Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/137

Rh Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within.

'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?'

'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.'

At this the sentry burst out laughing.'A likely story indeed!' he cried: 'what! my master married to your daughter!Ha! ha! ha!'

Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting.She was as happy as the day was log, for you must know that in his own river-kingdom the king of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore that he assumed the form of a crocodile.So what with her magnificent palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her father's tones.Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms round his neck; but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his permission.So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father! I am here!Only wait till my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to let you in.I dare not without his leave.'

The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter