Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/27

Rh done. Blow upon my horse."

Uttanka blew upon the horse and instantly flames leapt out from its eyes and mouth and nose, and shot outwards until they seized upon the city of the snake people. In a few moments half of the great city was in ashes and the flames were rapidly devouring the other half. Prince Takshaka, fearing for his life and for the lives of the snake people, made his way to where Uttanka and the man stood. "O Brahman boy," he said, "I have wronged you. I own my fault; therefore pardon me. Here are your earrings. Take them back, and spare our city." Uttanka took back the earrings of the queen and placed them for safety in his garment. Instantly the flames died down and the city of the snake people was saved from total destruction.

Uttanka was overjoyed that he should have recovered the fee due to his teacher's wife. But suddenly he remembered that the days allotted to him had all but passed and that he could not return in time for his preceptress to wear the earrings when she feasted the Brahmans. He thought and thought but could discover no way to reach his hermitage before sunset. As he meditated, he heard the man with the horse say to him, "Mount my horse; it will take you at once to Veda's dwelling." Uttanka mounted the horse. It rose in the air with incredible swiftness, and in a few moments he found himself in front of Veda's hermitage. Veda's wife was bathing and dressing her hair in order that she might fitly feast the Brahmans. "Uttanka," she said to herself, "has failed to bring me the earrings for which I asked. When the sun sets I shall curse him." As she made this resolve Uttanka entered the house. His teacher's wife dressed herself, and Uttanka, saluting her humbly,