who called upon her to throw the babe to him, saying, "For seven days I have been fasting; give me the child and I will break my fast. You will have many other children in time, and it will be an act of piety if you now give me a meal."
"This is not my son, but my husband," replied Malancha. "Of what use to you will be this small bit of flesh? It will be like a blade of grass given to an elephant for food. Spare this poor infant, and eat me."
To which the tiger replied in surprise, "What! this is your husband? I will eat neither of you. Tell me what has brought you hither?"
Malancha thereupon told the tiger her history, on hearing which he exclaimed, "Mother! I stand as your protector. I will build a hut here for you, and as long as you will remain under my eyes, Death itself will not dare approach you."
"Thank you, tiger," said Malancha gratefully. "Can you tell me where I can get milk for my husband?"
"Milk is very rare here," answered the tiger. "But I will try and get it for you."
So saying, the tiger went on his errand, leaving Malancha crying in great anxiety.
During the tiger's absence, its mate came to the spot and said, "Who is it that is crying for milk in this jungle place? There is no milch cow in this part of the country. I can, however, give you some milk from my breast." Malancha gladly accepted the offer, and the tiger, who soon returned, without having succeeded in obtaining any milk, was delighted at the arrangement.
A hut was built by him for the poor girl, and the boy, who was named Chandramanik,[1] thrived on the milk of the tigress, his playmates being her cubs. Five years passed in this way, when one day Malancha told the tiger that she was weary of her solitary life, and that she had begun to long for human companionship again.
- ↑ Moon-like.
