Page:Old Deccan Days.djvu/50

12 had been before, stood Rajah's, and Punts, and Sirdars, and mighty men on prancing horses, and jewelled pages, and troops of armed attendants. 'Give me my parrot!' cried Punchkin. Then the boy took hold of the parrot, and tore off one of his wings; and as he did so the Magician's right arm fell off. Punchkin then stretched out his left arm, crying, 'Give me my parrot!' The Prince pulled off the parrot's second wing, and the Magician's left arm tumbled off. 'Give me my parrot!' cried he, and fell on his knees. The Prince pulled off the parrot's right leg, the Magician's right leg fell off: the Prince pulled off the parrot's left leg, down fell the Magician's left. Nothing remained of him save the limbless body and the head; but still he rolled his eyes, and cried, 'Give me my parrot!' 'Take your parrot, then,' cried the boy, and with that he wrung the bird's neck, and threw it at the Magician; and, as he did so, Punchkin's head twisted round, and, with a fearful groan, he died! Then they let Balna out of the tower; and she, her son, and the seven Princes went to their own country, and lived very happily ever afterwards. And as to the rest of the world, every one went to his own house.