JUDGMENT-SEAT OF VIKRAMADITYa
Indian people call twilight, cowdust, ** the hour of cowdust," It is a very peaceful, a very lovely moment. All about the village can be heard the sound of the children playing. The men are seated, talking, round the foot of some old tree, and the women are gossiping or praying in their houses.
To-morrow, before dawn, all will be up and hard at work again, but this is the time of rest and joy.
Such was the life of the shepherd boys in the villages about Ujjain. There were many of them, and in the long days on the pastures they had plenty of time for fun. One day they found a playground. Oh, how delightful it was 1 The ground under the trees was rough and uneven. Here and there the end of a great stone peeped out, and many of these stones were beautifully carven. In the middle was a green mound, look- ing just like a judge's seat.
One of the boys thought so at least, and he ran forward with a whoop and seated himself on it.
- I say, boys," he cried, " I'll be judge and you
can all bring cases before me, and we'll have trials 1 " Then he straightened his face, and be- came very grave, to act the part of judge.
The others saw the fun at once, and, whispering amongst themselves, quickly made up some quarrel, and appeared before him, saying very humbly,
