man na kare, woh sada rahega wazir._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdar_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdaha_, _izhdar_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hathi_ or _dhaula gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Rajas as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwar_)
+with sweet cakes (_churis_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Raja and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Raja himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Maharaja hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowar_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Maharaja dhaula gajpati kidohai_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for AElian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lota_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _rakhas_ = the Sanskrit _rakhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _rakhasa_
+(_rakhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _rakhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tatar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_rakhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjab Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdaha_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  Chandi da mera chauntra, koi sona lipai!
+  Kane men mera gukru, shahzada baitha hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Hadi da tera chauntra, koi gobar lipai!
+  Kane men teri juti; koi gidar baitha hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhi,
+  Main bhi rangan men pari,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik sari, ik bali;
+  Ik hinak mode charhi,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--
+
+  _Ik sari, dui bali;
+  Dui jai munde charhi._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hui;
+  Chiri rangan charhi;
+  Chira bedan kari;
+  Pipal patte jhari;
+  Mahin sing jhari;
+  Nain bahi khari;
+  Koil hui kani;
+  Bhagtu diwani;
+  Bandi padni;
+  Rani nachni;
+  Putr dholki bajani;
+  Raja sargi bajani;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pipal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtu went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shahzadi Mircha_ or
+_Filfil Shahzadi:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwa_, male, and _chakwi_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brahmani
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brahmani ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--
+
+  _Chakwa, main awan?  Na, Chakwi!_
+  _Chakwi, main awan?  Na, Chakwa!_
+
+  Chakwa, shall I come?  No, Chakwi!
+  Chakwi, shall I come?  No, Chakwa!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mungo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mung_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardan_--'Ali Mardan Khan belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmir, under
+the Emperor Shah Jahan, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmir ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamia_, said in Kashmir to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwa_.  In this tale the _Lamia_ is described as being a
+_Wasdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wasdeo_ is the same as
+Vasudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarama, so Balarama was a
+Vasudeva.  Balarama in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sesha
+(now Sesh Nag), a king of serpents, and with Vasuki (Basak Nag), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vasuki and Sesha, is mixed not only with
+Balarama, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wasdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamia is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediaeval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamia or [Greek] Lamia' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibad_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmir.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musalman tales.  Kashmir is essentially a
+Musalman country._
+
+_Shalimar gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardan Khan by a generation, for Nur Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--
+
+  _Agar firdus ba ru-e-zamin ast,
+  Hamin ast o hamin ast o hamin ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shah Jahan built the Shalimar gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjit Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangabal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Haramukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmir.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichri_.--Sweet khichri consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichri of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _paras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardan, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hoti Mardan probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundra_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunka_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Masi_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--
+
+  _Phir gia billi ke pas,
+  'Billi, ri billi, musa khaogi'
+  Khati khund par na!
+  Khund chana de na!
+  Raja khati dande na!
+  Raja rani russe na!
+  Sapna rani dase na!
+  Lathi sapna mare na!
+  Ag lathi jalave na!
+  Samundar ag bujhave na!
+  Hathi samundar sukhe na!
+  Nare hathi bandhe na!
+  Musa nare kate na!
+  Lunga phir chorun? na!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Usne kaha, 'Lap, lap, khaungi!'
+  Phir gia musa ke pas, 'Musa, re musa, ab kha jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    nare katenge.'
+  Phir gia nare ke pas, 'Nare, re nare, ab kate jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    hathi bandhenge.'
+  Phir gia hathi ke pas, 'Hathi, re hathi, ab bandhe jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi samundar sukhenge.'
+  Phir gia samundar ke pas, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jaoge?'  'Ham bhi ag bujhaenge.'
+  Phir gia ag ke pas, 'Ag, ri ag, ab bujhai jaogi?'  'Ham bhi lathi
+    jalavenge.'
+  Phir gia lathi ke pas, 'Lathi, re lathi, ab jal jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    samp marenge.'
+  Phir gia samp ke pas, 'Samp, re samp, ab mare jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    rani dasenge?'
+  Phir gia rani ke pas, 'Rani, ri rani, ab dasi jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    raja rusenge.'
+  Phir gia raja ke pas, 'Raja, re raja, ab rani rus jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi khati dandenge.'
+  Phir gia khati ke pas, 'Khati, re khati, ab dande jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi khund katenge.'
+  Phir gia khund ke pas, 'Khund, re khund, ab kate jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi chana denge.'
+  Phir woh chana lekar chala gia?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lidu_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Ram_--Rama Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kal_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwashbrari, etc_.--The Westarwan range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmir.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmir, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladak_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pir
+Panjal and Mid-Himalayan Range.  Nanga Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Hara Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwashbrari or Kolahoi, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwan is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khru and Sotur, right into the Kashmir valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwashbrari's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwan does not lay his head anywhere near Gwashbrari's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khru, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khru and Sesh Nag, traversing most of that lying between Westarwan and
+Gwashbrari, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmir Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pipal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Pari_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Gadar, ghar kya laya?
+  Kya chiz kamaya?
+  Ki mera khatir paya._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasalu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjab, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Salivahana,
+who established the Saka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjab his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonan, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Sialkot and Kallowal.
+
+_Guru Gorakhnath_--The ordinary _deux ex machina_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brahmanical opponent of the mediaeval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Puran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Puran Bhagat_.--Is in story Raja Rasalu's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasalu and
+Puran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramaditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Iraqi_.--The name of Rasalu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Iraqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Main aia tha salam nun, tun baitha pith maror!
+  Main nahin tera raj wandanunda; main nun nahin raj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlan de vich baithie, tun ro ro na suna! Je tun meri mata
+  hain, koi mat batla! Matte dendi hai man tain nun, putar:  gin
+  gin jholi ghat! Chare Khuntan tun raj kare, par changa rakhin
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Thora thora, beta, tun disin, aur bahoti disi dhur:
+  Putr jinan de tur chale, aur mawan chikna chur._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihalian, ajj suta suthra ghas!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jahan aeajj di rat!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Naga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _afat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--
+
+  _Sada na phulan torian, nafra:  sada na Sawan hoe:
+  Sada na joban thir rahe:  sada na jive koe:
+  Sada na rajian hakimi:  sada na rajian des:
+  Sada na hove ghar apna, nafra, bhath pia pardes_.
+
+  _Tcris_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Rakshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nila city_--Most probably Bagh Nilab on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholie:  na aswan dhalkae: Tere bete ki 'ivaz main
+  sir desan chae. Nile-ghorewalid Raja, munh dhari, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte aunde, jin khaia sara jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhaio!  Dekho koi gali! Tehri agg dhonkai, so
+  sir te an bali! Sujhanhari sujh gae; hun laihndi charhdi jae!
+  Jithe sanun sukh mile, so jhatpat kare upae!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodinagari_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjab
+geography:  Hodinagari, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjab, from Sialkot to
+Jalalabad in Afghanistan beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawal Pindi or Hazara Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rani Sundran_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Jae buhe te kilkia:  lia nam Khuda:
+  Duron chalke, Rani Sundran, tera na:
+  Je, Rani, tu sakhi hain, khari faqiran pa:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rani Sundran, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rani, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalman_ word _Khuda_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasalu was personating a _Hindu jogi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab ki pai mundran?  Kab ka hua faqir? Kis ghata manion?  Kis
+  ka laga tir! Kete maen mangia?  Mere ghar ki mangi bhikh? Kal
+  ki pai mundran!  Kal ka hua faqir! Na ghat, maian, manian:  kal
+  ka laga tir. Kuchh nahin munh mangi:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhikh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqir?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqir_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Tarqas jaria tir motian; lalan jari kuman; Pinde bhasham
+  lagaia:  yeh mainan aur rang; Jis bhikhia ka labhi hain tu wohi
+  bhikhia mang. Tarqas jaria mera motian:  lalan jari kuman. Lal
+  na jana bechke, moti be-watti. Moti apne phir lai; sanun pakka
+  tam diwa._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Kahan tumhari nagari? kahan tumhara thaon? Kis raja ka betra
+  jogi? kya tumhara naon? Sialkot hamari nagari; wohi hamara
+  thaon. Raja Salivahan ka main betra:  Lona pari mera maon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagae, dekhan teri jaon. Tainun dekhke chalia:  Raja
+  Rasalu mera naon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jogi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Raja Salivahan's son:  the fairy Lona is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Raja Rasalu is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Bare andar pia karangla, na is sas, na pas. Je Maulla is nun
+  zinda kare, do batan kare hamare sath. Laihndion charhi badali,
+  hathan paia zor: Kehe 'amal kamaio, je jhaldi nahin ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  Asin bhi kadin duniyan te inhan the;
+  Raja nal degrian pagan banhde,
+    Turde pabhan bhar.
+  Aunde tara, nachaunde tara,
+    Hanke sawar.
+  Zara na mitthi jhaldi Raja
+    Hun sau manan da bhar.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjab_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Nile-ghorewalia Raja, niven neze ah!
+  Agge Raja Sarkap hai, sir laisi ulah!
+  Bhala chahen jo apna, tan pichhe hi mur jah!
+  Duron bira chukia ithe pahuta ah:
+  Sarkap da sir katke tote kassan char.
+  Tainun banasan wohtri, main bansan mihraj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Raja, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Raja Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajput katda maromar, Paske larhan kapian sittia
+  sine bhar. Dharin dharin bheren bhanian aur bhane gharial! Tain
+  nun, Raja, marsi ate sanun kharsi hal._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Chhoti nagari da waskin, Rani wadi kari pukar.
+  Jan main niklan bahar, tan meri tan nachave dhal.
+  Fajre roti tan khasan, sir laisan utar._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Raja_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Sakhi samundar jamian, Raja lio rud gar thae: Ao to charho
+  meri pith te, kot tudh kharan tarpae. Urde pankhi main na desan,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Raja, para khelsia, jeb hath to
+  pae._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Raja
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Na ro, Rajia bholia; na main charsan ghah,
+  Na main tursan rah.
+  Dahna dast uthaeke jeb de vich pah!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Raja, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Dhal, we pasa dhalwin ithe basante lok! Saran dharan han
+  bazian, jehri Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pasa dhalwen, ithe
+  basanla lok! Saran dharan te bazian!  Jehri Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Hor raje murghabian, tu raja shahbaz!
+  Bandi banan ae band khalas kar! umar teri draz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Murti Hills_.--Near Rawal Pindi to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilan_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhi_) on the top of Pindi Point at the Murree (_Marhi_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pandu, and
+a great hero in the _Mahabharata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mansarobar Lake_.--The Manasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Maphan) in the
+Kailasa Range of the Himalayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladak_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramajit_.--The great Vikramaditya of Ujjayini,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikru is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikramaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Ram and Vich Ram.  He also goes by the name of
+Bir Bikramajit or Vir Vikram, i.e.  Vikramaditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhia_ in the original form; _adha_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachian dian Mawan,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjab.
+The object is to attract _faqirs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'lji_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjab
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
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+Title: Tales Of The Punjab
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+Author: Flora Annie Steel
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
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+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks
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+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopoluchi
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwashbrari, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasalu Was Born
+How Raja Rasalu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasalu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasalu Became a Jogi
+How Raja Rasalu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasalu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasalu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasalu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbar_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprasi_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbar_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_ap ke darshan ae_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasalu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniya, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Ram Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopoluchi brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniya's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--
+
+'Once upon a time--'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brahman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brahman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brahman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brahman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahramgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahramgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahramgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahramgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrul whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul took Prince Bahramgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahramgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shahpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahramgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shahpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrul, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahramgor and the Fairy Princess Shahpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrul used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahramgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--
+Prince Bahramgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahramgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahramgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shahpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shahpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shahpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahramgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrul appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrul was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanak
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanak Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahramgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanak Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanak Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanak Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shahpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahramgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shahpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahramgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahramgor, and ordered Princess Shahpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahramgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichri_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichri_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichri_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichri_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichri_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichri>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and---'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichri_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichri_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichri_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichri_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichri_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichri_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichri_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichri_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichri_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichri_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichri_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichri_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichri_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one circumstance,
+--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakir_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pipal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pipal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pipal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pipal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pipal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa---'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopoluchi, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopoluchi said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopoluchi's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopoluchi could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopoluchi of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--
+
+  'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopoluchi, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--
+
+     'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopoluchi it began to howl--
+
+  'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopoluchi journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopoluchi had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopoluchi, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopoluchi, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopoluchi.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopoluchi pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopoluchi dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopoluchi reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopoluchi.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopoluchi at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopoluchi had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopoluchi and the robber]
+
+Now Bopoluchi was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopoluchi was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopoluchi, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopoluchi gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopoluchi went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopoluchi's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brahman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him Vicky--
+Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakir_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jogi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jogi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jogi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jogi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jogi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jogi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jogi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jogi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jogi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichri_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichri_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichri_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the---_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichri_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brahman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brahman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brahman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brahman first asked a _pipal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pipal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brahman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brahman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brahman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brahman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brahman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by--'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came
+walking by---no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brahman---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord---'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--
+back already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--
+before the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--
+
+'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--
+
+  'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--
+
+  'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pipal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pipal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pipal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pipal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pipal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pipal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pipal_ replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pipal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pipal_ tree, and the _pipal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pipal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pipal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pipal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo---'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--
+I should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jogi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jogi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jogi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jogi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jogi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jogi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jogi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jogi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jogi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichri_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichri_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jogi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jogi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jogi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jogi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jogi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jogi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jogi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jogi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jogi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brahman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brahman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jogi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWASHBRARI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwan was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Haramukh, and Nanga Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwan, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwashbrari, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwan from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwan is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwashbrari smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwan, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwashbrari was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwan shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwashbrari's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwan, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwashbrari's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwashbrari! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwashbrari smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwan--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwashbrari's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwashbrari's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwan stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmir, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwashbrari.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nim_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazir, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless---'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Salbahan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhra, had a fair young son
+called Prince Puran; but the younger, by name Lona, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Salbahan's mind against his son, young
+Puran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Salbahan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Puran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknath came to the place, and finding Prince
+Puran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Puran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqir_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknath as a disciple, and
+was called Puran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknath gave him leave to visit his native town, and Puran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Salbahan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Puran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhra, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqir_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Puran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lona, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqir_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Salbahan.
+
+Then Puran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Salbahan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lona, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqir_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Puran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lona! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Puran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lona returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jogis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasalu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasalu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasalu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Salbahan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasalu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jogis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasalu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Salbahan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasalu called scornfully to him across the hall--
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lona answered through her tears--
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasalu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasalu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasalu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasalu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasalu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasalu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasalu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasalu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasalu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasalu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasalu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasalu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasalu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasalu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasalu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasalu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasalu was moved to pity, and said--
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasalu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Iraqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasalu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasalu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasalu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Iraqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasalu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasalu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasalu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasalu rode up on Bhaunr
+Iraqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasalu, son of Raja Salbahan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasalus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasalu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasalus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasalu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasalu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasalu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundran, he saw an old Jogi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasalu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jogi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundran, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasalu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jogi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasalu would not be denied, so the Jogi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jogi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundran.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jogi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasalu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasalu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jogi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasalu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundran.
+
+Then the Jogi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasalu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jogi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasalu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundran's
+palace, in his Jogi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jogi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundran, from within, heard Rasalu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasalu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasalu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundran's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasalu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundran rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasalu's hands, saying proudly--
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqir_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jogi, of me?'
+
+And Rasalu, in his Jogi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqir_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundran, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasalu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jogi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasalu returned to the gate, and sang--
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundran rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasalu smiled a scornful smile, saying--
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jogi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundran took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jogi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundran gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jogi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasalu, taking the alms, replied--
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Salbahan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasalu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jogi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasalu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundran waited for the Jogi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jogi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundran.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jogi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundran; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jogi Rasalu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasalu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasalu, sitting down beside it, said--
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasalu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasalu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasalu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasalu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasalu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasalu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Iraqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasalu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasalu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasalu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasalu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasalu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasalu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasalu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasalu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasalu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasalu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasalu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasalu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasalu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasalu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasalu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasalu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasalu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasalu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasalu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasalu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasalu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Iraqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Iraqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasalu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Iraqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasalu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasalu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasalu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasalu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasalu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasalu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Iraqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasalu answered back--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasalu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasalu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasalu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasalu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqir_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqir_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqir_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqir_ was a very remarkable _faqir_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqir_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqir_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqir_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramajit's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramajit went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramajit understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramajit, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramajit's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramajit.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramajit!  Glory to Bikramajit!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramajit!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramajit?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramajit were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramajit,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramajit, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikru, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqir's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqir_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikru knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqir_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqir_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then--oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikru told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqir_ agreed, and off went Bikru with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqir_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqir_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqir_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqir_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqir_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that---
+'---Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqir_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqir_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqir_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikru came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikru, or Bikramajit, took the _faqir's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramajit! the generous Bikramajit!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramajit is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqir_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqir_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqir_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqir's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqir]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqir_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqir_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pipal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pipal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brahman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brahman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brahman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brahman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brahman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brahman?'
+
+Then the Brahman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lakh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brahman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Miyan Bhunga, which is Panjabi for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhut_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hath_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Badshahzadi Phuli, Princess Flower, or
+Phulazadi, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwal_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalman origin, and must have been one in actual mediaeval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--
+
+   _Kana, kachra, hoch-gardana:  yeh tinon kamsat!
+   Jablag has apna chale, to koi na puchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghul_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhut_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar ka akhara_ or _Indrasan Sabha_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Ghara_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_chati_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--
+
+  _Gaderi gader! gaderi gader!
+  Raja di beti chuha le gia gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Raja's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pirhi, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchis_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahramgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjab in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahramgor and the Fairy Hasan Bano_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahramgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahramgor and
+Dilaram_.  Bahramgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostan_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrul_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Rai, through Rawal (_rul_) = Rao
+= Rai; thus Jasrat Rai = Jasrat Rawal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrul. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Rama Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shahpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghani_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahramgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nunak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nanaksa (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nanaksa,
+obviously Nanak Shah or Baba Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqir_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahramgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfur, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfur = Baghbur = Bagh Pur, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shah Pur = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifur in the
+same way = Shah Pur.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kajal_. _Kajal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yach_
+of Kashmir see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chu-u-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichri_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dal_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himalayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryar Shahrabad, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sanwala_, _lohar_, _tarkhan_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhut_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhut_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pipal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhra_,
+Panjabi for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jann,
+Jinn, Shaitan, 'Ifrit, and Marid.  They are all mentioned in Musalman
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_manushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Maina_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in folk-
+tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Dona_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutni_ and _paphe-kutni_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutni_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dola_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjabi, _lela_, _lera_,
+_lekra_, and _lelkara_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjabi--
+
+  _Nani kol jawangu:
+  Mota taja awanga
+  Pher tun main nun khawanga._
+
+Of the second song--
+
+  _Wan pia lelkara:  wan pi tu.
+  Chal dhamkiria!  Dham!  Ka!  Dhu!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _ka_,
+_dhu_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkiria_ or _dhamkiri_ in Panjabi is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyala_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopoluchi_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mamu_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhra_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjara_ or _banjara_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--
+
+  _Bopo Luchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthi,
+  Thag nal thagi gai._
+
+  Bopo Luchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjabi bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Badshahzadi._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhanta is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjal;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjabis.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkha
+har,_ or nine-_lakh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkha_ means worth nine lakhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkha_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Maharaja of Patiala,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiala.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khan, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khan.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattu, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattu is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khan.  See _Proper Names of Panjabis, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakir,_--Properly _faqir_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilayati_ _fuqra_, European _faqirs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dayan_.  In the Panjab a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjab Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dayan ka mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dakini_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jogi's wonderful cow_--The _jogi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqir_, _jogi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yogi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kamdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kamdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jogi_ of the tale. _Kamdhain_ and _Kamdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--
+
+  _Tu Chhappar Das, Main Kang Das, Deo paneriya, Dhoven
+  chucheriya, Khawen khijeriya, Dekh chiriya ka chuchla, Main
+  kang sapariya._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichri_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tu Lohar Das, Main Kang Das, Tu deo pharwa, Main khodun
+  ghasarwa, Khilawen bhainsarwa, Chowen dudharwa, Pilawen
+  hirnarwa, Toren singarwa, Khoden chalarwa, Nikalen panarwa,
+  Dhoven chunjarwa, Khawen khijarwa, Dehk chiriya ka chuchla,
+  Main kang saparwa._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichri_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhagavata Purana_ and the
+_Gul Bakaola_, and in the _Amvar-i-Suheli_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_manda hal wang Jatt jhari de_--
+as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjabi cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Badshah
+Gharial.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjab that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndi_ or _hina_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bar_ or wilds of the Gujranwala District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bar, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Giri_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gitta_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjabi proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Masi, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjab forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daura_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--
+
+  _Kyun garjae badala garkanae?
+  Gaj karak sare des;
+  Ohnan hirnian de than pasmae:
+  Giteta Ram gia pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Giteta Ram has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khuda_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kababs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyaghra-nayaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmiri woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau ki roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihun ki
+roti_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--
+
+  _Kahin mat jao khali pet.
+  Hove magh ya hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--
+
+  _Jo nar tota markar khave per ke heth, Kuchh sansa man na
+  dhare, woh hoga raja jeth. Jo maina ko mar kha, man men rakhe
+  dhir; Kuchh chinta man na kare, woh sada rahega wazir._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdar_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdaha_, _izhdar_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hathi_ or _dhaula gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Rajas as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwar_)
+with sweet cakes (_churis_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Raja and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Raja himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Maharaja hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowar_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Maharaja dhaula gajpati kidohai_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for AElian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lota_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _rakhas_ = the Sanskrit _rakhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _rakhasa_
+(_rakhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _rakhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tatar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_rakhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjab Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdaha_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  Chandi da mera chauntra, koi sona lipai!
+  Kane men mera gukru, shahzada baitha hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Hadi da tera chauntra, koi gobar lipai!
+  Kane men teri juti; koi gidar baitha hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhi,
+  Main bhi rangan men pari,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik sari, ik bali;
+  Ik hinak mode charhi,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--
+
+  _Ik sari, dui bali;
+  Dui jai munde charhi._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hui;
+  Chiri rangan charhi;
+  Chira bedan kari;
+  Pipal patte jhari;
+  Mahin sing jhari;
+  Nain bahi khari;
+  Koil hui kani;
+  Bhagtu diwani;
+  Bandi padni;
+  Rani nachni;
+  Putr dholki bajani;
+  Raja sargi bajani;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pipal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtu went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shahzadi Mircha_ or
+_Filfil Shahzadi:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwa_, male, and _chakwi_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brahmani
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brahmani ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--
+
+  _Chakwa, main awan?  Na, Chakwi!_
+  _Chakwi, main awan?  Na, Chakwa!_
+
+  Chakwa, shall I come?  No, Chakwi!
+  Chakwi, shall I come?  No, Chakwa!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mungo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mung_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardan_--'Ali Mardan Khan belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmir, under
+the Emperor Shah Jahan, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmir ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamia_, said in Kashmir to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwa_.  In this tale the _Lamia_ is described as being a
+_Wasdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wasdeo_ is the same as
+Vasudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarama, so Balarama was a
+Vasudeva.  Balarama in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sesha
+(now Sesh Nag), a king of serpents, and with Vasuki (Basak Nag), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vasuki and Sesha, is mixed not only with
+Balarama, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wasdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamia is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediaeval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamia or [Greek] Lamia' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibad_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmir.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musalman tales.  Kashmir is essentially a
+Musalman country._
+
+_Shalimar gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardan Khan by a generation, for Nur Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--
+
+  _Agar firdus ba ru-e-zamin ast,
+  Hamin ast o hamin ast o hamin ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shah Jahan built the Shalimar gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjit Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangabal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Haramukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmir.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichri_.--Sweet khichri consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichri of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _paras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardan, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hoti Mardan probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundra_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunka_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Masi_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--
+
+  _Phir gia billi ke pas,
+  'Billi, ri billi, musa khaogi'
+  Khati khund par na!
+  Khund chana de na!
+  Raja khati dande na!
+  Raja rani russe na!
+  Sapna rani dase na!
+  Lathi sapna mare na!
+  Ag lathi jalave na!
+  Samundar ag bujhave na!
+  Hathi samundar sukhe na!
+  Nare hathi bandhe na!
+  Musa nare kate na!
+  Lunga phir chorun? na!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Usne kaha, 'Lap, lap, khaungi!'
+  Phir gia musa ke pas, 'Musa, re musa, ab kha jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    nare katenge.'
+  Phir gia nare ke pas, 'Nare, re nare, ab kate jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    hathi bandhenge.'
+  Phir gia hathi ke pas, 'Hathi, re hathi, ab bandhe jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi samundar sukhenge.'
+  Phir gia samundar ke pas, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jaoge?'  'Ham bhi ag bujhaenge.'
+  Phir gia ag ke pas, 'Ag, ri ag, ab bujhai jaogi?'  'Ham bhi lathi
+    jalavenge.'
+  Phir gia lathi ke pas, 'Lathi, re lathi, ab jal jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    samp marenge.'
+  Phir gia samp ke pas, 'Samp, re samp, ab mare jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    rani dasenge?'
+  Phir gia rani ke pas, 'Rani, ri rani, ab dasi jaoge?'  'Ham bhi
+    raja rusenge.'
+  Phir gia raja ke pas, 'Raja, re raja, ab rani rus jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi khati dandenge.'
+  Phir gia khati ke pas, 'Khati, re khati, ab dande jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi khund katenge.'
+  Phir gia khund ke pas, 'Khund, re khund, ab kate jaoge?'  'Ham
+    bhi chana denge.'
+  Phir woh chana lekar chala gia?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lidu_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Ram_--Rama Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kal_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwashbrari, etc_.--The Westarwan range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmir.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmir, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladak_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pir
+Panjal and Mid-Himalayan Range.  Nanga Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Hara Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwashbrari or Kolahoi, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwan is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khru and Sotur, right into the Kashmir valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwashbrari's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwan does not lay his head anywhere near Gwashbrari's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khru, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khru and Sesh Nag, traversing most of that lying between Westarwan and
+Gwashbrari, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmir Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pipal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Pari_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Gadar, ghar kya laya?
+  Kya chiz kamaya?
+  Ki mera khatir paya._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasalu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjab, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Salivahana,
+who established the Saka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjab his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonan, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Sialkot and Kallowal.
+
+_Guru Gorakhnath_--The ordinary _deux ex machina_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brahmanical opponent of the mediaeval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Puran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Puran Bhagat_.--Is in story Raja Rasalu's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasalu and
+Puran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramaditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Iraqi_.--The name of Rasalu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Iraqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Main aia tha salam nun, tun baitha pith maror!
+  Main nahin tera raj wandanunda; main nun nahin raj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlan de vich baithie, tun ro ro na suna! Je tun meri mata
+  hain, koi mat batla! Matte dendi hai man tain nun, putar:  gin
+  gin jholi ghat! Chare Khuntan tun raj kare, par changa rakhin
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Thora thora, beta, tun disin, aur bahoti disi dhur:
+  Putr jinan de tur chale, aur mawan chikna chur._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihalian, ajj suta suthra ghas!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jahan aeajj di rat!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Naga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _afat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--
+
+  _Sada na phulan torian, nafra:  sada na Sawan hoe:
+  Sada na joban thir rahe:  sada na jive koe:
+  Sada na rajian hakimi:  sada na rajian des:
+  Sada na hove ghar apna, nafra, bhath pia pardes_.
+
+  _Tcris_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Rakshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nila city_--Most probably Bagh Nilab on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholie:  na aswan dhalkae: Tere bete ki 'ivaz main
+  sir desan chae. Nile-ghorewalid Raja, munh dhari, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte aunde, jin khaia sara jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhaio!  Dekho koi gali! Tehri agg dhonkai, so
+  sir te an bali! Sujhanhari sujh gae; hun laihndi charhdi jae!
+  Jithe sanun sukh mile, so jhatpat kare upae!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodinagari_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjab
+geography:  Hodinagari, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjab, from Sialkot to
+Jalalabad in Afghanistan beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawal Pindi or Hazara Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rani Sundran_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Jae buhe te kilkia:  lia nam Khuda:
+  Duron chalke, Rani Sundran, tera na:
+  Je, Rani, tu sakhi hain, khari faqiran pa:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rani Sundran, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rani, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalman_ word _Khuda_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasalu was personating a _Hindu jogi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab ki pai mundran?  Kab ka hua faqir? Kis ghata manion?  Kis
+  ka laga tir! Kete maen mangia?  Mere ghar ki mangi bhikh? Kal
+  ki pai mundran!  Kal ka hua faqir! Na ghat, maian, manian:  kal
+  ka laga tir. Kuchh nahin munh mangi:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhikh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqir?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqir_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Tarqas jaria tir motian; lalan jari kuman; Pinde bhasham
+  lagaia:  yeh mainan aur rang; Jis bhikhia ka labhi hain tu wohi
+  bhikhia mang. Tarqas jaria mera motian:  lalan jari kuman. Lal
+  na jana bechke, moti be-watti. Moti apne phir lai; sanun pakka
+  tam diwa._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Kahan tumhari nagari? kahan tumhara thaon? Kis raja ka betra
+  jogi? kya tumhara naon? Sialkot hamari nagari; wohi hamara
+  thaon. Raja Salivahan ka main betra:  Lona pari mera maon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagae, dekhan teri jaon. Tainun dekhke chalia:  Raja
+  Rasalu mera naon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jogi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Raja Salivahan's son:  the fairy Lona is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Raja Rasalu is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Bare andar pia karangla, na is sas, na pas. Je Maulla is nun
+  zinda kare, do batan kare hamare sath. Laihndion charhi badali,
+  hathan paia zor: Kehe 'amal kamaio, je jhaldi nahin ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  Asin bhi kadin duniyan te inhan the;
+  Raja nal degrian pagan banhde,
+    Turde pabhan bhar.
+  Aunde tara, nachaunde tara,
+    Hanke sawar.
+  Zara na mitthi jhaldi Raja
+    Hun sau manan da bhar.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjab_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Nile-ghorewalia Raja, niven neze ah!
+  Agge Raja Sarkap hai, sir laisi ulah!
+  Bhala chahen jo apna, tan pichhe hi mur jah!
+  Duron bira chukia ithe pahuta ah:
+  Sarkap da sir katke tote kassan char.
+  Tainun banasan wohtri, main bansan mihraj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Raja, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Raja Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajput katda maromar, Paske larhan kapian sittia
+  sine bhar. Dharin dharin bheren bhanian aur bhane gharial! Tain
+  nun, Raja, marsi ate sanun kharsi hal._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Chhoti nagari da waskin, Rani wadi kari pukar.
+  Jan main niklan bahar, tan meri tan nachave dhal.
+  Fajre roti tan khasan, sir laisan utar._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Raja_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Sakhi samundar jamian, Raja lio rud gar thae: Ao to charho
+  meri pith te, kot tudh kharan tarpae. Urde pankhi main na desan,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Raja, para khelsia, jeb hath to
+  pae._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Raja
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Na ro, Rajia bholia; na main charsan ghah,
+  Na main tursan rah.
