of their adventure, and the two, leaving the Ogre's body behind them, proceeded forthwith to the capital of the country, where the King's palace was situated.
On arriving at the capital Baki decided to hire a small house, where he could lodge the young lady and change his own dress before proceeding to pay his respects to the King; so having taken a house in the suburbs, he left the lady there while he went out himself into the streets to hear the news. He soon found out that during his absence the King had announced his intention of marrying Baki's mother, and the poor lady, now that she had no son to protect her, had protested in vain, saying that she was already the wife of another. Baki was very indignant when he heard of this treacherous conduct on the part of the King, and determined to foil his plans. So returning to the young lady, he related to her all that he had heard.
"Do not be anxious," said she. "If you will follow my advice I will show you how you may yet get the better of the King,"
And she forthwith instructed him in certain magic spells, which she had learned from the Ogre.
Armed with these, Baki proceeded at once to the palace. When he arrived in the courtyard he sat himself down upon the King's mounting-block, and muttering the necessary spell, he was at once transformed into a large cowrie-shell. After lying on the mounting-block for some time it chanced that one of the grooms of the palace passed by, and, seeing the shell, he paused to look at it, and remarked to himself:
