Page:Folk-tales of Kashmir.djvu/41

Rh "I have to go and fetch the princess who resides in yonder castle."

"Fetch her! You cannot do it. Several people have tried, for the princess is very beautiful; but nobody ever succeeded in getting near her."

"I will try, though I lose my life in the attempt." Saying this the king left.

The tigress could not bear to have her benefactor thus leave her. So she ran after him with her two cubs, and begged him to ride on her. They soon reached the castle.

"In this place," said the tigress, "there are three big doors, through which it is necessary to pass before a person can get to the princess. Near the first door is an immense block of iron, which must be broken by a wooden axe, or the door will not open. At the second door is an imitation cow, surrounded by real jinns. If any person can milk the cow, he will pass through; if not, he will be devoured by the jinns. By the third door sits the princess herself. If she is pleased with you, she will receive you; but if not, she will accomplish your death."

On hearing these words the king became very frightened, and begged the tigress to help him.

"Very well," she said. "By a charm which I possess I will enter the block of iron, and when you strike with the wooden axe, I will cause it to divide into two pieces; and then the doorkeeper will think that you cleft the iron, and allow you to enter through the first door."

"And I," said one of the young tigers, "will cause the statue of the cow to give milk, and will keep the jinns who stand round it from hindering you in milking. Thus will you be able to pass through the second door."