Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/133

Rh at him through the chinks in the walls or from the corners of the windows, wondered at the handsome prince. And all the matrons and aged dames showered flowers on him from their balconies and roofs. For all were overjoyed at his return except only Prince Uttam and his mother Queen Suruchi. For Prince Uttam had grown into a selfish, jealous man and he was furious that his brother should receive such favour from the king and such honour from the people. And Queen Suruchi hated Prince Dhruv as a possible rival to her own son. Thus although the king and Queen Suniti and the nobles and the ministers welcomed Prince Dhruv and tried to outbid each other in the warmth of their greeting, his brother would barely look in his direction and Queen Suruchi muttered to herself, but so loudly that the bystanders heard, "If only the brat had died in the forest!"

Prince Dhruv did his utmost to win their love, but all to no purpose. Prince Uttam and Queen Suruchi sought every day to humiliate him. At last the king rebuked Prince Uttam. Then the young man's anger knew no bounds. He begged the king for leave to go out with an army that was about to attack a forest tribe who for some months past had revolted against the king's authority. The king gave his son leave to go and placed him at the head of the horse-soldiers but under the orders of the general. Prince Uttam, however, was vain and wayward. He would not heed the advice of his father's general. But taking his horsemen with him he marched ahead of the foot-soldiers into the forest. There the forest tribes easily lured the prince into an ambush and slew him and all the men with him. When the sad news reached the capital, King Uttanpad