________________
UTTAMKUMAR
117
woman For, as soon as she saw the young man, a plan was suddenly formulated in her mind It was the plan of marrying Princess Madalsa with him. It would make the princess happy and liberate her from the captivity of her father. She handled the situation with care Before giving out her own introduction, she tried to get as much detail about the new-comer as was possible for her. She asked him diverse questions and yet she had a curiosity—“This fellow looks like a prince" But the very next moment, sbe thought+But why should a prince come at all to this place and draw water with his own hands ? "
The prince said all about himself, concluding his account -as follows :
"You see, when my men could not do this, I had myself to go joto the well. Then I saw this door Out of curiosity and inquisitiveness I opend it and thus I am here. But I am surprised to see you This bas increased my curiosity all the more. Will you kindly tell me about the mystery behind this door ?"
The woman started,
"This is a rather strange story You must have heard the name of the city of Lanka The demon-king of that city whose pame is Bhramaraketu bas only one child, a daughter, whose name is Madalsa Once the king came to know from a fortune-teller that the princess would be married to a human being This made him furious and he cried out,
"Is there no demon left on this earth that my daughter Tvill be the wife of a human being? I shall never allow such a thing to take place's
With this determination, he constructed a beautiful palace on the sea coast and the palace has only one doorway. Princess Madalsa is a captive in the palace Whenever any human being comes here, the demon-king comes out and kills him Oh prince ! You look to be very braye You have reached this place alive I feel that you are perhaps the man chosen by destiny for the said princess. So I