+  Dahna dast uthaeke jeb de vich pah!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Raja, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Dhal, we pasa dhalwin ithe basante lok! Saran dharan han
+  bazian, jehri Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pasa dhalwen, ithe
+  basanla lok! Saran dharan te bazian!  Jehri Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Hor raje murghabian, tu raja shahbaz!
+  Bandi banan ae band khalas kar! umar teri draz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Murti Hills_.--Near Rawal Pindi to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilan_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhi_) on the top of Pindi Point at the Murree (_Marhi_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pandu, and
+a great hero in the _Mahabharata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mansarobar Lake_.--The Manasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Maphan) in the
+Kailasa Range of the Himalayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladak_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramajit_.--The great Vikramaditya of Ujjayini,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikru is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikramaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Ram and Vich Ram.  He also goes by the name of
+Bir Bikramajit or Vir Vikram, i.e.  Vikramaditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhia_ in the original form; _adha_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachian dian Mawan,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjab.
+The object is to attract _faqirs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'lji_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjab
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales Of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales Of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
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+Title: Tales Of The Punjab
+
+Author: Flora Annie Steel
+
+Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6145]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on November 19, 2002]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopolûchî
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwâshbrâri, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasâlu Was Born
+How Raja Rasâlu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasâlu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasâlu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasâlu Became a Jôgi
+How Raja Rasâlu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasâlu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasâlu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasâlu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbâr_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprâsî_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbâr_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_âp ke darshan âe_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasâlu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniyâ, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Râm Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopolûchî brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniyâ's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--
+
+'Once upon a time--'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brâhman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brâhman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brâhman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brâhman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahrâmgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahrâmgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahrâmgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrûl whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl took Prince Bahrâmgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahrâmgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahrâmgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shâhpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrûl, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrûl used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahrâmgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--
+Prince Bahrâmgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahrâmgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahrâmgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shâhpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shâhpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shâhpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahrâmgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrûl appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanâk
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanâk Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanâk Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanâk Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanâk Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shâhpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahrâmgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shâhpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahrâmgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahrâmgor, and ordered Princess Shâhpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahrâmgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichrî_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichrî_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichrî_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichrî_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichrî_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichrî>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and---'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichrî_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichrî_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichrî_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichrî_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichrî_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichrî_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichrî_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichrî_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichrî_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichrî_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichrî_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichrî_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichrî_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one circumstance,
+--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakîr_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pîpal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pîpal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pîpal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pîpal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pîpal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa---'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLÛCHÎ
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopolûchî, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopolûchî said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopolûchî's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopolûchî could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopolûchî of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopolûchî, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--
+
+     'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopolûchî it began to howl--
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopolûchî journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopolûchî had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopolûchî, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopolûchî, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopolûchî.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopolûchî pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopolûchî dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopolûchî reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopolûchî.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopolûchî at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopolûchî had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopolûchî and the robber]
+
+Now Bopolûchî was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopolûchî was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopolûchî, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopolûchî gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopolûchî went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopolûchî's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brâhman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him Vicky--
+Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakîr_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jôgi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jôgi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jôgi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jôgi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jôgi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jôgi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jôgi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jôgi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jôgi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichrî_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichrî_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the---_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichrî_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMÂN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brâhman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brâhman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brâhman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brâhman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brâhman first asked a _pîpal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pîpal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brâhman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brâhman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brâhman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brâhman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brâhman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brâhman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brâhman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brâhman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brâhman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by--'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brâhman, and the cage came
+walking by---no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brâhman---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord---'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--
+back already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--
+before the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--
+
+'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pîpal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pîpal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pîpal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pîpal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pîpal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pîpal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pîpal_ replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pîpal_ tree, and the _pîpal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pîpal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pîpal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pîpal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo---'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--
+I should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jôgi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jôgi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jôgi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jôgi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jôgi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jôgi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jôgi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jôgi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jôgi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichrî_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichrî_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jôgi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jôgi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jôgi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jôgi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jôgi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jôgi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jôgi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jôgi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jôgi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brâhman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brâhman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jôgi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWÂSHBRÂRI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwân was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Harâmukh, and Nangâ Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwân, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwâshbrâri, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwân from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwân is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwâshbrâri smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwân, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwâshbrâri was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwân shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwâshbrâri's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwân, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwâshbrâri's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwâshbrâri! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwâshbrâri smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwân--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwâshbrâri's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwân stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmîr, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwâshbrâri.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nîm_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazîr, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless---'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Sâlbâhan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhrâ, had a fair young son
+called Prince Pûran; but the younger, by name Lonâ, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Sâlbâhan's mind against his son, young
+Pûran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Sâlbâhan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Pûran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknâth came to the place, and finding Prince
+Pûran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Pûran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqîr_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknâth as a disciple, and
+was called Pûran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknâth gave him leave to visit his native town, and Pûran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Sâlbâhan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Pûran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhrâ, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqîr_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Pûran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lonâ, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqîr_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Sâlbâhan.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Sâlbâhan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lonâ, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqîr_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lonâ! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Pûran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lonâ returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jôgis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasâlu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasâlu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasâlu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Sâlbâhan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasâlu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jôgis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasâlu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Sâlbâhan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasâlu called scornfully to him across the hall--
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lonâ answered through her tears--
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasâlu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasâlu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasâlu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasâlu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasâlu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasâlu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasâlu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasâlu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasâlu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasâlu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasâlu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasâlu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasâlu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasâlu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasâlu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasâlu was moved to pity, and said--
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasâlu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Irâqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasâlu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasâlu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Irâqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasâlu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasâlu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasâlu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasâlu rode up on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasâlu, son of Raja Sâlbâhan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasâlu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasâlu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JÔGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasâlu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundrân, he saw an old Jôgi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasâlu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jôgi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundrân, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasâlu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jôgi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasâlu would not be denied, so the Jôgi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jôgi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jôgi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasâlu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasâlu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jôgi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasâlu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then the Jôgi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasâlu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jôgi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundrân's
+palace, in his Jôgi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jôgi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundrân, from within, heard Rasâlu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasâlu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasâlu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundrân's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasâlu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasâlu's hands, saying proudly--
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqîr_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jôgi, of me?'
+
+And Rasâlu, in his Jôgi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqîr_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundrân, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasâlu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jôgi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasâlu returned to the gate, and sang--
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasâlu smiled a scornful smile, saying--
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jôgi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jôgi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundrân gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jôgi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasâlu, taking the alms, replied--
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Sâlbâhan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasâlu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jôgi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasâlu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundrân waited for the Jôgi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jôgi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundrân.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jôgi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundrân; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jôgi Rasâlu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasâlu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasâlu, sitting down beside it, said--
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasâlu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasâlu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasâlu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasâlu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasâlu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasâlu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasâlu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasâlu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasâlu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasâlu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasâlu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasâlu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasâlu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasâlu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasâlu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasâlu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasâlu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasâlu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasâlu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasâlu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasâlu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasâlu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasâlu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasâlu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasâlu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Irâqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Irâqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasâlu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Irâqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasâlu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasâlu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasâlu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasâlu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasâlu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasâlu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Irâqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasâlu answered back--
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasâlu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasâlu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasâlu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasâlu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqîr_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqîr_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqîr_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqîr_ was a very remarkable _faqîr_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqîr_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqîr_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqîr_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramâjît's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramâjît went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramâjît understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramâjît, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramâjît's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramâjît.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!  Glory to Bikramâjît!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramâjît?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramâjît were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramâjît,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramâjît, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikrû, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqîr's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqîr_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikrû knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqîr_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqîr_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then--oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikrû told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqîr_ agreed, and off went Bikrû with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqîr_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqîr_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqîr_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqîr_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqîr_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that---
+'---Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqîr_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqîr_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqîr_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikrû came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikrû, or Bikramâjît, took the _faqîr's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramâjît! the generous Bikramâjît!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramâjît is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqîr_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqîr_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqîr_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqîr's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqîr]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqîr_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqîr_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pîpal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pîpal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brâhman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brâhman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brâhman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brâhman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brâhman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brâhman?'
+
+Then the Brâhman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lâkh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brâhman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Mîyân Bhûngâ, which is Pânjabî for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhût_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hâth_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Bâdshâhzâdi Phûlî, Princess Flower, or
+Phûlâzâdî, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwál_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalmân origin, and must have been one in actual mediaeval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--
+
+   _Kânâ, kâchrâ, hoch-gardanâ:  yeh tînon kamsât!
+   Jablag has apnâ chale, to koî na pûchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghûl_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhût_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar kâ akhârâ_ or _Indrâsan Sabhâ_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Gharâ_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_châtî_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--
+
+  _Gaderî gader! gaderî gader!
+  Râjâ dî betî chûhâ le giâ gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Râjâ's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pîrhî, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchîs_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahrâmgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjâb in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Hasan Bâno_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahrâmgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahrâmgor and
+Dilârâm_.  Bahrâmgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostân_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrûl_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Râî, through Râwal (_rûl_) = Râo
+= Râî; thus Jasrat Râî = Jasrat Râwal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrûl. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Râma Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shâhpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghâní_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahrâmgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nûnak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nânaksâ (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nânaksâ,
+obviously Nânak Shâh or Bâbâ Nânak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqîr_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahrâmgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfûr, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfûr = Baghbûr = Bagh Pûr, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shâh Pûr = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifûr in the
+same way = Shâh Pûr.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kâjal_. _Kâjal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yâch_
+of Kashmîr see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chû-û-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichrî_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dâl_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himâlayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryâr Shahrâbâd, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sânwâlâ_, _lohár_, _tarkhân_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhût_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhût_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pîpal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhrâ_,
+Panjâbî for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jânn,
+Jinn, Shaitân, 'Ifrît, and Mârid.  They are all mentioned in Musalmân
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_mânushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Mainâ_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in folk-
+tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Donâ_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutnî_ and _paphe-kutnî_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutnî_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dolâ_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjâbî, _lelâ_, _lerâ_,
+_lekrâ_, and _lelkarâ_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjâbî--
+
+  _Nânî kol jâwângû:
+  Motâ tâjâ âwângâ
+  Pher tûn main nûn khâwângâ._
+
+Of the second song--
+
+  _Wan piâ lelkarâ:  wan pî tû.
+  Chal dhamkiriâ!  Dham!  Kâ!  Dhû!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _kâ_,
+_dhû_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkîriâ_ or _dhamkirî_ in Panjâbî is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyâlâ_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopolûchî_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mâmû_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhrâ_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjârâ_ or _banjârâ_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--
+
+  _Bopo Lûchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthî,
+  Thag nâl thagî gai._
+
+  Bopo Lûchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjâbî bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Bâdshâhzâdî._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhântâ is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjâl;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjâbîs.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkhâ
+hâr,_ or nine-_lâkh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkhâ_ means worth nine lâkhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkhâ_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Mahârâjâ of Patiâlâ,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiâlâ.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khân, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khân.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattû, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattû is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khân.  See _Proper Names of Panjâbîs, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakîr,_--Properly _faqîr_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilâyatî_ _fuqrâ_, European _faqîrs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dâyan_.  In the Panjâb a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dâyan kâ mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dâkinî_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jôgi's wonderful cow_--The _jôgi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqîr_, _jôgi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yôgi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kâmdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kâmdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jôgi_ of the tale. _Kâmdhain_ and _Kâmdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--
+
+  _Tû Chhappar Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Deo paneriyâ, Dhoven
+  chucheriyâ, Khâwen khijeriyâ, Dekh chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ, Main
+  kâng sapariyâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tû Lohâr Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Tû deo pharwâ, Main khodûn
+  ghasarwâ, Khilâwen bhainsarwâ, Chowen dûdharwâ, Pilâwen
+  hirnarwâ, Toren singarwâ, Khôden chalarwâ, Nikâlen panarwâ,
+  Dhoven chunjarwâ, Khâwen khijarwâ, Dehk chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ,
+  Main kâng saparwâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhâgavata Purâna_ and the
+_Gul Bakâolâ_, and in the _Amvâr-i-Suhelî_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_mandâ hâl wâng Jatt jharî de_--
+as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjâbî cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Bâdshâh
+Ghariâl.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjâb that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndî_ or _hinâ_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bâr_ or wilds of the Gujrânwâlâ District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bâr, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Gîrî_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gittâ_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjâbî proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Mâsî, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjâb forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daurâ_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--
+
+  _Kyûn garjâe badalâ garkanâe?
+  Gaj karak sâre des;
+  Ohnân hirnîân de than pasmâe:
+  Gitetâ Râm gîâ pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Gitetâ Râm has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khudâ_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kabâbs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyâghra-nâyaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmîrî woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau kî roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihûn kî
+rotî_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--
+
+  _Kahîn mat jâo khâlî pet.
+  Hove mâgh yâ hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--
+
+  _Jo nar totâ mârkar khâve per ke heth, Kuchh sansâ man na
+  dhare, woh hogâ râjâ jeth. Jo mainâ ko mâr khâ, man men rakhe
+  dhîr; Kuchh chintâ man na kare, woh sadâ rahegâ wazîr._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdâr_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdahâ_, _izhdâr_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hâthî_ or _dhaulâ gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Râjâs as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwâr_)
+with sweet cakes (_chûrîs_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Râjâ and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Râjâ himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Mahârâjâ hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowâr_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Mahârâjâ dhaulâ gajpati kidohâî_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for AElian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lotâ_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _râkhas_ = the Sanskrit _râkhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _râkhasa_
+(_râkhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _râkhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tâtar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_râkhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdahâ_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  Chândî dâ merâ chauntrâ, koî sonâ lipâî!
+  Kâne men merâ gûkrû, shâhzâdâ baithâ hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Hadî dâ terâ chauntrâ, koî gobar lipaî!
+  Kâne men terî jûtî; koî gîdar baithâ hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhî,
+  Main bhî rangan men parî,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik sarî, ik balî;
+  Ik hinak mode charhî,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--
+
+  _Ik sarî, dûî balî;
+  Dûî jâî mûnde charhî._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hûî;
+  Chirî rangan charhî;
+  Chirâ bedan karî;
+  Pîpal patte jharî;
+  Mahîn sing jharî;
+  Naîn bahí khârî;
+  Koïl hûî kânî;
+  Bhagtû diwanî;
+  Bandî padnî;
+  Rânî nâchnî;
+  Putr dholkî bajânî;
+  Râjâ sargî bajânî;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pîpal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtû went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shâhzâdî Mirchâ_ or
+_Filfil Shâhzâdî:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwâ_, male, and _chakwî_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brâhmanî
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brâhmanî ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--
+
+  _Chakwâ, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwî!_
+  _Chakwî, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwâ!_
+
+  Chakwâ, shall I come?  No, Chakwî!
+  Chakwî, shall I come?  No, Chakwâ!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mûngo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mûng_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardân_--'Ali Mardân Khân belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmîr, under
+the Emperor Shâh Jahân, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmîr ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamiâ_, said in Kashmîr to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwâ_.  In this tale the _Lamiâ_ is described as being a
+_Wâsdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wâsdeo_ is the same as
+Vâsudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarâma, so Balarâma was a
+Vâsudeva.  Balarâma in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sêsha
+(now Sesh Nâg), a king of serpents, and with Vâsuki (Bâsak Nâg), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vâsuki and Sêsha, is mixed not only with
+Balarâma, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wâsdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamiâ is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediaeval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamiâ or [Greek] Lamia' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibâd_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmîr.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musâlman tales.  Kashmîr is essentially a
+Musalmân country._
+
+_Shalimâr gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardân Khân by a generation, for Nûr Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Dîwân-i-Khâs (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--
+
+  _Agar firdûs ba rû-e-zamîn ast,
+  Hamîn ast o hamîn ast o hamîn ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shâh Jahân built the Shâlimâr gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjît Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangâbal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Harâmukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmîr.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichrî_.--Sweet khichrî consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichrî of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _pâras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardân, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hotî Mardân probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundrâ_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunkâ_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Mâsî_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--
+
+  _Phir gîâ billî ke pâs,
+  'Billî, rî billî, mûsâ khâogî'
+  Khâtî khûnd pâr nâ!
+  Khûnd chanâ de nâ!
+  Râjâ khâtî dande nâ!
+  Râjâ rânî russe nâ!
+  Sapnâ rânî dase nâ!
+  Lâthî sapnâ mâre nâ!
+  Âg lâthî jalâve nâ!
+  Samundar âg bujhâve nâ!
+  Hâthî samundar sukhe nâ!
+  Nâre hâthî bandhe nâ!
+  Mûsâ nâre kâte nâ!
+  Lûngâ phir chorûn? nâ!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Usne kahâ, 'Lap, lap, khâûngî!'
+  Phir gîâ mûsâ ke pâs, 'Mûsâ, re mûsâ, ab khâ jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    nâre katenge.'
+  Phir gîâ nâre ke pâs, 'Nâre, re nâre, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    hâthî bandhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ hâthî ke pâs, 'Hâthî, re hâthî, ab bandhe jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî samundar sûkhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samundar ke pâs, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jâoge?'  'Ham bhî âg bujhâenge.'
+  Phir gîâ âg ke pâs, 'Âg, rî âg, ab bujhâî jâogi?'  'Ham bhî lâthî
+    jalâvenge.'
+  Phir gîâ lâthî ke pâs, 'Lâthî, re lâthî, ab jal jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    sâmp mârenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samp ke pâs, 'Sâmp, re sâmp, ab mâre jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    rânî dasenge?'
+  Phir gîâ rânî ke pâs, 'Rânî, rî rânî, ab dasî jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    râjâ rusenge.'
+  Phir gîâ râjâ ke pâs, 'Râjâ, re raja, ab rânî rus jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khâtî dândenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khâtî ke pâs, 'Khâtî, re khâtî, ab dande jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khund kâtenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khund ke pâs, 'Khund, re khund, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî chanâ denge.'
+  Phir woh chanâ lekar chalâ gîâ?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lîdû_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Râm_--Râma Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kâl_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwâshbrâri, etc_.--The Westarwân range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmîr.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmîr, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladâk_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pîr
+Panjâl and Mid-Himâlayan Range.  Nangâ Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Harâ Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwâshbrâri or Kolahoî, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwân is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khrû and Sotûr, right into the Kashmîr valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwân does not lay his head anywhere near Gwâshbrâri's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khrû, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khrû and Sesh Nâg, traversing most of that lying between Westarwân and
+Gwâshbrâri, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmîr Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pîpal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Parî_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--
+
+  _Gâdar, ghar kyâ lâyâ?
+  Kyâ chîz kamâyâ?
+  Ki merâ khâtir pâyâ._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasâlu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjâb, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Sâlivâhana,
+who established the Sâka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjâb his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonân, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Siâlkot and Kallowâl.
+
+_Gurû Gorakhnâth_--The ordinary _deux ex machinâ_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brâhmanical opponent of the mediaeval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Pûran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Pûran Bhagat_.--Is in story Râjâ Rasâlû's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasâlu and
+Pûran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramâditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Irâqi_.--The name of Rasâlu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Irâqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Main âiâ thâ salâm nûn, tûn baithâ pîth maror!
+  Main nahîn terâ râj wandânundâ; main nûn nahîn râj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlân de vich baithîe, tûn ro ro na sunâ! Je tûn merî mâtâ
+  hain, koî mat batlâ! Matte dendî hai mân tain nûn, putar:  gin
+  gin jholî ghat! Châre Khûntân tûn râj kare, par changâ rakhîn
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--
+
+  _Thorâ thorâ, betâ, tûn disîn, aur bahotî disî dhûr:
+  Putr jinân de tur chale, aur mâwân chiknâ chûr._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihâlîân, ajj sutâ suthrâ ghâs!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jâhan âeajj dî rât!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Nâga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _âfat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--
+
+  _Sadâ na phûlan torîân, nafrâ:  sadâ na Sâwan hoe:
+  Sadâ na joban thir rahe:  sadâ na jive koe:
+  Sadâ na râjiân hâkimî:  sâda na râjiân des:
+  Sadâ na hove ghar apnâ, nafrâ, bhath piâ pardes_.
+
+  _Tcrîs_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Râkshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nîlâ city_--Most probably Bâgh Nîlâb on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholîe:  na aswân dhalkâe: Tere bete ki 'îvaz main
+  sir desân châe. Nîle-ghorewâlîd Râjâ, munh dhârî, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte âunde, jin khâiâ sârâ jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhâîo!  Dekho koî gali! Tehrî agg dhonkaî, so
+  sir te ân balî! Sûjhanhârî sûjh gae; hun laihndî charhdî jâe!
+  Jithe sânûn sûkh mile, so jhatpat kare upâe!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodînagarî_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjâb
+geography:  Hodînagarî, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjâb, from Siâlkot to
+Jalâlâbâd in Afghânistân beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawâl Pindi or Hazârâ Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rânî Sundrân_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Jâe bûhe te kilkiâ:  lîa nâm Khudâ:
+  Dûron chalke, Rânî Sundrân, terâ nâ:
+  Je, Rânî, tû sakhî hain, kharî faqîrân pâ:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rânî Sundrân, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rânî, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalmân_ word _Khudâ_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasâlû was personating a _Hindu jôgi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab kî pâî mundran?  Kab kâ hûâ faqîr? Kis ghatâ mânion?  Kis
+  kâ lâgâ tîr! Kete mâen mangiâ?  Mere ghar kî mangî bhîkh? Kal
+  kî pâî mundrân!  Kal kâ hûâ faqîr! Na ghat, mâîân, mâniân:  kal
+  kâ lagâ tîr. Kuchh nahîn munh mangî:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhîkh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqîr?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqîr_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Tarqas jariâ tîr motîân; lâlân jarî kumân; Pinde bhasham
+  lagâiâ:  yeh mainân aur rang; Jis bhikhiâ kâ lâbhî hain tû wohî
+  bhikhiâ mang. Tarqas jariâ merâ motîân:  lâlân jarî kumân. Lâl
+  na jânâ bechke, motî be-wattî. Motî apne phir lai; sânûn pakkâ
+  tâm diwâ._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Kahân tumhârî nagari? kahân tumhârâ thâon? Kis râjâ kâ betrâ
+  jôgî? kyâ tumhârâ nâon? Siâlkot hamârî nagarî; wohî hamârâ
+  thâon. Râjâ Sâlivâhan kâ main betrâ:  Lonâ parî merâ mâon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagâe, dekhan terî jâon. Tainûn dekhke chaliâ:  Râjâ
+  Rasâlu merâ nâon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jôgi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Râjâ Sâlivâhan's son:  the fairy Lonâ is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Râjâ Rasâlû is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Bâre andar piâ karanglâ, na is sâs, na pâs. Je Maullâ is nûn
+  zindâ kare, do bâtân kare hamâre sâth. Laihndion charhî badalî,
+  hâthân pâiâ zor: Kehe 'amal kamâio, je jhaldi nahîn ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  Asîn bhî kadîn duniyân te inhân the;
+  Râjâ nal degrîân pagân banhde,
+    Turde pabhân bhâr.
+  Âunde tara, nachâunde tara,
+    Hânke sawâr.
+  Zara na mitthî jhaldî Râjâ
+    Hun sau manân dâ bhâr.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjâb_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Nîle-ghorewâliâ Râjâ, niven neze âh!
+  Agge Râjâ Sarkap hai, sir laisî ulâh!
+  Bhâla châhen jo apnâ, tân pichhe hî mur jâh!
+  Dûron bîrâ chukiâ ithe pahutâ âh:
+  Sarkap dâ sir katke tote kassân châr.
+  Tainûn banâsân wohtrî, main bansân mihrâj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Râjâ, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Râjâ Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajpût katdâ mâromâr, Paske lârhân kapiân sittîâ
+  sîne bhâr. Dharîn dharin bheren bhanîân aur bhane ghariâl! Taîn
+  nûn, Râjâ, marsî ate sânûn kharsî hâl._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Chhotî nagarî dâ waskîn, Rânî wadî karî pukâr.
+  Jân main niklân bâhar, tân merî tan nachâve dhâl.
+  Fajre rotî tân khâsân, sir laisân utâr._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Râjâ_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Sakhî samundar jamiân, Râjâ lîo rud gar thâe: Âo to charho
+  merî pîth te, kot tudh kharân tarpâe. Urde pankhî main na desân,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Râjâ, pârâ khelsiâ, jeb hâth to
+  pâe._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Râjâ
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--
+
+  _Na ro, Râjiâ bholiâ; nâ main charsân ghâh,
+  Na main tursân râh.
+  Dahnâ dast uthâeke jeb de vich pâh!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Râjâ, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwin ithe basante lok! Sarân dharân han
+  bâziân, jehrî Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwen, ithe
+  basanlâ lok! Sarân dharân te bâzian!  Jehrî Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--
+
+  _Hor râje murghâbîân, tu râjâ shâhbâz!
+  Bandî bânân âe band khalâs kar! umar terî drâz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Mûrtî Hills_.--Near Râwal Pindî to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilân_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhî_) on the top of Pindî Point at the Murree (_Marhî_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pându, and
+a great hero in the _Mahâbhârata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mânsarobar Lake_.--The Mânasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Mâphan) in the
+Kailâsa Range of the Himâlayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladâk_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramâjît_.--The great Vikramâditya of Ujjayinî,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikrû is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikrâmaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Râm and Vich Râm.  He also goes by the name of
+Bîr Bikramâjît or Vîr Vikram, i.e.  Vikramâditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhiâ_ in the original form; _âdhâ_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachiân diân Mâwân,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjâb.
+The object is to attract _faqîrs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'ljî_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjâb
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales Of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales Of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: Tales Of The Punjab
+
+Author: Flora Annie Steel
+
+Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6145]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on November 19, 2002]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: Unicode UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+BY
+
+FLORA ANNIE STEEL
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+
+Preface
+
+To the Little Reader
+
+Sir Buzz
+The Rat's Wedding
+The Faithful Prince
+The Bear's Bad Bargain
+Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends
+The Lambkin
+Bopolûchî
+Princess Aubergine
+Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
+The Son of Seven Mothers
+The Sparrow and the Crow
+The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal
+The King of the Crocodiles
+Little Anklebone
+The Close Alliance
+The Two Brothers
+The Jackal and the Iguana
+The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow
+Princess Pepperina
+Peasie and Beansir
+The Jackal and the Partridge
+The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan
+The Wonderful Ring
+The Jackal and the Pea-hen
+The Grain of Corn
+The Farmer and the Money-lender
+The Lord of Death
+The Wrestlers
+The Legend of Gwâshbrâri, the Glacier-Hearted Queen
+The Barber's Clever Wife
+The Jackal and the Crocodile
+How Raja Rasâlu Was Born
+How Raja Rasâlu Went Out Into the World
+How Raja Rasâlu's Friends Forsook Him
+How Raja Rasâlu Killed the Giants
+How Raja Rasâlu Became a Jôgi
+How Raja Rasâlu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
+How Raja Rasâlu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King
+How Raja Rasâlu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap
+The King Who Was Fried
+Prince Half-a-Son
+The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun
+The Ruby Prince
+
+Notes to the Tales
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian
+Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the
+Punjab_.  They were then in the form of literal translations, in
+many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all
+scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must
+be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja
+Rasâlu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current
+among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is
+full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so,
+vulgarisms.  It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare
+the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian
+Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works.  The
+manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient
+to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving
+the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be
+manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the
+procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the
+authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been
+collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various
+districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate.
+
+A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the
+Magistrate has chosen for his _darbâr_, but far enough away from
+bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so
+inclined.  In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to
+edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence
+nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering.  The fancied approach
+of a _chuprâsî_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at
+every _darbâr_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a
+time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were,
+becoming tamer.  By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the
+question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your
+honour' (_âp ke darshan âe_).  Once the ice is broken, the only
+difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to
+get them to go away.  When the general conversation is fairly started,
+inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the
+village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye,
+_etc_.  At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms,
+but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which
+point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last,
+after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the
+details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is
+brought to the front with acclamations:  for there is always a
+story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy.
+
+Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first
+story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless
+and disconnected jumble.  At the conclusion of either, however, the
+teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting
+something more valuable.  But it is possible to waste many hours, and
+in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant
+of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments
+which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct
+stories.  After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded
+by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out
+of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight
+indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits
+into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by
+side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness.  Some of the
+tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks
+before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form
+conclusive.
+
+And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence
+of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections.
+They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good
+story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been
+doctored in any way, not even in the language.  That is neither a
+transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be
+intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes.  It
+is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to
+preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that
+perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely
+with the other.  Nothing would have been easier than to alter the
+style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the
+stories of all human value.
+
+That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance
+through the only story which has a different origin.  The Adventures
+of Raja Rasâlu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village
+accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it
+approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian
+tale.
+
+The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way.  Mrs.
+F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for
+the annotations.
+
+It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double
+intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should
+interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it
+valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side.
+
+F. A. _Steel_
+R. C. _Temple_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE LITTLE READER
+
+
+Would you like to know how these stories are told?  Come with me, and
+you shall see.  There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince
+Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet.  So now!--'Hey presto!
+Abracadabra!'  Here we are in a Punjabi village.
+
+                              * * * * *
+
+It is sunset.  Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the
+heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow.  The men
+leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the
+desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive
+their bullocks homewards.  The women set aside their spinning-wheels,
+and prepare the simple evening meal.  The little girls troop, basket
+on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they
+have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so
+necessary in that woodless country.  The boys, half hidden in clouds
+of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to
+the thorn-hedged yards.  The day is over, the day which has been so
+hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest
+and play.  The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the
+elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop
+through the narrow alleys.  But as the short-lived Indian twilight
+dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars
+come out the children disappear.  But not to sleep:  it is too hot,
+for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and
+floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till
+midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment
+and repose.  How then are the long dark hours to be passed?  In all
+the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and
+that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky
+flame of an oil-fed wick.  Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though
+dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is
+_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to
+the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between
+sunrise and sunset.  Ask little Kaniyâ, yonder, why it is that he, the
+best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after
+sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark
+eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle
+boys and girls tell tales by daylight.  And Naraini, the herd-girl,
+will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if
+you put the question to her; or little Râm Jas shake his bald shaven
+poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village
+children will yield to your request for a story.
+
+No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must
+labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work,
+the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time.
+Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their
+wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle
+themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed,
+while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in
+for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there.
+
+The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air,
+the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest
+after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever
+new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be
+told in its sunset.  The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and
+still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopolûchî brave and bold
+returns rich and victorious from the robber's den.  Hark!--that is
+Kaniyâ's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy
+listeners as he begins the old old formula--­
+
+'Once upon a time---'
+
+
+
+
+TALES OF THE PUNJAB
+
+FOLKLORE OF INDIA
+
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+
+Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son.  They
+were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
+nothing left in the house to eat.
