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14 When the stipulated three days' rule was over, the King returned with his family to claim his kingdom, but the so-called holy man, loath to part with the sceptre so soon, thus addressed himself to the King: "O generous Prince! I have tasted of the sweets of power, but my three days' rule has expired too soon. Do thou let me continue to reign for thee over thy kingdom just a little longer."

"A holy man," thought the King to himself, "knows the Scriptures, and this man appears to be one, so he may well be trusted to hold the sceptre for me, for his rule is bound to be just and righteous."

Thus musing, the King consented to part with the sceptre a little longer in favour of the new ruler, and so away he went again with his wife and children, out of his kingdom.

The King and his family travelled from place to place, not knowing where to go, and journeyed on and on until, overcome with hunger and thirst, they came at last to a jungle. Here the King gathered together a few wild fruits and sweet, juicy roots for his wife and children, and with these they somehow appeased their hunger and thirst.

Thus refreshed, the party again resumed their journey, until at nightfall they were obliged to seek shelter at a way-side inn.

Here there happened to be at the time several travellers, and among them a merchant. The latter had secretly trafficked in human flesh, and, as he gazed with wonder upon the charms of the Queen, he at once realized what a nice little fortune there lay in them, could he get hold of her and sell her to someone as a bride.