Page:Vikram and the vampire; or, Tales of Hindu devilry (IA vikramvampireort00burtrich).pdf/236

 upon the stony hills. And thinking over these things, the gallant and beautiful thief laughed aloud.

'Before returning to my siras-tree,' continued the Vampire, 'as I am about to do in virtue of your majesty's unintelligent reply, I may remark that men may laugh and cry, or may cry and laugh, about everything in this world, from their neighbours' deaths, which, as a general rule, in no wise concerns them, to their own latter ends, which do concern them exceedingly. For my part, I am in the habit



of laughing at everything, because it animates the brain, stimulates the lungs, beautifies the countenance, and — for the moment, good-bye, Raja Vikram!'

The warrior king, being forewarned this time, shifted the bundle containing the Baital from his back to under his arm, where he pressed it with all his might.