320 CRADLB TALE^ OF HINDUISM
What would he do f Which side would he take ? But a moment before it had seemed as if, with Draupadi's help, he might break the spell of disaster that Duryodhana's licence was about to cast over the royal house. Now the shadow of evil, bringing woe behind it, threatened to enwrap them all again. Where, and on which side, would the King be found?
Alas, overborne by his son's impetuosity, Dritarashtra nodded consent. Yudisthira accepted the challenge, and the fatal dice were once more thrown and lost!
The Pandava princes saluted the King, and turned to go. " But," said Dritarashtra, raising a warning hand to detain them, and speaking loudly in the hearing of all the nobles present,
- But, — if my son fail to discover your hiding-
place, then, on the day that ends the thirteen years, know, O Heroes, that yours is the right to return to your home and to your empire, free men and princes as but yesterday ye came forth."
Duryodhana and the little group of lawless courtiers gathered round him, bit their lips in anger at what they considered his father's needless generosity. But the promise was already spoken, and could not be recalled. The five knights were gone. And in her distant chamber Pritha was saying farewell to her sons for thirteen years.
These scenes also passed before the eyes of Bhishma, He remembered all.
