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28
OLD DECCAN DAYS.

will be there; but do not play it in the towns, nor yet amid a crowd.' Then Seventee Bai put the flute in the folds of her dress, and she bade farewell to Hera Bai and went away.

When she came back to the Malee's cottage, the Malee's wife said to her, 'We became alarmed about you, sir; for two days we have seen nothing of you; and we thought you must have gone away. Where have you been so long?' Seventee Bai answered, 'I had business of my own in the Bazaar' (for she did not choose to tell the Malee's wife that she had been under the lake); 'now go and inquire what time your Rajah's Wuzeer can give a stranger audience, for I must see him before I leave this city.' So the Malee's wife went; and whilst she was gone, Seventee Bai returned to the edge of the lake, and there reverently burnt the cobra's body, both for the sake of Hera Bai, and because the cobra is a sacred animal. Next day (the Malee's wife having brought a favourable answer from the palace), Seventee Bai went to see the Wuzeer. Now the Wuzeer wondered much why she came to see him, and he said, 'Who are you, and what is your errand?' Whereupon she answered, 'I am Seventee Rajah. I am going a long journey on my own Rajah's account, and happening to be passing through this city, I came to pay you a friendly visit.' Then the Wuzeer became quite cordial, and talked with Seventee Bai about the country, and the city, and the Rajah and his wonderful dream. And Seventee Bai said, 'What do you suppose your Rajah would give to any one who could show him this tree of which he has so often dreamed?' The Wuzeer replied, 'He would certainly give him his daughter in marriage, and the half of his kingdom.' 'Very well,' said Seventee Bai, 'tell your master, that upon these conditions, if he likes to send for me, I will show him the tree; he may look at it for one night, but he cannot have it for his own.'

The Wuzeer took the message to the Rajah, and next day the Wuzeer, the Sirdars, and all the great men of the Court, went in state by the Rajah's order to the Malee's hut, to say that he was willing to grant Seventee Rajah's demands, and would like to see the tree that very night. Seventee Bai thereupon promised the Wuzeer that if the Rajah would come with his Court, he should see the reality of his dream. Then she went into the jungle and played on her little flute, and Hera Bai immediately appeared as she had seen her before, swinging in the silver tree; and when she heard what Seventee Bai wanted, she bade her bring the Rajah, who should see it without fail.