+
+'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
+fortune in the wide world.'
+
+'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
+wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'
+
+'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
+the pocket--perchance there is something there.'
+
+So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
+very bottom of the pocket!
+
+'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.'  See, mother,
+these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
+the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'
+
+So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress,
+licking her paw, and moaning mournfully.  He was just about to run
+away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly,
+saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be
+for ever grateful.'
+
+'Not I!' answered the lad.  'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it
+pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.'
+
+[Illustration:  Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw]
+
+'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and
+when the pain comes I will pat _it_.'
+
+To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when
+the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk
+split all to pieces.  Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and
+said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open
+it until you have travelled nine miles'
+
+So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to
+find his fortune.  Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain
+that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took
+it seemed to grow heavier and heavier.  He tried to struggle on--­
+though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone
+about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way.  'I
+believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon
+me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer.  Lie there,
+you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.'
+
+So saying, he flung the box down on the ground:  it burst open with
+the shock, and out stepped a little old man.  He was only one span
+high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon
+the ground.
+
+The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad
+roundly for letting the box down so violently.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a
+smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your
+size, old gentleman!  And what may your name be?'
+
+'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a
+great rage.
+
+'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are
+all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it
+farther.'
+
+'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried
+it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but
+that's neither here nor there.  I'm good enough for you, at any rate,
+and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.'
+
+'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner,
+for I am mighty hungry!  Here are four shillings to pay for it.'
+
+No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than
+with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through
+the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town.  There he stood,
+the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on
+the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud
+a voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'
+
+The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down
+the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden
+by the preserving pan.  Then the mannikin called out louder still,
+'Ho! ho!  Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!'  And when the
+confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and
+ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying,
+'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I
+was standing by the preserving pan all the time!'
+
+The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his
+best sweets for his irritable little customer.  Then Sir Buzz chose
+about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in
+something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.'
+
+'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner.
+
+'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir
+Buzz.  'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.'  So
+saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket.
+
+'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the
+sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's
+outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when
+lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in
+his pocket.
+
+He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket
+of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler,
+bring me flour!'
+
+And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the
+window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span
+mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder
+than before, 'Ho! ho!  Sir Chandler, bring me flour!'
+
+Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and
+bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked
+him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see
+_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!'
+
+So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir
+Buzz how much flour he wanted.
+
+'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither
+more nor less.  Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.'
+
+'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said
+the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.'
+
+'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it
+enough if I pay for it?'  And then he jingled the money in his pocket
+again.
+
+So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in
+the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him,
+when, with a whiz!  Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his
+pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_
+
+The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span
+servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and
+wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot
+and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but
+you men have such terrible appetites!'
+
+'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge
+bundles.
+
+Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three
+of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up
+all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible
+appetites--such terrible appetites!'
+
+After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever
+so far, until they came to the King's city.  Now the King had a
+daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and
+slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.  Every morning she
+was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the
+fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
+
+Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse
+of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of
+course, he fell desperately in love with her.  He would neither sleep
+nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his
+faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me
+to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.'
+
+'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely
+story!  Why, you're ten times as big as I am.  You should carry
+_me!_'
+
+Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale
+and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who
+had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand.  Then
+with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were
+in the palace in a second.  Being night-time, the Princess was asleep;
+nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to
+see a handsome young man kneeling beside her.  She began of course to
+scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest
+politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be
+alarmed.  And after that they talked together about everything
+delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he
+stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon
+the young people.
+
+Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess
+Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a
+faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done?  If my
+master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be
+killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he
+will refuse to go.'
+
+[Illustration:  Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed
+as they talk]
+
+So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing!
+boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town.  There he
+set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next
+biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up
+and down keeping guard.
+
+Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess
+Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned
+out to look for her.  By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to
+the garden gate.
+
+'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him
+with the tree.
+
+The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the
+branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!'
+
+'I'll blossom you!  Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked
+the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on
+the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard
+with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider.
+
+The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty!  I am
+convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your
+Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there
+which fights terribly.'
+
+Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the
+garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all,
+for half were killed, and the rest ran away.  The noise of the battle,
+however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they
+could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together.  So when
+the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir
+Buzz set out to see the world.
+
+Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning
+the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already;
+so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.'
+
+'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz.  'Young people always think so; however, have
+it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you
+_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire.  I'll come
+to your aid.'
+
+So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom
+lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost
+their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any
+food.  When they were nearly starving, a Brâhman found them, and
+hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with
+me, and I will give you something to eat.'
+
+Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the
+mark, for he was no Brâhman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to
+devour handsome young men and slender girls.  But, knowing nothing of
+all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully.  He was most
+polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready
+whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook.  Here are my keys; open
+all my cupboards save the one with the golden key.  Meanwhile I will
+go and gather firewood.'
+
+Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the
+soldier's son opened all the cupboards.  In them he saw lovely jewels,
+and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that
+his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the
+Brâhman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is
+hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.'  So he opened it, and lo!
+it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully
+polished.  At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the
+Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no
+Brâhman, but a horrid vampire!'
+
+At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was
+very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the
+magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and
+fierce eyes, appeared.  But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom!
+binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer.
+Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed
+into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir
+Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the
+rain.  Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it
+as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a
+rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court
+listening to the singing of some dancing girls.  Then Sir Buzz, quick
+as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard
+who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let
+_me_ play.'
+
+And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness,
+that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward?  Name what
+you please, and it shall be yours.'
+
+Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's
+lap.'
+
+'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but
+a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.'
+
+So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals
+fell in a shower on the ground.  Sir Buzz went down on his knees and
+instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a
+mouse.  Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a
+cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse.
+
+Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son,
+shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the
+vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz
+arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go
+home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.'
+
+Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed
+the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away
+home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on
+the two shillings--was delighted to see them.
+
+Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz,
+without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never
+seen or heard of again.
+
+But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever
+after.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+
+Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and
+being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the
+ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed
+outside, making little puddles on the road.
+
+Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root,
+quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat
+is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him.  So when
+the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth.  As he
+went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a
+poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of
+children stood by, and cried piteously.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and
+curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make!  What _is_ the matter?'
+
+'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their
+breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I
+can't bake the cakes.'
+
+'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the
+good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant
+it will soon make a fine blaze.'
+
+The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his
+turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his
+kindness and generosity.
+
+'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted
+off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too!  Fancy making a bargain
+like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten
+old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!'
+
+Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently
+to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round
+by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were
+screaming and crying as if they would burst.
+
+'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do
+tell me what it is all about.'
+
+'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their
+mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the
+house.  In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.'
+
+'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you.  Take
+this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.'
+
+The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness,
+and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting
+it as a remembrance.
+
+The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just
+a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite
+trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly,
+_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail
+over his arm for fear he should trip on it.  And all the time he kept
+saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too!  Such a
+hand at a bargain!'
+
+By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle.
+One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his
+shoes instead.
+
+'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight.
+'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?'
+
+'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the
+neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the
+pie.
+
+'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this
+pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!'
+
+The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it
+was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on,
+said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.'
+
+But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd.  'No, no, my
+friend,' said he, 'that will not do!  As if I could drink the worth of
+my pipkin at a draught!  My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_
+Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give
+me the buffalo that gave the milk.'
+
+'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin!  Who ever
+heard of such a price?  And what on earth could _you_ do with a
+buffalo when you got it?  Why, the pipkin was about as much as you
+could manage.'
+
+At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like
+allusions to his size.
+
+'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand
+over the buffalo.'
+
+So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's
+expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it
+to the little animal's tail.
+
+'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin
+of my tail would come off, and then where should I be?  Tie it round
+my neck, if you please.'
+
+So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's
+neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home
+with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for
+no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up
+with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not
+budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another
+in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to
+avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly.
+
+He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his
+head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people!  I am
+going home this way.  It may be a little longer, but it's much
+shadier.'
+
+And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but
+trotted on, looking as dignified as possible.
+
+'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has
+to look after its grazing.  A beast must get a good bellyful of grass
+if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.'
+
+So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe;
+but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the
+great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew
+the cud.
+
+Just then a bridal party came by.  The bridegroom and his friends had
+evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin
+to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a
+nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food.
+
+'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and
+nothing but plain rice pottage to eat!  Not a scrap of meat in it,
+neither sweet nor salt!  It would serve the skinflints right if we
+upset the bride into a ditch!'
+
+'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty,
+'that _is_ a shame!  I sympathise with your feelings so entirely
+that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo.  You can kill it,
+and cook it.'
+
+'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what
+rubbish!  Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?'
+
+'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look
+for yourselves.  Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a
+string?'
+
+'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master
+or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!'
+
+Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their
+dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said
+carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!'
+
+'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage,
+nor your sauce either.  You don't suppose I am going to give my best
+buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been
+feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice?  No!--I got a loaf for a bit
+of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a
+pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and
+nothing else!'
+
+By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to
+reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the
+consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make
+their escape whilst they could.  So, leaving the bride in her
+palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions.
+
+The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the
+palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices
+and best of bows begged the bride to descend.  She hardly knew whether
+to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than
+being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and
+followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for
+his hole.
+
+As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich
+dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he
+kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to
+be sure!'
+
+When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the
+greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode!
+Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat
+dark, I will show you the way.'
+
+[Illustration:  The rat at the palanquin]
+
+Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not
+follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why
+don't you follow?  Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband
+waiting?'
+
+'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into
+that little hole!'
+
+The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is
+some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I
+shall have to build you a thatch somewhere.  For to-night you can rest
+under that wild plum-tree.'
+
+'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully.
+
+'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat
+pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper
+in a trice.'
+
+So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet
+and a dry pea.
+
+'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?'
+
+'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I
+want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops.  I
+shall die if I don't get them!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to
+be sure!  Why don't you eat the wild plums?'
+
+'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody
+could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.'
+
+'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for
+to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the
+city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!'
+
+So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled
+away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil.
+Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out
+through the streets--­
+
+  'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell!
+  Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!'
+
+As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice,
+and, running out, recognised her daughter.  Great were the rejoicings,
+for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts.
+In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed
+the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long
+absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby
+stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife!  She
+is mine by fair bargain.  I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a
+loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a
+buffalo and I got a bride.  Give me my wife! give me my wife!'
+
+'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen,
+through the door, 'and all about nothing!  Who wants to run away with
+your wife?  On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep
+you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive
+you in style.'
+
+Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside
+whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did
+by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot
+stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then
+spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all.
+
+Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest
+respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated.
+
+'Dear! dear! how clever I am!  What bargains I do make, to be sure!'
+said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool.  'Here I am,
+son-in-law to a real live Queen!  What will the neighbours say?'
+
+At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
+warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
+mother-in-law! how hot your house is!  Everything I touch seems
+burning!'
+
+'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
+Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
+the breeze and get cooler.'
+
+But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
+that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
+until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
+his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
+vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!
+
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+
+Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
+Bahrâmgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
+the midnight moon.  Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
+hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
+quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing.  Then he
+turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a
+golden deer.  Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its
+body.  Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his
+retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so
+gradually enclose and secure it.
+
+'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run
+to be responsible for its escape, or capture.'
+
+Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the
+centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled
+straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it
+by the golden horns.  Then the creature found human voice, and cried,
+'Let me go, oh!  Prince Bahrâmgor and I will give you countless
+treasures!'
+
+But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so!  I have gold and jewels
+galore, but never a golden deer.'
+
+'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than
+treasures!'
+
+'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing.
+
+'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode
+before,' replied the deer.
+
+'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and
+immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering
+creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight.  For seven
+days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so
+that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the
+evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and
+instantly vanished.  Prince Bahrâmgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment,
+for he had never been in such a strange country before.  Everything
+seemed new and unfamiliar.  He wandered about for some time looking
+for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground
+at his feet popped a wee old man.
+
+'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth
+he politely.
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden
+deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and
+bewildered in this strange country.
+
+'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you
+are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon
+Jasdrûl whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a
+golden deer.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl took Prince Bahrâmgor to his house, and treated
+him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are
+the keys of my palaces and gardens.  Amuse yourself by looking at
+them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.'
+
+So every day Prince Bahrâmgor opened a new garden, and examined a new
+palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels,
+and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire,
+until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere
+hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and
+insects.  But the garden in which it stood was by far the most
+magnificent of all.  It was seven miles this way, and seven miles
+that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams,
+fountains, and summer-houses.  Gay butterflies flitted about, and
+birds sang in it all day and all night.  The Prince, enchanted,
+wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so
+tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he
+found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls.  Now while he
+slept, the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand, who was taking the air,
+fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the
+garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young
+Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a
+lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do
+when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave
+him a kiss.
+
+He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the
+most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him!
+
+'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been
+looking for you everywhere!'
+
+Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahrâmgor that had happened to
+the Princess Shâhpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on
+her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed
+to get married without any delay.  Nevertheless, the Prince thought it
+best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrûl, seeing how powerful
+he was in Demonsland.  To the young man's delight, the demon not only
+gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and
+saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will
+never think of returning to your own country any more.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Princess Shâhpasand were married,
+and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time.
+
+At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince,
+and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the
+Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound.  Then from thinking of
+them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then
+from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner,
+until he became quite pale and thin.  Now the demon Jasdrûl used to
+sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and
+Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure
+they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away
+home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and
+loved his handsome young Prince.
+
+At last he asked Prince Bahrâmgor what was the cause of his growing so
+pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he
+would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of
+telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he
+said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the
+King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very
+weary.  Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!'
+
+At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince,
+and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be
+back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and
+you will have trouble.  Take this hair with you, and when you need
+help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!--­
+Prince Bahrâmgor found himself standing outside his native city, with
+his beautiful bride beside him.
+
+But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was
+changed.  His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the
+throne, and had put a price on Bahrâmgor's head should he ever return
+from his mysterious journey.  Luckily no one recognised the young
+Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland)
+save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once
+more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince
+shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young
+couple live in the garret of his house.
+
+'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and
+going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt,
+as I used to help you.'
+
+So the splendid Prince Bahrâmgor and his lovely Princess hid in the
+garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there.  Now
+one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the
+huntsman, Princess Shâhpasand took the opportunity of washing her
+beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her
+pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it
+she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow
+in and dry her hair.
+
+Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass
+by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely
+Shâhpasand, with her glittering golden hair.  He was so overcome at
+the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter.  His
+servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to
+his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with
+golden hair in the huntsman's garret.  This set everybody wondering
+whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear,
+he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house.
+
+'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no
+beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me
+and my son.  However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.'
+
+Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shâhpasand bolted the
+door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof.  Then,
+taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers
+burst open the door they found no one in the garret.
+
+The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her
+beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the
+blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house
+in the Emerald Mountain.'
+
+In the evening when Prince Bahrâmgor returned from hunting, great was
+his grief at finding the garret empty!  Nor could the blind old crone
+tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the
+mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the
+Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted.  Afterwards,
+when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald
+Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting
+himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and
+never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!'
+
+At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its
+hiding-place threw it into the fire.  It had scarcely begun to burn
+when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrûl appeared, and asked him what he
+wanted.
+
+'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince.
+
+Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You
+would never reach it alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that
+has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone
+if I lose my dearest Princess!  As I must die, let me die seeking
+her.'
+
+Then the demon Jasdrûl was touched by the constancy of the splendid
+young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible.  So he
+carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand,
+bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanâk
+Chand's house.
+
+'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend,
+'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will
+harm you.  That is all I can do for you, but Nanâk Chand, who is my
+elder brother, can help you farther on your way.'
+
+So Prince Bahrâmgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held
+the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him.  At
+last he arrived at the demon Nanâk Chand's house, just as the demon
+had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had
+lasted for twelve years.  Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on
+catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be
+for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon
+restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince
+politely what he wanted.  But when the demon Nanâk Chand had heard the
+whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the
+Emerald Mountain, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget all that has
+passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one
+life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die,
+let me die seeking her.'
+
+This answer touched the demon Nanâk Chand, and he gave the faithful
+Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through
+Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed.  'For,'
+said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you
+want, he will.  If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and
+whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be
+far.'
+
+So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and
+difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house,
+to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand,
+which had brought him so far in safety.
+
+But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never
+reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son.  Be guided by me,--forget
+all that has passed, and begin a new life.'
+
+Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life,
+and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess!  If I must die, let me
+die seeking her.'
+
+Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a
+brave lad, and I must do my best for you.  Take this _yech_-cap:
+whenever you put it on you will become invisible.  Journey to the
+north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald
+Mountain.  Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain
+near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the
+higher it grows.  On the summit lies the Emerald City:  enter it by
+means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.'
+
+So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far
+distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain.  Then he rubbed the
+powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the
+Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a
+single jewel.  But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest
+Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his
+invisible cap.  Still he could not find her.  The fact was, the
+Princess Shâhpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons,
+for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in
+terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young
+Prince, of whom she never ceased talking.
+
+'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but
+you shall never go back to him.'
+
+So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for
+how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain?
+
+Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed
+a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door
+with a tray of sweet dishes on her head.  Being curious, he took
+advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he
+slipped in behind her.  Nothing was to be seen but a large door,
+which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened.
+Again Prince Bahrâmgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing
+but a huge door.  And so on he went through all the seven doors, till
+he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess
+Shâhpasand, weeping salt tears.  At the sight of her he could scarcely
+refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was
+invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray
+retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one.  Then he sat down
+by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her.
+
+She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate
+anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she
+thought she must be dreaming.  But when the whole had vanished, she
+became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out
+faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?'
+
+Then Prince Bahrâmgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so
+that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen
+in early dawn.  At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by
+name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the
+_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real
+flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant
+smiles.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the
+handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess.  She ran to
+tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's
+lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince
+Bahrâmgor, and ordered Princess Shâhpasand to be released at once;
+'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter
+will not want to go to him.'
+
+Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince
+Bahrâmgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the
+Emerald kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman in front of his hut]
+
+Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a
+tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the
+boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard.  Now it was
+agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit
+fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so
+you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,
+and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or
+anything which would cause the fruit to fall.  But nothing came, and
+the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they
+would infallibly become beggars.  So she took to giving her husband
+nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than
+ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears
+would not fall down!  At last, the woodman turned round and declared
+he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichrî_ to
+his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and
+pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury
+_khichrî_.  What an appetising smell it had, to be sure!  The
+woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.  'No,
+no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in
+another load of wood; and mind it is a good one.  You must work for
+your dinner.'
+
+So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with
+such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every
+faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichrî_ and think
+of the feast that was coming.
+
+Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in
+the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though
+good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.
+
+'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going
+to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?'
+
+'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman.  'The fact is,' he added
+confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a
+_khichrî_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she
+is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion.  Oh, my dear fellow,
+you should just smell that _khichrî_!'
+
+At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a
+dreadful glutton.
+
+[Illustration:  The woodman talking to the bear]
+
+'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a
+bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously.
+
+'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily.
+
+'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear.
+
+'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see
+_khichrî>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it,
+and plenty of butter, and pulse, and---'
+
+'Would--would eight hundredweight do?'
+
+'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman.
+
+'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear.
+
+'There is saffron in the _khichrî_,' remarked the woodman
+casually.
+
+The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and
+delight.
+
+'Well, it's a bargain!  Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the
+_khichrî_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.'
+
+Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had
+agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the
+_khichrî_.
+
+Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good
+bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be
+pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled
+exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will
+gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.'
+
+On this the woodman became quite pale.  'In that case,' he said, 'we
+had better begin now, and have a fair start.'  So without more ado
+they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of
+_khichrî_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could.
+
+'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman,
+speaking with his mouth crammed full.
+
+'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another
+handful.
+
+'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full
+that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!'
+
+'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another
+mouthful.
+
+So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot.
+
+'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault,
+wife, for eating so much.'
+
+'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much
+as I did!'
+
+'No, I didn't!'
+
+'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.'
+
+'No, they don't!'
+
+'Yes, they do!'
+
+'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the
+_khichrî_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.'
+
+'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy
+old woman.  'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up
+everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichrî_ pot
+by the fire, and hide in the garret.  When the bear comes he will
+think we have gone out and left his dinner for him.  Then he will
+throw down his bundle and come in.  Of course he will rampage a little
+when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I
+don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.'
+
+So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the
+garret.
+
+Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of
+wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however,
+at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage.
+Seeing the brass _khichrî_ pot by the fire, he threw down his
+load and went in.  And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found
+nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse,
+but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried
+with rage and disappointment.  He flew into the most dreadful temper,
+but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel
+of food.  Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but,
+as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did
+not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden.
+
+'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the
+_khichrî_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!'
+
+Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden
+pears hanging over into the yard.  His mouth began to water at once,
+for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the
+season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the
+biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his
+mouth, when a thought struck him.
+
+'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so
+much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to
+buy some _khichrî_.  Ha, ha!  I shall have the best of the
+bargain after all!'
+
+So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and
+put them into the _khichrî_ pot, but whenever he came to an
+unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that,
+yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and
+eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour.
+
+Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear
+through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but,
+at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she
+could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichrî_ pot was quite
+full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous
+sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_'
+
+The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the
+_khichrî_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as
+fast as his legs would carry him.
+
+So the woodman and his wife got the _khichrî_, the wood, and the
+coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad
+stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as
+happy as the day was long had it not been for this one circumstance,
+--they had no children.
+
+At last an old _fakîr_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked
+to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat
+them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful
+little son.  The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine
+months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever
+was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so
+strong.
+
+Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless
+also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to
+travel in the wide world and seek adventures.  Then the King would
+shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned
+adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing
+else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his
+travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.
+
+Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they
+came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the
+wilderness.  Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars,
+shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy
+population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be
+seen.  This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder,
+clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember!  This must be
+the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one
+dwell in peace.  We had best be off!'
+
+'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart.  'At any rate not until
+I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!'
+
+So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the
+proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers
+had been there.  Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle
+of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the
+dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the
+city.
+
+No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the
+kitchen, began to cook the food.  It sent up a savoury smell, and the
+Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a
+little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding
+on a gaily-caparisoned mouse.
+
+'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance.
+
+'_Your_ dinner!  Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder,
+laughing.
+
+'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or
+I'll hang you to the nearest _pîpal_ tree!'
+
+'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a
+little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!'
+
+At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall
+demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling
+on his knees, he begged for mercy.  But his piteous cries were of no
+use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the
+_pîpal_ tree.
+
+'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he
+gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew.  When he had finished every
+morsel he disappeared.
+
+Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pîpal_
+branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground,
+without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises.  However,
+he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room,
+and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he
+had the ague.
+
+By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as
+hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the
+dinner?'
+
+Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for
+it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague,
+and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with
+everything.'
+
+He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him
+a coward for not fighting the demon.
+
+'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more.
+Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter
+and I have another look at the city.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell,
+and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little
+warrior appeared to him also.  And he was quite as brave at first as
+the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and
+prayed for mercy.  In fact everything happened to him as it had
+happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too
+fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to
+shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came
+back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner.
+
+Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than
+the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there
+were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no
+dinner.  Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself.
+
+No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny
+mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant.
+
+'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the
+Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?'
+
+'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin.
+
+'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!'
+quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.'
+
+Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a
+terribly tall demon.  But instead of falling on his knees and begging
+for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My
+good sir! there is a medium in all things!  Just now you were
+ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem
+to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once
+in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less
+nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.'
+
+The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to
+an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at
+the Prince in fine style.  But valiant Lionheart never yielded an
+inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his
+sharp sword.
+
+Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying
+with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!'
+
+And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his
+incomparable valour.
+
+After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of
+the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them
+they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking
+the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most
+beautiful maiden as a bride.
+
+This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and
+Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the
+Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to
+accompany him.  Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request,
+bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave
+him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long
+as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well.
+If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune
+was at hand, and set off to help if he chose.
+
+So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley
+plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set
+forth on their travels.
+
+By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the
+wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the
+tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a
+human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly
+recollecting, said, 'I remember now!  This must be the city where the
+dreadful ghost lives which kills every one.  We had best be off!'
+
+'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart.
+
+So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the
+proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no
+shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was
+installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town.
+
+No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than
+the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding,
+with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards.
+
+At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled
+into another room and bolted the door.  Whereupon the ghost ate up the
+dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and
+the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to
+be found, and no Blacksmith.
+
+Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad
+to see the town.  But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost
+appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another
+room.
+
+'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to
+find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter.  So he began to cook the
+food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the
+ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man
+before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared
+instead as a beautiful young woman.
+
+However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked
+down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before,
+he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he
+said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't
+like killing beautiful young women!'
+
+At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own
+loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave
+one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his
+feet.
+
+Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their
+hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk,
+bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their
+making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the
+richest, and the best-born maiden in the city.
+
+To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was
+over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their
+travels.  The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him,
+but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend
+it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am
+well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come
+to help me.'
+
+Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came
+to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it
+the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who
+was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars.  He began to sigh and
+grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith,
+and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until
+his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants,
+told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and
+marry him to the maiden of his choice.
+
+This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised
+abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was
+over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart
+went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he
+had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known.
+
+Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as
+he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of
+enormous size floating down the stream!  Then another, and another
+drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue!  Wonderstruck, he
+determined to find out whence they came.  So he travelled up stream
+for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the
+current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the
+water's edge.  Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the
+river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over
+the stream, hung a golden basket.  Now if Prince Lionheart had been
+wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the
+basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the
+most perfect young Princess that ever was seen!  The eyes were closed,
+the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the
+slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and
+changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream!
+
+Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight;
+tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace
+for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head.
+
+So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved
+galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature,
+until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there,
+on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful
+girl!  One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head
+he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and,
+urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off
+swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand.  He
+placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold!
+they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to
+life once more.  The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees,
+begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be
+alone in the mysterious palace.  She informed him that she was a
+king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in
+consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical
+arts:  and being desperately jealous, never left her without first
+cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his
+return.
+
+Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful
+Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must
+first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their
+escape.  So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret
+of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once
+more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler
+might not suspect anything.
+
+The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a
+task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from
+the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword
+cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden
+basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the
+sleeping-room.
+
+By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once
+more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum!  This room smells of man's flesh!'
+
+Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me,
+good Jinn, for how can I know aught?  Am I not dead whilst you are
+away?  Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!'
+
+Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would
+rather die himself than kill her.
+
+'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to
+die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me:  I
+should be neither dead nor alive.'
+
+'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be
+killed, for my life lies in something very safe.'
+
+'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only
+say that to comfort me.  I shall never be content until you tell me
+where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.'
+
+At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so
+prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied,
+'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by
+him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep
+sentinel day and night.  Even then he must pass these warders unhurt,
+climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage
+on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee
+it contains.  So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great
+wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.'
+
+'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that,
+and I shall be satisfied.'
+
+The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being
+cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a
+heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass.  Whoever takes
+a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and
+the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.'
+
+The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary
+tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog
+keeping watch and ward over it.  They, however, became quite mild and
+meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any
+difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist
+its neck.  At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware
+of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his
+life.  The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the
+bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting
+on the tree, tore off the insect's wings.  The Jinn instantly fell to
+the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to
+climb.  Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn
+became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's
+life went out entirely.
+
+So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was
+overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death.  He would have started at
+once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little
+rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it
+contained.
+
+Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her
+beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands
+came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold.  She
+was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not
+throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so
+she made a green cup out of a _pîpal_ leaf, coiled the golden
+hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream.
+
+It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city,
+and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied
+something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his
+boatmen row towards it, found the _pîpal_ leaf cup and the
+glittering golden hairs.
+
+He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and
+determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner.
+Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to
+find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt.
+
+The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.'
+
+The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and
+bring her to you.'
+
+But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will
+put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece
+from the old.'
+
+The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the
+cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the
+glistening golden hair.
+
+Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed
+they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she
+set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until
+at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace.
+
+Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and
+began to weep and to wail.  It so happened that as Prince Lionheart
+had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having
+a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she
+came out to see what was the matter.
+
+'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?'
+
+'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become
+of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are
+left here in the wilderness alone.'  For the witch knew by her arts
+all about the Prince.
+
+'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a
+dreadful thing it would be!  I never thought of it before!'
+
+All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince
+returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying
+his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should
+befall him.
+
+Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her
+wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it.
+
+'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never
+fails.  If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair
+means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!'
+
+'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,'
+pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there
+was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way,
+and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his
+strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was
+none the wiser.
+
+Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs,
+the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's
+life is safe to-day.  It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in
+my cupboard.'
+
+Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday
+sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took
+the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in
+the glowing embers.  As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart
+felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical
+property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it,
+and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling!  He cried aloud, 'I
+am undone!  I am undone!' and galloped homewards.  But the wise woman
+blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince
+Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of
+the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and
+so did the Prince's head.
+
+Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how
+tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep!  Let me wash and
+dress it against your husband's return.'  So they went down the marble
+steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat,
+sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.'
+
+And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes
+like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the
+boat, which went drifting down stream.
+
+In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a
+great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing!  You are taking me away
+to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear
+not to look on his face for twelve years!'
+
+At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight;
+but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built
+her a high tower, where she lived all alone.  No one save the hewers
+of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard
+surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart.
+
+Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the
+barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped
+right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground.
+
+This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately
+guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince.  He
+gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way
+with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same
+errand.  When it became evident that the three barley plants had
+fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and
+were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the
+Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and
+his head close to it.  Knowing the magical properties of the sword,
+they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its
+place their hearts sank indeed!  They lifted the body, and carried it
+to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they
+found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the
+rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it.
+
+'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the
+fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade.  No sooner
+had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as
+ever.
+
+'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so
+deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the
+sword was soon as bright as ever.  And as he spun his wheel, the burns
+and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at
+last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before.
+
+'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told
+his friends of all that had passed.
+
+'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your
+sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.'
+
+So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the
+lost Princess.  Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a
+tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within.  When the townspeople
+told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close
+imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were
+allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she
+whom he sought.  However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a
+woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood!  Fifteen
+gold pieces for this bundle of wood!'
+
+The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her
+servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive.
+
+'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was
+cut with this sharp bright sword!'
+
+Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered
+through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword.  So she
+bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and
+he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would
+show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden
+at evening.
+
+She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in
+fashioning a marvellous palanquin.  This he took with him to the tower
+garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it
+flies.'
+
+But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go
+alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman.  Then the
+Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began
+to fly higher and higher, like a bird.
+
+'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a
+time.
+
+Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her
+overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was
+drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower
+before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely
+smashed on the stones.
+
+Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace,
+where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's
+arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his
+Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion
+kings, to his father's dominions.  But when the poor old King, who had
+very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming,
+he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them,
+and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for
+I am old, and cannot fight.  Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with
+me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago,
+and no one has heard aught of him since.'
+
+On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him
+all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the
+Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter.  This greatly
+delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son
+had brought home, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+
+[Illustration:  Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals]
+
+Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on
+his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.
