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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1887.
steps of women here. Surely the princess running towards them at headlong speed, and must be on ahead not far off. Had I been the first question he put to the princess when awake I should have been in a very awkward he saw her was as to her promise to give him position ! There would have been nothing for the promised prasadas / She was highly vexed it then but to make a clean confession of all at his stupidity, but still thanking her guds for my tricks. Perhaps she might have murdered having sent the faithful fool to her, promised me in her anger ! Perhaps she might have to give him the prasádas before long. returned to her mansion by the ladder and Sellam was the first to console the princess. and tried to hide everything! Thanks to She advised her not to lose cotirage, and they Parmêsvara, I was in a timely sleep and am then agreed that the best course would be to thus relieved from much confusion. I will go to some unknown town, and there to live as follow the princess, tell her that I have private people, till better times. They then tracked her to her place of pilgrimage, and beg got upon the horses and asked the Takkuttûkki prasádas ! I will still play the simpleton." Ito ran before them.
With these ideas in his head the Takkuttakki Now as to affairs at Dhârâpura. When the ran on post haste to overtake the horses. The morning dawned the maid-servants of the distance between the thief on the first horse mansion were greatly alarmed at the disapand the second horse was that of a ghatika ; pearance of the princess, Sellam and the Takkutthat between the princess and Sellam was also tükki, and reported the matter to the old king. a gháțiká and that between Sellam and the He was extremely vexed, but ordered the maid. Takkuttûkki was likewise a ghaţikd. In this seryants to keep the matter strictly secret, and way they raced on the whole night.
live in the mansion as if the princess was The morning twilight approached, and the present among them. He promised to make birds began to sing to announce the dawn. a secret search for the lost princess and sent his All our racers found themselves in the midst of spies in several directions, and enquired about a thick jungle. The princess, even in the grey Ramachandra, and found that he was safe at twilight (for so great was her anxiety to get a home. The fact that the Tukkuttûkki and glimpse of her beloved Ramachandra), looked Sellam had disappeared at the same time as well at the rider of the first horse, and to the princess made the old king hopeful of her her confusion and surprise found him to be a safety; so the maid-servants returned to the black awkward looking ka!!a's instead of her mansion, and performed their duties just as if lover! She spurred on her horse, went very the princess was living among them, and near him and found him without doubt to be a supplies of provisions, as if they were for the kal!a! She unsheathed her sword and with princess, were sent up regularly. one stroke stretched him on the ground and Meanwhile in the forest the Tukkuttûkki secured the horse!
thought that really ill-luck never left him, for « Alas! was I created in this world merely to while Sellam rode side by side with the princess, undergo calamities? By some mistake or other he had to run before her like a dog! He did not instead of Ramachandra a black kalla has been however, lose courage, and in this way the three riding before me! Perhaps this thief has killed journeyed on till the middle of the day, when Ramachandra somewhere on the way and plun- the princess and Sellam became very tired. dered his horse. I am now in the thick of the They were also very thirsty, and asked the forest without assistance. I do not know what Takkuttûkki whether he could get them a little is to become of me. I will lie down here and water to drink. He asked them to sit down in die!" She sat down weeping, overcome with the cool shade of a large tree, and went off to grief, but it was not long, before, to her surprise, search for water. He looked about everywhere. she saw Sellam in the distance. What was her At last, at about six or seven ghatikás' distance joy then ! Both flew into each other's arms and to the West, so it appeared to him, he saw a embraced ; and the princess now explained to red glitter. He went towards it, and then saw her briefly all the previous story. While they a large lake. Horror of horrors! The water were thus speaking they saw the Takkuttûkkil in the lake looked like blood, for it was very
15 A robber-class in South India.
