284 ORADLE TALES OF HINDUISM
sessed with the spirit of law and justice. Every day brought its problems and difficulties to him, and he often felt weak and ignorant in deciding matters that needed wisdom and strength. ** If sitting on the mound brings it to the shepherd boy," he thought, '< let us dig deep and find the Judgment-Seat. I shall put it in the chief place in my hall of audience, and on it I shall sit to hear all cases. Then the spirit of Vikramaditya will descend on me also, and I shall always be a just judge ! "
So men with spades and tools came to disturb the ancient peace of the pastures, and the grassy knoll where the boys had played was overturned. All about the spot were now heaps of earth and broken wood and upturned sod. And the cows had to be driven further afield. But the heart of the boy who had been judge was sorrowful, as if the very home of his soul were being taken away from him.
At last the labourers came on something. They uncovered it — a slab of black marble, supported on the hands and outspread wings of twenty-five stone angels, with their faces turned outwards as if for Eight—surely the Judgment-Seat of Vikramaditya,
With great rejoicing it was brought to the city, and the King himself stood by while it was put in the chief place in the hall of justice. Then the
