Page:The Dravidian Nights Entertainments.djvu/55

Rh himself of another scheme, spoke thus to his father:-“There lives a rich merchant named Dhanupâla Setti in this town. He has an only son who · prefers walking only instead of riding, which his father daily compels him to do. I shall assume the shape of a Panchakalyani horse. You shall walk with me to the tank side where the merchant's son will come in the morning for his bath. He shall have a liking for the horse and ask of you the price. You had better demand one thousand pagodas. He will conduct you to his father, count you out the money, and take me to the stables. I shall so mehow manage to come away from my confinement.” Thus instructing, the son assumed the shape of a horse and stood before his father neighing most melodiously. The father was extremely delighted at the beauty of the horse, which was no other except his own son, and as instructed took him to the tank side. The merchant's son came, and as prophesied already, promised to offer pagodas one thousand for it. So he took the seller with his horse to Dhanapala Setti his father.

Now, it unfortunately happened, that the Brâhman master who instructed the transferred prince, was sitting by the side of the merchant. He, as soon as he saw the horse, fully concluded within himself that it was no other than the trickish disciple of his who had overpowered him by his own art. And he now devised plans to kill him by some tricks, and with this epil desire spoke to