“After the defeat and death of Anantavarma, an old and faithful minister escaped with the queen and her two children, this boy and his elder sister Manjuvadini, together with a few faithful followers, including myself; and though the old minister was taken ill and died on the road, the rest arrived safely at Mahishmati, where the queen was well received by the king Amittravarma, a half-brother of her husband, and where she devoted herself to the education of her son, hoping that he might one day recover his father’s kingdom.

“After a time, however, that king sought to marry his brother’s widow; and, having been rejected by her, determined to take revenge by killing her son.

“The queen, having discovered his intentions, sent for me, and said:  ’My life is wrapped up in this boy; I can endure any thing, so long as he is safe; take him and make your escape at once; I know not where to send you, but if you can find a safe refuge, let me know, and I will come to you, if possible.’

“In obedience to her commands, I took the boy, succeeded in escaping with him, and reached a shepherd’s hut on the borders of this forest.  There we stayed a few days till I saw a man whom I suspected to be searching for us.  Fearing discovery, I left the cottage, and entered the forest.  Here, while trying to get water to quench the poor child’s burning thirst, I slipped into the well, where I should have perished but for your timely assistance; and now, having done us this kindness, will you add to it by protecting the boy, and helping us to reach a place of safety?”

“Who was his mother,” I asked.  “Of what family was she?”

“She is the daughter of the King of Oude,” he answered, “and her mother was Sagaradatta, daughter of Vaisravana, a merchant of Pataliputra.”

“If so,” I replied, “she and my father are cousins by the mother’s side; this boy is therefore my relation, and has a right to my protection.”

The old man was much pleased at hearing this, and I promised not only to protect the boy, but to contrive some means for reinstating him in his proper position, and overcoming that wicked King of Asmaka with cunning equal to his own.

For the present, however, the most needful thing was to procure food.  While I was considering how to obtain this, two deer passed, pursued by a forester, who shot three arrows and missed them, and, in despair, let fall his bow and two remaining arrows.  Hastily snatching up these, I discharged the arrows in rapid succession, and killed both the deer; one of them I gave to the hunter, the other I prepared, and roasted a part of it for ourselves.

The forester was astonished by my skill, and delighted at the acquisition of so much food; and it occurred to me that I might get some information from him.  I asked him therefore:  “Do you know anything of what is going on at Mahishmati?”

“I was there early this morning,” he answered, “for I had a tiger skin and other skins to sell, and great festivities were in preparation; the Prince Prachandavarma, the king’s younger brother, is about to marry the Princess Manjuvadini, and the rejoicings are on this account.”