Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/142

134 So ended Rájá Rasálu's battle with the famous giants of Gangar, and if you ask the peasants for proofs of the story they will shew you, scattered about the country, Rájá Rasálu's arrows, which still stand where they fell.

News was once brought to King Rasálu that at Kôt Bhitaur on the Indus lived a certain Rájá, Sirikap by name, who was notorious for his ferocity, and renowned for his skill in chess-playing. King Sirikap only played with those who would accept his conditions, which were these. In the first game the wager was to be horse, clothes, and lands. In the second game the wager was to be the loser's head. King Rasálu, who could nor bear the thought of a rival in anything, resolved to visit him. So he called his captains together, and said "I am going to try my luck against King Sirikap. But if I lose the game and forfeit my head, say, what will you, my followers, do?" One of his officers answered, "You may lose the game, and you may lose your head, King, but one thing is certain, if you lose your head the head of Rájá Sirikap will be forfeited too. Of this he shall be certified."

Then the King mounted his horse, and rode to Kôt Bhitaur, the castle of the "handsome" Sirikap the Beheader. King Sirikap welcomed his brother King with every demonstration of affection, and conducted him into his palace. "O youth," said he, "you must have come from a long distance. What is the purpose of your visit?" "My kingdom is Siálkot," answered Rasálu. "Your fame as a chess-player kindled my ambition, and I have come to play with you; only, as I am now fatigued, let us play, if it please you, to-night." To this Sirikap agreed, and King Rasálu, having refreshed himself, descended from the mountain-rock, on which stood the castle, and walked to the bank of the river. There he saw struggling in the water some small clusters of ants which were being washed away, and, stooping down, he saved them. Then he saw a drowning hedgehog, and, being a humane man, he saved it also, and one of his attendants begged for it to amuse the servants in the castle above. Going a few