+
+Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy
+to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom
+should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and
+said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--­
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the
+tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_
+_you_!'
+
+But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said--­
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let
+Lambikin pass.
+
+And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an
+Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said--­
+'Lambikin!  Lambikin!  I'll _eat_ _you_!'
+
+But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk--­
+
+  'To Granny's house I go,
+  Where I shall fatter grow,
+  Then you can eat me so.'
+
+At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry,
+'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to
+keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_
+
+So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin,
+and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate,
+and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said
+he was fat enough for anything, and must go home.  But cunning little
+Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to
+eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender.
+
+'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make
+a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and
+then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a
+drum myself.'
+
+So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin,
+with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
+the middle, and trundled away gaily.  Soon he met with the Eagle, who
+called out--­
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied--­
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the
+tender morsel he had let slip.
+
+Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing--­
+
+  'Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question--­
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And to each of them the little sly-boots replied--­
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa, tum-too;
+  Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!'
+
+Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
+slip.
+
+At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as
+sharp as a needle, and he too called out--­
+
+  'Drumikin!  Drumikin!
+  Have you seen Lambikin?'
+
+And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily--­
+
+  'Lost in the forest, and so are you,
+  On, little Drumikin!  Tum-pa---'
+
+But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at
+once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you?
+Just you come out of that!'
+
+Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.
+
+
+
+
+BOPOLÛCHÎ
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the
+village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking
+of their betrothals and weddings.
+
+Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and
+he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.'
+
+Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the
+most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'
+
+Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest
+jewels in the world.'
+
+But Bopolûchî, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was
+an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her.  Nevertheless
+she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle
+is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.'
+
+Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all
+sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and
+heard what Bopolûchî said.  Being much struck by her beauty and
+spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day,
+disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopolûchî's house laden
+with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine
+jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so
+rich.
+
+Bopolûchî could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as
+she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who
+had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange
+her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin.
+
+Hearing this, Bopolûchî of course believed it all, and was ever so
+much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a
+bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits.
+
+But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked--­
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said Bopolûchî, 'that crow croaks funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like
+that.'
+
+A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught
+sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream--­
+
+     'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+     You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+     'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+     But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this
+country.'
+
+By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor
+pretty Bopolûchî it began to howl--­
+
+  'Bopolûchî, 'tis a pity!
+  You have lost your wits, my pretty!
+  'Tis no uncle that relieves you,
+  But a robber who deceives you!'
+
+'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily.  What does it
+say?'
+
+'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this
+country.'
+
+So poor pretty Bopolûchî journeyed on till they reached the robber's
+house.  Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her
+himself.  She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and
+left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went
+out to make arrangements for the marriage feast.
+
+Now Bopolûchî had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to
+her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head.
+
+'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the
+bridal dress on Bopolûchî, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful
+hair?'
+
+'Well,' replied Bopolûchî, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head
+in the big mortar for husking rice.  At every stroke of the pestle my
+hair grew longer and longer.  I assure you it is a plan that never
+fails.'
+
+'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman
+eagerly.
+
+'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopolûchî.
+
+So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and
+Bopolûchî pounded away with such a will that the old lady died.
+
+Then Bopolûchî dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress,
+seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face,
+and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber
+came home he might think it was the bride.  Then she put on the old
+mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house
+as quickly as possible.
+
+On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen
+millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head.  She
+was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to
+be seen.  But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's
+dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village,
+and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge.  Thus
+Bopolûchî reached home in safety.
+
+Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in
+bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course
+thought it was Bopolûchî.  So he called to her to help him down with
+the millstone, but she didn't answer.  He called again, but still she
+didn't answer.  Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at
+her head.  The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not
+Bopolûchî at all, but his old, ever so old mother!  Whereupon the
+robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when
+he discovered pretty Bopolûchî had run away, he became wild with rage,
+and determined to bring her back somehow.
+
+[Illustration:  Bopolûchî and the robber]
+
+Now Bopolûchî was convinced that the robber would try to carry her
+off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house,
+leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but
+after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did
+not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time.  So she
+determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but
+she took a bill-hook to bed with her.  Sure enough, in the very middle
+of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed,
+lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg
+close behind her head.  Bopolûchî was wide awake, but pretended to be
+fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves
+were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a
+twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the
+bed.  Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at
+the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and
+scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach
+him.
+
+'Come down!' cried brave Bopolûchî, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and
+fight it out!'
+
+But the robber would not come down; so Bopolûchî gathered all the
+sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to
+them.  Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half
+stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed.
+
+After that, Bopolûchî went to the robber's house and carried off all
+the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there,
+coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she
+pleased.  And that was the end of Bopolûchî's adventures.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor,
+that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were
+reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner.
+
+Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find
+in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant.  Thinking
+it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and
+planted it by his cottage door.  Every day he watered and tended it,
+so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big
+as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that
+the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the
+plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely
+nothing to eat in the house.  Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We
+must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.'
+
+So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and
+white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a
+low moan.  But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she
+heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take
+care!  Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!'
+
+The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently
+as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit,
+until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think
+happened?  Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden
+imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin!
+
+The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more
+delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the
+tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her.  So they took
+the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling
+her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was
+not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be
+any king's daughter.
+
+Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful
+wife, and seven stalwart young sons.  One day, a slave-girl from the
+palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for
+a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.  She went straight
+home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by
+there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once
+to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen,
+but every other woman in the world.
+
+Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear
+the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she
+cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine.  If
+she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do
+the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic.
+So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame
+of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like
+to see with her own eyes if report said true.
+
+Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap.
+She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck,
+said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses!  From this time you
+must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.'
+
+This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she
+remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank
+milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people
+say they will be sisters.
+
+But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had
+seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew
+she must be very careful how she set about her magic.  Therefore she
+laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said--­
+
+  'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son.  Kill him,
+and I will die also.'
+
+So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son
+lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands.  Then she sent the
+slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead
+too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not
+been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught.
+Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the
+Princess Aubergine, saying--­
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son.
+Kill him, and I too will die.'
+
+So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when
+she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the
+girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed
+her second son for naught.  Nevertheless, she would not give up her
+wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the
+sleeping Princess, asking her--­
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son.  Kill him,
+and I must die also!'
+
+But the same thing happened.  Though the young Prince was killed by
+his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went
+on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and
+their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having
+killed her seven sons for naught.
+
+Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong
+spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them,
+and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked--­
+
+  'Princess Aubergine! tell me true--
+  In what thing does your life lie?'
+
+the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there
+lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish there is a bumble bee,
+inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful
+nine-lakh necklace.  Put it on, and I shall die.'
+
+Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green
+fish.  Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began
+to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter.  Then she
+told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh
+necklace.
+
+'But where is it to be found?' asked the King.
+
+And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a
+river far away there lives a red and green fish.  Inside the fish
+there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is
+the nine-lakh necklace.'
+
+Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the
+loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly
+of an infectious disease.  Seeing his wife so distressed, and being
+anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his
+kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found.
+So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was
+fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked
+sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was
+the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which
+the Queen put on at once.
+
+Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the
+secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die;
+so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of
+her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body.
+'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest
+clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to
+the wildest wilderness.  There you must place the bed on the ground,
+and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to
+see over.'
+
+The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she
+wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment
+the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in
+her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out
+to the wildest wilderness.
+
+Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brâhman's hut to inquire
+if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying,
+'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the
+wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the
+moon!'
+
+The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no
+more, had to be content.
+
+Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to
+forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who
+feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess
+Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she
+said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.'
+
+But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west,
+without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the
+north.  In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high
+enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he
+climbed over the wall.  He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
+a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had
+just fallen asleep.  It seemed impossible she could be dead, so,
+kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and
+beseeching her to open her eyes.  At nightfall he returned to his
+palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his
+attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful
+Princess.  So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside
+the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred.
+
+Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little
+boy imaginable lying beside the Princess.  He was greatly astonished,
+but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and
+at night laid it down beside its dead mother.  After some time the
+child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was
+always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me
+as you do during the day.'
+
+Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die,
+and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh
+necklace your Queen wears.  At night, when the Queen takes it off, my
+mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it
+on, my mother dies.'
+
+This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen
+could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to
+ask his mother whose son he was.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son,
+sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked
+Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess
+Aubergine.'
+
+Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and
+bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished,
+and by what means the necklace could be recovered.
+
+The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person
+who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the
+palace, you are to take me with you.'  So the King carried the boy
+back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the
+child was his heir.  On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own
+dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the
+boy.  To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and,
+caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the
+child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the
+glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with.
+
+Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him
+to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh
+necklace, and gave it to the child.  No sooner had he touched it than
+he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop
+him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the
+beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead.  He threw the necklace over her
+head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever.  Then the King
+came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she
+replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is
+dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your
+seven young sons.  If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of
+the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen
+into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your
+wife.'
+
+So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with
+scorpions and snakes.  Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade
+her come to see something very wonderful.  But she refused, suspecting
+a trick.  Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the
+ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with
+them.  As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the
+grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after.
+
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince,
+but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether
+small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him Vicky--­
+Little Vicky the Weaver.
+
+But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance,
+Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his
+bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an
+opportunity.  Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained
+little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his
+boasting.
+
+Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito
+settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his
+right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the
+shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the
+mosquito had settled, and squashed it.  Seeing this, Vicky became
+desperately excited:  'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I
+only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle!  Now, I'd like to
+know how many people could have done that?  Killing a mosquito is
+easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a
+mighty different affair!  It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking
+man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and
+crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a
+_shuttle_ is quite another thing.  That requires a man!'
+
+The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over
+his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer
+suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.'  No! now that he had shown his
+mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still,
+'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits.  But when he
+announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with
+laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such
+sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew
+home in a rage.  Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a
+fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous
+little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue
+and not make a fool of himself.  Upon this, beside himself with pride
+and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most
+unmercifully.  Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his
+merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a
+journey, and set about packing his bundle.
+
+'I will go into the world!' he said to himself.  'The man who can
+shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under
+a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of
+bread tied up in a kerchief.
+
+Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came
+daily to make a meal off the inhabitants.  Many mighty warriors had
+gone against it, but none had returned.  On hearing this the valiant
+little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance!  A great haystack
+of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito
+with a shuttle!'  So he went to the King, and announced that he
+proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant.  At first the
+King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words,
+he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the
+risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
+
+Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to
+take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed
+only with his shuttle.
+
+'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied
+boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and
+it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!'
+
+It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet
+his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the
+fight.  Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying
+its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and
+then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting
+his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and
+his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
+
+Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and
+had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide
+the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a
+wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome,
+whimsical little husband.  And so, as the elephant charged past, it
+smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long
+trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant.  Meanwhile fear lent
+speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the
+elephant soon overtook him.  In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
+beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned,
+hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind
+with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead.  Now, as
+luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and
+the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
+
+When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe
+their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up
+to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on
+the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief.
+
+'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would
+never have engaged me.  Then I gave him a little push, and he fell
+down, as you see.  Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength
+to speak of.'
+
+The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky
+spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very
+distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the
+little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the
+elephant like a ninepin.  Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my
+warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have
+done this.  I must secure this little man's services if I can.'  So he
+asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world.
+
+[Illustration:  Vicky descending from the dead elephant]
+
+'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky,
+laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry,
+made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take
+service elsewhere.
+
+So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a
+peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions.
+
+'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full
+fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and
+shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!'
+
+Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country,
+and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor
+might be sent out to destroy it.  So out he went at the head of his
+army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about
+looms and shuttles.  But first he made the King promise his daughter
+in marriage as a reward.  'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute
+little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out
+as gay as a lark.
+
+'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who
+flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous
+to suppose the tiger will have a chance.  Why, I knocked over an
+elephant with my little finger!  I am really invincible! *'
+
+But, alas for our Valiant Vicky!  No sooner did he see the tiger
+lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest
+tree, and scrambled into the branches.  There he sat like a monkey,
+while the tiger glowered at him from below.  Of course when the army
+saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his
+example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
+spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
+
+'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was
+jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a
+son-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger
+occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling
+its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with
+fright.  So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the
+seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
+As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made
+him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its
+mid-day snooze.  He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot
+was within a yard of the ground, and then?  Why then the tiger, which
+had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
+
+Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort,
+swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to
+keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming
+white teeth were within half an inch of his toes.  In doing so, his
+dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
+mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
+
+Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after
+prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he
+concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down.  Then he cut
+off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
+
+'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he,
+wrathfully.  'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and
+seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and
+snoozing at home.  Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is
+not a hero as I am!'  So Prince Victor married the King's daughter,
+and was a greater man than ever.
+
+But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the
+King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing
+to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword.  Hearing
+this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince
+Victor!  Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver
+was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after
+which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward.  Now Valiant
+Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself,
+'This is a very different affair from the others.  A man may kill a
+mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill
+_him_.  And here is not one man, but thousands!  No, no!--what is
+the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders?
+Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!'
+
+So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden
+dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at
+my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but
+on the journey these will be useful.'  Then he crept outside the city,
+followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
+the enemy's camp.
+
+Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into
+Valiant Vicky's face.  'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a
+terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped
+till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.  His wife
+set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a
+clang.  The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked,
+flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark,
+they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other,
+fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive!
+And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
+Victor's prowess.  'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant
+little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a
+shuttle, everything else is child's play.'
+
+So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity,
+refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never
+fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them.
+
+Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky
+was the greatest hero the world had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no
+children.  This was a great grief to him, especially when he
+remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the
+kingdom.
+
+Now, one day, a poor old _fakîr_ or religious devotee, came to
+the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be
+accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'
+
+The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
+for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
+throughout the length and breadth of the land.
+
+Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
+attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
+content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
+
+Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
+the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest
+lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad
+dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.'
+
+The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
+and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he
+hunted diligently, he found no game.  Nor had he greater success to
+the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not
+to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned
+to the north.  Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as
+he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with
+golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket.  So
+quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning
+desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled
+his breast.  He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round
+the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the
+circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind
+panting in the midst.  Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he
+thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one
+mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the
+mountains.  Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his
+horse, followed at full speed.  On, on he galloped, leaving his
+retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never
+drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no
+outlet, he reined in his steed.  Before him stood a miserable hovel,
+into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered
+to ask for a drink of water.  An old woman, seated in the hut at a
+spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and
+immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming,
+so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by
+astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel.
+
+She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he
+looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl
+was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet
+he had chased so far.
+
+Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging
+her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying
+seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage.  However,
+when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him,
+and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me
+the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you
+mean what you say.'
+
+The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's
+magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven
+Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a
+noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for
+the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering.  But
+the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes,
+and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck,
+saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in
+the King's palace.'
+
+Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he
+gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven
+Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon
+her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire.
+
+Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into
+prison, the first Queen's baby was born.  It was a handsome boy, but
+the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at
+once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it.  All except the
+youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly.
+
+The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same
+with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until
+the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day.
+But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to
+take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten
+ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and
+answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my
+child alone.  You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share,
+neither more nor less.'
+
+Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest
+amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her
+baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told
+them, they received their full share.  And though at first they
+disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them,
+that ere long they all looked on him as their son.  Almost as soon as
+he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in
+an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him
+to crawl through.  Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour
+or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the
+seven blind Queens.
+
+As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three
+times every day to play with the little nobles in the town.  No one
+knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full
+of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to
+be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some
+sweetmeats.  All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as
+he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in
+their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death
+ages before.
+
+At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and
+arrow, and went out to seek for game.  Coming by chance upon the
+palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and
+magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble
+turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead.  It came tumbling past
+the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see
+what was the matter, and looked out.  At the first glance at the
+handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft
+that it was the King's son.
+
+She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad
+without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her
+presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just
+shot.
+
+'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind
+mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
+not bring them food.'
+
+'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to
+bring them their eyes again?  Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
+faithfully promise to show you where to find them.'
+
+Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
+pigeon at once.  Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
+without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
+
+'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show
+her this token on which I have written what I want done.'
+
+So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
+words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
+blood like water!'
+
+Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal
+message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
+
+But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one
+of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what
+was the matter.  They told him it was because the King's only daughter
+refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to
+the throne.  They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for
+though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to
+her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven
+mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing.  Still
+the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates
+to be led before the Princess in case she might relent.  So, much to
+the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his
+mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber.
+
+No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and,
+turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!'
+
+Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced.  The
+inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers
+said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover
+his mothers' eyes.  Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she
+asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so
+much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but
+taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these
+words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned
+it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his
+quest.
+
+Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white
+witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading
+the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes.
+Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only
+thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.'
+
+The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried
+home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes
+apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one,
+saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!'
+
+After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but
+when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on
+the roof.  Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering
+past the window.  Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was
+the King's son alive and well.
+
+She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him
+how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought
+home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she
+could hardly restrain her rage.  Nevertheless she pretended to be
+charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this
+pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jôgi's wonderful
+cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a
+kingdom.  The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as
+before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a
+potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and
+sprinkle his blood like water!'
+
+But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess,
+just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the
+message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when
+the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jôgi's
+cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and,
+bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand
+demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off
+before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus
+giving away so many good things.
+
+Then the lad did as he had been told bravely.  He journeyed on and on
+till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand
+demons.  They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up
+courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither
+to the right nor the left.  By and by he came upon the Jôgi's cow,
+tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jôgi himself, who was king of
+all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed
+from her udder, filling the milk-white tank.
+
+The Jôgi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want
+here?'
+
+Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want
+your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your
+skin is nice and tough.'
+
+Upon this the Jôgi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jôgi
+dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet,
+cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even
+my beautiful white cow!'
+
+To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended
+hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to
+find a nice tough skin like the Jôgi's elsewhere; so, driving the
+wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards.  The seven Queens were
+delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled
+from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to
+the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became
+richer and richer day by day.
+
+Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with
+a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's
+palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were
+cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just
+beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting.  Looking out,
+she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter
+than ever with rage and spite.
+
+[Illustration:  The son demanding the Jôgi's cow]
+
+She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she
+heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a
+fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and,
+smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her
+promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do
+yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the
+million-fold rice, which ripens in one night.
+
+The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the
+pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on
+which was written, 'Do not fail this time.  Kill the lad, and sprinkle
+his blood like water!'
+
+But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming
+anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and
+substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad
+all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!'
+
+Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the
+million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the
+most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she
+controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by
+eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back
+after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the
+centre.
+
+So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where,
+guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew.
+He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he
+reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned
+homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest
+accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!'  He looked back, and
+lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes!
+
+Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew
+uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so
+she set off to see what had happened.
+
+Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it
+was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste,
+formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood
+from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly
+the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever.
+
+'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time
+I'll leave you alone.  Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!'
+
+So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens,
+who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest
+people in the kingdom.  Then they celebrated their son's marriage to
+the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so
+clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his
+father, and punished the wicked white witch.  So she made her husband
+build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had
+lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour.  Then,
+when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the
+King.  Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven
+mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the
+invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace
+he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular!  And when
+his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where
+on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen
+them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming
+forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story.
+Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against
+the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could
+not contain himself.  So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed
+over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid
+palace, and everybody lived happily.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichrî_ for dinner.
+So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the
+Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichrî_ was ready, the Crow
+stood by to claim his share.
+
+'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you
+are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully.  'Your body is quite black, and
+your head looks as if it were covered with ashes.  For goodness
+gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.'
+
+The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best
+to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow
+was; so he went to the Pond, and said--­
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Pond,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me some water,
+    For if you do so
+  I can wash beak and feet
+    And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+[Illustration:  The crow and those he meets]
+
+But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you
+must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn.  Then with it you
+can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.'
+
+So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said--­
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Deer,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me a horn, please,
+    For if you do so
+  I can dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you
+must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to
+drink.  Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my
+horn.'
+
+So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said--­
+
+  'Your name, ma'am, is Cow,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some milk, please,
+    For if you do so
+  The pain will be borne,
+  Deer will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must
+bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without
+grass?'
+
+So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said--­
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Grass,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Oh, give me some blades, please,
+    For if you do so
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you
+must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle.  Then you
+can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?'
+
+So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said--­
+
+  'Your name, sir, is Smith,
+    But my name is Crow.
+  Please give me a sickle,
+    For if you do so
+  The Grass I can mow
+  As food for the Cow;
+  Madam Cow will give milk
+  To the Deer sleek as silk;
+  The pain will be borne,
+  He will give me his horn,
+  And I'll dig a clean rill
+  For the water to fill;
+  Then I'll wash beak and feet
+  And the nice _khichrî_ eat;
+  Though I really don't know
+    What the Sparrow can mean,
+  For I'm sure, as Crows go,
+    I'm remarkably clean!'
+
+'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and
+blow the bellows.'
+
+So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so
+doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the---_fire_,
+and was burnt!
+
+So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the
+_khichrî_.
+
+
+
+
+THE TIGER, THE BRAHMÂN, AND THE JACKAL
+
+
+Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.  He tried in vain to
+get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when
+he failed.
+
+By chance a poor Brâhman came by.  'Let me out of this cage, O pious
+one!' cried the tiger.
+
+'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brâhman mildly, 'you would probably eat
+me if I did.'
+
+'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I
+should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!'
+
+Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious
+Brâhman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of
+the cage.  Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,
+'What a fool you are!  What is to prevent my eating you now, for after
+being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!'
+
+In vain the Brâhman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a
+promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to
+question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
+
+So the Brâhman first asked a _pîpal_ tree what it thought of the
+matter, but the _pîpal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to
+complain about?  Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who
+passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed
+their cattle?  Don't whimper--be a man!'
+
+Then the Brâhman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a
+buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it
+answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude!  Look at me!  While I
+gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry
+they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!'
+
+[Illustration:  Buffalo turning the well-wheel]
+
+The Brâhman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
+
+'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything
+else!  Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great
+and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the
+ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!'
+
+On this the Brâhman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a
+jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brâhman?  You
+look as miserable as a fish out of water!'
+
+Then the Brâhman told him all that had occurred.  'How very
+confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you
+mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!'
+
+The Brâhman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a
+distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
+
+'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear
+and out at the other!  I will go to the place where it all happened,
+and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.'
+
+So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the
+Brâhman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
+
+'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let
+us begin our dinner.'
+
+'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brâhman, as his knees
+knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of
+putting it!'
+
+'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may
+explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.'
+
+The tiger consented, and the Brâhman began the whole story over again,
+not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
+
+'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his
+paws.  'Let me see! how did it all begin?  You were in the cage, and
+the tiger came walking by----'
+
+'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in
+the cage.'
+
+'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;
+'yes!  I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my
+wits?  Let me see--the tiger was in the Brâhman, and the cage came
+walking by---no, that's not it either!  Well, don't mind me, but begin
+your dinner, for I shall never understand!'
+
+'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
+stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand!  Look here--I am the
+tiger---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the Brâhman---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And that is the cage---'
+
+'Yes, my lord!'
+
+'And I was in the cage--do you understand?'
+
+'Yes--no--Please, my lord---'
+
+'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently.
+
+'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?'
+
+'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!'
+
+'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again!  Please don't be
+angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?'
+
+At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
+'This way!  Now do you understand how it was?'
+
+'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and
+if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they
+were!'
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him]
+
+Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side
+of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat
+had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of
+crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of
+wood.  He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water,
+but they only laughed at him.
+
+Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the
+crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely
+lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing
+stones at them.  At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking
+with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him.
+
+'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest
+crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not,
+we will eat you for throwing stones at us.'
+
+The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what
+the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told
+his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter
+was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich
+family had already taken place.  So his wife persuaded the farmer to
+disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his
+daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the
+wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to
+that business.  The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that
+she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor
+fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes
+occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife
+acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad
+luck.  By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to
+induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would
+hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement
+were not fulfilled at once.
+
+So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however,
+was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her
+daughter.
+
+The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg.  Then the
+mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us
+all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her
+die.'
+
+Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the
+crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as
+soon as they chose.
+
+The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house
+with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining
+the bride's hands.  They behaved with the utmost politeness, and
+carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision.
+Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you
+marrying me into the river?  I shall be drowned!'
+
+In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was
+wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements.  Never was there
+such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music,
+others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and
+jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs.  In the middle, a
+perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful
+bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the
+gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank.  Arrived
+at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out,
+and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking
+she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and
+behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided
+before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to
+the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared,
+leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the
+bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight.
+
+Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles.  The
+farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that
+the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the
+stream dividing was a mere invention.
+
+Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with
+his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these
+words:  'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river,
+throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see
+what you will see!'
+
+Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so
+distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.'
+
+Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so
+far into the stream.  Immediately the waters rolled back from before
+his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river.  It looked so
+inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the
+farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came
+to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering
+diamond walls.  Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a
+sentry paced up and down before the gateway.
+
+'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied
+that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the
+farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!'
+
+Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.
+
+'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'
+
+'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'
+
+At this the sentry burst out laughing.  'A likely story, indeed!' he
+cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter!  Ha!
+ha! ha!'
+
+Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the
+palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.  She was as
+happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own
+river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young
+Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore
+that he assumed the form of a crocodile.  So what with her magnificent
+palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too
+happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice
+speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her
+father's tones.  Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor
+clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms
+round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden
+her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his
+permission.  So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and
+call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father!  I am here!  Only wait till
+my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to
+let you in.  I dare not without his leave.'
+
+The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not
+wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.
+
+In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.  Every man was
+dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates,
+but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished
+gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the
+handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.
+
+Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried,
+'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried
+off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!'
+
+Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of
+the Crocodiles!  Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be
+very glad to see you.'
+
+After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a
+few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and
+begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short
+visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.  But
+the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will
+give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.'
+
+The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking
+several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream
+divide.
+
+His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom,
+but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so
+fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to
+see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never
+returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with
+their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he
+went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep.  All day
+long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain,
+tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till
+eve.
+
+But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small
+shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or
+your sheep?'  Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know,
+Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.'
+
+So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening,
+when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said,
+'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or
+your sheep.  Which shall it be?'
+
+Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat
+flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of
+course!'
+
+So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless
+plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great
+big wolf appeared.  Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the
+savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie,
+and she says you are to eat _me_.'
+
+Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just
+a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so
+sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you,
+little boy, after I've eaten you?'
+
+'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd.  'If you would be so kind,
+after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string
+and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be
+much obliged.'
+
+So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards
+hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it
+danced and swung in the sunlight.
+
+Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening
+to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the
+spoil.  Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious
+jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled.  Now you
+must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of
+warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's
+thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the
+man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run!
+run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed
+by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them.
+
+'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!'
+
+So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that
+drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe,
+that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the
+fishes of the pond came to listen to him.  Then Little Anklebone put
+marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in
+the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered
+round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the
+rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk.  And Little
+Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's
+pipe.
+
+Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard
+the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound,
+came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and
+the fishes, listening to the music.  She was wonderstruck, especially
+when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill
+your jar, mother!  All drink who come hither!'
+
+Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way
+rejoicing at her good fortune.  But as she journeyed she met with the
+King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in
+the pathless plain.
+
+'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I
+am half dead with thirst!'
+
+'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a
+milken pond.'  Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so
+that he resolved to have a peep at them himself.  And when he saw the
+milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round,
+while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe,
+he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!'
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman finding the pond of milk]
+
+No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a
+run, and the King after him.  Never was there such a chase before or
+since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and
+thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he
+did not care for scratches.  At last the King was successful, but no
+sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above
+began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing
+of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper
+himself singing these words--­
+
+  'O clouds! why should you storm and flare?
+    Poor Anklebone is forced to roam.
+   O does! why wait the milker's care?
+     Poor Anklebone must leave his home.'
+
+And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart,
+especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.  So he let
+it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree
+by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe,
+while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes
+of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.  And sometimes,
+people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then
+they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages
+ago!'*
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+A TALE OF WOE
+
+
+One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field.  He had
+just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said,
+'Peace be with you, friend!  How are you this fine morning?'
+
+'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned
+the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite.
+
+'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because
+Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks.  You are a
+God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
+
+'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the
+farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a
+question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to
+plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen.  Had
+you not better go and make further inquiries?'
+
+'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you
+waiting,' returned the tiger.  'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be
+ready in a moment.'  With that the savage creature fell to sharpening
+his teeth and claws in a very significant manner.
+
+But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and
+promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange
+a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at
+home.
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer pleading with the tiger]
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer
+went sadly homewards.  Seeing him return so early from the fields, his
+wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--­
+back already, and _my_ work just beginning!'
+
+Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save
+the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange.  At this the
+wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your
+stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow!  Where will
+the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops
+without butter?'
+
+'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread
+without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the
+fields?  Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do
+without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie
+the cow.'
+
+'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your
+brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!'
+
+'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage.
+
+'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must
+obey orders; I can't do both.  Go back to the tiger, and tell him the
+cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it'
+
+The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going
+back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan
+he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth
+and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still
+longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and
+curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor
+farmer's knees to knock together with terror.
+
+Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable
+and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied
+the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible,
+bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was.
+
+She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the
+lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass,
+'Now, please the powers!  I may find a tiger in this place; for I
+haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have
+it, I ate three for breakfast.'
+
+[Illustration:  Farmer's wife on a horse]
+
+Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the
+tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the
+forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned
+his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as
+it were, waits at table and clears away the bones.
+
+'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?'
+
+'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in
+yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for
+breakfast!'
+
+At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve.  'My dear lord,' said he,
+'the sun has dazzled your eyes!  That was no horseman, but only the
+farmer's wife dressed up as a man!'
+
+'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing.
+
+'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's
+eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would
+have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.'
+
+'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the
+very devil of a horseman to look at!'
+
+'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal.  'Come! don't give up your
+dinner because of a woman!'
+
+'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all
+cowards, was suspicious.
+
+'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal.
+
+'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger
+cunningly.
+
+'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!'  The
+jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones.
+
+To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a
+reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm.
+
+Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over
+the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what
+should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with
+their tails tied together.
+
+'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!'
+
+'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if
+you will only stop that noise and be quiet.  I can't hear myself
+speak!'
+
+Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out
+politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a
+nice fat tiger!  I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and
+then you can have the bones.'
+
+At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite
+forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted
+away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him.  Bumpety, bump, bump,
+over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars!
+
+In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the
+noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went,
+helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was
+_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead
+from bumps and bruises.
+
+_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were
+good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to
+know.  But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother
+died, and their father the King shortly after married again.  Of
+course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as
+stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys.
+First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and
+then even these were made without salt.  After a time, the meal of
+which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters
+went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor
+young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of
+their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat
+them again.
+
+At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy.
+
+'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own
+living.'
+
+'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread
+under this roof.'
+
+'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years,
+'don't you remember the saying--­
+
+  ''With empty stomachs don't venture away,
+    Be it December, or be it May'?'
