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24
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1896.
The morning dawned, and both the rogaes had something for breakfast. The old woman promised to give them a very sumptuous hot meal at night, and started the Trichinopoly Rogue, with something to eat in hand for mid-day, to graze the cow. The Tanjore Rogue had to water the cabbage plots in the backyard, and so was sure of his mid-day meal at home.
The Trichinopoly Boguo started with the cow, and had a very quiet business of it till he reached the tank. He thanked his stars for their having conducted him to the old lady, for what trouble was to be expected in grazing a quiet cow. Cows in India are proverbial for their meekness, but there are exceptions. As soon as the tank was reached, the rogue untied the cow and it began to graze even more quietly than he expected.
“What & fine time I shall have," thought the rogue.
But in a moment all his hopes were changed. Suddenly the cow took to her heels and for fear of losing the animal, and, as a consequence his evening meal, the rogue followed it hendlong. But he was no match for the cow, for she bad not thus been led out to graze for several days; it might have been even for months. She was far in advance of the rogue, and knowing that he could not overtake her for some time, stopped to graze. The rogue slackened his pace, and walked up slowly, gaining, in the meantime, fresh vigour to recommence the race, in case there was any occasion for it. The brute did not disappoint him. It was grazing again quietly.
"Poor thing; it was, perhaps, terrified at some object at first, and so far off so wildly. She is now grazing quietly according to her nature. I shall reach her in a minute," thought Je, and he reached the cow but, anfortunately, not to catch her. Just as he was on the point of catching her the cow again took to her heels; again the rogue began the race; again the cow stopped and began to graze; again, though not with so much hope as at first the rogae slackened his pace, regained strength, and was almost at the point of catching her. Again he failed. And so the whole day, even without having time for his mid-day meal, the Trichinopoly Rogue was after the cow. He was always unsuccessful in catching her. He had traversed nearly twenty kós by the time that ereping approached, and he had gone round the big tank and its neighbourhood nearly a hundred times. But at last, fortune seemed to pity even the worst type of rogue, and, as if more out of pity than anything else, the cow allowed itself to be caught.
"I shall never bring you up here again to graze. I shall, instead, give such a glowing description of you to my friend the Tanjore Rogne and change my job with him to-morrow. Watering a few plots must be extremely easy."
Thus thinking within himself, and composing his face, for with a dismal face one cannot play a devil's part, he slowly lead the cow to the cottage of the old woman. His whole body was in prin. Several thorns had found seats deep in his feet. He had hitherto lend an ensy life in roguery, but that day seemed to be a punishment for all his sins. Still with a com. posed countenance he returned home.
Meanwhile, the Tanjore Rogue in the backyard had only to water foar or five green plots. "I could do it in half a ghalikd," thought he.
There was a hand pilota at which he had to work, and the condition was that he should not cease work till the plots were fall of water to the brim. He was at work till mid-day, and. then found that the water baled up was not even a quarter of the quantity required!
"What? My hands are already red with work. I have pain from top to toe, and yet the plots are not a quarter fall. What can be the reason ?" thought the Tanjore Rogue, and tried his best to find out the cause, but without result.
A pikotta is & country water-lift.
