How Dhanamittra has performed his part you have just seen.  As to myself, I put on a dress suitable for the occasion, and, as many persons were going in and out of the palace, managed to slip in unobserved and get very near the intending bridegroom.  Suddenly stretching out my arm as he was about to take the hand of the princess, I gave him a mortal wound with a sword; then saying a few hasty words of encouragement to her, I defended myself against those who endeavoured to seize me, till I heard your welcome voice, deep as the sound of thunder, and had the happiness of embracing you.

Rajavahana, having heard this story, said “You have indeed shown wonderful ingenuity and courage;” then he turned to Upaharavarma, and said:  “It is now your turn;” and he, having made due salutation, thus began:—­

* * * * *

ADVENTURES OF UPAHARAVARMA.

While wandering about like the others, I cams one day into the country of Videha.  Before entering into Mithila, the capital, I stopped to rest at a small temple, and found there an old woman, who gave me water for my feet.

Observing that she looked at me very hard, and that tears came into her eyes, I asked her:  “O, mother, what is the cause of your grief?”

“You bring to my mind,” she answered, the remembrance of my lost foster-child, who, if he lives, is just about your age.  But I will tell you how he was lost.

“Praharavarma was formerly king of this country.  His queen was a very dear friend of Vasumati; wife of Rajahansa, King of Magadha, and he went with her and his twin sons to visit that king.  How he was conquered and driven from his dominions by the King of Malwa you have doubtless heard.  It was shortly before that invasion that the visit was made.  In the battle which was fought, Praharavarma assisted his friend, and was taken prisoner, but was subsequently liberated.

“When returning to his own kingdom, he heard that a rebellion had broken out, headed by his brother’s son, Vikatavarma.  He therefore turned aside through a forest road, in the direction of Suhma, hoping to obtain assistance from his sister’s son, the king of that country.  On the march, he was attacked and plundered by Bheels; and I, having charge of one of his children, was separated from the party, and left behind in the forest.

“There I was attacked, by a tiger, and dropped the child.  The tiger was killed by an arrow; but I fainted away, and when I recovered, the child was gone, taken away, I suppose, by the Bheels.  Having been found and taken care of by a compassionate cowherd, I stayed at his cottage till my wounds were healed.

“Longing to get back to my friends, and to hear some tidings of my mistress, I was surprised one day by the appearance of my daughter, who had been, with me, in charge of the other child.