Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/111

Rh NCE upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no children.This was a great grief to him, especially when he remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the kingdom.

Now, one day, a poor old fakîr, on religion devotee, cae to the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.'

The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event throughout the length and breath of the land.

Meanwhile the seven Queen lived luxuriously in a splendid palace, attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts' content on sweetmeats and confectionery.

Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started, the seven Queen sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have