7.  Do yon think Hari-Sarman was wise to treat his wife and the merchant as he did?

8.  If the mare had been found whilst Hari-Sarman was talking to the master, what effect do you think the discovery would have had upon them both?

CHAPTER V

Hari-Sarman now thought it was time to take a different tone.  So he put his hand in his pocket, and brought out a map he had got ready whilst waiting to be sent for, as he had felt sure he would be.  He spread it out before the merchant, and pointed to a dark spot in the midst of many lines crossing each other in a bewildering manner, which he explained were pathways through the forest.  “Under a tree, where that dark spot is, you will find the mare,” he said.

Overjoyed at the good news, the merchant at once sent a trusted servant to test the truth; and when the mare was brought back, nothing seemed too good for the man who had led to her recovery.  At the wedding festivities Hari-Sarman was treated as an honoured guest, and no longer had he any need to complain of not having food enough.  His wife of course thought he would forgive her now for having neglected him.  But not a bit of it:  he still sulked with her, and she could never feel quite sure what the truth was about the mare.

All went well with Hari-Sarman for a long time.  But presently something happened which seemed likely to get him into very great trouble.  A quantity of gold and many valuable jewels disappeared in the palace of the king of the country; and when the thief could not be discovered, some one told the king the story of the stolen mare, and how a man called Hari-Sarman, living in the house of a rich merchant in the chief city, had found her when everyone else had failed.

“Fetch that man here at once,” ordered the king, and very soon Hari-Sarman was brought before him.  “I hear you are so wise, you can reveal all secrets,” said the king.  “Now tell me immediately who has stolen the gold and jewels and where they are to be found.”

Poor Hari-Sarman did not know what to say or do.  “Give me till to-morrow,” he replied in a faltering voice; “I must have a little time to think.”

“I will not give you a single hour,” answered the king.  For seeing the man before him was frightened, he began to suspect he was a deceiver.  “If you do not at once tell me where the gold and jewels are, I will have you flogged until you find your tongue.”

Hearing this, Hari-Sarman, though more terrified than ever, saw that his only chance of gaining time to make up some story was to get the king to believe in him.  So he drew himself up and answered:  “The wisest magicians need to employ means to find out the truth.  Give me twenty-four hours, and I will name the thieves.”

“You are not much of a magician if you cannot find out such a simple thing as I ask of you,” said the king.  And turning to the guards, he ordered them to take Hari-Sarman to prison, and shut him up there without food or drink till he came to his senses.  The man was dragged away, and very soon he found himself alone in a dark and gloomy room from which he saw no hope of escape.