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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1902.
The king first of all asked the first two young men who they were, and what country they belonged to, and they told him. Tarning to the third, the king put the same questions and received replies: "I am an ascetic. I have no parents. I wander from one country to another."
In spite of this confession the princess was married by the king to the young man, who stayed for three days, and on the third day asked his wife, "Which is the way to the Wire Hiu?"
“I do not know, my Lord, but there is a princess in advance of you, who will tell you if you enquire of her," replied she; and, putting on a woe-begone appearance, added, "you are going to the Wire Hill, my Lord; suppose you come by serious harm or death, which God forbid, how am I to know it? What is the signP"
The prince gave her a flower, saying, "If this withers and becomes black, know that I am dead, and come to the Hill."
With these words, and bidding a hasty fewell to the princess, he set out. The two princes had already started, and were talking to each other: "We are so beautiful and nobody marrios os. He is dark, and every princess falls in love with him and marries bim!"
In due course they came to a fresh country, where there was a princess, who hung up on the palace walls #drawing from the Dévèndraloka, with a logond underneath in weird characters, and obtaining her father's permission sent forth a manifesta: "He who deciphers the writing under the picture and explains it, to him shall be given my hand in marriage."
The two princes went and looked at the picture, but they could not read the writing, much lese explain it. The third prince went and cast a glance at the picture, read the writing, and announcing himself to the princess, he read and explained the legend fully and lacidly.
The princess was mightily pleased and reported to the king : "Father dear, here is a young man who has read and explained the legend of the picture from the Devendraloka."
He was also pleased and at once celebrated the marriage of his daughter with the prince. For three days the prince stayed, and on the last day he spoke to his wife: “The Wire Lady is said to reside in tho Wire Hill. Which is the road to the Hill P"
The princess replied, "Great kings have come, but no one has managed to carry off the Nymph of the Wire Hill? How can you manage, my Lord ? It is impossible."
"But if I don't bring her my father will die," rejoined the prince .
“Suppose you come to grief, which God forbid ! the undertaking is so beset with porils : how am I to know it, my Lord," asked the wife, putting a woe-begone appearance.
Upon which he planted a lily and said, "If the plant dies, know that I am dead, and come to the Hill."
Then the princess gave bim the directions and said ; "If you go to the south side of the Hill you will come across & wire. If you catch hold of it, it will take you to the palace of the princess; she will come forward to embrace you, when you must say Mother, don't touch me."
Thanking his wife for the information, and wishing her good-bye, the prince came to the Wire Hill, where he saw that his brothers had already arrived and were wandering about the Hill. He enquired of them, "Why do you wonder about the Hill P" They did not reply, but said to each other," if we tell him he will marry the Nymph of Wire Hill also and carry her away." The prince muttered to himself, "80 that's it," and tothered his steed where the two prinoes bad tethered theirs, Capght hold of the wire and went up the Hill, The Nymph
