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340
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1896.
Then the Balla led them to the upper story which was very strongly built, and shewed it to them. While going out the Balla! came ont first, and suddenly the porter shut the doors, and the man that had the charge of the key locked tbem. Their legs were heavily chained.
The elder brother then cried out-"Oh God! Oh my hard fate! Oh woeful dny! What shall we do now? Now we must die in this dungeon. Oh Brahma of Kemmhule, we consecrate to you the silver hilt of our daggers as our offering to you. If you are tho Brahma that relieves men from their difficulties, relieve us now. We are heroes, who, while living, deserve a place in the king's conncil, and, after death, deserve to be taken to the henven of Brahma. We are persons that would not, under any circumstances, fail to fall our promise."
At these words, Brahmi sent them extraordinary strength in their shoulders. Then the heavy chains broke. The upper story gave way. They crashed it like elephants. They stamped on it like tigers. They shewed their ferocity like wild boars. In this manner they destroyed the bidu, and levelled it to the groand. Then they escaped from Panje, and proceeded on their journey towards Edambor. On their way they rested under a banyan-tree, and opening their bags began to chew betel-leaves and nat. While they were thus sitting, they saw a man coming from the Edambur side. They asked his name, and where he was going. He said that he was Channayya of Edambar, and that he was going to Pañje.
"Why are you going to Pañje ?” asked the brothers.
"My master, the BullAl of Edambar has heard that two heroes had come from Parimale to Pañje, that they had been imprisoned by the Ballâl of Paõje, and that they had destroy. ed the upper story in which they had been imprisoned, and levelled the whole bidu to the ground. Therefore I am going to Pañje to ascertain the truth about this news," replied Channayya of Edambůr.
"You need not go so far to ascertain the trath of it. We ourselves are the heroes whom the Balla! of Pañje treacherously imprisoned. We have broken open the door of the upper story where we were confined and destroyed his bidu, and levelled it to the ground," replied the brothers.
Then Channayya of Edambar was surprised and glad to see them, and said :-"My master, the Balla] of Edambůr, is the enemy of the Balla] of Pañje. Therefore he will be very glad to see you, and receive yon with great honour."
So saying, he proposed to them that they should go to the Ballap of Edambar. The brothers consented, and the three proceeded on their journey to Edambar. On the first day they remained at Channayya's house, and took their meals and rested. On the following morning they went to see the Ballal. He was sitting on his throne with great delight. Channayya first entered and made obeisance to the Balla.
" What are the news about the heroes, Channayya P" said the Ballkļ.
“My lord," replied be, "I have brought them with me, and they are waiting outside the hall."
"Let them come in," said the BallA!, and ordered a bed of flowers to be spread out before them. When they came in, he asked them to sit down apon it. They sat down on the bed and placed their daggers on the ground. The Balla! then said to them :-"I know by hearsay that you have been imprisoned in Pañje. Is it true"
"We were, my lord," said the heroes.
"Oh heroes, now it behoves a to you to remain in my kingdom. Do you want the field called Berampolli cultivated by the Brahmans, or that called Guttuberke cultivated by the Banks, or that called Natsil Nalaja cultivated by the Billavars P" asked the Ballaj.
