ho had been betrothed without ever having
seen one another, should have actually met for the first time in such
strange circumstances. In fact, the prince was so moved by her beauty
and modest ways that he called up his wazirs and demanded to be married
at once to this lovely lady who had so completely won his heart. And
married they were then and there upon the river bank, and went home to
the prince's palace, where, when the story was told, they were welcomed
by the old rajah, the prince's father, and the remainder of the day was
given over to feasting and rejoicing. But when the banquet was over, the
bride told her husband that now, on the threshold of their married
life, she had more to relate of her adventures than he had given her
the opportunity to tell as yet; and then, without hiding anything, she
informed him of all that happened to her from the time she had stolen
out to visit the wicked jogi.

In the morning the prince called his chief wazir and ordered him to shut
up in the chest in which the princess had been found a great monkey that
lived chained up in the palace, and to take the chest back to the river
and set it afloat once more and watch what became of it. So the monkey
was caught and put into the chest, and some of the prince's servants
took it down to the river and pushed it off into the water. Then they
followed secretly a long way off to see what became of it.

Meanwhile the jogi's two pupils watched and watched for the chest until
they were nearly tired of watching, and were beginning to wonder whether
the jogi was right after all, when on the second day they spied the
great chest coming floating on the river, slowly bobbing and turning in
the tide; and instantly a great joy and exultation seized them, for they
thought that here indeed was further proof of the wonderful wisdom of
their master. With some difficulty they secured the chest, and carried
it back as swiftly and secretly as possible to the jogi's house. As soon
as they brought in the chest, the jogi, who had been getting very cross
and impatient, told them to put it down, and to go outside whilst he
opened the magic chest.

'And even if you hear cries and sounds, however alarming, you must on
no account enter,' said the jogi, walking over to a closet where lay the
silken cord that was to strangle the princess.

And the two pupils did as they were told, and went outside and shut
close all the doors. Presently they heard a great outcry