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Rh than his thirteenth year, though he might live and live as long as he liked," said clever goddess Parvati.

And Shiva waited, for surely here was a way out of a difficulty.

"And poor old King Death was not clever enough to understand this, and thought that you meant him to take the boy away. It was only stupidity. Forgive him."

And Shiva said: "It shall be as you ask."

"Then give the message," said Goddess Parvati.

And, "Let the old tired leaves fall from the trees," said Shiva the god, and turned to other business.

But his messengers were so full of gladness that good King Death might return to the Earth once more, riding on his grey-black buffalo—for that was the meaning of Shiva's message—that