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NOVEMBER, 1899 )
A FOLKTALE FROM CENTRAL INDIA.
303
Surprised and delighted, said he: - "Minister, call my meu to carry the pot home."
Hoping to obtain it and to put an end to the king's life, the minister stid: -"Why do you distress yourself about a triflo ? It will be sent safely hone by to-morrow's dawn."
Thon drawing his sword behind the king, le murdered his in atar. "The in nister himsef buried the corpse in a dirty pool of water, and rode lome. Now the king was in the habit of dining at a fixed time but that day the queen waited for her husband much longer than usual, and still he never appeared. Messenger after messenger went in search of him but no trace of bim could be found, and every ono mourned his loss. Then the nobles met to arrange for the government of the country, because the king had left no beir to the throne, and bis wife was not entitled to ascend it, for she was pregnant. In the meantime the leading man in the city was appointed regent, but that traitor by the minister's advice drove the queen into exile.
In due time a son was born to her, and when he was five years old she made hin over to learned man. One day the queen was lameuting her downfall and the boy asked the reason of her grief. She replied that all their stores were exhausted and no food left. The boy consulted his book of magic which directed him to start sword in hand. He came to a rubber's home and pushed upen the door. . Who are you?" cried the thief. .
« The master thiər,” replied the boy. «Load a cart with wheat and rice and money, or I'll cat your throat!” He had to do what he was told, and filled the cart.
One evening the lad went to the minister to ask for some vegetables from his garden, In this garden there was a fruit-tree, and the minister had ordered that whoever dared to pluck it should die. A goat by chance ate the fruit, and the gardener struck it dead on the apot. Dragging along the dead gout, the gardener cried out :-" Here is the thief!"
The minister descending the staircase exclaimed:-"Well done!"
"The ghe-goat would have brought forth a black and a spotted kid, had the gardene. not killed her," said the boy.
The minister owed the boy a grudge because he was the son of the late king. "If it is uot true," said he," you must be hanged."
What matter?" replied the boy.
When he cnt open the goat's side, the gardener found a pair of kids as the lad had foretold. Both the gardener and his master were amazed ; and the minister calling the gardener inte his room, whispered :-“Spill a quantity of the boy's blood in the depth of a forest and bring it to me." Binding him with a thong the gardener led the boy toa forest and told him the order.
"Save me," implored the lad; “I will make you my ininister."
Believing his promise, the gardener took compassion on him, said :-"How can I get the blood p"
The boy thought for a while and said :-" There is an old woman, in yonder village, who was once rich, but is now reduced to porerty; she sold all that she had, except a kid, which she cherished. She has determined to sell this one too, and this will answer the purpose."
Ho bought the kid and slaughtered it and poured the blood into & vessel. The gardener leaving the boy then took the blood to his master who was delighted to see it. Now, since his treachery, evil dreams beset the new kiug, and he could not sleep.
At day-break he said to his minister :-“Every night an awful giant strikes me and frightens the life out of me. Explain this mystery cr within a month your life is forfeit."
The minister in terror onsulted all the interpreters of greams, but none could explain the matter. At last the king remembered tho boy and learned his fate from the gardener. So he sent for him. The boy at first refused to follow him, and required & written order from the
