ong before betrothed her to the son of
the neighbouring rajah of Dilaram, but as yet she had not been married
to him, and lived the quiet life proper to a maiden of her beauty and
position. The princess had of course heard of the holy man and of his
miracles and his fastings, and she was filled with curiosity to see and
to speak to him; but this was difficult, since she was not allowed to go
out except into the palace grounds, and then was always closely guarded.
However, at length she found an opportunity, and made her way one
evening alone to the hermit's shrine.

Unhappily, the hermit was not really as holy as he seemed; for no sooner
did he see the princess than he fell in love with her wonderful beauty,
and began to plot in his heart how he could win her for his wife. But
the maiden was not only beautiful, she was also shrewd; and as soon as
she read in the glance of the jogi the love that filled his soul, she
sprang to her feet, and, gathering her veil about her, ran from the
place as fast as she could. The jogi tried to follow, but he was no
match for her; so, beside himself with rage at finding that he could not
overtake her, he flung at her a lance, which wounded her in the leg. The
brave princess stooped for a second to pluck the lance out of the wound,
and then ran on until she found herself safe at home again. There she
bathed and bound up the wound secretly, and told no one how naughty she
had been, for she knew that her father would punish her severely.

Next day, when the king went to visit the jogi, the holy man would
neither speak to nor look at him.

'What is the matter?' asked the king. 'Won't you speak to me to-day?'

'I have nothing to say that you would care to hear,' answered the jogi.

'Why?' said the king. 'Surely you know that I value all that you say,
whatever it may be.'

[Illustration: UNHAPPILY the Hermit was not really as HOLY as he
seemed]

But still the jogi sat with his face turned away, and the more the
king pressed him the more silent and mysterious he became. At last,
after much persuasion, he said:

'Let me tell you, then, that there is in this city a creature which, if
you do not put an end to it, will kill every single person in the
place.'

The king, who was easily frightened, grew pale.

'What,' he gasped--'what is this dreadful thing? How am I to know it and
to catch it? Only counsel me and help me, and I will do all that you
advise.'

'Ah!' replied the jogi, 'it