childish freak, and permitted her to act in her own way. She had finished cooking and serving the meal, when she heard her lover's flute, as if saying:—
"O princess! how long wilt thou be sleeping? It is midnight, hasten or the morning star will rise, and our plans be foiled."
But as yet she could not go out, for the sentinels were still awake. It was midnight, and the flute was heard again:—
"Ye stars and trees, witness that I am waiting for my sweetheart, and that she is delaying. Oh that she may not forget her promise!"
Then at the beginning of the fourth watch of the night, when the flute sounded once more, Pushpamala changed her clothes, tied her jewels in a bundle, and whispered to herself, "Stay, stay, my friend, stay a little while for this unfortunate maiden. In the first watch of the night I cooked the night-meal; in the second I served it out; during the third the guards were awake; and now the fourth has come and I step out to meet thee. Little canst thou conceive my feelings on leaving my parents! They will weep themselves blind at my absence; and just as the cow lows for her young calf, so will their souls cry after me."
Then the longed-for meeting took place, but the lovers did not at once proceed on their journey. The kotál's son, seeing that the dawn was not far off, induced the princess to take him into the royal armoury and stables, where he selected two good swords and two winged horses for himself and his betrothed. Then, disguised as two soldiers, they started with the speed of an arrow, and on the fourth day, in the evening, reached a grand mansion, which was the habitation of a dacoit[1] king, his old mother, and six brothers. The brothers were out on a plundering expedition, leaving their mother at home. She saw the two riders approaching the gate, and instantly accosted them, saying, "My children, my people are out, and I am here alone. Make yourselves, however, quite at home." After that she placed before them some oil to be rubbed on their bodies in
- ↑ Robber.
