Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/349

Rh who could not turn back his horse, but the horse would go along with them. The groom, on seeing Gâmini, said: " Uncle Gâmini, just hit this horse with something or other, and turn it back." He picked up a stone and threw (it at the horse). The stone struck the horse on the foot, and broke it in two, just as if it were the stem of a castor-oil plant. Then the groom laid hold of him, saying, "You have broken my horse's foot; here's a king's messenger for you."

As he (Gâmini) was being led off by three men, he thought to himself—"These people will bring me before the king, and I shall not be able to pay the value even of the bullocks, let alone the fine for causing a miscarriage. How, then, shall I be able to pay for the horse? It were better for me that I were dead!" Going along, he saw on his way, in a wood near the road, a hill with a precipice on one side. Under the shade of that hill two basket-makers, father and son, were weaving a mat. Said Gâmini: "I wish to perform here a necessary duty. Just wait here awhile until I return." Then up the hill he went, but, falling down the steep side, he came on to the back of the elder basket-maker, who by the single blow was immediately killed. Gâmini got up and stood stock still. The younger basket-maker said, "You thief, you are the murderer of my father; here's a king's messenger for you," and, laying hold of his hands, he went out of the thicket (where Gâmini had fallen) with him. And when the others asked the reason he replied, "This ruffian is my father's murderer." After this, the four persons put Gâmini in the middle, and led him off under a close guard. After a time they came to the entrance of another village, and when the head-man of the village saw him, he said: "Uncle Gâmini, where are going?"

"To see the king," he answered. "You will certainly see the king," said the head-man, "and I want to send a message to the king. Will you take it?" "Yes, I'll take it for you." "I used to be handsome, rich, honoured, and healthy; but now I am very poor, and a leper, too. Ask the king what's the cause of this. They say he is a wise king, so he will tell you. Perhaps you'll come back and report his answer to me." "I'll do so," said the other. Then, as he was going forward, a courtesan, at the entrance of another village, saw him, and said: "Uncle Gâmini, where are you going?" "To