ld not be tempted by millions. He would not release the
thief who stole everything, whom he had captured at the risk of his
life. So the father returned home sadly. And the girl, not heeding the
arguments of her relatives, took a bath, entered a litter, and went to
the death-scene of the rogue, to die with him. Her parents and her
relatives followed her, weeping.

At that moment the executioners impaled the thief. As his life ebbed
away, he saw the girl and the people with her, and learned her story.
Then the tears rolled down his cheeks, but he died with a smile on his
lips.

The faithful girl took the thief's body from the stake, and mounted the
pyre to burn herself. But the blessed god Shiva was staying invisibly
in the cemetery, and at that moment he spoke from the sky: "O faithful
wife, I am pleased with your constancy to the husband of your choice.
Choose whatever boon you will from me."

The girl worshipped the gracious god and chose her boon: "O blessed
one, my father has no son. May he have a hundred. Otherwise his
childless life would end when I am gone."

And the god spoke again from the sky: "O faithful wife, your father
shall have a hundred sons. But choose another boon. A woman faithful as
you are deserves more than the little thing you asked."

Then she said: "O god, if I have won your favour, may this my husband
live and always be a good man."

The invisible Shiva spoke from the sky: "So be it. Your husband shall
be made alive and well. He shall be a good man, and King Hero-banner
shall be pleased with him."

Then the thief arose at once, alive and well. And the merchant Jewel
was overjoyed and astonished. He took Pearl and the thief, his
son-in-law, went home with his rejoicing relatives, and made a feast
great as his own delight, in honour of the sons he was to have.

And the king was pleased when he learned the story, and in recognition
of the stupendous courage of the thief, he appointed him general at
once. The thief reformed, married the merchant's daughter, and lived
happily with her, devoted to virtue.

When the goblin had told this story, he reminded the king of the curse,
and said: "O king, when the thief on the stake saw the merchant's
daughter approaching with her father, did he weep or laugh? Tell me."

And the king answered: "He thought: I can make no return to this
merchant for his unselfish friendship.' Therefore he wept from grief.
And he also thought: Why does this girl