Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/144

122 resolved to have a peep at them himself.And when he saw the milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round, while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe, he said, 'I must have the tiny pipe, if I die for it!'

No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a run, and the King after him.Never was there such a chase before or since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny pipe, that he did not care for scratches.At last King was successful, but no sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little pipe himself singing these words

And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart, especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all.So he let it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe, while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes of the pond, gather round and listen to his music.And sometimes, people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then they say,'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages ago!