+
+So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting
+on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune.
+
+Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they
+dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest.  By chance a
+starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the
+tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place.
+
+'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and
+striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird,
+that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!'
+
+'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the
+starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt
+become a King!'
+
+Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows,
+and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame
+moment.  Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that
+neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other
+to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready
+to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter.  But at
+last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time.
+You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to
+be born first.'
+
+So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the
+starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away.  They had gone
+but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and
+thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back
+and find it.
+
+'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister;
+therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.'
+
+'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which
+will enable you to return quicker.  In the meantime I will go on foot
+to yonder town.'
+
+The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the
+Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval,
+and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the
+horrid serpent flew at him and killed him.
+
+Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last
+at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion.  The King
+had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the
+sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of
+them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured
+individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in
+that country.  Therefore the people were in great consternation, and
+orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the
+city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant.  No sooner,
+therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was
+dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--
+before the over-particular animal.  This time, however, it had found
+what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it
+went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with
+its trunk.  So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid
+general rejoicings.
+
+[Illustration:  The sacred elephant bowing before the prince]
+
+All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the
+King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave
+him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister.
+
+But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk,
+were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw
+water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the
+magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and
+young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before,
+and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever
+talking of your wisdom and power:  prove it by bringing this dead lad
+to life!'
+
+At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him,
+saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very
+well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the
+dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.'
+
+Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring,
+when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little
+vessel, and the fountain was dry!
+
+'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you
+will see.'
+
+When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly
+put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.  They
+bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to
+the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he
+would only restore the water of their spring.  This he promised to do,
+if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they
+gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all
+the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were
+happy.
+
+The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from
+sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay,
+seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been
+quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off.  But in his hurry and
+confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a
+different city from the one wherein his brother was king.
+
+It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket,
+the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but
+seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her,
+'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony
+of mine also, for it will be yours.'
+
+To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her
+house, finding her very kind and good-natured.  But in the course of a
+day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked
+her what was the matter.
+
+'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in
+this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man,
+a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal
+punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace.  Therefore every
+day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every
+inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death.  It is my turn
+to-day.  The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young
+man?'
+
+'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince.
+
+'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far
+as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a
+successful champion.  And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where
+shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly.
+
+'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been
+very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the
+ogre's dinner.'
+
+And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome
+a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered
+her up so that she gave in.
+
+'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the
+wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest
+goat in your flock.'
+
+This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince,
+leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the
+ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal.
+Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the
+Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's
+dining-room, and waited.  Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster
+indeed, appeared.  Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a
+rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this
+evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes
+upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up.  As
+he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his
+man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand.  Then ensued a
+terrible contest.  The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of
+having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the
+fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and
+after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid
+his enemy at his feet.  Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut
+off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and
+then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to
+clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was
+mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this
+particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of
+bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found
+the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his
+side.
+
+'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!'
+
+So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put
+him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay.
+Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the
+kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the
+ogre.
+
+Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was
+obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom
+was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful
+necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the
+excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay.  So the
+Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great
+preparations for his future marriage.
+
+Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were
+mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but
+still breathing, hidden away under the clay.  Taking him home, they
+handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him
+round.  On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the
+scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was
+ringing.  He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and
+defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be
+useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the
+potters' offer of teaching him their trade.
+
+Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that
+ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent
+workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome
+young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised
+abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of
+his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached
+the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get
+rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out.
+
+Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually
+came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour
+by calms and contrary winds.  So long were they detained that the
+merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year;
+and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted.  They
+declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never
+leave port.  When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized
+his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen.
+Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one
+knows whence.'
+
+[Illustration:  The prince at the potter's wheel]
+
+The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to
+the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who,
+taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him.  However, he
+begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of
+a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset.  Then,
+when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his
+little finger.  As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of
+the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of
+harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on
+till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze.
+
+The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as
+the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very
+greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them
+all, for he was really an amiable young man.  At length they arrived
+at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's
+brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants
+went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch
+over the vessels.  Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to
+amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a
+model from memory of his father's palace.  Growing interested in his
+work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing
+imaginable.  There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his
+throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in
+school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower.  When it was quite
+finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into
+his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days.
+
+Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by
+her women, happened to pass that way.  She looked at the beautiful
+model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young
+man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the
+doors, and refused to eat anything at all.  Her father, fearing she
+was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this
+reply:  'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries
+me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's
+palace made of clay.'
+
+At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter
+was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her
+point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging
+with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and
+bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set
+sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown
+overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father.
+
+So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two
+afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was
+sitting on the prow.  But it so happened that a rope was hanging from
+the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he
+caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen.  She hid him in her
+box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she
+refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps
+I may be hungry by and by.'  Then she shared the meal with her
+husband.
+
+The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully,
+turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to
+her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely.
+
+His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own
+apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a
+woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely.
+
+Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his
+life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country
+had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he
+had found his long-lost brother at last.  Then he laid a plan to make
+sure.  Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the
+Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up
+to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will
+teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.'  Then, taking
+the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used
+to do.
+
+The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale,
+and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers.
+
+'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear.
+
+'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another
+bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!'
+
+That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince,
+and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save
+her father's life.  The Prince willingly consented, for he was now
+certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more
+beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written,
+amidst the flowers.
+
+When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to
+the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but
+tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.'
+
+Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the
+women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his
+daughter.  This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to
+disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in
+the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the
+disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and
+wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their
+youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt
+to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his
+adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot.  Then
+he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would
+continue his story on the next.  The King, though greatly excited, was
+accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince
+told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters.  Then
+once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and
+needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the
+seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his
+marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman.
+
+Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the
+Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter
+had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in
+favour of his son-in-law.  So what the parrot and the starling had
+said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime
+Minister.
+
+The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court
+of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed,
+telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being
+quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the
+kingdom.  At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he
+begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to
+which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his
+brother the King would gladly make her his wife.
+
+So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to
+death, as he very well deserved.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA
+
+
+One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking
+through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter.
+They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of
+them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the
+edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together,
+and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud.
+
+On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to
+the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop!  You must
+not taste a drop till you have done homage to me.  So repeat these
+verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:--­
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to
+drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the
+words without a second thought.  Even the royal tiger, treating it as
+a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the
+latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a
+personage of great importance.
+
+[Illustration:  The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform]
+
+By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to
+the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator.
+
+'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you
+have said--­
+
+'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are
+jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana.  'Mercy on us, how dry my
+throat is!  Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I
+could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as
+a crow!'
+
+'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk.  'I
+flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well
+recited.'
+
+So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal
+began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback
+when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away.
+
+'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a
+bit, and say--­
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly
+forgetting!  Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa,
+sol, la, si,--that is right!  Now, how does it run?'
+
+  'Silver is his daïs, plastered o'er with gold;
+  In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!'
+
+repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully
+edging farther and farther away.
+
+'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!'
+Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice--­
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could.
+
+The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with
+astonishment.  Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard,
+who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot
+foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate.
+
+It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the
+jackal caught him by the tail, and held on.  Then it was a case of
+'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail
+must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come
+out.  Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and
+there they might have remained till the present day, had not the
+iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in!  Just
+leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.'
+
+Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a
+twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until
+his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly--­
+
+  'Bones make up his daïs, with mud it's plastered o'er,
+  Old shoes are his ear-drops:  a jackal, nothing more!'
+
+
+
+
+THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were
+both growing old.  But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay,
+festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was
+quite a ladies' man.  So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and
+determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife.  The
+wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as
+could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all
+the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a
+crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without
+anybody poking fun at her.
+
+Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops,
+soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her
+feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there
+all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over.  Now it so happened
+that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest,
+and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the
+poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay
+as a peacock.
+
+Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked
+quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly
+burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a
+lovely dress.
+
+'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's
+vat.'
+
+The bride instantly determined to go there also.  She could not endure
+the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she
+flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop
+into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or
+cold.  It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing
+was half boiled before she managed to scramble out.  Meanwhile, the
+gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly
+in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when
+he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all
+awry, lying by the dyer's vat.
+
+'What has happened?' quoth he.
+
+But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly--­
+
+  'The old wife was dyed--
+  The nasty old cat!
+  And I, the gay bride,
+  Fell into the vat!'
+
+Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew
+away home with his precious burden.  Now, just as he was crossing the
+big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay
+dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband
+bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out
+laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!
+Remember what the song says--­
+
+  'Old wives must scramble through water and mud,
+  But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'
+
+This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain
+himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'
+
+Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride
+fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.  Whereupon the
+cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his
+feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field.  Then, going to a
+_pîpal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches,
+sobbing and sighing.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the _pîpal_ tree, aghast at the sight.
+
+'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask
+questions when a body is in deep mourning.'
+
+But the _pîpal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at
+last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair!'
+
+On hearing this sad tale, the _pîpal_ became overwhelmed with
+grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the
+spot.
+
+By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the
+shade of the _pîpal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but
+bare twigs.
+
+'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible
+yesterday!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pîpal_.  'Where are your manners?
+Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in
+mourning?'
+
+But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many
+sobs and sighs, the _pîpal_ replied--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves!'
+
+'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad!  I really must mourn
+too!'  So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail.
+After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side.
+
+'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what
+have you done with your horns?'
+
+'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo.  'Can't you see I am in deep
+mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.'
+
+But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans,
+replied--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns!'
+
+'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became
+quite salt.
+
+By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why,
+river! what has happened?  You are as salt as tears!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!'
+
+Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river
+replied--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last!'
+
+'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad!  I must
+mourn too!'  So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's
+shop, sat on the doorstep and wept.
+
+'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper.
+'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull
+as ditchwater!'
+
+'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such
+dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!'
+
+However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its
+wing, replied--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes!'
+
+'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most
+heartrending tale I ever heard in my life!  I must really mourn
+likewise!'  Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until
+he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant
+came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion
+instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse.
+
+'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are
+wool-gathering!  What's the matter?'
+
+'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for
+I am trying to forget all about it.  It is too dreadful--too too
+terrible!'
+
+At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with
+many sobs and tears--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses!'
+
+'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant.  'I don't wonder at your
+distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything
+goes wrong!'
+
+Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the
+world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child?
+What distresses you?'
+
+'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable,
+and I most of all!  Such dreadful news!--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing!'
+
+'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true!  The world is a vale of tears!
+There is nothing for it but to try and forget!'  Whereupon she set to
+work dancing away as hard as she could.
+
+By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said,
+'Why, mother! what is the matter?'
+
+The Queen, without stopping, gasped out--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing!'
+
+'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and
+seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will.  Hearing
+the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter.
+
+'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his
+might--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Lamenting his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming!'
+
+'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so,
+seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed.
+
+And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the
+maidservant sang--­
+
+  'The ugly hen painted.
+  By jealousy tainted,
+  The pretty hen dyed.
+  Bewailing his bride,
+  The cock, bald and bare,
+  Sobs loud in despair;
+  The _pîpal_ tree grieves
+  By shedding its leaves;
+  The buffalo mourns
+  By casting her horns;
+  The stream, weeping fast,
+  Grows briny at last;
+  The cuckoo with sighs
+  Blinds one of its eyes;
+  Bhagtu's grief so intense is,
+  He loses his senses;
+  The maidservant wailing
+  Has taken to railing;
+  The Queen, joy enhancing,
+  Takes refuge in dancing;
+  To aid the mirth coming,
+  The Prince begins drumming;
+  To join in it with her
+  The King strums the zither!'
+
+So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every
+one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+
+A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till
+one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but
+I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!'  The obedient bulbul
+at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping
+into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green
+pepper.  Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny
+white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red.
+
+At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled
+garden.  Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce
+sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and
+fruits.  But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no
+butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers.
+
+The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a
+solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single
+green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald.
+
+Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he
+had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her
+back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the
+delicious morsel.
+
+Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep
+in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole
+years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very
+sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going.
+Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had
+dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to
+pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife,
+after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper
+plant, flew away with her husband.
+
+As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his
+pet pepper was getting on.  Great was his sorrow and rage at finding
+it pecked to pieces.  He could not imagine what had done the mischief,
+knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the
+garden.
+
+'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have
+stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately
+began to search for the intruder.  He found nothing, however, but the
+glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he
+took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it
+away carefully in a carved niche in the wall.  Every day he went and
+looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one
+morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat
+the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in
+emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great
+size, shaped just like the green pepper.
+
+The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he
+loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever
+beheld.  So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess
+Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name.
+
+Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became
+time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled
+him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was
+no longer able to take care of her.  But it so happened that a great
+King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the
+high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they
+climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated
+by the pepper plant.
+
+The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant
+language begged her to be his wife.  But the Princess hung down her
+head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this
+garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.'
+
+Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she
+could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man
+in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's
+footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I
+can persuade my guardian to listen to you.'
+
+Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about,
+and cry 'Fee! fa! fum!  I smell the blood of a man!'
+
+Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may
+eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,'
+
+And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest
+life!  I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'
+
+After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's
+approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone
+in the walled garden.  At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly
+troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to
+marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was
+hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome,
+as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women.  Hearing
+this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he
+would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she
+was.  The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess
+already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when
+she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a
+thicket.  Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in
+hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had
+never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage,
+which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had
+begun to nod and yawn.  Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his
+dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake,
+and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face
+once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which
+flying after her, fluttered above her head.  She seemed quite happy,
+talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again
+to sleep.  But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept
+floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing
+himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.
+She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his
+garden, yawning terribly.  But the soft eyes of his dear little
+Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he
+changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with
+his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far
+away on the horizon.  Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now during the years which followed, the young King remained
+passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in
+the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth
+to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.  They determined to
+compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her,
+or lay a snare for her.
+
+Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and
+whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake,
+but all the world is fast asleep.'
+
+Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was
+a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered
+a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed
+the culprit without remorse.  So the emerald on these occasions would
+answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep.  It is the world
+that wakes.'
+
+Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no
+power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck.
+
+At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took
+off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the
+bathing-place.  So that night, when the jealous women as usual came
+whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all
+the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the
+bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps.  It is the
+world that wakes.'
+
+Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its
+usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed
+the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut
+him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently
+stained her lips with the blood.
+
+Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding
+him come and see the horrible sight.
+
+'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an
+ogress!  We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child
+in order to eat its flesh!'
+
+The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and
+yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped
+out of his kingdom and then slain.
+
+So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land,
+and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at
+their evil success.
+
+But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble
+wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle
+changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into
+lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth
+became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus.  Then her soul took the
+form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the
+turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools,
+they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina.
+
+Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime,
+could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and
+finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white
+marble wall.  Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to
+the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and
+narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools
+mourning all day long.
+
+The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and
+listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning
+seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of
+the wicked women's treachery.
+
+Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become
+alive again?'  And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us,
+and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our
+bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die
+before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once
+more.  But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she
+is!'
+
+Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they
+came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their
+heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the
+self-same moment.
+
+At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling,
+more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the
+grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were.
+
+Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would
+never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to
+death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within
+the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her.
+
+'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from
+his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess.
+'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!'
+
+Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they
+lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it,
+no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina.
+
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+
+Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while
+the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to
+disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most
+agreeable.
+
+Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said
+to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a
+visit to our poor old father?  He must be dull now--it is harvest
+time, and he is left alone in the house.'
+
+'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie.  'Go yourself!  I'm not
+going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!'
+
+So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree.
+'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and
+tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel
+quite uncomfortable!'
+
+'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work
+with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin.
+
+A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet
+Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!'
+
+'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself
+to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure.
+
+Farther on she met a _pîpal_ tree, and the _pîpal_ called
+out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will
+die, and I shall lose it!'
+
+'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a
+bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully.
+
+After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty
+Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I
+cannot run when I am stifled!'
+
+'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the
+channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly.
+
+At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his
+delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away
+in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a
+buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if
+she had been a bride going to her husband.  These she put on the
+buffalo's back, and set off homewards.
+
+Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating
+down.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it
+far, as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her
+way.
+
+By and by she passed the _pîpal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she
+had tied up hung a string of pearls.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pîpal_; 'I caught it
+from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender
+throat, and went on her way rejoicing.
+
+[Illustration:  Peasie and her buffalo]
+
+Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a
+girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake.
+
+'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a
+turn, in reward for your kindness.'
+
+So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two
+pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went
+on her way.
+
+Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending
+down, covered with ripe yellow fruit.
+
+'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have
+ripened these as a reward for your kindness.'
+
+So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for
+her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at
+her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable
+Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor
+little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and
+suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went
+to visit her father.
+
+So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get
+from the old man.  But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried
+out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's
+a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A
+likely story!  Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would
+take me to settle up your stupid old thorns!  Do it yourself!'
+
+And when she met the _pîpal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its
+broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_,
+and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set
+it right; so ask somebody else!'
+
+Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth
+a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied,
+'The more fool you for having ashes!  You don't suppose I am going to
+dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves?  Not a bit of
+it!'
+
+So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand
+and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm
+going to stop my walk that you may run?  No, no!--every one for
+himself!'
+
+At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to
+go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as
+she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon
+her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan,
+is it?  Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and
+wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness
+knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us!  Out of
+the house, you baggage!'
+
+With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry.
+
+'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of
+cloth yet!'
+
+Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times
+as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie
+went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was
+very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very
+fingers.  Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking.
+
+'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!'
+
+Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to
+catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was
+stunned.  When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with
+the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg.
+
+All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with
+hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet
+girdle-cake.
+
+Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at
+it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled
+away.  Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in
+pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting.
+
+'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting
+off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow
+fruit on the topmost branches.  First she held on to a lower branch
+with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then,
+when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with
+her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no
+avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles,
+she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet,
+sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind
+sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE
+
+
+A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was
+very exacting and jealous.  'You don't do half as much for me as I do
+for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your
+friendship.  Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me
+laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be.  You
+couldn't do that!'
+
+'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance,
+and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!'
+
+So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind
+the other.  They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried
+his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his
+shoes in his hand.
+
+Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's
+stick.  He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller,
+seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to
+himself,
+
+'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it,
+they being ready to hand.  Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the
+shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban.
+
+'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his
+companion.  'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?'
+
+[Illustration:  The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the
+partridge]
+
+'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed.  I didn't throw
+them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.'
+
+'On my stick!  Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in
+a great rage.  'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.  First you
+insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you
+manners!'
+
+Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they
+fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses
+were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died
+of laughing.
+
+'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend.
+
+'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I
+doubt if you could make me cry.  It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it
+is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.'
+
+'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a
+huntsman with his dogs coming along the road.  Just creep into that
+hollow tree and watch me:  if you don't weep scalding tears, you must
+have no feeling in you!'
+
+The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began
+fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when
+she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden.  Of course
+the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching
+that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal
+out by the tail.  Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts'
+content, and finally left him for dead.
+
+By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the
+Partridge sitting on a branch above him.
+
+'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously.  'Did I rouse your higher emo---'
+
+'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!'
+
+So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his
+bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry.
+
+'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge.  'Get me a
+good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.'
+
+'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself
+when the time comes.'
+
+Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners
+to the harvest-field.
+
+The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along
+from bush to bush as if she were wounded.
+
+'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily
+catch it!'
+
+Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a
+thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they
+put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly.
+The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off
+with a good dinner.
+
+'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good
+dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem!  But, after all,
+the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my
+life!'
+
+'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and
+weak.  But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long
+way round by the ford, let us go across the river.  My friend the
+crocodile will carry us over.'
+
+Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly
+consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he
+ferried them over.  But just as they were in the middle of the stream
+the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a
+trick.  How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!'
+
+'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale.
+
+'Not at all! not at all!  I have wings, you haven't.'
+
+On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the
+crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted
+a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say.
+
+'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--­
+I should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt
+_him_.  He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on
+these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the
+cupboard.'
+
+'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised.
+
+'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge.  'Try to eat him if you like, but
+you will only tire yourself to no purpose.'
+
+'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken
+aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore.
+
+'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge.
+
+'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have
+made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my
+life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so,
+good-bye!'
+
+And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN
+
+
+Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted
+in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and
+placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came
+suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree,
+was weeping bitterly.  Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he
+went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to
+be alone in the wild forest.
+
+'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the
+Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the
+pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way.  I know not how far I
+have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and
+hungry!'
+
+'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,'
+quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl.  So he bade
+his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in
+the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the
+beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble
+colonnades.  And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with
+the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot
+everything else in the world.
+
+So the days passed until it chanced that a Jôgi's servant, coming back
+from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh,
+whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the
+gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the
+fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine.  He was so
+astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground,
+and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things
+inside.  Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he
+wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out
+by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
+
+Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there,
+and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand.
+Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a
+tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment.  While he was
+examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box,
+began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and
+showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell
+why it was so precious to him.
+
+'O great King,' replied the Jôgi's servant, 'the box belongs to my
+master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues.  By its power
+I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return
+with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never
+without the sacred element.'
+
+Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said,
+'Tell me the truth!  Is your master indeed such a holy saint?  Is he
+indeed such a wonderful man?'
+
+'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is
+nothing in the world he does not know!'
+
+This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his
+vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him
+King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to
+fetch it himself.'  In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jôgi into
+his presence.
+
+So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to
+his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because
+he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this
+time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar
+palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her
+loveliness.  Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his
+face, and a stony stare into his eyes.
+
+Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what
+had occurred, the Jôgi was very angry, but as he could not get on
+without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal,
+he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan.  On his arrival,
+the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully
+fulfilled the promise of returning the box.
+
+Now the Jôgi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he
+knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been
+gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so
+tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those
+stony eyes?'
+
+The King hung his head.
+
+'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jôgi, 'have you any strange woman
+in your palace?'
+
+Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jôgi
+about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest.
+
+'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!'
+quoth the Jôgi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful
+two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's
+shape!'
+
+Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly
+in love with the stranger; but when the Jôgi insisted, he became
+alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so
+discover the truth or falsehood of his words.
+
+Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichrî_ to
+be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was
+sweet _khichrî_, and the other half salt.
+
+Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with
+the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet
+side towards himself.
+
+She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with
+relish and without remark, finished hers in silence.  But when they
+had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jôgi's orders, had
+feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in
+consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a
+drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to
+go outside to get some.
+
+Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own
+loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the
+beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid
+from the bed out of the door into the garden.  He followed it softly,
+watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the
+Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours.
+
+Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jôgi's story, King Ali Mardan
+begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror.  This the
+Jôgi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders.  So
+they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted
+together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock.  This they
+placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the
+ground by strong chains.  When all was ready, the King said to the
+Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone
+to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,'
+
+She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the
+garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and
+mirth, to cook their own food.
+
+The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being
+clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that
+she must bake the bread.  This she at first refused to do, saying that
+she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring
+she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set
+to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking.
+
+Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves,
+the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down
+the cover, locked and double-locked it.
+
+[Illustration:  Snake-woman in the oven]
+
+Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven,
+she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would
+have bounded out of the garden, oven and all!  But as it was, all she
+could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jôgi piled
+fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter.  So it went
+on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the
+Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet.
+
+They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a
+trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes,
+out of which the Jôgi took a small round stone, and gave it to the
+King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and
+whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.'
+
+But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life
+was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its
+possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone
+into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+
+_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when
+he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began
+to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide
+what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please
+with it.'
+
+So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no
+time.
+
+When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what
+she had.  Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small
+piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.'
+
+So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money
+with him, set off to make his fortune in the world.
+
+As he went on his way he met a man with a cat
+'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift
+Prince.
+
+'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man.
+
+'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the
+cat for a golden sovereign.
+
+By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much
+for your dog?'  And when the man said not less than a golden pound,
+the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it
+cheerfully.
+
+Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How
+much for the parrot?'  And when he heard it was only a golden
+sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain
+indeed.
+
+He had only one pound left.  Yet even then, when he met a Jôgi
+carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jôgi, how much for the
+snake?'
+
+'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jôgi.
+
+'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last
+coin.
+
+So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but
+not a single penny in his pocket.  However, he set to work bravely to
+earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being
+a Prince he was not used to it.  Now when his serpent saw this, it
+pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to
+come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for
+saving me from the Jôgi.'  The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid
+of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they
+arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it
+went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor.  When the
+snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased,
+declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he
+desired.  So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the
+snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear,
+'My father will give you anything you desire.  Remember only to ask
+for his little ring as a keepsake.'
+
+This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would
+be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he
+was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he
+replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.'
+
+Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a
+reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that
+heart could desire.
+
+Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he
+replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you
+wear on your finger, as a keepsake.'
+
+Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it
+not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot,
+for daring to ask for my greatest treasure.  But as I have said, it
+must be.  Take the ring, and go!'
+
+So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the
+serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I
+have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good
+it will do me!  It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.'
+
+'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful
+ring!  You have only to make a clean square place on the ground,
+plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring
+in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish
+for will be granted immediately.'
+
+Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring,
+the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged
+along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his
+ring to the test.  So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the
+centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some
+sweetmeats for dinner!'
+
+No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious
+sweets appeared on the holy place.  These he ate, and then set off to
+a city he saw in the distance.
+
+As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who
+would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the
+sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the
+King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be
+his portion.
+
+Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and
+declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions.
+
+The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider
+well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to
+perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in
+hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose.
+
+But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was
+certain he should succeed.
+
+Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night,
+and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young
+boaster did not run away.  Now when evening came, the Prince lay down
+calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that
+he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly.
+Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and
+making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with
+buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden
+stairs, in the midst of the sea!'
+
+And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine.
+Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely
+believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld
+the golden palace.
+
+Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King
+performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his
+kingdom, to the spendthrift.
+
+'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the
+Prince.  'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my
+reward.'
+
+So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he
+relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very
+happily together.
+
+Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but
+he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess;
+nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and
+sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she
+said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of
+the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.'
+
+So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre,
+sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into
+gold!'
+
+No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and
+his wife became a golden Princess.
+
+Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair
+one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb.  She looked
+at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she
+might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not
+be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside
+it, set it afloat upon the sea.
+
+As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a
+distant shore where a washerman was at work.  The poor man, seeing the
+wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and
+the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by
+the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme
+grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he
+must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die.
+
+The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he
+should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his
+ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would
+be best to employ a wise woman.  So he called the wisest woman in the
+land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of
+the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a
+reward.
+
+Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge
+a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes.  When all was ready, she
+set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with
+her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing
+when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down.
+
+After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the
+wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so,
+putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman,
+stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace.  There she saw
+the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her,
+she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when
+relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her,
+saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me?  I am your aunt.'
+
+But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or
+heard of such an aunt.  Then the wise woman explained how she had left
+home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that
+the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really
+believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the
+palace.
+
+Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess
+if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the
+sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and
+how the Prince her husband came and went.  Then the Princess told her
+about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its
+help they had everything heart could desire.
+
+On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the
+terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince
+come to harm while away from her.  She spoke so earnestly that the
+Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband
+returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring
+to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm,
+what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?'
+
+So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical
+ring in his wife's keeping.
+
+As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the
+possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden
+stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle;
+so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was
+inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but
+no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended
+aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row
+swiftly away.
+
+Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only
+laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps
+and harsh words.  At last they arrived at the royal city, where great
+rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman
+had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince.
+Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to
+look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her
+husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then
+she would not hear of it.
+
+To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long
+time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any
+other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so
+get rid both of them and their claims.
+
+Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called
+out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received
+no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the
+parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's
+aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.'
+
+Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would
+not be consoled.  At last, however, he recovered a little, when the
+parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over
+the sea to gather news of the lost bride.
+
+So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from
+house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden
+hair.  Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good
+courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring.
+Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the
+wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none
+could take it from her.
+
+However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the
+faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier.
+
+'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman
+to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she
+must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room.  The rest is
+my business, and yours.'
+
+So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating
+it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole.  Then she went to bed,
+and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her.  By and by,
+when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the
+cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail,
+and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth
+open, thrust the tail up her nose.  She woke with a most terrific
+sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor.  Before
+she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing
+a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who
+had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre,
+sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and
+there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the
+golden palace and her dear husband once more.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+
+Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship.
+Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant
+conversation.
+
+Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal,
+for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves
+immensely.  But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely,
+and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the
+plum-stones in a row.
+
+'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an
+aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature,
+brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me
+never be wasteful.  Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit
+of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to
+many a hungry peacock.'
+
+These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily,
+'Exactly so!  I always plant my bones for the same reason.'  And he
+carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at
+intervals.
+
+After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens;
+by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones
+made never a sign.
+
+'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal,
+pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain
+unchanged in the ground for months.'
+
+'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony,
+'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!'
+
+So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the
+self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal
+more and more savage.
+
+At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat
+down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums.
+
+'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful
+in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence
+very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming
+up!  But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!'
+
+The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and
+went on:  'Poor dear! you do look hungry!  There seems some chance of
+your starving before harvest.  What a pity it is you can't eat plums
+in the meantime!'
+
+'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal;
+and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up.
+
+_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends.
+
+[Illustration:  It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ]
+
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+
+Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow,
+flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and
+perched on a tree close by to eat it.  The farmer's wife, greatly
+enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow
+fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a
+crack in the tree.  The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to
+it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn,
+or I will kill you!'
+
+The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and
+behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far
+into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it.
+
+So he flew off to a woodman, and said--­
+
+  'Man! man! cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the
+King's palace, and said--­
+
+  'King! king! kill man;
+  Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn.
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the
+Queen, and said--­
+
+    'Queen!  Queen! coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he
+met a snake, and said--­
+
+    'Snake! snake! bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he
+met a stick, and said--­
+
+    'Stick! stick! beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he
+saw a fire, and said--­
+
+    'Fire! fire! burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he
+met some water, and said--­
+
+    'Water! water! quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he
+met an ox, and said--­
+
+    'Ox! ox! drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met
+a rope, and said--­
+
+    'Rope! rope! bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a
+mouse, and said--­
+
+    'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met
+a cat, and said--­
+
+    'Cat! cat! catch mouse;
+    Mouse won't gnaw rope;
+    Rope won't bind ox;
+    Ox won't drink water;
+    Water won't quench fire;
+    Fire won't burn stick;
+    Stick won't beat snake;
+    Snake won't bite Queen;
+    Queen won't coax King;
+    King won't kill man;
+    Man won't cut tree;
+  And I can't get the grain of corn
+  To save my life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the
+world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone.
+
+    'So the cat began to catch the mouse,
+    The mouse began to gnaw the rope,
+    The rope began to bind the ox,
+    The ox began to drink the water,
+    The water began to quench the fire,
+    The fire began to burn the stick,
+    The stick began to beat the snake,
+    The snake began to bite the Queen,
+    The Queen began to coax the King,
+    The King began to kill the man,
+    The man began to cut the tree;
+  So the crow got the grain of corn,
+  And saved his life from the farmer's wife!'
