Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/305

Rh the kitten keeping watch, was afraid. So Rasalu won the second stake, and took back Bhanur, the Arab steed.

Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game, saying:

"Oh, molded pieces! Favor me to-day! Forsooth this is a man with whom I play. No paltry risk—but life and death at stake; As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!"

But Rasalu answered back:

"Oh, molded pieces! Favor me to-day! Forsooth it [sic] is a man with whom I play. No paltry risk—but life and death at stake; As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!"

So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and the kitten watched Dhol Rajah, from the window. Then Sarkap lost, first his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.

Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to Rajah Sarkap,