Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/156

134 When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water.They bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he would only restore the water of their spring.This he promised to do, if they in their restore the dead Prince to life; and when they gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were happy.

The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay, seized the whip, mounted the ponywhich all this time had been quietly grazing beside its masterand rode off.But in his hurry and confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a different city from the one wherein his brother was king.

It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket, the young Prince was at a loss how to produce anything to eat; but seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her, 'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony of mine also, for it will be your.'

To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her house, finding her very kind and god-natured.But in the course of a day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked her what was the matter.

'The matter is this my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in this kingdom there lives an