ams day and night, so that the highway was quite deserted. Only
Hero was at his post as usual by the palace gate. And when the sun set
and dreadful darkness was spread abroad and the rain fell in sheets,
the king wished to test Hero's behaviour. So at night he climbed to the
palace roof and cried: "Who is there at the gate?" And Hero answered:
"I am here." And the king thought: "How steadfast this man Hero is, and
how devoted to me! I must surely give him a greater post." And he
descended from the roof and entered the palace and went to bed.

The next night it rained again in sheets and the world was wrapped in
the darkness of death. And again the king thought to test his
behaviour, and climbing to the roof he called out toward the palace
gate: "Who is there?" And when Hero said: "I am here, your Majesty,"
the king was greatly astonished.

Just then he heard at a distance a sweet-voiced woman crying. And he
thought: "Who is this who laments so piteously, as if in deep despair?
In my kingdom there is no violence, no poor man and none distressed.
Who can she be?" And being merciful, he called to Hero, who stood
below: "Listen, Hero. A woman is weeping at some distance. Go and learn
why she weeps and who she is." And Hero said "Certainly," arranged his
dagger, took his sword in his hand, and started. He did not even think
of the pelting hail, the flashing lightning, or the rain and darkness.
And when the king saw him setting out alone in a night like that, he
was filled with pity and curiosity, and descending from the palace
roof, took his sword and followed all alone, without being seen.

As Hero traced the sound of crying, he came to a beautiful lake outside
the city, and there he saw a woman in the midst of the water, lamenting
in these words: "Alas for you, brave and merciful and generous! How
shall I live without you?"

And Hero was amazed, and timidly asked her: "Who are you, and why do
you weep?" And she replied: "O Hero, I am the Goddess of the Earth, and
now my lord, this virtuous King Shudraka, is going to die in three
days. How shall I find another such master? So I am distracted with
grief, and I lament."

When Hero heard this, he was frightened and said: "Goddess, is there
any remedy for this, any way in which the king might be saved?" And the
goddess answered: "There is just one remedy, my son, and it is in your
hands." And Hero said: "Goddess, tell me quickly, that I may adopt it
at once. What good woul