🧚 Opening, part 21 · page 2

Hearing this, Rajah Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhanur, the Arab steed, since he gave his master advice in the game.60 Now, when the slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasalu could not refrain from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhanur, the Arab steed, had been his companion.61 But the horse cried out again:62

“Weep not, dear Prince!63 I shall not eat my bread Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.64 Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.”65

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 all about the warning, and the dice made from dead men’s bones.66 Then his heart rose up once more, and he called boldly to Rajah Sarkap: “Leave my horse and arms here for the present.67 Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!”68

Now, Rajah 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.69 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.70 Now we will play with mine.”71

Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol Rajah used to come, and the game began.72

After awhile, Sarkap, seeing Rajah Rasalu was winning, called to his rat, but when Dhol Rajah saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go farther.73 So Rasalu won, and took back his arms.74 Next he played for his horse, and once more Rajah Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol Rajah, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid.75 So Rasalu won the second stake, and took back Bhanur, the Arab steed.76

Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game, saying:77

“Oh, molded pieces!78 Favor me to-day!79 Forsooth this is a man with whom I play.80 No paltry risk—but life and death at stake; As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap’s sake!”81

But Rasalu answered back:82

“Oh, molded pieces!83 Favor me to-day!84 Forsooth it is a man with whom I play.85 No paltry risk—but life and death at stake; As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven’s sake!”86

So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and the kitten watched Dhol Rajah, from the window.87 Then Sarkap lost, first his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.88

Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to Rajah Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, “Kill her at once!89 For she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father ill luck!”90

But Rasalu rose up in his shining armor, tender-hearted and strong, saying: “Not so, O King!91 She has done no evil.92 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!”93

Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another’s head; and after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the newborn babe, and placing them on a golden dish, gave them to Rasalu.94

Now, as he left the palace, carrying with him the newborn babe and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out to him:95

“A royal hawk art thou, O King, the rest But timid wild-fowl.96 Grant us our request, Unloose these chains, and live forever blest!”97

And Rajah Rasalu harkened to them, and bade King Sarkap set them at liberty.98

Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the newborn 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.”99

And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja Rasalu married the Princess Kokilan, who he won from Sarkap when he played chaupur with the king.100

THE FOUR FRIENDS101

Three great friends, a tortoise, a weasel and a crow, were talking together one fine day when they were disturbed by the noise of an animal who was coming their way in great haste.102 They soon saw that it was a goat, who was evidently being pursued, so, as a matter of safety, each of them sought a place of refuge.103

The goat stopped quite suddenly by the side of a pool, near which the three friends had been conversing together, but he seemed to be afraid to drink.104 The crow, who had flown to the upper branches of a high tree, saw that the man who had been hunting the goat had given up the chase, so he called to the tortoise, whose haven was the pool, that it was quite safe now for him to come out.105

The tortoise at once came to the surface, and seeing the goat standing there, evidently thirsty, but trembling and afraid to drink, spoke kindly to him, assuring him that there was no danger.106

Then the goat drank, and the tortoise asked him why he was so distressed.107 The goat replied that he had reason to be, for he had barely escaped death at the hands of a hunter.108

“Well,” said the tortoise, “you are quite safe now.109 There are three of us here, a weasel, a crow, and myself, who are great friends.110 How would you like to join our company?111 It is our practice to stand by one another in all things, and to make our lives as pleasant as possible.”112

By this time the weasel and the crow had joined them and they seconded the invitation, so the goat accepted, and each of them swore to be a true friend to the others.113

For a long time they lived pleasantly together; but one day the goat failed to be at their meeting-place, and this caused them great anxiety.114 They waited for some time, but as their friend didn’t appear, they decided to search for him, fearing that he was in trouble.115 So the crow flew up into the air, and looking round about saw the poor goat striving to release himself from the meshes of a hunter’s net.116

He at once reported his discovery to his friends, and their sorrow upon receiving the news of the goat’s capture was great.117 It was their duty now to see what could be done to help their comrade, and at length they hit upon a plan to rescue him.118

The weasel possessed very sharp teeth, and he was to gnaw the meshes of the net in which the goat was confined, and so set him at liberty.119 As this would take some time, it was necessary that the weasel get to work as soon as possible, because the hunter might return to his net at any minute.120

The crow and the weasel hastened to the spot, and such good work did the latter do with his teeth, that by the time the tortoise arrived, the goat was at liberty.121