Page:Vikram and the vampire; or, Tales of Hindu devilry (IA vikramvampireort00burtrich).pdf/366

 Pariah, 'but thou speakest truth. Certainly such a soft and delicate foot cannot belong to anyone but a woman.'

'They have only just left the track,' shall continue the son, 'and look! this is the step of a married woman. See how she treads on the inside of her sole, because of the bending of her ankles.' And the younger white outcaste shall point to the queen's footprints.

'Come, let us search the forest for them,' shall cry the father, 'what an opportunity of finding wives fortune has thrown in our hands. But no! thou art in error,' he shall continue, after examining the track pointed out by his son, 'in supposing this to be the sign of a matron. Look at the other, it is much longer; the toes have scarcely touched the ground, whereas the marks of the heels are deep. Of a truth this must be the married woman.' And the elder white outcaste shall point to the footprints of the princess.

'Then,' shall reply the son, who admires the shorter foot, 'let us first seek them, and when we find them, give to me her who has the short feet, and take the other to wife thyself.'

Having made this agreement they shall proceed on their way, and presently they shall find the women lying on the earth, half dead with fatigue and fear. Their legs and feet are scratched and torn by brambles, their ornaments have fallen off, and their