Page:Sagas from the Far East; or, Kalmouk and Mongolian traditionary tales.djvu/125

Rh rise in concealing density, the Wood-carver pushed aside the stone with his feet, and returned to his home by the underground way his wife had had made for him.

But the Painter, never doubting but that he must have fallen a prey to the flames, rubbed his hands and pointing with his finger in joy and triumph to the curling smoke, cried out to the people,—

"Behold the spirit of our brother Ânanda the wood-carver, ascending on the obedient clouds as on a swift charger to the kingdom of the gods!"

And all the people followed the point of his finger with their eyes and believing his words, they cried out,—

"Behold the spirit of Ânanda the wood-carver, ascending to adorn the temple of the gods' kingdom."

And now for the space of a whole month the Wood-carver remained closely at home letting himself be seen by no one save his wife only. Daily he washed himself over with milk, and sat in the shade out of the coloured light of the sun. At the end of the month his wife brought him a garment of white gauze, with which he covered himself; and he wrote, he also, a feigned letter, and went up with it to "All-protecting" the Khan.

As soon as the Khan saw him he cried out,—

"How art thou returned from the gods' kingdom? And how didst thou leave my father 'All-knowing' the Khan?"