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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
NOVEMBER, 1886.
the house; and ran about most wildly to the On, on, the dog trotted for many a mile, full tether of his chain, longing to get free. till he came to the place in the jungle where At last, just as the robbers were departing the robbers had buried the goods. There he with their ill-gotten treasure, the chain broke. scratched away and threw up the ground most The dog dashed forward and would have vigorously. The merchant also, and the few jumped on them, but seeing that they had arms friends who had accompanied him, began to in their hands, he refrained. He reflected that he dig at the place. Presently they came on might be killed in the affray, and to what some of the stolen property; and then all of purpose ? Better, he thought, to follow quietly the things appeared! The merchant was over on behind, to see whither the robbers conveyed joyed at the sight. his master's things.
As soon as he had got his goods back again The robbers walked far and fast till they in his house and had arranged them in more reached an out-of-the-way place in a little secure places, he wrote to the young merchant jungle, where they stopped, dug a large pit, the following letter :and therein deposited their treasure, intending To the abode of wisdom and bravery to come again and arrange for its distribution and goodness, beloved of all men, salám! as soon as the excitement about the robbery After an expression of my intense desire to had subsided. When they were quite out of see you, be it known to you that I am your the way the dog went up to the place and obliged servant for ever. You let me bave scratched the earth round about, so that he
a dog some time ago. That dog has just saved might recognise the spot; and then returned
me from ruin. I send a request that you will to his master's house.
kindly sell it to me. Yon let me take it as On the following morning the merchant a security for Rs. 30,000 of which amouut rose and found the front door of his house Rs. 15,000 were at once paid you ; so I enclose ajar, and all his capboards and boxes open, a cheque for the same amount again, making and their contents rifled. Robbers must altogether Rs. 30,000. If you will please grant have been here,' he cried, and rushed hither this my request I shall always pray that blessand thither tearing his beard and smiting his ings may wait on you from every side.'10 breast. The neighbours, attracted by the
Having sealed the letter he placed it within noise, came round and wept also.
the dog's mouth, and told him to go to his old Alas, alas !' said one, would that we had master. taken more notice of the dog's barking.'
When the young merchant saw the dog runSurely it must have awakened you ?' said ning towards him, he thought that he had another.
escaped, and that therefore his present master "No, no,' replied the poor merchant.
would soon follow and demand repayment of the At mention of the dog the merchant took money, which would not be at all convenient the animal and placed him before him, and like just then. So he determined to kill the dog ; a madman fondled him and talked to him, saying, and then if the merchant came and asked for
Oh that you could speak and tell me who has his money he would be able to say: 'Give me taken my goods;' whereupon the dog seized back my dog, and I will return to you the the merchant's right sleeve between his teeth money.' But grief, a thousand griefs ! No and began to pall towards the door.
sooner had he slain the dog, and taken him up Perhaps,' remarked one of the neighbours, to bury him in some secret place, than the letter "the dog knows where the treasure is con- dropped out of the animal's mouth. The cealed. I would advise you to follow his young merchant picked up the letter, and on lead.'
reading it, dropped down insensible." 10. Specimens of the mode of addressing letters to Folktales in Bengal, 150 ff. and hero is recognised by his persons of different rank are given in Vigne's Travels in relating his story, Indian Fairy Tales, 191ft. The idea Kaimir, f., Vol. II. pp. 137, 138.
frequently occurs. Old Deccan Days, 90, 139, 145ff : "1 Concerning story-telling to explain the situation Capt. Indian Antiquary, IX. 8; IV. 59, 263." [This story, Temple has the following note in Wide-awake Stories. however, seems to refer to that extensive series of tales Such stories are commonly brought in to explain in which the machinations of the wicked wife or mistress and elucidate the difficulties of the tale when the deus are oonnteracted by the stories of the King's advisers. ex machint is not employed, thus the murder by mistake See the Sindibid Cycle, passim.-ED.] of goldsmith's wife in place of Ogress is explained in
