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154 In the years that followed the elder queen gave birth to three sons, as thin as reeds. This increased the spite of their mother against their half-brothers, who were of a sturdy and robust constitution; and she continued to persecute them in every possible way. They were served with scanty meals of the poorest kind, while the Suo queen's sons fared sumptuously.

But their troubles did not end here. Their stepmother was determined to ruin them. She had recourse to charms to kill them, but these proved ineffectual. At length, one morning after they had come home from the Pathsala (school), she raised a great uproar, tore her hair, and in frantic rage called one of her maidservants and told her to report to the king that Sheet and Basanta had abused their stepmother in the filthiest language. The maidservant did as ordered, and the king entered his wife's room trembling with emotion, and asked her what the matter was. The queen said, "The sons of my rival have insulted and abused me. I must bathe in their blood." Uxoriousness was one of the weaknesses of the king, and without venturing to make a single protest he summoned the public executioner and ordered him to cut off the heads of Sheet and Basanta and bring their blood in a basin to the queen. The executioner bound their hands and legs and took them out, seemingly to be beheaded. Who can picture the torments which they suffered? Tears rolled down their cheeks at the thought of death, and they called upon the gods for deliverance. Their prayers were heard, and the executioner was moved with compassion. He removed their bonds, took off their garments, dressed them in the bark of trees and said, "O princes! I am in a terrible dilemma. The king, my master, has ordered me to kill you; and to save my head I should do his bidding, but my better feelings prompt me to do otherwise. When you were babes I took you upon my knees and fondled you; now I cannot injure you, and I will not, no matter what may happen to me. Go away in this disguise, and no one will be able to recognize you." Saying this, he showed the way they should take; and