Demon With Matted Hair " 196, part 19 · page 21 2101"It's a he," replied the fisherwoman, and proceeded on her rounds.102The queen returned to her room in a great rage; and on coming to see her in the evening, the king noticed that something had disturbed her.103"Are you indisposed?" he said.104"No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behaviour of a fish.105A woman brought me one to-day, and on my inquiring whether it was a male or female, the fish laughed most rudely."106"A fish laugh!107Impossible!108You must be dreaming."109"I am not a fool.110I speak of what I have seen with my own eyes and have heard with my own ears."111"Passing strange!112Be it so.113I will inquire concerning it."114On the morrow the king repeated to his vizier what his wife had told him, and bade him investigate the matter, and be ready with a satisfactory answer within six months, on pain of death.115The vizier promised to do his best, though he felt almost certain of failure.116For five months he laboured indefatigably to find a reason for the laughter of the fish.117He sought everywhere and from every one.118The wise and learned, and they who were skilled in magic and in all manner of trickery, were consulted.119Nobody, however, could explain the matter; and so he returned broken-hearted to his house, and began to arrange his affairs in prospect of certain death, for he had had sufficient experience of the king to know that His Majesty would not go back from his threat.120Amongst other things, he advised his son to travel for a time, until the king's anger should have somewhat cooled.121The young fellow, who was both clever and handsome, started off whithersoever Kismat might lead him.122He had been gone some days, when he fell in with an old farmer, who also was on a journey to a certain village.123Finding the old man very pleasant, he asked him if he might accompany him, professing to be on a visit to the same place.124The old farmer agreed, and they walked along together.125The day was hot, and the way was long and weary.126"Don't you think it would be pleasanter if you and I sometimes gave one another a lift?" said the youth.127"What a fool the man is!" thought the old farmer.128Presently they passed through a field of corn ready for the sickle, and looking like a sea of gold as it waved to and fro in the breeze.129"Is this eaten or not?" said the young man.130Not understanding his meaning, the old man replied, "I don't know."131After a little while the two travellers arrived at a big village, where the young man gave his companion a clasp-knife, and said, "Take this, friend, and get two horses with it; but mind and bring it back, for it is very precious."132The old man, looking half amused and half angry, pushed back the knife, muttering something to the effect that his friend was either a fool himself or else trying to play the fool with him.133The young man pretended not to notice his reply, and remained almost silent till they reached the city, a short distance outside which was the old farmer's house.134They walked about the bazaar and went to the mosque, but nobody saluted them or invited them to come in and rest.135"What a large cemetery!" exclaimed the young man.136"What does the man mean," thought the old farmer, "calling this largely populated city a cemetery?"137On leaving the city their way led through a cemetery where a few people were praying beside a grave and distributing chapatis and kulchas to passers-by, in the name of their beloved dead.138They beckoned to the two travellers and gave them as much as they would.1 2← previousDemon With Matted Hair " 196, part 18next →Demon With Matted Hair " 196, part 20↑ back to Indian Fairy TalesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7128/25/page/2/