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THE ENCHANTED PARROT


husband's nose." After a time her husband let her out again, and the first person she chanced to meet was the admirer whom she had lately met when she was travelling with her husband. So she called out to him and said: " Come and see me this evening, and we will sit under the tamarind tree in the courtyard." He was very glad to come, and in due course put in an appearance, and found rest and refreshment provided for him under the tamarind tree. As soon as he was comfortably settled she sent for her husband, and he came with his bow and arrows. " You, my dear husband," she said, " are a famous shot ! You are a mighty hero ! Your skill and prowess is the common talk of the whole earth ! I wish you would just lop a bit off the moonlight for me."

The Râjaputra, who really was a great fool, took his bow and aimed at a streak of moonlight, and missed his mark; at this she clapped her hands and laughed. When he heard her jeers at his clumsiness he tried to find another arrow but failed, and while he was fumbling in the dark she cried out and said: " You fool ! I have carried out my intention, and I have brought my admirer right into the middle of your house. You are a good shot, but this time you are unlucky. Now I am off, so good- bye to you." So saying she mounted a horse and