Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/138

116 alive, did not wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently.

In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court.Every man was dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates, but in the centre of all rode a Prime clad in goldbright burnished gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,the handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen.

Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried, 'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried off by the dreadful King of the crocodiles!'

Then the gold- clad horseman smiled, saying, 'I am the King of the crocodiles!Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be very glad to see you'

After this there were great rejoicings and merry-makings, but when a few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy.But the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not as! but if you like I will give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with divide.

The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking several bricks with him, into the river and make the stream divide.

His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom, but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so fond of the