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+
+There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a
+money-lender.  Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the
+moneylender rich.  At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer
+went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water
+from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell
+me the secret of becoming rich.'
+
+'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from
+Ram--ask _him_.'
+
+'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three
+girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram.
+
+First he met a Brâhman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point
+out the road to Ram; but the Brâhman only took the cake and went on
+his way without a word.  Next the farmer met a Jôgi or devotee, and to
+him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return.  At last, he
+came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was
+hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to
+rest beside him, entered into conversation.
+
+'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length.
+
+'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!'
+replied the farmer.  'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to
+go?'
+
+'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram!
+What do you want of me?'
+
+Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him,
+gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular
+way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow
+the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled.  Only have a care
+of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their
+wiles!'
+
+The farmer went back to his village rejoicing.  In fact the
+money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself,
+'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him
+hold his head so jauntily.'  Therefore he went over to the simple
+farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such
+cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long
+the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the
+secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer
+was not quite such a fool as to tell that.
+
+Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or
+by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he
+waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it.
+
+But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every
+conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job.
+However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and
+said, 'Now, my friend!  I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you
+haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either.  The matter is
+at a standstill unless we make a bargain.  Now, I promise to give you
+back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one
+condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get
+double.'
+
+'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over
+again!'
+
+'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your
+share!  Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all
+you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?'
+
+At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit
+to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time,
+no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender
+gained double.  And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the
+farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of
+anything he did get.
+
+At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops
+withered for want of rain.  Then he blew his conch, and wished for a
+well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the
+money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells!  This was too much
+for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded
+over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head.  He seized the
+conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of
+one eye!'  And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of
+course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between
+the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned.
+
+Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a
+money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes!
+
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along
+it died.  Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a
+scorpion, but certain it is they all died.
+
+Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat
+down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a
+scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into
+a horrible snake.  He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided
+away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out
+what it really was.
+
+So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man
+like a shadow.  Once it went into an inn, and killed several
+travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed
+him.  Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and
+killed the King's youngest daughter.  So it passed on, and wherever it
+went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed
+it, silent as a shadow.
+
+Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of
+which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no
+money to pay the ferry.  Then the snake changed into a handsome
+buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by
+the brink of the stream.  When the poor travellers saw this, they
+said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let
+us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get
+over the stream.'
+
+Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo
+swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began
+to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned.
+
+When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the
+other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a
+beautiful ox.  Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a
+peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home.  It was very
+gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in
+the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and
+herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping
+folk, and crept away.  But behind it the old man still followed, as
+silent as a shadow.
+
+Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself
+into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered
+with costly jewels.  After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by,
+and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly.
+
+'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young
+and beautiful, sit by the river alone?'
+
+Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home;
+and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to
+washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned.  So I have
+neither husband nor relations!'
+
+'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become
+enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.'
+
+'On one condition,' answered the girl:  'you must never ask me to do
+any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it
+me.'
+
+'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man.
+
+'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water.  Your
+brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl.
+
+But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the
+younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you!  My promise to your
+brother was a trick to get him away!'
+
+'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I
+look on you as my sister.'
+
+On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder
+brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is
+here!  Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!'
+
+Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's
+heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to
+battle.  Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay
+dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once
+more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow.  But at
+last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and
+when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took
+courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are
+you?'
+
+Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death,
+because I go about bringing death to the world.'
+
+'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far,
+silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.'
+
+But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so!  I only give to
+those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!'
+
+Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the
+Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?
+
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+A STORY OF HEROES
+
+
+There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far
+country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to
+have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour
+in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily.
+Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert,
+and sat down to eat his dinner.  First, he stooped down and took a
+good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the
+remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he
+made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast
+asleep.
+
+Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and,
+coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find
+nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom.
+
+'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to
+be found for twenty miles!'
+
+Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly
+under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the
+mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head
+in a furious rage, determined to crush him.
+
+But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said
+sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter?  If you want to
+shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly?  What's
+worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight
+into it, my friend!'
+
+The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted,
+seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave
+him up and dash him to pieces on the ground.  'Ho! ho! my little
+friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn;
+and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster
+over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily.
+
+By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian
+wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend!  Come out and try a
+fall!'
+
+'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from
+inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.'
+
+'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and
+tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.'
+
+So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall.
+
+'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that
+nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap!  What shall I
+do to him?'
+
+'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa
+will teach him better manners.  Take the grass broom and sweep the
+mouse away.'
+
+Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant
+came flying over the wall.
+
+'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do
+this, the father will be a worthy foe!'
+
+So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon
+saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden
+with brushwood.
+
+'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing
+behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull.
+
+'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little
+harder.  So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the
+other did the carts budge.
+
+'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian
+wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was.  Whereupon the
+stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let
+us have a fall together.'
+
+'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the
+wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.'
+
+'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at
+once, so it must be here or nowhere.'
+
+Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides.
+
+'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother!
+mother! stop and see fair play!'
+
+'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to
+steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can
+jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.'
+
+So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away
+as she strode over hill and dale.
+
+Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers
+wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the
+soldiers she spoke about!  It is time for me to be off!'
+
+So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her
+blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run.
+
+But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began
+groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to
+quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the
+bundle also.  On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came
+running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!'
+
+'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled
+farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket.
+
+Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give
+her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and
+so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full.
+
+At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down
+to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a
+while.  But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling
+that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower
+half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid,
+she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow.
+
+Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the
+water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a
+mud-bank.  The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the
+farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until
+there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+THE LEGEND OF GWÂSHBRÂRI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and
+everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty
+Westarwân was King of all the mountains.  High above all other hills
+he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed
+in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky.  And
+thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he
+became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair
+new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon
+it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars.
+
+Now Harâmukh, and Nangâ Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in
+a vast circle round great Westarwân, as courtiers waiting on their
+king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the
+summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like
+a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy.
+
+Only the beautiful Gwâshbrâri, cold and glistening amid her glaciers,
+would keep silence.  Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for
+her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none
+so fair as she in all the land.
+
+Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwân from sight, and the
+wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the
+rest, bidding them hold their peace.
+
+'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great
+Westarwân is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his
+feet are of the earth, earthy.  He is made of the same stuff as we
+are; there is more of it, that is all.'
+
+'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers.  'Who
+made him a King over us?'
+
+Gwâshbrâri smiled an evil smile.  'O fools! poor fools and blind!
+giving him a majesty he has not in my sight.  I tell you mighty
+Westarwân, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me.  Tis
+I who am his Queen!'
+
+Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwâshbrâri was the lowliest
+of them all.
+
+'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice.  'Before
+to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwân shall be my slave!'
+
+Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the
+icy-hearted beauty took no heed.  Lovely, serene, she smiled on all
+through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides
+would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had
+swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction.
+
+But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world.
+Then Gwâshbrâri's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed
+into passion.  Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the
+fast-darkening horizon like a star.
+
+And mighty Westarwân, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his
+proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote
+upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness
+could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he
+despised.  The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on
+Gwâshbrâri's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great
+King's gaze.  A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips
+in one passionate cry--'O Gwâshbrâri! kiss me, or I die!'
+
+The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood
+round expectant.
+
+Beneath her borrowed blush Gwâshbrâri smiled triumphant, as she
+answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly?  Even if
+I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on
+tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?'
+
+Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I
+die!'
+
+Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet
+music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great
+Westarwân--You love me?  Know you not that those who love must
+stoop?  Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot
+choose but give!'
+
+Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains
+stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else
+in earth or sky.
+
+The sun set.  The rosy blush faded from Gwâshbrâri's fair false face,
+leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death.  The stars began to gleam
+in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, discrowned
+for ever!
+
+And that is why great Westarwân stretches his long length across the
+valley of Kashmîr, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart
+of Queen Gwâshbrâri.
+
+And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore.
+
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly
+creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off
+his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats
+instead of shaving them.  So of course he grew poorer every day, till
+at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife
+and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be.
+
+For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually
+rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a
+farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding.
+
+But the barber took it very calmly.  'What is the use of making such a
+fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite
+agree with you.  I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work,
+and I never _will_ work.  That is the fact!'
+
+'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve
+to please you!  Go to the palace, and beg something of the King.
+There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the
+poor.'
+
+'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively.  He was rather
+afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the
+palace, begged of the King to give him something.
+
+'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?'
+
+Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and
+the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so
+he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!'
+
+'Will a piece of land do?' said the King.
+
+Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty,
+remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything
+else.
+
+Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be
+given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied.
+
+'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting
+impatiently for his return.  'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy
+bread!'
+
+And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a
+piece of waste land.
+
+'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we
+must always have something now!'
+
+'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.'  What good
+is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and
+ploughs?'
+
+But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her
+wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a
+bad bargain.
+
+She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land;
+then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the
+field, and peering anxiously into the ground.  But when any-* body
+came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at
+all.
+
+Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard
+by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they
+became convinced something mysterious was going on.  So at sunset they
+sent one of their number to try and find out what it was.
+
+'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the
+bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this
+field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in
+it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before
+beginning to dig.  You won't tell any one, will you?'
+
+The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber
+and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of
+the hidden treasure, set them to work.  All night long they dug and
+delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times
+over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold
+piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn
+came they went away disgusted.
+
+The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed,
+laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the
+corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field.  This the
+corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back
+threefold at harvest time.  And so he did, for never was there such a
+crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house,
+and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces.
+
+Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going
+to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we
+tilled the ground, as you very well know.'
+
+'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife,
+'but you didn't find it.  I have, and there's a crock full of it in
+the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!'
+
+'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night.  If
+you won't give us our share we'll take it!'
+
+So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending
+to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but
+the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined
+to lead him a dance.  Therefore, when her husband, who was in a
+dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold
+pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under
+the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.'
+
+The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was
+quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with
+it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize.  Fearing
+pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the
+spoil.
+
+'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will
+divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work,
+this waiting and watching.'
+
+So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could
+in the dark.  Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of
+horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and
+so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may
+imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge.
+
+But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to
+a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them.
+
+'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making
+us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our
+caste.  It will be our turn to-night!'
+
+Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw
+him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done
+with the gold, my dear?  I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?'
+she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house.  I have hung
+it in the branches of the _nîm_ tree outside.  No one will think
+of looking for it there!'
+
+The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he
+slipped out and told his companions.
+
+'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up
+into the branches.  'One of you go up and fetch it down.'  Now what he
+saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow
+hornets.
+
+So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to
+the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew
+out and stung him on the thigh.  He immediately clapped his hand to
+the spot.
+
+'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the
+gold pieces, are you?  Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very
+dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had
+been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket.
+
+'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief;
+'but there is something that bites in this tree!'
+
+Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he
+clapped his hand there.
+
+'Fie! fie for shame!  We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest.
+'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!'
+
+So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this
+time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man
+all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and
+everywhere.
+
+'Shame!  Shabby!  Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another
+they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one
+after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it
+came to the captain's turn.  Then he, intent on having the prize,
+seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were
+all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down
+with the hornets' nest on top of them.  And then, in spite of bumps
+and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was!
+
+After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the
+seven thieves was in hospital.  In fact, they were laid up for so long
+a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again,
+and ceased to be on the look-out.  But she was wrong, for one night,
+when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings
+outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices.  She gave herself
+up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she
+seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood
+quite still.  By and by the first thief began to creep through
+cautiously.  She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and
+then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle.
+
+'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut
+my nose on something!'
+
+'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one.  Go on!'
+
+'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!'
+
+'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned
+the second thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too.
+
+'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp
+inside!'
+
+'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third
+thief.  'I'll go!'
+
+And, flick!--off went his nose too.
+
+'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel
+exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!'
+
+'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief.  'What cowards you all are!  Let
+_me_ go!'
+
+But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth.
+
+'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are
+all disabled.  One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded.  Let
+us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued
+his nose.
+
+So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and
+gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box.
+
+Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set
+in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the
+house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would
+not return.  But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for
+revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast
+asleep.  She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of
+the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her.  She gave herself
+up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she
+could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers
+paused to take breath under a banyan tree.  Quick as lightning, she
+seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into
+the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in
+it.
+
+'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed;
+'there is plenty of time, and we are tired.  She is dreadfully heavy!'
+
+The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very
+still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after
+setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take
+first watch.  At last they determined that it should be the captain,
+for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having
+their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain
+walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat
+perched up in the tree like a great bird.
+
+Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil
+becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly.  The robber
+captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree.
+Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young
+fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the
+conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his
+handsome face.  For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on
+moonlight nights.  So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about,
+waiting for her to speak.  But when she went on singing, and took no
+notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty!  I
+won't hurt you!'
+
+But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree,
+determined to attract her attention.  When he came quite close, she
+turned away her head and sighed.
+
+'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly.  'Of course you
+are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to
+sigh at in that, surely?'
+
+'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe
+you're fickle!  Men with long-pointed noses always are!'
+
+But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet
+still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had
+been shortened too.
+
+'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy.
+'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall
+be able to taste if there are fibs about!'
+
+So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's
+wife bit the tip off clean!
+
+What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell
+bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart,
+looking as if he had come from the skies.
+
+'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his
+fall.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree;
+for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his
+tongue.
+
+'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do
+any good.
+
+'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards.
+
+'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the
+tree!'
+
+Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling;
+whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright
+set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's
+wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked
+quietly home.
+
+After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use
+trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim
+their share.  But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well,
+bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made
+the barber his Wazîr, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as
+long as his wife is alive!'
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+
+Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught
+sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a
+broad deep stream.  He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat
+down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his
+mouth watered with desire.
+
+Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down
+stream with her nose in the air.  'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr.
+Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly
+you swim!  Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums
+we two friends might have over there together!'  And Mr. Jackal laid
+his paw on his heart, and sighed.
+
+Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal
+looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered
+and blushed, saying, 'Oh!  Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so?  I could
+never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless---'
+
+'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively.
+
+'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered
+Miss Crocodile.
+
+'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal
+eagerly.  'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at
+once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should
+never reach the village.  Now, if the most adorable of her sex would
+only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might
+refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish
+the ardent desire of my heart!'
+
+Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at
+Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him.  So she carried
+him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think
+over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and
+enjoyed himself.
+
+'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had
+eaten as much as he could.  Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried
+him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear
+good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that
+she didn't know what mightn't happen.
+
+'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr.
+Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may
+not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some
+time, a considerable time in fact, before I return.  So don't injure
+your health for my sake, if you please.'
+
+With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up.
+
+Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited
+patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow
+he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another.
+
+So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a
+ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink.  By and by, sure enough,
+he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the
+water for a good long draught.  Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by
+the right leg, and held on.  He guessed at once what had happened, and
+called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored!  I'm drowning!  I'm drowning!  If
+you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my
+leg--it is just next door!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake,
+and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close
+by, and held on.  Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran
+off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my
+beauty!  The barber will come some day!'
+
+But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now
+dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping
+inside, lay quiet.
+
+By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up.
+
+'Ho! ho!  That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw
+the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil.  So he stood outside,
+and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened?  I don't half like
+to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out,
+
+  '"Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?"
+
+and to-day she doesn't say anything!'
+
+Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside,
+
+  'Oh, dearest hubby hub!
+  What have you brought for grub
+  To me and the darling cub?'
+
+The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at
+the doorway.  Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her
+breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log.
+
+'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his
+pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad!  Here's poor Miss Crocodile
+stone dead, and all for love of me!  Dear! dear!  Yet it is very odd,
+and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks
+always wag their tails!'
+
+On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr.
+Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead
+folk always wag their tails!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+
+Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Sâlbâhan, and he had two
+Queens.  Now the elder, by name Queen Achhrâ, had a fair young son
+called Prince Pûran; but the younger, by name Lonâ, though she wept
+and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.
+So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her
+heart, and she so poisoned Raja Sâlbâhan's mind against his son, young
+Pûran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father
+became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands
+and feet to be cut off.  Not content even with this cruelty, Raja
+Sâlbâhan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.
+Nevertheless, Pûran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped
+and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived
+on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the
+great and holy Guru Goraknâth came to the place, and finding Prince
+Pûran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison,
+but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet.  Then Pûran,
+in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqîr_, and placing
+the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknâth as a disciple, and
+was called Pûran Bhagat.
+
+But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so
+Guru Goraknâth gave him leave to visit his native town, and Pûran
+Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled
+garden, where he had often played as a child.  And, lo! he found it
+neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the
+broken watercourses and the withered trees.  Then he sprinkled the dry
+ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might
+become green again.  And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth
+leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had
+once been.
+
+The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and
+all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the
+wonder.  Even the Raja Sâlbâhan and his two Queens heard of it in the
+palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own
+eyes.  But Pûran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhrâ, had wept so long for
+her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not
+to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqîr_ to restore her
+sight.  Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she
+fell on the ground before Pûran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and,
+lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.
+
+Then deceitful Queen Lonâ, who all these years had been longing vainly
+for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqîr_
+possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden
+the heart of Raja Sâlbâhan.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Sâlbâhan
+already has a son.  Where is he?  What have you done with him?  Speak
+truth, Queen Lonâ, if you would find favour with God!'
+
+Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and
+though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the
+_faqîr_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and
+destroyed the son.
+
+Then Pûran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards
+her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen
+Lonâ! even so!  And behold! _I_ am Prince Pûran, whom you
+destroyed and God delivered!  I have a message for you.  Your fault is
+forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be
+brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those
+my mother wept for me.  So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you
+shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft
+from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours.  Go in peace;
+your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!'
+
+Queen Lonâ returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of
+the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jôgis who came
+begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest
+of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he
+will live to be a great man.  But for twelve years you must not look
+upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the
+twelve years are past, you will surely die!  This is what you must
+do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar
+underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for
+twelve years.  After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the
+river, put on new clothes, and visit you.  His name shall be Raja
+Rasâlu, and he shall be known far and wide.'
+
+So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his
+parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and
+servants, and everything else a King's son might desire.  And with him
+they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a
+shield, against the day when Raja Rasâlu should go forth into the
+world.
+
+So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his
+parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's
+son to know.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+
+Young Rasâlu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long
+years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with
+his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began,
+the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to
+listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison
+from the outside world.
+
+'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his
+nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed
+aloud, saying, 'Nay!  I stay no longer here for any man!'
+
+Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, put on his shining armour, and
+rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often
+told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into
+the water, washed himself and his clothes.
+
+Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on
+his way until he reached his father's city.  There he sat down to rest
+a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen
+pitchers.  Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon
+their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels,
+and broke them all.  Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping
+and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young
+Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant
+steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.
+
+Now, as soon as Raja Sâlbâhan heard this, he guessed at once that it
+was Prince Rasâlu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the
+Jôgis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before
+twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize
+the offender and bring him to be judged.  So he bade the women be
+comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and
+gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of
+their own.
+
+But when Prince Rasâlu saw the women returning to the well with
+pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty
+bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though
+they had been clay.
+
+Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed
+and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace.  He
+strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and
+saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Sâlbâhan, in fear of his
+life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.
+
+Then Prince Rasâlu called scornfully to him across the hall--­
+
+  'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
+    What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
+  Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me--
+    I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'
+
+Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as
+he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and
+the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great
+loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and
+mother.  So he cried sorrowfully--­
+
+  'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught
+    But tears for thy son?
+  Art mother of mine?  Give one thought
+    To my life just begun!'
+
+And Queen Lonâ answered through her tears--­
+
+  'Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
+    So hold this word sure,--
+  Go, reign king of all men, but keep
+    Thy heart good and pure!'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune.  He
+took with him his horse Bhaunr Irâqi, and his parrot, both of whom had
+lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted
+friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who
+were determined to follow the Prince till death.
+
+So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them
+going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud
+of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept,
+saying--­
+
+  'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,
+  Let the cloud of thy going arise,
+  Dim the sunlight and darken the day;
+  For the mother whose son is away
+      Is as dust!'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+
+Now, on the first day, Raja Rasâlu journeyed far, until he came to a
+lonely forest, where he halted for the night.  And seeing it was a
+desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch.  So
+he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the
+first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasâlu the third.
+
+Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master,
+and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his
+former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--­
+
+  'Cradled till now on softest down,
+    Grass is thy couch to-night;
+  Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown--
+    Brave hearts heed not her slight!'
+
+Now, when Raja Rasâlu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out
+of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'
+
+'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the
+serpent.  'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?
+
+Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake
+was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and
+said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm
+them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be
+discouraged.
+
+Now, when it came to Raja Rasâlu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful
+unspeakable horror came out of the thicket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu went
+up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you
+here?'
+
+Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything
+for thrice twelve miles around!  Who are _you_ that dare come
+hither?'
+
+Whereupon Rasâlu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an
+arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.
+And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and
+Rasâlu returned to watch in peace.
+
+Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasâlu called his sleeping servants, and
+the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.
+
+'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja.  'Come and see what I killed
+in the cave!'
+
+And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the
+awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasâlu had slain, they were
+exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed
+to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasâlu, you are a Raja and a
+hero!  You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we
+follow you we shall surely be killed.  Such things are nought to you,
+but they are death to us.  Let us go!'
+
+Then Rasâlu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they
+wished, saying--­
+
+    'Aloes linger long before they flower:
+      Gracious rain too soon is overpast:
+    Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
+      All glad life must end in death at last!
+
+  But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
+    Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
+  Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
+    Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'
+
+So his friends forsook him, and Rasâlu journeyed on alone.
+
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+
+[Illustration:  Old woman making unleavened bread]
+
+Now, after a time, Raja Rasâlu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered
+the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made
+it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasâlu asked her why
+she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her
+cakes, 'Why do you ask?  What will you gain by it?'
+
+'Nay, mother!' replied Rasâlu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us
+must benefit by it.'
+
+And when the old woman looked in Rasâlu's face she saw that it was
+kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger,
+I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them
+have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city
+to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo,
+and a basket of cakes!  Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it
+has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my
+darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers.  Therefore I
+weep!'
+
+Then Rasâlu was moved to pity, and said--­
+
+   'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears--
+     Keep thou thy son.  I fear nor death nor life,
+     Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
+   My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'
+
+Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words,
+fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'
+
+Then Rasâlu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed,
+Bhaunr Irâqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a
+son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother!  I give you my word of
+honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'
+
+Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim
+the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell
+a-weeping once more, saying--­
+
+   'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the
+     turban bound high
+   O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my
+     oppressor draws nigh!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the
+guards stand aside.
+
+'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not
+send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole
+city.  Her son must go!'
+
+'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasâlu more haughtily still.  'Stand back,
+and let me pass!'
+
+Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the
+basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding
+the buffalo show him the shortest road.
+
+Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a
+huge skinful of water.  No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja
+Rasâlu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Irâqi and leading the buffalo,
+than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day!  I think
+I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!'
+
+Then he reached out his hand, but Rasâlu drew his sharp sword and
+smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in
+great fear.
+
+Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to
+him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?'
+
+And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasâlu has come at last, and
+see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!'
+
+Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as
+they fled they called aloud--­
+
+  'Fly! brethren, fly!
+    Take the path that is nearest;
+  The fire burns high
+    That will scorch up our dearest!
+
+  Life's joys we have seen:
+    East and west we must wander!
+  What has been, has been;
+    Quick! some remedy ponder.'
+
+Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and
+bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasâlu were really born into
+the world.  And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east
+and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasâlu rode up on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am
+Rasâlu, son of Raja Sâlbâhan, and born enemy of the giants!'
+
+Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten
+many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes, his horse's
+heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!'
+
+Then Raja Rasâlu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the
+ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut
+them in pieces.
+
+Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying,
+'Aha!  We have eaten many Rasâlus like you!  When the real man comes,
+his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.'
+
+So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one
+behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants,
+who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasâlu twanged his mighty
+bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the
+seven giants in a row!
+
+But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the
+Gandgari mountains.  Then Raja Rasâlu had a statue made in his
+likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and
+shield.  And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave,
+so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death
+inside.
+
+So this is how he killed the giants.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JÔGI
+
+
+Then, after a time, Rasâlu went to Hodinagari.  And when he reached
+the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundrân, he saw an old Jôgi
+sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.
+
+'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasâlu.
+
+'My son,' returned the Jôgi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited
+thus to see the beautiful Sundrân, yet have I never seen her!'
+
+'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasâlu, 'and I will wait too.'
+
+'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jôgi; 'so where is the
+use of your becoming one of us?'
+
+Nevertheless, Raja Rasâlu would not be denied, so the Jôgi bored his
+ears and put in the sacred earrings.  Then the new disciple put aside
+his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jôgi's loin-cloth,
+waiting to see Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then, at night, the old Jôgi went and begged alms from four houses,
+and half of what he got he gave to Rasâlu and half he ate himself.
+Now Raja Rasâlu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not
+care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jôgi
+felt starved.
+
+The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasâlu sat by the fire
+waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundrân.
+
+Then the Jôgi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a
+pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I
+who have to starve to feed you!'
+
+'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasâlu, laughing.  'How can a disciple beg
+without his master's leave?'
+
+'I order you now!' returned the Jôgi.  'Go and beg enough for you and
+for me.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundrân's
+palace, in his Jôgi's dress, and sang,
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked Jôgi an alms!'
+
+Now when Queen Sundrân, from within, heard Rasâlu's voice, its
+sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by
+the hand of her maid-servant.  But when the maiden came to the gate,
+and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasâlu, standing outside, fair in face
+and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.
+
+Then once more Rasâlu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen
+Sundrân's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another
+maiden.  But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasâlu's marvellous
+beauty.
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately.
+She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the
+food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into
+Rasâlu's hands, saying proudly--­
+
+  'Since when have the earrings been thine?
+    Since when wert thou made a _faqîr_?
+  What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
+      What seekest thou here?
+    Do you beg of all women you see,
+    Or only, fair Jôgi, of me?'
+
+And Rasâlu, in his Jôgi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying
+softly--­
+
+  'A day since the earrings were mine,
+    A day since I turned a _faqîr_;
+  But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
+      I seek nothing here!
+    I beg nought of others I see,
+    But only, fair Sundrân, of thee!'
+
+Now, when Rasâlu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels,
+the old Jôgi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and
+ask for food instead.  So Rasâlu returned to the gate, and sang--­
+
+  '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand,
+    Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
+  Fair Sundrân, with generous hand,
+    Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the
+gate, said softly--­
+
+  'No beggar thou!  The quiver of thy mouth
+    Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
+  As rubies rare.  Though ashes hide thy youth,
+    Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
+  Deceive me not--pretend no false desire--
+  But ask the secret alms thou dost require.'
+
+But Rasâlu smiled a scornful smile, saying--­
+
+  'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth
+    Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
+  I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
+    Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
+  Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
+  Scarce find fit placing in a Jôgi's alms!'
+
+Then Queen Sundrân took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jôgi
+wait an hour till the food was cooked.  Nevertheless, she learnt no
+more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word.  Only when
+Queen Sundrân gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him
+sadly, saying--­
+
+  'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come?
+  What name hast thou, Jôgi, and where is thy home?'
+
+then Raja Rasâlu, taking the alms, replied--­
+
+  'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
+    Great Sâlbâhan, who reigns at Sialkot.
+  I am Rasâlu; for thy beauty's fame
+    These ashes, and the Jôgi's begging note,
+  To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
+  Lo!  I have seen it, and I go my way!'
+
+Then Rasâlu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he
+went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he
+was, might try to keep him prisoner.
+
+And beautiful Sundrân waited for the Jôgi's cry, and when none came,
+she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jôgi whither his
+pupil had gone.
+
+Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when
+he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or
+sign, answered back, 'My pupil?  I was hungry, and I ate him, because
+he did not bring me alms enough.'
+
+'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundrân.  'Did I not send thee jewels and
+sweets?  Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty
+also?'
+
+'I know not,' quoth the Jôgi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a
+spit, roasted him, and ate him up.  He tasted well!'
+
+'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundrân; and with the
+words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_
+for the love of the beautiful Jôgi Rasâlu.
+
+And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like
+to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and
+reigned in his stead.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasâlu gave up his
+kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap.  And
+as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so
+that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a
+headless corpse lay upon the ground.  So lonesome was it that even the
+corpse seemed company, and Rasâlu, sitting down beside it, said--­
+
+  'There is no one here, nor far nor near,
+     Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
+  Would God he might come to life again,
+    'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.'
+
+And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasâlu.
+And he, nothing astonished, said to it--­
+
+  'The storm beats fierce and loud,
+     The clouds rise thick in the west;
+  What ails thy grave and thy shroud,
+     O corpse, that thou canst not rest?'
+
+Then the headless corpse replied--­
+
+  'On earth I was even as thou,
+    My turban awry like a king,
+  My head with the highest, I trow,
+    Having my fun and my fling,
+  Fighting my foes like a brave,
+    Living my life with a swing.
+         And, now I am dead,
+         Sins, heavy as lead,
+  Will give me no rest in my grave!'
+
+So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasâlu sat in the
+graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.  Now when morning broke
+and Rasâlu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse
+asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play
+_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the
+idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways.  Every
+day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just
+to amuse himself.  One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off
+mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another.
+However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him,
+take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of
+them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will
+lose their virtue.  Otherwise he will always win.'
+
+So Rasâlu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into
+dice, and these he put into his pocket.  Then, bidding adieu to the
+headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the
+King.
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+Now, as Raja Rasâlu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to
+play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a
+voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me
+from the fire!'
+
+Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice
+was the voice of a tiny cricket.  Nevertheless, Rasâlu, tender-hearted
+and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.  Then the
+little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and
+giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be
+in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your
+aid.'
+
+The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give
+_me_?'  Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.
+
+Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens,
+daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens,
+merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest
+of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr
+Irâqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to
+him, saying--­
+
+  'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!
+  Or lower thy lance for the fray;
+  Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
+  Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray,
+       Turn thee back! turn thee back!'
+
+But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly--­
+
+  'Fair maiden, I come from afar,
+  Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
+  King Sarkap my coming will rue,
+  His head in four pieces I'll hew;
+  Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
+  With you, little maid, as my bride!'
+
+Now when Rasâlu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face,
+and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway
+fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the
+world.
+
+But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at
+her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior!  If you would marry our
+sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger
+brother.'
+
+'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasâlu gaily, 'give me my task and I will
+perform it.'
+
+So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a
+hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasâlu, bade him separate the
+seed from the sand.
+
+Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his
+pocket, thrust it into the fire.  And immediately there was a whirring
+noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him,
+and among them the cricket whose life he had saved.
+
+Then Rasâlu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.'
+
+'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you
+wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.'
+
+With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they
+separated the seed from the sand.
+
+Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that
+Rasâlu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing
+them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.
+
+Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my
+little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging
+girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first
+will be wanting another!  No! if you want to swing, get in, all
+seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can
+compass.'
+
+So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and
+laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasâlu, standing in his
+shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up
+to its fullest bent.  Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot
+into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and
+careless, full of smiles and laughter.
+
+But as it swung back again, Rasâlu, standing there in his shining
+armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes.  Then the seventy
+fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and
+some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who
+loved Rasâlu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so
+came to no harm.
+
+After this, Rasâlu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the
+seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the
+King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke
+them all.  Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he
+hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.
+
+Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could
+run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying--­
+
+  'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along,
+  He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
+  He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride,
+  Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!'
+
+But King Sarkap replied scornfully--­
+
+  'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
+     Of a very small matter;
+  For fear of my valour, I wot,
+     His armour will clatter.
+  As soon as I've eaten my bread
+  I'll go forth and cut off his head!'
+
+Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very
+much afraid, having heard of Rasâlu's renown.  And learning that he
+was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour
+for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with
+trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest.  But the food
+was poisoned.
+
+Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasâlu, he rose up
+haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him
+in friendship.  I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!'
+
+So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had
+followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died.
+
+Then Rasâlu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap,
+slaves! and tell him that Rasâlu deems it no act of bravery to kill
+even an enemy by treachery.'
+
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP
+
+
+Now, when evening came, Raja Rasâlu went forth to play _chaupur_
+with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat
+wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never
+stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the
+kiln yonder.  It has just been set alight, and my children will be
+baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'
+
+Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasâlu, and, going to the potter, he
+asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he
+could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could
+not tell how many would come out whole.  Nevertheless, after some
+bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasâlu, having
+searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,
+and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,
+'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in
+difficulties.'
+
+So Raja Rasâlu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play
+_chaupur_ with the King.
+
+Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes.  On
+the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole
+world; and on the third, his own head.  So, likewise, Raja Rasâlu
+fixed his stakes.  On the first game, his arms; on the second, his
+horse; and on the third, his own head.
+
+Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasâlu's lot to make the first
+move.  Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the
+dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his
+famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the
+_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasâlu lost the first game,
+and gave up his shining armour.
+
+So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the
+pieces; and Rasâlu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed.  Then
+Bhaunr Irâqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--­
+
+    'I am born of the sea and of gold;
+    Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.
+      I'll carry you far from these wiles--
+  My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
+      For thousands and thousands of miles!
+  Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,
+      Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'
+
+Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr
+Irâqi, since he gave his master advice in the game.  Now when the
+slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasâlu could not refrain
+from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Irâqi had
+been his companion.  But the horse cried out again--­
+
+  'Weep not, dear Prince!  I shall not eat my bread
+  Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
+  Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'
+
+These words roused some recollection in Rasâlu's mind, and when, just
+at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he
+remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice
+made from dead men's bones.  Then his heart rose up once more, and he
+called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the
+present.  Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'
+
+Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasâlu's confident bearing, began to be
+afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their
+gayest attire and stand before Rasâlu, so as to distract his attention
+from the game.  But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice
+from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all
+this time; now we will play with mine.'
+
+Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol
+Raja used to come, and the game began.
+
+After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasâlu was winning, called to his
+rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go
+farther.  So Rasâlu won, and took back his arms.  Next he played for
+his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol
+Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.  So Rasâlu won the
+second stake, and took back Bhaunr Irâqi.
+
+Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,
+saying--­
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'
+
+But Rasâlu answered back--­
+
+  'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
+  For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
+  No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;
+  As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'
+
+So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and
+the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window.  Then Sarkap lost, first
+his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.
+
+Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to
+Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!
+for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father
+ill luck!'
+
+But Rasâlu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,
+saying, 'Not so, O king!  She has done no evil.  Give me this child to
+wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play
+_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'
+
+Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and
+after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and
+placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.
+
+Now, as Rasâlu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe
+and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out
+to him--­
+
+  'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest
+  But timid wild-fowl.  Grant us our request--
+  Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'
+
+And Raja Rasâlu hearkened to them, and bade
+King Sarkap set them at liberty.
+
+Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,
+Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the
+door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will
+I return and marry Kokilan.'
+
+And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja
+Rasâlu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he
+played _chaupur_ with the King.
+
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+
+Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who
+had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given
+away a hundredweight of gold in charity.
+
+So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his
+breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets
+of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you
+may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms.
+
+How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble!  Then,
+when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit
+down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word
+should do.
+
+Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they
+naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give
+out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of
+his word--die of starvation.  But, though months and years passed by,
+every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the
+servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and
+as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his
+breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry,
+as could be.
+
+Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I
+shall now tell you.  King Karan had made a compact with a holy and
+very hungry old _faqîr_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the
+compact was this:  on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be
+fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqîr_ gave him a
+hundredweight of pure gold.
+
+Of course, had the _faqîr_ been an ordinary sort of person, the
+compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried
+and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter.  But the
+_faqîr_ was a very remarkable _faqîr_ indeed, and when he
+had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just
+put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was
+King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's
+breakfast.  In fact, the _faqîr_ made _no bones at all_ over
+the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for
+the breakfast and the breakfast eater.  Nevertheless, it was of course
+not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan
+of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his
+hundredweight of gold handsomely.  But after a time he got accustomed
+to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and
+hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and
+sputtering over the sacred fire.  Then he would just pass the time of
+day to the _faqîr_ to make sure he was punctual, and step
+gracefully into his hot oil bath.  My goodness! how he sizzled and
+fizzled!  When he was crisp and brown, the _faqîr_ ate him,
+picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the
+business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook
+and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the
+pockets on to the floor.
+
+So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very
+extraordinary, so do I!
+
+Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all
+the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls,
+there was a great famine.  Pearls were so scarce that one pair of
+swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food.  So they
+flew into King Bikramâjît's garden, at Ujjayin.  Now, when the
+gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to
+induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat.  But they would not
+touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his
+master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who
+refused to eat anything.
+
+Then King Bikramâjît went out, and asked them in birds' language (for,
+as every one knows, Bikramâjît understood both beasts and birds) why
+it was that they ate nothing.
+
+'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh
+unpierced pearls!'
+
+Whereupon King Bikramâjît, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket
+of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the
+swans with his own hand.
+
+But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls
+happened to be pierced.  The dainty swans found it out at once, and
+coming to the conclusion that King Bikramâjît's supply of pearls was
+running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield.  So,
+despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew
+up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight
+towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake.  Yet they were not
+ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramâjît.
+
+Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of
+gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard
+them singing, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!  Glory to Bikramâjît!' he said to
+himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise?  I let myself be
+fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a
+hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!'
+
+So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor
+swans with lime, and put them in a cage.
+
+Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to
+bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their
+white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramâjît!--he gave us pearls
+to eat!'
+
+Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but
+still the scornful swans would not touch anything.
+
+'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as
+generous as Bikramâjît?'
+
+Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the
+innocent.  Kings do not war against women.  If Bikramâjît were here,
+he would at any rate let me go!'
+
+So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and
+she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramâjît,
+and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King
+Karan.
+
+Of course Bikramâjît, who was, as every one knows, the most generous
+of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the
+swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant,
+and taking the name of Bikrû, journeyed northwards till he came to
+King Karan's kingdom.  Then he took service with the King, and helped
+every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.  He soon saw
+there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested
+until he had found it out.  So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King
+Karan enter the _faqîr's_ house and pop into the boiling oil.  He
+saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he
+saw the hungry and holy _faqîr_ pick the bones, and, finally, he
+saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with
+his hundredweight of gold!
+
+Then Bikrû knew what to do!  So the very next day he rose very early,
+and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.  Next he took
+some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and
+pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and
+rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the
+smarting.  When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just
+went up the hill to the _faqîr_'s house, and popped into the
+frying-pan.  The _faqîr_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with
+the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how
+uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!'
+
+Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until
+the King was crisp and brown, but then----oh, my goodness! how he
+gobbled him up!
+
+You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king
+was quite a change.  He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my
+belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing
+the goose that laid the golden eggs.
+
+Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said,
+with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure!  Tell
+me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you
+ask.'
+
+Whereupon Bikrû told him the way it was done, and promised to devil
+himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return.
+'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I
+should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of
+gold to the palace every day.  Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can
+shake it down there.'
+
+To this the _faqîr_ agreed, and off went Bikrû with the coat.
+
+Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised,
+when he entered the _faqîr_'s house, to find the fire out, the
+frying-pan put away, and the _faqîr_ himself as holy as ever, but
+not in the least hungry.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King.
+
+'Who are you?' asked the _faqîr_, who, to begin with, was
+somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy
+meal.
+
+'Who!  Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried!  Don't you want your
+breakfast?'
+
+'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqîr_ regretfully.  'You
+tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!'
+
+'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have
+eaten somebody else!'
+
+'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqîr_
+sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that---­
+'---Snore, snore, snore!
+
+'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the
+_faqîr_,'you must eat me too!'
+
+'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqîr_, 'really--not
+another morsel--no, thanks!'
+
+'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that,
+for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!'
+
+'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went
+off with the coat!' nodded the _faqîr_.
+
+Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the
+royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in
+peace.
+
+And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a
+hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast
+as usual, though his heart was gloomy.
+
+But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and,
+casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty!
+there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!'
+
+Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the
+crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open
+and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away,
+saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way!
+
+By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man
+of his word, and though the wily Bikrû came and tried to persuade him
+to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head,
+and turned his face to the wall.
+
+Then Bikrû, or Bikramâjît, took the _faqîr's_ old coat, and
+shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what
+is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at
+liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!'
+
+So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them
+flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory
+to Bikramâjît! the generous Bikramâjît!'
+
+Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song
+is true!--Bikramâjît is more generous than I; for if I was fried for
+the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled
+in order to set a bird at liberty!'
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this
+disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the
+dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on
+it in the beautiful palace gardens.  There he lay, amid the flowers
+and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless
+of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief.
+
+Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqîr_ passed through the garden,
+and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow
+was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed.
+
+'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the
+_faqîr_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King
+took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!'
+
+'Is that all?' said the _faqîr_; 'that is easily remedied.  Here!
+take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree.
+At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two.  So many
+sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango
+apiece.'
+
+Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqîr's_ stick and
+went off to the mango tree.  Sure enough, at the first throw five
+mangoes fell, at the second, two.  Still the King was not satisfied,
+and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the
+stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to
+his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and
+the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung
+temptingly just out of reach.
+
+[Illustration:  The king and the faqîr]
+
+There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqîr_, and
+tell him what had happened.
+
+'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqîr_; 'surely seven
+sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content!  However, I
+will give you one more chance.  Go back to the tree; you will find the
+stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of
+disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your
+dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!'
+
+Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes
+had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them
+straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out
+of the way of temptation.
+
+Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house,
+so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against
+her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and
+nibbled away one half of it.  Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen
+came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked
+them what they had been eating.
+
+'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in
+the cupboard yonder.'
+
+But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half
+of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great
+relish.
+
+Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six
+elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only
+half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just
+half-a-son, nothing more:  he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg;
+in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you
+would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that
+he was only half-a-prince.  Still he throve and grew strong, so that
+when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out
+also.
+
+'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing
+but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy;
+how can you hold your crossbow?'
+
+'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied
+the prince, nothing daunted.  'Only give me some sweets to take with
+me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well
+enough.'
+
+[Illustration:  The youngest queen and her half-a-son]
+
+'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask
+the other Queens to give you some,'
+
+So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad,
+who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes.
+
+Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting,
+and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets
+they had brought with them.  Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into
+his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough
+outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside.  He was a
+simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he
+went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and
+laughed at him.
+
+By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with
+thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too
+small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the
+six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on
+the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to
+throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the
+sweets!--it is my turn now!'
+
+When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe
+and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they
+ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making
+sad havoc amongst his fruit.  Then they watched him catch poor Prince
+Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a
+tree, after which they went away laughing.
+
+But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy,
+in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he
+bade it.  Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the
+lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone
+on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his
+brothers.
+
+By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on
+slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy.
+
+'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son
+with his half-mouth full.
+
+'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince.
+
+This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the
+tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums,
+watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree.  Then
+they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break,
+rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out
+of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this
+miserable half-a-boy outwitted them.
+
+Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to
+draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they
+pushed him in.
+
+'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and
+ran away laughing.
+
+Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent,
+and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk
+amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall
+like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his
+breath.
+
+'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent.
+Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings
+underneath me!  What is yours, my friend?'
+
+Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of
+me.  She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.'
+
+'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the
+disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.'
+
+When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off
+to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son.
+
+Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and
+let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the
+rope and held on.
+
+The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it
+was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so
+frightened that he ran clean away.  But all Half-a-son had to do was
+to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately.
+
+No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the
+neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal
+the King's daughter of her dreadful disease.
+
+'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate.  'If you
+fail, your head will be the forfeit.  Many men have tried, and what
+can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?'
+
+Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's
+droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly
+proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he
+failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he
+succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be
+his reward.
+
+'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but
+half-a-man!'
+
+And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose,
+than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes
+bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders
+for the marriage.  Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince
+Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy
+when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than
+their despised half-a-boy.  So they went to the King, and said, 'We
+know this lad:  he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the
+husband of so charming a princess!'
+
+The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor
+prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a
+train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what
+he was.  Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings
+during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back
+glittering with gold and jewels.  He laid the treasures at the King's
+feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he
+was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him.
+
+Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept
+away in disgrace.
+
+They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness.  'Half-a-son got
+rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some
+treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well.
+
+As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came
+home together.  'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my
+droppings are gone!  Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.'
+
+So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the
+demon ate them up one after another.
+
+So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it,
+in spite of his only being half-a-boy.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped
+the Sun.  Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the
+Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of
+which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every
+day one cake apiece; that was all.
+
+Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the
+daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time.  Just as
+she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but
+there was none in the house save the mother's cake.  So the daughter
+broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun.
+
+By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and
+behold! there was only half a cake in the house.
+
+'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked.
+
+'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just
+as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him
+half your cake.'
+
+'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage.  'It is easy to be
+pious with other people's property!  How am I to know you had eaten
+your cake first?  I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!'
+
+In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake
+before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the
+mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for
+forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given
+alms.  Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about
+her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own
+meal to the great Sun, in my house!'
+
+So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing
+bitterly.  When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired
+that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big
+_pîpal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested
+amongst the branches.
+
+After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the
+forest, came to the big _pîpal_ tree, and, allured by its
+tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues.  Now, as he lay
+there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that
+the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the
+tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and
+warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start.  Thinking it
+was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden
+storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen.  Still,
+when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and
+one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears.  So he swung himself
+into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a
+beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping.
+
+'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told
+him she was homeless, houseless, motherless.  Then he fell in love
+with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride,
+and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to
+the Sun, who had sent her such good luck.
+
+Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked
+of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was
+ashamed of hers.
+
+Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely
+and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing
+of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might
+not find her out.
+
+But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her
+mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever.  She had heard of her
+daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it.
+
+'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give
+you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away
+and not disgrace me before my prince.'
+
+'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was
+through my act that your good fortune came to you?  If I had not sent
+you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?'
+
+'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to
+destroy me again.  O great Sun, help me now!'
+
+Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready
+to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother
+had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of
+which had never been seen on earth before.
+
+'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden
+stool?'
+
+'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to
+the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace.
+
+'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's
+house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it.
+To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it
+contains.'
+
+In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another:  the
+prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous
+golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid.
+
+Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying,
+'O gracious Sun, help me now!'
+
+But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to
+show the prince her mother's house.  A goodly procession they made,
+with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the
+bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every
+step.
+
+And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to
+stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace,
+that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine.  Within and without
+all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother!
+
+There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace,
+for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more
+enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he
+came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace
+from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous
+sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched
+hovel!
+
+Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a
+witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts!  Confess, if you
+would not have me strike you dead!'
+
+But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I
+have done nothing!  I am but a poor homeless girl.  It was the Sun
+that did it.'
+
+Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince
+was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun.
+
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+
+Once upon a time a poor Brâhman was walking along a dusty road, when
+he saw something sparkling on the ground.  On picking it up, it turned
+out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the
+Brâhman put it into his pocket and went on his way.  By and by he came
+to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry
+he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it
+to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money
+in his pocket.
+
+Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking
+at the stone, he bade the Brâhman take it to the king, for, said he,
+'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!'
+
+Then the Brâhman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to
+be shown into his presence.  But the prime minister refused at first
+to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brâhman persisted that he had
+something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king.
+
+Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore,
+when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O
+Brâhman?'
+
+Then the Brâhman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake,
+for I am hungry!'
+
+'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!'
+
+So he sent for a _lâkh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted
+it over to the Brâhman, who went on his way rejoicing.
+
+Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody,
+with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was
+not its like in the whole world.  The queen, determined to be careful,
+wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking
+the chest with double locks.
+
+So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years.  At the end
+of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the
+ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,'
+
+The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and,
+lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling!  She
+shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what
+she had better do to break the news to the king.
+
+Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to
+ask what the delay was.  Then the queen bade the servant carry the box
+to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked
+the chest before the king.
+
+Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment.
+
+'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?'
+
+'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.'
+
+Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a
+just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might
+fight his way in the world.
+
+Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts
+of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the
+flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried.
+
+'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby.
+
+'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.'  There is an
+ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man.  It is my son's
+turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre
+and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while
+in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth
+and meet the ogre.
+
+'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be
+killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow.  Sleep on,
+stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!'
+
+Then Prince Ruby laughed again.  'It is of no use, mother!' he said,
+'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to
+the place of meeting and sleep there.'
+
+So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying
+his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully.  By and by the
+ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it
+thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to
+revenge itself.  But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and
+falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice.  These he
+stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house,
+told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again.
+
+Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over
+the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge
+itself for some slight.  Therefore they ran to the king in a great
+fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed
+the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers
+to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing.
+
+'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly.
+
+'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the
+prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.'
+
+Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they
+came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands
+were those of a dead thing.
+
+Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so
+soundly.'
+
+And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the
+lad whom he had driven from the palace.  Then he turned to his prime
+minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?'
+
+And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage,
+and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has
+rendered!'
+
+So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter,
+and half the kingdom was given him to rule.
+
+But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed
+because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the
+palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from
+No-man's-land, whom none called brother.
+
+So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was
+and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear
+heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until
+one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If
+you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart,
+anything but that; for that you must not know!'
+
+Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face,
+said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!'
+
+Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as
+he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not
+know!'
+
+Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was
+waist-deep in the stream.
+
+'Dear heart, anything but that!'
+
+'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a
+jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from
+the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath
+the wave.
+
+Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own
+curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband.
+She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring
+her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no
+news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears.  At
+last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals,
+came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing.
+When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and
+fell asleep.  When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor
+moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole
+at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then
+followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and
+after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then
+disappeared.  Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a
+noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a
+goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the
+midst, who seemed to be the king.  Then, while the musicians played,
+one by one the young men rose and danced before the king.  But one,
+who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale
+and wan.  That is all I have to say.'
+
+So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree,
+where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what
+might happen.
+
+Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight
+nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the
+water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and
+last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept
+out.  How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the
+red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when
+she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance.
+
+Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and
+the princess crept home.  Every night she would go to the tree and
+watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer
+getting back her lover.
+
+At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have
+hit upon a plan.  The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and
+yet it is only men who dance before him.  Now, if a woman were to do
+so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her
+anything she asked?  Let me try!'
+
+'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.'
+
+So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she
+far surpassed her teacher.  Never before or since was such a graceful,
+charming, elegant dancer seen.  Everything about her was perfection.
+Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with
+diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star.
+
+With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited.  The sweeper,
+the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then
+the glittering procession.  Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than
+ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at
+heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white,
+with jewels flashing, and danced before the king.  Never was there
+such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then
+the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it
+shall be yours!'
+
+'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess.
+
+The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said,
+'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill
+you were it not for my promise.  Take him, and begone!'
+
+Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged
+him beyond the circle, and fled.
+
+After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted
+her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband
+of what race he came.
+
+[Illustration:  The snake king]
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO TALES
+
+
+
+SIR BUZZ
+
+_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Mîyân Bhûngâ, which is Pânjabî for
+Sir Beetle or Sir Bee.  The word is clearly connected with the common
+Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to
+buzz as a bee or beetle.
+
+_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a
+_bhût_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather
+a benevolent fairy.
+
+_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hâth_, the arm
+below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight
+of about 80 Ibs.
+
+_Princess Blossom_.--Bâdshâhzâdi Phûlî, Princess Flower, or
+Phûlâzâdî, Born-of-a-flower.
+
+_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwál_ is the word used in
+the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of
+Musalmân origin, and must have been one in actual mediæval oriental
+life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with
+propriety) officer in all cities.  The expression 'one-eyed' is
+introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying
+and universal belief--­
+
+   _Kânâ, kâchrâ, hoch-gardanâ:  yeh tînon kamsât!
+   Jablag has apnâ chale, to koî na pûchhe but. _
+
+   Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked:  these three are evil.
+   While his own resources last none asketh them for help.
+
+_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghûl_ (in English
+usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which
+corresponds to the _bhût_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts
+of the Hindus.  It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is
+the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods.
+
+_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of
+heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology
+he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the
+Court of Indra (_Indar kâ akhârâ_ or _Indrâsan Sabhâ_),
+synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness.
+
+
+
+THE RAT'S WEDDING
+
+_Pipkin_--_Gharâ_, the common round earthen pot of India,
+known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_châtî_).
+
+_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of
+2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity.
+
+_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but
+the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is
+generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit:  this is the
+_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_,
+often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for
+hedges, bearing a small edible fruit.  The former is probably meant
+here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44.
+
+_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain.
+
+_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are--­
+
+  _Gaderî gader! gaderî gader!
+  Râjâ dî betî chûhâ le giâ gher._
+
+  Green fruit! green fruit!
+  The rat has encompassed the Râjâ's daughter.
+
+_Stool_--Pîrhî, a small, low, square stool with a straight
+upright back, used by native women.
+
+_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover
+used to cover _degchîs_ or cooking-pots.
+
+
+
+THE FAITHFUL PRINCE
+
+_Bahrâmgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story
+published in the Panjâb in various forms in the vernacular, under the
+title of the _Story of Bahrâmgor and the Fairy Hasan Bâno_.  The
+person meant is no doubt Bahrâmgor, the Sassanian King of Persia,
+known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D.  The
+modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the
+well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahrâmgor and
+Dilârâm_.  Bahrâmgor was said to have been killed while hunting the
+wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both
+quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever.  He is said to be the father
+of Persian poetry.
+
+_Demons:  Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_
+and _deostân_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by
+nature.
+
+_Jasdrûl_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the
+name be a corruption of Jasrat Râî, through Râwal (_rûl_) = Râo
+= Râî; thus Jasrat Râî = Jasrat Râwal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrûl. If
+this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Râma Chandra,
+and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story.  It is obvious
+that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary
+or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution.
+
+_Shâhpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype
+Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight.  The variant Hasan
+Bano means the Lady of Beauty.  In the Pushto version of probably the
+original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the
+Flower Princess.  See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghâní_,
+p. 209 ff.
+
+_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_.
+
+_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original.  The whole
+story of Bahrâmgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is
+possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the
+Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_,
+vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330).  It is much more probable, however, that
+the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of
+the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous
+in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g.  The
+Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the
+heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness
+to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's
+_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to
+_Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as
+superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject).  It is
+evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive
+with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to
+investigate.
+
+_Nûnak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nânaksâ (_sic_)
+in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nânaksâ,
+obviously Nânak Shâh or Bâbâ Nânak, the founder of the Sikh religion,
+_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqîr_ of the
+ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him
+too.
+
+_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name
+is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_,
+white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of
+Bahrâmgor.  If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal
+oriental name Faghfûr, for the Emperor of China.  Yule, _Marco Polo_,
+vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfûr = Baghbûr = Bagh Pûr, a Persian
+translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the
+name or title Shâh Pûr = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifûr in the
+same way = Shâh Pûr.  But see note in _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288.
+
+_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the
+eyes and beautifying them.  There are two preparations for darkening the
+eyes--_surma_ and _kâjal_. _Kâjal_ is fine lamp-black, but
+the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former
+is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the
+latter merely as a beautifier.
+
+_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yâch_
+of Kashmîr see _Ind.  Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes.
+Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an
+animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its
+head.  The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this
+shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chû-û-ot, chot_.  All this
+probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe.
+It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of,
+it becomes the servant of the possessor.  The cap renders the human wearer
+invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of
+the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive,
+harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp.
+
+_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently
+borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn
+deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top.
+
+
+
+THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN
+
+_Khichrî_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dâl_).
+
+_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable
+exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3
+cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts.  A strong hill-man in the
+Himâlayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up
+the hill.
+
+
+
+PRINCE LIONHEART
+
+_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil
+Shahryâr Shahrâbâd, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City.
+All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs.
+
+_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the
+vernacular _sânwâlâ_, _lohár_, _tarkhân_.  The first in
+the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who
+wanders about with a wheel for grinding.
+
+_Demon_.--Here _bhût_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as
+his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon,
+than of a _bhût_, the word has been translated by 'demon.'
+
+_Pîpal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus
+religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its
+shade.  It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them.  One reason
+perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless.
+Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars,
+_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all
+sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore.
+
+_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhrâ_,
+Panjâbî for a dwarf or pigmy.
+
+_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in
+childbirth.  The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a
+source of much terror to natives by night.  Their personal appearance is
+fairly described in the text:  very ugly and black, breastless,
+protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back.  This last is the
+real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation.  A
+detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods
+of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p.
+180 ff.
+
+_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor
+devil, but superhuman.  According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there
+are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jânn,
+Jinn, Shaitân, 'Ifrît, and Mârid.  They are all mentioned in Musalmân
+folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations.  In genuine
+Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here,
+has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an
+ogre in every sense of the European word.
+
+_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular
+_mânushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell.  The direct Sanskrit descent
+of the compound is worthy of remark.
+
+_Starling_.--_Mainâ_:  the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking
+bird, much valued, and held sacred.  It very frequently appears in folk-
+tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by
+people of means and position for its talking qualities.
+
+_Cup_.--_Donâ_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as
+a receptacle for food.
+
+_Wise woman_.--_Kutnî_ and _paphe-kutnî_ were the words
+used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutnî_
+is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch
+or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any
+supernatural powers.  Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually
+correctly render the word.
+
+_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently
+_dolâ_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a
+balloon.
+
+
+
+THE LAMBIKIN
+
+_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjâbî, _lelâ_, _lerâ_,
+_lekrâ_, and _lelkarâ_, a small or young lamb.
+
+_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjâbî--­
+
+  _Nânî kol jâwângû:
+  Motâ tâjâ âwângâ
+  Pher tûn main nûn khâwângâ._
+
+Of the second song--­
+
+  _Wan piâ lelkarâ:  wan pî tû.
+  Chal dhamkiriâ!  Dham!  Kâ!  Dhû!_
+
+These the rhymes render exactly.  The words _dham_, _kâ_,
+_dhû_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a
+drum.
+
+_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkîriâ_ or _dhamkirî_ in Panjâbî is
+a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup
+(_piyâlâ_).  The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches
+by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather.
+
+
+
+BOPOLUCHI
+
+_Bopolûchî_.--Means Trickster.
+
+_Uncle:  uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mâmû_, mother's
+brother, and _patiauhrâ_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger
+brother.
+
+_Pedlar_.--_Wanjârâ_ or _banjârâ_ (from _wanaj_ or
+_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices,
+_etc_.
+
+_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver.
+The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who
+make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows
+Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has
+made their doings familiar enough, too, in England.  In the Indian Penal
+Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with
+others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means
+of murder.
+
+_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were--­
+
+  _Bopo Lûchi!
+  Aqlon ghuthî,
+  Thag nâl thagî gai._
+
+  Bopo Lûchi!
+  You have lost your wits,
+  And have been deceived by a _thag_.
+
+_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjâbî bride, however poor, wears a
+dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
+
+
+
+PRINCESS AUBERGINE
+
+_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is
+_Baingan Bâdshâhzâdî._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhântâ is
+the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or
+_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of
+_brinjâl;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the
+rains.
+
+_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to
+exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship
+among Panjâbîs.  The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such
+occasions.
+
+_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkhâ
+hâr,_ or nine-_lâkh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in
+Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkhâ_ means worth nine lâkhs, or nine
+hundred thousand rupees.  Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this
+necklace, but the term _nau-lakkhâ_ has come also to be often
+used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens,
+palaces, _etc_.  Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to
+really possess such a necklace, and the last Mahârâjâ of Patiâlâ,
+about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including
+the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000.  It is on show always at the palace in
+the fort at Patiâlâ.
+
+
+
+VALIANT VICKY
+
+_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is
+'Fatteh Khân, the valiant weaver.'  Victor Prince is a very fair
+translation of the name Fatteh Khân.  The original says his nickname
+or familiar name was Fattû, which would answer exactly to Vicky for
+Victor.  Fattû is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh
+Khân.  See _Proper Names of Panjâbîs, passim,_ for the
+explanation of this.
+
+
+
+THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS
+
+For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian
+Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff.
+
+_Fakîr,_--Properly _faqîr_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in
+modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be
+his religion.  For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at
+Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as
+_Vilâyatî_ _fuqrâ_, European _faqîrs_.  The power of
+granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints
+and holy personages of fame.
+
+_Witch_--The word used was _dâyan_.  In the Panjâb a woman
+with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India
+possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dâyan kâ mantar_, or
+charm for destroying life by taking out the heart.  The word in its
+various modern forms is derived from the classical _dâkinî_, the
+female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction.
+
+_Jôgi's wonderful cow_--The _jôgi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but
+like the word _faqîr_, _jôgi_ is often used for any kind of
+holy man, as here.  Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to
+them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons.
+Classically the _yôgi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the
+union of the living with the sublime soul.  The wonderful cow is the
+modern fabulously productive cow _Kâmdhain_, representing the
+classical _Kâmdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires.
+Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the
+_jôgi_ of the tale. _Kâmdhain_ and _Kâmdhenu_ are both
+common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of
+milk.
+
+_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern
+representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the
+case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in
+ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his
+Court.  See note.
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
+
+_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important.  The
+following gives the variants and the strict translation--­
+
+  _Tû Chhappar Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Deo paneriyâ, Dhoven
+  chucheriyâ, Khâwen khijeriyâ, Dekh chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ, Main
+  kâng sapariyâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Tank,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  Give me water,
+  That I may wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+  _Tû Lohâr Dâs, Main Kâng Dâs, Tû deo pharwâ, Main khodûn
+  ghasarwâ, Khilâwen bhainsarwâ, Chowen dûdharwâ, Pilâwen
+  hirnarwâ, Toren singarwâ, Khôden chalarwâ, Nikâlen panarwâ,
+  Dhoven chunjarwâ, Khâwen khijarwâ, Dehk chiriyâ kâ chûchlâ,
+  Main kâng saparwâ._
+
+  You are Mr. Blacksmith,
+  I am Mr. Crow,
+  You give me a spade,
+  And I will dig the grass,
+  That I may give it the buffalo to eat,
+  And take her milk,
+  And give it the deer to drink,
+  And break his horn,
+  And dig the hole,
+  And take out the water,
+  And wash my beak,
+  And eat my _khichrî_,
+  See the bird's playfulness,
+  I am a clean crow.
