Page:Folk-tales of Kashmir.djvu/40

4 the milk and the bit of fur, the king returned to his palace.

When his mother received the milk of the tigress she felt quite sure that her son was a jinn, and determined more than before to have him killed. She went to the room where the head was, and informed the speaker of everything, and heard again a voice saying, "Be assured thereby that this man is a jinn. None but a jinn could obtain milk from a tigress. Have him killed as soon as possible."

"But how can I get rid of him?" she asked.

The voice replied, "When your son visits you and inquires after your health, tell him that you still feel very weak and sick. The tigress's milk did not do you any good. But you have heard of a princess who lives alone in a castle on a certain high hill. If she could come and touch you, you would become well. Your son will go to this terrible castle, and be certainly killed on the way."

In the evening the king went to see his mother. "Are you better?" he asked.

"No," she said. "The tigress' milk has not benefited me in the least. But I saw in a dream a princess who lives in a certain castle, and heard that if she would come and touch me all would be well. Until she comes I shall never get strong."

"Be comforted, mother. I will fetch this woman for you, or forfeit my kingdom."

Early the following morning the king started on his perilous journey. He had not forgotten the bit of charmed fur. As soon as the sun appeared he showed the fur to it, and immediately the tigress and her two cubs came running towards him.

"What is the matter?" asked the tigress.