Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/151

Rh This speech of the mina enraged the Queen still more, so much so, indeed, that she instantly rose from the caresses of her lover, and, running to the cage, seized the unfortunate bird, and wrung off its neck. But the cunning parrot gazing at her friend's quivering body, said, "Ah, you silly chatterer, you have just met your deserts!"

The next day, on the arrival of Rájá Hodi, when Queen Koklán entered the room, the parrot said to her, "Queen, this stranger is here again, and the King, my master, may return unexpectedly. If you will loose me, I will sit in the mangoe-tree and keep watch." This proposal pleased her, and she opened the door of the cage for the bird to go forth. So the parrot flew up into the mangoe-tree, and thence she escaped to the jungle, and after a long search she found her dear master, and reported to him that disgraceful doings were going on at Ránithrod. "Come home at once," cried she, "and you will catch the thief before he departs." Nor was the King long in following her counsel. Abandoning his game he hastened to his betrayed home, but only arrived at the mangoe-trees as Rájá Hodi was descending. Still he was in ample time to prevent his escape. First of all he looked up to the battlements to see if the Ráni was visible. She was not. Then addressing Rájá Hodi whose clothing sufficiently indicated his rank, he said, "Sir, as a thief you have been coming to my palace for some days. Now prepare for combat!" Rájá Hodi answered, "Alas, I have neither bow nor weapon of any sort. Will you strike a defenceless man?" Then said Rájá Rasálu, "Among Rájputs there is a custom which you shall now learn. Here take my bow. Take also these arrows. See, I have measured out fifty paces. Now do you shoot your arrows at me." Saying thus Rasálu drew his sword and stood on the defensive. It was only with difficulty that Rájá Hodi could bend the bow of his mightier rival, but consternation filled his mind when he saw his adversary meet with his sword each arrow which he launched, and strike it in shivers to the ground. Then the two monarchs changed their weapons and prepared for the next scene of the tragedy. At first Rájá Rasálu, in order to test his adversary's nerve, grimly made a feint of shooting. Immediately the quaking coward slipped behind the mangoe-tree. "Ha," cried Rájá Rasálu, "You are behind the mangoe-tree, are you? Look out, the arrow is coming!" Drawing the bow to its utmost tension, he let fly the messenger of death, which pierced the trunk of the tree, and