So conversing, the Jackals went away to find Lusty-life the Bull, and upon discovering him, Karataka squatted down with great dignity at the foot of a tree, while Damanaka approached to accost him.

‘Bull,’ said Damanaka, ’I am the warder of this forest under the King Tawny-hide, and Karataka the Jackal there is his General.  The General bids thee come before him, or else instantly depart from the wood.  It were better for thee to obey, for his anger is terrible,’

’Thereupon Lusty-life, knowing nothing of the country customs, advanced at once to Karataka, made the respectful prostration of the eight members, and said timidly, ’My Lord General! what dost thou bid me do?—­

’Strength serves Reason.  Saith the Mahout, when he beats the brazen
drum,
“Ho! ye elephants, to this work must your mightinesses come."’

‘Bull,’ answered Karataka, ’thou canst remain in the wood no longer unless thou goest directly to lay thyself at our Royal master’s imperial feet.’

‘My Lord,’ replied the Bull, ’give me a guarantee of safety, and I will go.’

‘Bull,’ said Karataka, ’thou art foolish; fear nothing—­

“When the King of Chedi cursed him,
Krishna scorned to make reply;
Lions roar the thunder quiet,
Jackals’-yells they let go by.”

Our Lord the King will not vouchsafe his anger to thee; knowest thou not—­

’Mighty natures war with mighty:  when the raging tempests blow,
O’er the green rice harmless pass they, but they lay the palm-trees
low,’

’So the Jackals, keeping Lusty-life in the rear, went towards the palace of King Tawny-hide; where the Rajah received them with much graciousness, and bade them sit down.

‘Have you seen him?’ asked the King.

‘We have seen him, your Majesty,’ answered Damanaka; ’it is quite as your Majesty expected—­the creature has enormous strength, and wishes to see your Majesty.  Will you be seated, Sire, and prepare yourself—­it will never do to appear alarmed at a noise.’

‘Oh, if it was only a noise,’ began the Rajah.

’Ah, but the cause, Sire! that was what had to be found out; like the secret of Swing-ear the Spirit.’

‘And who might Swing-ear be?’ asked the King.

THE STORY OF THE TERRIBLE BELL

“A goblin, your Majesty,” responded Damanaka, “it seemed so, at least, to the good people of Brahmapoora.  A thief had stolen a bell from the city, and was making off with that plunder, and more, into the Sri-parvata hills, when he was killed by a tiger.  The bell lay in the jungle till some monkeys picked it up, and amused themselves by constantly ringing it.  The townspeople found the bones of the man, and heard the noise of the bell all about the hills; so they gave out that there was a terrible devil there, whose ears rang like bells as he swung them about, and whose delight was to devour men.  Every one, accordingly, was leaving the town, when a peasant woman named Karala, who liked belief the better for a little proof, came to the Rajah.