________________
cloth, his sunken eyes gleamed from a lined, cadaverous face.
The king said, "Old man, why do you have to work in such stormy weather? Are you so poor that you would starve if you did not go out to work on a stormy night like this?"
The old man bowed politely and replied, “My name is Mamman. I am well provided with food. Besides, I have two beautiful bulls. They are very nearly complete. Only half a horn is yet left to be made, for which I was gathering pieces of sandalwood that are washed down the river. If I had waited till morning, others might have sighted them and taken them away, so I hastened to gather them at night, even in the storm.' This weather, so foul for others, gives me a chance to carry on my work."
The king could not make head or tail of what the old man was driving at, so he said, “I will give you a hearing tomorrow morning and command my treasurer to provide you with whatever you need for the horn of the bulls. The night is far advanced, you must be cold and weary. Sleep peacefully; you need worry about nothing."
Mamman was amused at the king's ignorance of his name and position and was amazed that the king expected him to sleep peacefully. He could not recollect when he had last enjoyed sound slumber, for his mind was ever restless about his wealth. He thanked the king and retired.
77
