Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/114

108 ." King Sala turned sharply to his charioteer saying, "Tell me where I can get Vami horses." But the charioteer, fearing the anger of the sage Vamadeva who owned them, held his peace. The king grew angry and lifting his sword cried, "Unless you tell me instantly where I can obtain Vami horses, I will kill you with my sword."

The charioteer, frightened at the threat said, "O king spare me and I will tell you. Vami horses are the horses of the sage Vamadeva."

"Drive directly to the hermitage of the sage Vamadeva," answered the king, putting back his sword. The charioteer obeyed and not long afterwards the tired horses drew the king's chariot to Vamadeva's home. The sage welcomed the king and asked him what he wanted.

"Venerable Sir," said the king, "I have wounded a stag and my horses have tried in vain to catch it. I beg you to lend me your Vami horses so that I may catch the stag."

The rishi answered, "O King, I will gladly lend you my Vami horses, and they will certainly overtake the wounded stag. But give me first your royal word that when you have killed the stag, you will give me back my horses." The king gave his royal word. His charioteer led the Vami horses from Vamadeva's stable and yoked them to King Sala's chariot. They bounded after the deer as swiftly as thought, and in but a little time the king had overtaken it and killed it with an arrow. Then a wicked thought entered his mind because of the curse of Ayusha the frog king. "These Vami horses," King Sala said to his charioteer, "are too good for a Brahman. They are fit only for the royal stables." Thus breaking his royal word, he caused the Vami horses to be kept in