Page:The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 4-1875.djvu/270

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ANṚAN and Guja were brothers; of those two Kanṛan was the elder. They used to go every day to the jungles for the purpose of digging up roots, on which they subsisted.

One day Kanṛan said to his brother, "Look at the sun and tell me how high up he is." Guja having mounted a tall tree looked over the tops of the other trees in the jungle, and perceived one of the heavenly bodies setting, and in the opposite direction another rising: from this he concluded that it was drawing towards evening.

They again set to work and dug up a quantity of roots. In thus doing they soon became very weary. Suddenly the thought struck them, "We have dug up the roots, but where is the fire by which to cook them?" Kanṛan then said to his brother, "We are in a fix; what shall we do?" The younger brother again mounted a high tree and took a good look round, to see if he could discover any signs of a fire in the distance. After some time ho saw a slight glimmering of light.

Descending quickly from the tree, he said to his brother, "I see a light shining in the distance." Then, tying up their roots, they immediately set off in that direction. With great difficulty they reached the spot, and discovered that it was a fire burning before a cave. Going nearer, they saw that the cave was a tiger's lair, and saw a large tiger inside. Calling to the animal, Kanṛan said, "Uncle, is any one at home?" The tiger replied, "Yes, nephews, I am here; come in and sit down, I have killed a fat ox and am now eating him." They said, "We have been busy all day digging up roots, but are unable to cook them for want of a fire."

The tiger, after having finished his repast, came outside the cave, and the three seated themselves around the fire. The brothers then roasted their roots and asked the tiger whether he would not join them in their supper. Taking some pieces of charcoal from the fire, they handed them to the tiger, keeping the roasted roots for themselves. The tiger remarked, "I can't manage to eat these without a great deal of crunching, but you seem to eat them as if they were quite soft." The brothers answered, "We picked out those that were well baked for you, and are contenting ourselves with the half-cooked roots." Having finished supper, they proposed asking one another riddles. The tiger said, "Can you tell me the meaning of this—One I will eat for breakfast, and another like it for supper?" The brothers, hearing this, felt sure it was something connected with them, but, pretending not to understand, they replied, "O uncle, we cannot tell. As you have puzzled us, we will also try and do the same to you—One will twist the tail, the other will wring the ear." The tiger also perceived that this was said with regard to him, and in great terror was about to make his escape, when Kanṛan seized his tail, which in the ensuing struggle was twisted off. This the brothers roasted, and found it a delicious morsel. As the tiger was escaping, the brothers said to each other, "If he goes to the river, we shall not be able to follow him, but if to the hills we shall be able easily to secure him." The tiger, overhearing this conversation, fled towards the river. This was exactly what the brothers wished, for they knew that if the tiger escaped to the jungle they would be unable to overtake him.

On the following day they set out in the direction of the river. Following the footprints of the tiger, they found him in a small patch of jungle close to the water. They concerted a plan, namely, that Kanṛan should hide behind a tree, while Guja drove the animal in that direction. Being thus driven from his hiding- place, the tiger was caught by the lier-in-wait, and was beaten to death by the brothers, as they supposed. They tied his legs to a pole and were carrying him to their home, when they perceived that he occasionally opened his eyes. Putting him down they again beat him till they thought ho was dead. After carrying him a little further they noticed that he still opened his eyes. Giving him another severe beating they concluded that he must be now dead. But finding they were again mistaken