THE BOY MINSTREL
I cherish for her; the time is gone, Prince, when the love of woman could chain me."
"Thou speakest sadly, Norendra, for so young a soldier. But it is growing late, nor would I again try to probe thy secret. We part to-night and perhaps may never meet again, for I go to Bikanir and thou goest to Bengal. Accept the friendship of an honest Rajput who will ever think of thee with respect and esteem."
Norendra accompanied his distinguished guest to the door of Prithwi Raj's tent, and then returned to his own in silence. Jamshid carried a light to show him his way back.
"Thou art a gifted boy, Jamshid, and hast played better to-night than I ever heard thee play before during these weeks that we have been in Rajasthan. Take this coin and be thou successful in the profession thou hast chosen."
"I am but a strolling minstrel and live on alms. But I accepted no wages from my Rajput Master whose verses I loved to hear, and I will accept none from you, so please you, Master."
"Thou must be strangely enamoured of verses, child, if the love of song is thy wages. Come, then, into my tent, wonderful boy, and play to me again for a while, unless the Prince wants thee. I will repay thee with the songs of my own land, which thou hast not yet heard."
"The Prince will not want me again, for I go not to Bikanir with him. And sleep will not come to me to-night if Master sings the songs of his own land."
273
