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52
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(OCTOBER, 1922
And Ranjha lifted his hands and prayed to God: "O God restore this Jatti's lover to her. She has brought to accomplishment my desire. She has brought about the union of lovers and for the sake of love has become of ill-fame throughout all the world."
And the Five Pirs prayed: "O God unite the girl to her lover." So God showed his kindness and Murad her lover stood before her. And Murad spake and said: "Girl, make haste and see this fairy-like camel." And the camel of Murad grunted as her master epoke. And Murad said :" Some spell or enchantment fell on me; some one caught the nose string of my camel and brought me to your door. I was riding in the long line of camels half asleep. Then a voice from heaven came into my ear; my camel heard it and grunted. She sped as quick as an arrow or a stormwind. My string of camels has been lost. You have exercised some sorcery over me. My camel is the grand-daughter of the best camel in the world. Come up, my bride, and mount on my camel. Is not her mouth soft ? Her back is as firm as a mountain. She has been moulded by angels."
So Murad took Sehti on his camel and Ranjha took Hir. Thus the bridegrooms set forth with their brides.
CHAPTER 30.
(The discovery of Hir's escape with Ranjha.) The next morning the ploughmen yoked their oxen and went forth to plough, and lo! the house of the sick bride was empty. They looked inside and outside and they woke up the watchman who was asleep near the door. There was a great stir in the town and every body said: “Those wicked girls Hir and Sehti have brought disgrace on the whole village. They have cut off our nose and we shall be defamed through the whole world."
So the Kheras drew up their armies on hearing the news. The soldiers took spears and daggers and set out to pursue them. The people said to Ajju: “Your house has been ruined to-day. The stain will not be washed away for many generations." And the women beat their sides and wept. Now the armies of the Kheras succeeded in overtaking Murad. But the Balooches drew up their forces and drove back the Kheras. They rushed on them with spears and arrows and routed them, even as Alexander routed Darius.
Now there was a man-eating lion in the jungle through which Hîr and Ranjha had to pass. He smelt them and came towards them with a roar. And Hir said: "Ranjha, the lion is coming : remember the Pirs for God's sake." And Ranjha remembered the Five Pirs and they came in the twinkling of an eye. They said: "Go to, my son, and you will be victorious. Abandon all pride and beseech the lion with entreaty. And if he will not listen to your entreaty, slay him."
And Ranjha said: “Gallant lion, I beseech you by Pir and Fakir, do not kill us who are helpless. In the name of Hazrat Pir Dastgir (the lord of Pirs) I beseech you go away."
And the lion replied: "Ranjha listen to me. For the last seven days, I have not had food. I have been much troubled by hunger and thirst. Now God has sent me a victim." The lion roared: "I will eat both of you." And he leapt towards Ranjha. · And Ranjha said to Hir: "You stay here, beloved. I will go and kill the lion and will then come back to you."
The lion ground his teeth hearing the words of Ranjha. And he said: "What does this mortal say?" And he made another spring at Ranjha.
Then Ranjha took the cuc gel of Jahanian, and thrust it into the side of the lion, and he drove the dagger of Sayyad Jalal Bokhari into his belly. And then Ranjha skinned the