+
+
+
+THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER
+
+_The Tiger, the Brâhman, and the Jackal_.  A very common and
+popular Indian tale.  Under various forms it is to be found in most
+collections.  Variants exist in the _Bhâgavata Purâna_ and the
+_Gul Bakâolâ_, and in the _Amvâr-i-Suhelî_.  A variant is
+also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177.
+
+_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press
+is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and
+thankless toil for another's benefit.
+
+_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the
+allusion is to a well-known proverb--_mandâ hâl wâng Jatt jharî de_--
+as miserable as a Jatt in a shower.  Any one who has seen the
+appearance of the Panjâbî cultivator attempting to go to his fields on
+a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his
+limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him,
+will well understand the force of the proverb.
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
+
+_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Bâdshâh
+Ghariâl.
+
+_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjâb that
+crocodiles do so.
+
+_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was
+_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection.
+
+_Henna_--_Mehndî_ or _hinâ_ is the _Lawsonia
+alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride
+red.  The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to
+the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to.
+
+
+
+LITTLE ANKLEBONE
+
+_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian
+folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone.  It is
+current in the _Bâr_ or wilds of the Gujrânwâlâ District, among
+the cattle-drovers' children.  Wolves are very common there, and the
+story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of
+Spirit of the Bâr, whose pipe may be heard.  The word used for 'Little
+Ankle-bone' was _Gîrî_, a diminutive form of the common word
+_gittâ_.  In the course of the story in the original, Little
+Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the
+process of the formation of Panjâbî proper names.
+
+_Auntie_--Mâsî, maternal aunt.
+
+_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e.
+Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjâb forests.
+
+_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen.
+
+_Marble basins_--The word used was _daurâ_, a wide-mouthed
+earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for
+animals.
+
+_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as
+follows--­
+
+  _Kyûn garjâe badalâ garkanâe?
+  Gaj karak sâre des;
+  Ohnân hirnîân de than pasmâe:
+  Gitetâ Râm gîâ pardes!_
+
+  Why echo, O thundering clouds?
+  Roar and echo through all the land;
+  The teats of the does yonder are full of milk:
+  Gitetâ Râm has gone abroad!
+
+
+
+THE CLOSE ALLIANCE
+
+_Providence_--_Khudâ_ and _Allah_ were the words for
+Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one.
+
+_Kabâbs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with
+onions and eggs:  a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East.
+
+_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been
+supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets
+the leavings as his wages.  Hence the Sanskrit title of
+_vyâghra-nâyaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal.
+
+_Pigtail_--The Kashmîrî woman's hair is drawn to the back of the
+head and finely braided.  The braids are then gathered together and,
+being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long
+plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the
+ankles.  It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far
+more graceful.
+
+
+
+THE TWO BROTHERS
+
+_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau kî roti_,
+barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihûn kî
+rotî_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food.  Barley bread is apt to
+produce flatulence.
+
+_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs
+thus--­
+
+  _Kahîn mat jâo khâlî pet.
+  Hove mâgh yâ hove jeth._
+
+  Go nowhere on an empty stomach,
+  Be it winter or be it summer.
+
+Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India.
+
+_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying
+rendered in the following verse--­
+
+  _Jo nar totâ mârkar khâve per ke heth, Kuchh sansâ man na
+  dhare, woh hogâ râjâ jeth. Jo mainâ ko mâr khâ, man men rakhe
+  dhîr; Kuchh chintâ man na kare, woh sadâ rahegâ wazîr._
+
+  Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree,
+  Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king.
+  Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient:
+  Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life.
+
+_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdâr_, which represents the
+Persian _izhdahâ_, _izhdâr_, or _izhdar_, a large
+serpent, python.
+
+_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the
+_safed hâthî_ or _dhaulâ gaj_, the white elephant. He is the
+elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly,
+kept by Râjâs as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwâr_)
+with sweet cakes (_chûrîs_).  After which he was taught to go down
+on his knees to the Râjâ and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was
+taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden
+except occasionally by the Râjâ himself.  Two sayings, common to the
+present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Mahârâjâ hai, dhaule gaj
+par sowâr_:  he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.'
+And '_Mahârâjâ dhaulâ gajpati kidohâî_:  (I claim the) protection
+of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.'  The idea appears to
+be a very old one, for Ælian (_Hist.  Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46),
+quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant.  See M'Crindle,
+_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119;
+_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote.
+
+_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lotâ_, universal throughout India.
+
+_Ogre_.--In the original _râkhas_ = the Sanskrit _râkhasa_,
+translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _râkhasa_
+(_râkhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a
+superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that
+is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales.  He is elaborately
+described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between
+the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders
+of Aryan tribes.  The really human character of the _râkhasa_ is
+abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings.  He
+occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does
+in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory
+of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders.  The ogre, no doubt, is
+the Uighur Tâtar magnified by fear into a malignant demon.  For the
+_râkhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier
+Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p.
+420, _etc_.:  and for the ogre see _Panjâb Notes and Queries_,
+vol. i., in verbo.
+
+_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious:  _cf_. the
+Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays
+_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdahâ_ or serpent-demon
+on p. 131.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD.
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--­
+
+  Chândî dâ merâ chauntrâ, koî sonâ lipâî!
+  Kâne men merâ gûkrû, shâhzâdâ baithâ hai!
+
+  My platform is of silver, plastered with gold!
+  Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince!
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they are--­
+
+  _Hadî dâ terâ chauntrâ, koî gobar lipaî!
+  Kâne men terî jûtî; koî gîdar baithâ hai!_
+
+  Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung!
+  Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there!
+
+
+
+THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--­
+
+  _Saukan rangan men charhî,
+  Main bhî rangan men parî,_
+
+  My co-wife got dyed,
+  I too fell into the vat.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--­
+
+  _Ik sarî, ik balî;
+  Ik hinak mode charhî,_
+
+  One is vexed and one grieved;
+  And one is carried laughing on the shoulder.
+
+The allusion here is to a common tale.  The story goes that a man who
+had two wives wanted to cross a river.  Both wives wanted to go across
+first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the
+younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words--­
+
+  _Ik sarî, dûî balî;
+  Dûî jâî mûnde charhî._
+
+  First she was vexed, next she grieved;
+  While the other went across on the shoulder.
+
+Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original--­
+
+  _Ik chamkhat hûî;
+  Chirî rangan charhî;
+  Chirâ bedan karî;
+  Pîpal patte jharî;
+  Mahîn sing jharî;
+  Naîn bahí khârî;
+  Koïl hûî kânî;
+  Bhagtû diwanî;
+  Bandî padnî;
+  Rânî nâchnî;
+  Putr dholkî bajânî;
+  Râjâ sargî bajânî;_
+
+  One hen painted,
+  And the other was dyed,
+  And the cock loved her,
+  So the _pîpal_ shed its leaves,
+  And the buffalo her horns,
+  So the river became salt,
+  And the cuckoo lost an eye,
+  So Bhagtû went mad,
+  And the maid took to swearing,
+  So the Queen took to dancing,
+  And the Prince took to drumming,
+  And the King took to thrumming.
+
+
+
+THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA
+
+_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shâhzâdî Mirchâ_ or
+_Filfil Shâhzâdî:  mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common
+chilli, green and red.
+
+_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwâ_, male, and _chakwî_, female,
+is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brâhmanî
+duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_.  It is found all over
+India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a
+very pretty legend.  Two lovers are said to have been for some
+indiscretion turned into Brâhmanî ducks, and condemned to pass the
+night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river.  All
+night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate,
+and the answer is always 'no.'  The words supposed to be said are--­
+
+  _Chakwâ, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwî!_
+  _Chakwî, main âwân?  Nâ, Chakwâ!_
+
+  Chakwâ, shall I come?  No, Chakwî!
+  Chakwî, shall I come?  No, Chakwâ!
+
+
+
+PEASIE AND BEANSIE
+
+_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mûngo.
+_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and
+_mûng_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_.  Peasie and
+Beansie are very fair translations of the above.
+
+_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE-WOMAN
+
+_King 'Ali Mardân_--'Ali Mardân Khân belongs to modern history,
+having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmîr, under
+the Emperor Shâh Jahân, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in
+many ways.  He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmîr ever
+had, and is now the best-remembered.
+
+_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamiâ_, said in Kashmîr to
+be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a
+woman.  In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called
+_Yahawwâ_.  In this tale the _Lamiâ_ is described as being a
+_Wâsdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wâsdeo_ is the same as
+Vâsudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva.  Vasudeva was the earthly father
+of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarâma, so Balarâma was a
+Vâsudeva.  Balarâma in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sèsha
+(now Sesh Nâg), a king of serpents, and with Vâsuki (Bâsak Nâg), also
+a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose
+legend combines that of Vâsuki and Sêsha, is mixed not only with
+Balarâma, but also with Krishna.  Hence the name Wâsdeo for a
+serpent.  The Lamiâ is not only known in India from ancient times to
+the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in
+Europe from ancient to mediæval times, and always as a malignant
+supernatural being.  For discussions on her, see notes to the above in
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion
+following, entitled 'Lamiâ or Λαμια' pp. 232-235.  Also
+_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibâd_, Folklore
+Society's ed., _passim_.
+
+_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmîr.
+
+_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the
+origin of unknown girls in Musâlman tales.  Kashmîr is essentially a
+Musalmân country._
+
+_Shalimâr gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir,
+who preceded 'Ali Mardân Khân by a generation, for Nûr Mahal.  Moore,
+_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known
+Persian verses in the Dîwân-i-Khâs (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi
+and elsewhere--­
+
+  'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
+  It is this, it is this.'
+
+The verses run really thus--­
+
+  _Agar firdûs ba rû-e-zamîn ast,
+  Hamîn ast o hamîn ast o hamîn ast!_
+
+  If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth,
+  It is here, and it is here, and it is here!
+
+Shâh Jahân built the Shâlimâr gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those
+at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjît Singh restored them.  They are on
+the Amritsar Road.
+
+_Gangâbal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Harâmukh, 16,905 feet,
+in the north of Kashmîr.  It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River,
+and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August.
+
+_Khichrî_.--Sweet khichrî consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut,
+raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichrî of pulse and rice.
+
+_The stone in the ashes_.--The _pâras_, in Sanskrit
+_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold.
+
+_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near
+Hoti Mardân, which place is near Atak or Attock.  The similarity in
+the names 'Ali Mardan and Hotî Mardân probably gave rise to this
+statement.  They have no connection whatever.
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL RING
+
+_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundrâ_:  a
+variant of the inexhaustible box.
+
+_Holy place_.--_Chaunkâ_, a square place plastered with
+cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping.  The cow-dung
+sanctifies and purifies it.
+
+_Aunt_.--_Mâsî_, maternal aunt.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN
+
+_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_.
+
+
+
+THE GRAIN OF CORN
+
+_The verses_.--In the original they were--­
+
+  _Phir gîâ billî ke pâs,
+  'Billî, rî billî, mûsâ khâogî'
+  Khâtî khûnd pâr nâ!
+  Khûnd chanâ de nâ!
+  Râjâ khâtî dande nâ!
+  Râjâ rânî russe nâ!
+  Sapnâ rânî dase nâ!
+  Lâthî sapnâ mâre nâ!
+  Âg lâthî jalâve nâ!
+  Samundar âg bujhâve nâ!
+  Hâthî samundar sukhe nâ!
+  Nâre hâthî bandhe nâ!
+  Mûsâ nâre kâte nâ!
+  Lûngâ phir chorûn? nâ!'
+
+  He then went to the cat (saying),
+  'Cat, cat, eat mouse.
+  Woodman won't cut tree!
+  Tree won't give peas!
+  King won't beat woodman!
+  Queen won't storm at king!
+  Snake won't bite queen!
+  Stick won't beat snake!
+  Fire won't burn stick!
+  Sea won't quench fire!
+  Elephant won't drink up sea!
+  Thong won't bind elephant!
+  Mouse won't nip thong!
+  I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_
+
+It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for
+obvious literary convenience.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--­
+
+  _Usne kahâ, 'Lap, lap, khâûngî!'
+  Phir gîâ mûsâ ke pâs, 'Mûsâ, re mûsâ, ab khâ jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    nâre katenge.'
+  Phir gîâ nâre ke pâs, 'Nâre, re nâre, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    hâthî bandhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ hâthî ke pâs, 'Hâthî, re hâthî, ab bandhe jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî samundar sûkhenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samundar ke pâs, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe
+    jâoge?'  'Ham bhî âg bujhâenge.'
+  Phir gîâ âg ke pâs, 'Âg, rî âg, ab bujhâî jâogi?'  'Ham bhî lâthî
+    jalâvenge.'
+  Phir gîâ lâthî ke pâs, 'Lâthî, re lâthî, ab jal jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    sâmp mârenge.'
+  Phir gîâ samp ke pâs, 'Sâmp, re sâmp, ab mâre jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    rânî dasenge?'
+  Phir gîâ rânî ke pâs, 'Rânî, rî rânî, ab dasî jâoge?'  'Ham bhî
+    râjâ rusenge.'
+  Phir gîâ râjâ ke pâs, 'Râjâ, re raja, ab rânî rus jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khâtî dândenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khâtî ke pâs, 'Khâtî, re khâtî, ab dande jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî khund kâtenge.'
+  Phir gîâ khund ke pâs, 'Khund, re khund, ab kâte jâoge?'  'Ham
+    bhî chanâ denge.'
+  Phir woh chanâ lekar chalâ gîâ?_
+
+  The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!'
+  (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?'  'I
+    will gnaw the thong.'
+  He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?'  'I
+    will bind the elephant.'
+  He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?'
+    'I will drink up the ocean.'
+  He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?'  'I
+    will quench the fire.'
+  He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?'  'I will
+    burn the stick.'
+  He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?'  'I will
+    beat the snake.'
+  He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?'  'I will
+    bite the queen.'
+  He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?'  'I will
+    storm at the king.'
+  He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the
+    queen?'  'I will beat the woodman.'
+  He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be
+    beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.'
+  He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?'  'I
+    will give you the pea.'
+  So he got the pea and went away.
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER
+
+_Money-lender_--_Lîdû_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp
+practitioner.
+
+_Râm_--Râma Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_.
+
+_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for
+blowing upon.
+
+
+
+THE LORD OF DEATH
+
+_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
+the name, _Kâl_ is the Hindu form.  The belief is that every
+living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.'  He is represented
+in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
+a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
+'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand.  The idea
+is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
+kill is safe.  The notion is probably of Hindu origin.  For a note on
+the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.
+
+
+
+THE WRESTLERS
+
+_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In
+the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it
+represents some aboriginal account of the creation.
+
+_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_,
+which weigh over 13,000 lbs._
+
+
+
+GWASHBRARI
+
+_Gwâshbrâri, etc_.--The Westarwân range is the longest spur into
+the valley of Kashmîr.  The remarkably clear tilt of the strata
+probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend.  All the
+mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmîr, and
+belong to what Cunningham (_Ladâk_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pîr
+Panjâl and Mid-Himâlayan Range.  Nangâ Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the
+N.W.; Harâ Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwâshbrâri or Kolahoî, 17,839
+ft., to the N.E.  Westarwân is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E.,
+between Khrû and Sotûr, right into the Kashmîr valley.  Khru is not
+far from Srinagar, to the S.E.
+
+_Lay at Gwâshbrâri's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter
+of fact, Westarwân does not lay his head anywhere near Gwâshbrâri's
+feet, though he would appear to do so from Khrû, at which place the
+legend probably arose.  An excellent account of the country between
+Khrû and Sesh Nâg, traversing most of that lying between Westarwân and
+Gwâshbrâri, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221
+of Ince's _Kashmîr Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876.
+
+
+
+THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE
+
+_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees.  This species makes a
+so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a
+tree, usually a _pîpal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle
+each other in myriads in the open air.  When roused, and any accident
+may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting
+to death any animal near.  They form a real danger in the Central
+Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses
+and men, even Europeans, are numerous.
+
+_Fairy_.--_Parî_, fairy, peri:  the story indicates a very
+common notion.
+
+
+
+THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE
+
+_Verses_.--In the original they are--­
+
+  _Gâdar, ghar kyâ lâyâ?
+  Kyâ chîz kamâyâ?
+  Ki merâ khâtir pâyâ._
+
+  Jackal, what hast thou brought home?
+  What thing hast thou earned?
+  That I may obtain my wants.
+
+The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in
+_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of
+'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.'
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WAS BORN
+
+_Raja Rasâlu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjâb, and
+probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both
+the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (?  Arabs) to the
+west.  Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Sâlivâhana,
+who established the Sâka or Scythian era in 78 A.D.  Really he,
+however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for
+at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900.  He most probably
+represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as
+flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil,
+Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil,
+Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil.
+These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the
+uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of
+transcribers.  The particular king meant is most likely the opponent
+of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D.  The whole
+subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjâb his
+story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore.  It has often
+been discussed in learned journals.  See _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.;
+_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163,
+_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168,
+vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427.
+
+_Lonan_--For a story of Lonân, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol.
+ix. p. 290.
+
+_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between
+Siâlkot and Kallowâl.
+
+_Gurû Gorakhnâth_--The ordinary _deux ex machinâ_ of modern
+folk-tales.  He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles,
+and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes.  In
+life he seems to have been the Brâhmanical opponent of the mediæval
+reformers of the fifteenth century A.D.  By any computation Pûran
+Bhagat must have lived centuries before him.
+
+_Pûran Bhagat_.--Is in story Râjâ Rasâlû's elder brother.  There
+are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that
+of Potiphar's wife.  The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasâlu and
+Pûran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramâditya
+and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher,
+is worthy of remark.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD
+
+_Bhaunr' Irâqi_.--The name of Rasâlu's horse; but the name
+probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar.
+'Irâqi means Arabian.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--­
+
+  _Main âiâ thâ salâm nûn, tûn baithâ pîth maror!
+  Main nahîn terâ râj wandânundâ; main nûn nahîn râj te lor._
+
+  I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me!
+  I have no wish to share thy kingdom!  I have no desire for empire.
+
+  _Mahlân de vich baithîe, tûn ro ro na sunâ! Je tûn merî mâtâ
+  hain, koî mat batlâ! Matte dendî hai mân tain nûn, putar:  gin
+  gin jholî ghat! Châre Khûntân tûn râj kare, par changâ rakhîn
+  sat!_
+
+  O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping!
+  If thou be my mother give me some advice!
+  Thy mother doth advise thee, son:  stow it carefully away in thy
+    wallet!
+  Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and
+    pure.
+
+_Verses_.--In the original these are--­
+
+  _Thorâ thorâ, betâ, tûn disîn, aur bahotî disî dhûr:
+  Putr jinân de tur chale, aur mâwân chiknâ chûr._
+
+  It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust.
+  The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder
+    (reduced to great misery).
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM
+
+_Verses_.--Originals are--­
+
+  _Agge sowen lef nihâlîân, ajj sutâ suthrâ ghâs!
+  Sukh wasse yeh des, jâhan âeajj dî rât!_
+
+  Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean
+    grass!
+  Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this
+    night!
+
+_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a
+Nâga, Taka, or Takshak.
+
+_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _âfat_, horror,
+terror, was used throughout.
+
+_Verses_--Originals are--­
+
+  _Sadâ na phûlan torîân, nafrâ:  sadâ na Sâwan hoe:
+  Sadâ na joban thir rahe:  sadâ na jive koe:
+  Sadâ na râjiân hâkimî:  sâda na râjiân des:
+  Sadâ na hove ghar apnâ, nafrâ, bhath piâ pardes_.
+
+  _Tcrîs_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant:  it
+    is not always the rainy season (time of joy).
+  Youth does not always last:  no one lives for ever:
+  Kings are not always rulers:  kings have not always lands:
+  They have not always homes, my servant:  they fall into great
+    troubles in strange lands.
+
+These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have
+been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281,
+282--­
+
+  Youth will not always stay with us:
+   We shall not always live:
+  Rain doth not always fall for us:
+   Nor flowers blossoms give.
+
+  Great kings not always rulers are:
+   They have not always lands:
+  Nor have they always homes, but know
+   Sharp grief at strangers' hands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU KILLED THE GIANTS
+
+_Giants_--_Râkshasa_, for which see previous notes.
+
+_Nîlâ city_--Most probably Bâgh Nîlâb on the Indus to the south
+of Atak.
+
+_Verses_--In the original these are--­
+
+  _Na ro, mata bholîe:  na aswân dhalkâe: Tere bete ki 'îvaz main
+  sir desân châe. Nîle-ghorewâlîd Râjâ, munh dhârî, sir pag, Woh
+  jo dekhte âunde, jin khâiâ sârâ jag_.
+
+  Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears:
+  I will give my head for thy son.
+  Gray-horsed Raja:  bearded face and turban on head,
+  He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life!
+
+_Verses_--In original--­
+
+  _Nasso, bhajo, bhâîo!  Dekho koî gali! Tehrî agg dhonkaî, so
+  sir te ân balî! Sûjhanhârî sûjh gae; hun laihndî charhdî jâe!
+  Jithe sânûn sûkh mile, so jhatpat kare upâe!
+
+  Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road!
+  Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads!
+  Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed!
+  Make some plan at once for our relief._
+
+_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a
+detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of
+Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU BECAME A JOGI
+
+_Hodînagarî_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjâb
+geography:  Hodînagarî, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of
+innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjâb, from Siâlkot to
+Jalâlâbâd in Afghânistân beyond the Khaibar Pass.  Here it is more
+than probably some place in the Rawâl Pindi or Hazârâ Districts along
+the Indus.
+
+_Rânî Sundrân_--The daughter of Hari Chand.
+
+_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious
+mendicants when begging.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Jâe bûhe te kilkiâ:  lîa nâm Khudâ:
+  Dûron chalke, Rânî Sundrân, terâ nâ:
+  Je, Rânî, tû sakhî hain, kharî faqîrân pâ:_
+
+  Coming to the threshold I called out:  I took the name of God:
+  Coming from afar, Rânî Sundrân, on account of thy name.
+  If thou art generous, Rânî, the beggar will obtain alms.
+
+The _Musalmân_ word _Khudâ_, God, here is noticeable, as
+Rasâlû was personating a _Hindu jôgi_.
+
+_Verses_.
+
+  _Kab kî pâî mundran?  Kab kâ hûâ faqîr? Kis ghatâ mânion?  Kis
+  kâ lâgâ tîr! Kete mâen mangiâ?  Mere ghar kî mangî bhîkh? Kal
+  kî pâî mundrân!  Kal kâ hûâ faqîr! Na ghat, mâîân, mâniân:  kal
+  kâ lagâ tîr. Kuchh nahîn munh mangî:  Kewal tere ghar ke
+  bhîkh._
+
+  When didst thou get thy earring?  When wast thou made a _faqîr?_
+  What is thy pretence?  Whose arrow of love hath struck thee?
+  From how many women hast thou begged?  What alms dost thou beg from me?
+  Yesterday I got my earring:  yesterday I became a _faqîr_.
+  I make no pretence, mother:  yesterday the arrow struck me.
+  I begged nothing:  only from thy house do I beg.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Tarqas jariâ tîr motîân; lâlân jarî kumân; Pinde bhasham
+  lagâiâ:  yeh mainân aur rang; Jis bhikhiâ kâ lâbhî hain tû wohî
+  bhikhiâ mang. Tarqas jariâ merâ motîân:  lâlân jarî kumân. Lâl
+  na jânâ bechke, motî be-wattî. Motî apne phir lai; sânûn pakkâ
+  tâm diwâ._
+
+  Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows:  thy bow is set with rubies:
+  Thy body is covered with ashes:  thy eyes and thy colour thus:
+  Ask for the alms thou dost desire.
+  My quiver is set with pearls:  my bow is set with rubies.
+  I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss.
+  Take back thy pearls:  give me some cooked food.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Kahân tumhârî nagari? kahân tumhârâ thâon? Kis râjâ kâ betrâ
+  jôgî? kyâ tumhârâ nâon? Siâlkot hamârî nagarî; wohî hamârâ
+  thâon. Râjâ Sâlivâhan kâ main betrâ:  Lonâ parî merâ mâon.
+  Pinde bhasam lagâe, dekhan terî jâon. Tainûn dekhke chaliâ:  Râjâ
+  Rasâlu merâ nâon._
+
+  Where is thy city?  Where is thy home?
+  What king's son art thou, _jôgi?_ What is thy name?
+  Sialkot is my city:  that is my home.
+  I am Râjâ Sâlivâhan's son:  the fairy Lonâ is my mother.
+  Ashes are on my body:  (my desire was) to see thy abode.
+  Having seen thee I go away:  Râjâ Rasâlû is my name.
+
+_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their
+husbands.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP
+
+_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_.  King Beheader is a universal hero of
+fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory,
+but who he was has not yet been ascertained.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Bâre andar piâ karanglâ, na is sâs, na pâs. Je Maullâ is nûn
+  zindâ kare, do bâtân kare hamâre sâth. Laihndion charhî badalî,
+  hâthân pâiâ zor: Kehe 'amal kamâio, je jhaldi nahîn ghor?_
+
+  The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one
+    near.
+  If God grant him life he may talk a little with me.
+  The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce;
+  What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee?
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  Asîn bhî kadîn duniyân te inhân the;
+  Râjâ nal degrîân pagân banhde,
+    Turde pabhân bhâr.
+  Âunde tara, nachâunde tara,
+    Hânke sawâr.
+  Zara na mitthî jhaldî Râjâ
+    Hun sau manân dâ bhâr.
+
+  I, too, was once on the earth thus;
+  Fastening my turban like a king,
+    Walking erect.
+  Coming proudly, taunting proudly,
+    I drove off the horsemen.
+  The grave does not hold me at all, Raja:
+    Now I am a great sinner.
+
+_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two
+players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to
+each cross covered with squares.  The moves of the men are decided by
+the throws of a long form of dice.  The object of the game is to see
+which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square
+of the cross first.  A detailed description of the game is given in
+_The Legends of the Panjâb_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
+
+
+_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the
+following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus
+near Atak.
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Nîle-ghorewâliâ Râjâ, niven neze âh!
+  Agge Râjâ Sarkap hai, sir laisî ulâh!
+  Bhâla châhen jo apnâ, tân pichhe hî mur jâh!
+  Dûron bîrâ chukiâ ithe pahutâ âh:
+  Sarkap dâ sir katke tote kassân châr.
+  Tainûn banâsân wohtrî, main bansân mihrâj!_
+
+  Grey-horsed Râjâ, come with lowered lance!
+  Before thee is Râjâ Sarkap, he will take thy head!
+  If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back!
+  I have come from afar under a vow of victory:
+  I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces.
+  I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom!
+
+_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80
+lbs.
+
+_Verses_--In original--­
+
+  _Ik jo aia Rajpût katdâ mâromâr, Paske lârhân kapiân sittîâ
+  sîne bhâr. Dharîn dharin bheren bhanîân aur bhane ghariâl! Taîn
+  nûn, Râjâ, marsî ate sânûn kharsî hâl._
+
+  A prince has come and is making havoc;
+  He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong.
+  The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs.
+  He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him!
+
+_Verses_--In original--­
+
+  _Chhotî nagarî dâ waskîn, Rânî wadî karî pukâr.
+  Jân main niklân bâhar, tân merî tan nachâve dhâl.
+  Fajre rotî tân khâsân, sir laisân utâr._
+
+  Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a
+    small city.
+  When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour.
+  In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads.
+
+
+
+HOW RAJA RASÂLU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP
+
+_Dhol Râjâ_--It is not known why the rat was so called.  The hero
+of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name.  Dhol or Dhaul
+(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the
+_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns.
+
+_Verses_--In original--­
+
+  _Sakhî samundar jamiân, Râjâ lîo rud gar thâe: Âo to charho
+  merî pîth te, kot tudh kharân tarpâe. Urde pankhî main na desân,
+  jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Râjâ, pârâ khelsiâ, jeb hâth to
+  pâe._
+
+  O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Râjâ
+    bought me with much gold.
+  Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off
+    with thousands of bounds.
+  Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go
+    thousands of miles.
+  If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket.
+
+_Verses_--In original--­
+
+  _Na ro, Râjiâ bholiâ; nâ main charsân ghâh,
+  Na main tursân râh.
+  Dahnâ dast uthâeke jeb de vich pâh!_
+
+  Weep not, foolish Râjâ, I shall not eat their grass,
+  Nor shall I go away.
+  Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwin ithe basante lok! Sarân dharân han
+  bâziân, jehrî Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pâsâ dhalwen, ithe
+  basanlâ lok! Sarân dharân te bâzian!  Jehrî Allah kare so ho!_
+
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be.
+  O moulded pieces, favour me:  a man is here!
+  Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be!
+
+_Verses_.--In original--­
+
+  _Hor râje murghâbîân, tu râjâ shâhbâz!
+  Bandî bânân âe band khalâs kar! umar terî drâz._
+
+  Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk!
+  Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever!
+
+_Mûrtî Hills_.--Near Râwal Pindî to the south-west.
+
+_Kokilân_.--Means 'a darling':  she was unfaithful and most
+dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart.
+
+
+
+THE KING WHO WAS FRIED
+
+_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple
+(_marhî_) on the top of Pindî Point at the Murree (_Marhî_)
+Hill Sanitarium.  Full details of the surroundings are given in the
+_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff.
+
+_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pându, and
+a great hero in the _Mahâbhârata_ legends.  Usually he appears in
+the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among
+Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of
+innocents.
+
+_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about
+100 lbs.
+
+_Mânsarobar Lake_.--The Mânasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Mâphan) in the
+Kailâsa Range of the Himâlayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable.
+For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladâk_, pp. 128-136.
+
+_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original:  a fabulous bird that lives
+on pearls only.  Swan translates it better than any other word.
+
+_King Bikramâjît_.--The great Vikramâditya of Ujjayinî,
+popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57.  Bikrû is
+a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name.  Vikrâmaditya figures
+constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a
+false analogy as Bik Râm and Vich Râm.  He also goes by the name of
+Bîr Bikramâjît or Vîr Vikram, i.e.  Vikramâditya, the warrior.  In
+some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes
+two brothers, Vir and Vikram.  See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff.
+
+
+
+PRINCE HALF-A-SON
+
+_Half-a-son_--_Adhiâ_ in the original form; _âdhâ_, a
+half.  The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat
+Bachiân diân Mâwân,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons.
+
+
+
+THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS
+
+_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the
+fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjâb.
+The object is to attract _faqîrs_ to help the sufferer.
+
+
+
+THE RUBY PRINCE
+
+_Prince Ruby_.--_La'ljî_, Mr. Ruby, a common name:  it can
+also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.'
+
+_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the
+cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India.  See _Panjâb
+Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84.
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Tales Of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel
+
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