Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/138

130 I rose at your approach." Then the Queen addressed him and said, "I also have come to see you, for I have no children." The fakir answered her, "You shall certainly conceive and have a son, but your son's mother will always be crying, even as the mother of your step-sons was always crying."

By this time the Prince Rasálu was fast growing up. He was remarkably strong and agile for his years, and skilled in all warlike exercises. But there was one amusement which he was fond of indulging in, and that was shooting marbles from the pellet-bow. He used to watch for the women as they returned from the well bearing on their heads full chatties of water, and, shooting his hard pellets from the walls of the palace with an unerring aim, he would break the chatties into atoms, and laugh gaily when he saw the released water pouring down in floods over their shoulders. At last his victims made complaint to the Queen, and the Queen complained to the King, and, as the Prince had been warned again and again to no purpose, she proposed his banishment. But the King answered, "One son of mine I dismissed into exile before, for which I shall be for ever sorry. See, here is my treasury, take money sufficient for the purpose, and let vessels of brass be made for the women who draw the water." Moreover, he again laid his commands upon his son.

So the women were all provided with vessels of brass. But when the Prince perceived that, he cast his pellets of iron, and his strength was such that he could drive a bullet right through the brazen vessels even when charged with water.

As it was not possible that this should be permitted to continue, complaint was made, and his banishment was proposed once more. But the King said, "This is my only son; he must not be sent away. I therefore order that wells be made in every enclosure, so that the women may draw their water undisturbed."

So numerous wells were constructed in accordance with the King's directions. But the Prince, who was quite determined to pursue his favourite amusement, ascended to the top of a high hill, which commanded every walled enclosure in the town, and from this 'vantage-ground he continued to discharge his artillery at the brazen chatties.

Then again the King was importuned to send away his rebellious son; but he answered, "One son I expelled, and sorrow will for ever be mine. If now I expel Rasálu also life will surely be insupportable; yet the laws must be obeyed." Then he summoned his ministers, and