Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/145

Rh drum, and, disregarding his kingly dignity, he crept under that, and began to feel himself a little secure.

Rájá Rasálu was meanwhile pacing the hall with impatient strides, waiting for the return of his adversary. At last he could tarry no longer, so, calling his captains, he summoned King Sirikap to appear. But no answer was made to his call. He then began a careful search of the whole of the castle, feeling satisfied that the King could scarcely have passed his guards who were on the watch at every port. When he came to the drum the quick eye of Rasálu detected that it had been recently moved. "Aha," cried he, "the caitiff must be skulking here," and in another moment he dragged the dishonoured monarch forth by the heels. Then he handed him over to his officers. "As he was a king, lodge him," said he, "in his own palace, but guard him well, for at sunrise he must die." Then turning to Sirikap he spurned him, saying, "O villain, hundreds of heads you have smitten off in your time with your own hand, and all for pastime, yet you never grieved or shed a tear. And now, when the same fate is to be your own, you sneak away, and hide yourself in a drum."

Some time after this there entered the royal soothsayers, and they, addressing their fallen master, said, "Sir, we have sought for the interpretation of this mystery, why ruin should have visited your house, and we conclude that all this calamity is on account of your infant daughter, whose baneful star has crossed your own. She has come in an evil hour. Let her now be slain, and let her head be thrown into the Indus, and your life will be saved." Sirikap answered, "If my life depends on her, bring me her head, and mine may yet be saved." So a slave-girl was despatched to bring the infant to its father. And as she carried it along from the apartments of the Queen, she said, "O what a pretty child, I should like to save it." Rájá Rasálu overhearing her, said, "Where are you taking that child?" The slave-girl answered, "This is Rájá Sirikap's child, born only this very night. The Brahmin soothsayers have told my master that his child is the cause of all his misfortunes, and that her head is to be taken off to save his own." When Rájá Rasálu looked at the child he loved it, and became very sorrowful, knowing well the power of divination. So he returned, and said, "O Rájá Sirikap, your head shall be spared on certain conditions. First, you must surrender this child princess in betrothal to me. Secondly, you must become my vassal, and pay me an annual tribute. Thirdly, you must consent to