deep-booming noise which they made. [8]

At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included,
prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. She first
blessed the serpent--maidens from Patala and then the wood-nymphs. And
then she blessed the poor old woman's son and said, "You will get half
the kingdom of Atpat and half the king's treasure. He will build you a
house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of 'Navalvat'
or 'Wonderways.' For this very morning the king's mighty enemy will
break his neck and be found lying dead in the king's courtyard,"
With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and
the old woman's son went home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up
and went into the king's courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar
lying dead from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back
into the palace to tell the king. The king inquired who had killed
Nandanbaneshwar. Every one said that the old woman's son must have
killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home. The
king sent for the old woman's son. He was very frightened, and when
he reached the royal hall he called out, "I have made no false charge
against any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King,
have you sent for me?" "Do not be afraid," said the king. "My enemy
Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed
him. Tell me if this is true." "No, O King," said the boy, "he was
killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi." "Where did you meet her?" asked the
king. The boy said, "I stayed when the other villagers returned home,
and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patala and the
wood-nymphs. They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning
she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be
found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half
your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own,
and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways." The king did as
the goddess had foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his
treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof
was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace.

When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for
Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told
her all that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patala do, and
he also told her on the eighth day of the