III.
The raja’s garden was without an equal in the world, but the words of Koema Jugi had caused him to become discontented with it, and because there were neither hiras nor manis hanging from the branches he, as before, began to sulk. They reasoned with him saying, “Do not grieve over it. We will bring hiras and manis.” So he rose, and having bathed partook of some refreshment.
About this time Lelha’s mother went to a shop to purchase food. On seeing her the shopkeeper said, “Something is amiss with the raja, and she is hungry, and comes here giving annoyance. Go away. I will not weigh anything for you.” So she returned home empty-handed. As she entered the house she encountered Lelha just returned from hunting, who said, “Oh! mother, give me cooked rice.” His mother replied, “Something is wrong with the raja, and here my young lord is fasting, and cries for food. He is greatly concerned about his own affairs.”
Lelha went at once to the raja, and enquired “What ails you, father?” The raja replied, “Is there anything ailing me? Has Lelha come here? I will beat him shortly.” Lelha said, “Do with me what you please. Why are you sulking? If you do not tell me, although it should cost me my life, I will not leave, rather slay me here at once.” The raja thought within himself, “He annoys me, I will tell him to get rid of him.” So he said, “Your brothers have gone in search of hiras and manis, and it is because I do not see the trees in my garden adorned with these precious stones that I am sulking. Lelha said, “I will also go.” His father said, “Do not go child.” But Lelha was determined, and disregarded his father’s command.
Lelha went to the bazaar and purchased rice and dal, and his mother when she saw him bringing them home with him, said, “What is wrong? You are completely out of breath.” Lelha replied, “My brothers have gone to search for hiras and manis, and I also am busy preparing to follow them.” She tried to dissuade him saying, “Although the mean fellows beat you, still you will not keep away from them.” Lelha quickly replied, “What help is there for it, mother? Let my brothers beat me or not, what is that to me? I must bear it all.” So his mother prepared food, and Lelha, having partaken of it, set out.
He went to the stable, and saddled the lame horse, as his brothers had taken away the good ones, and mounting rode to the outskirts of the city. He then dismounted, and turned the lame horse loose, and went into the raja’s flower garden, and said, “Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, give me a horse instantly. My brothers have left me behind, and gone I know not where. Give me such a horse as will enable me to reach them at once.” Immediately a horse was at his side, and in a few seconds he was in sight of his brothers. He then alighted from his horse, and said “Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, I return your horse,” and instantly it disappeared, and he overtook his brothers on foot.
When his brothers saw him, they said, “He has overtaken us.” Some of them said, “Catch him and beat him,” others said, “No, let him alone, he will do our cooking. We can go in search of hiras and manis, and leave him to guard our camp. Come let us push on, we have now got a good guard for our camp.” This pleased all, and they said, “It is now evening, let us pitch our camp for the night.” They did so, and Lelha soon had supper ready, of which having partaken they all retired to rest.
In the morning Lelha again acted as cook, and while it was yet early set breakfast before his brothers, and they having eaten, mounted their horses, and went in search of hiras and manis. They were now a month’s journey distant from their own home, and the raja of the country in which they were, had just opened a new bazaar. It was a large and beautiful bazaar, and an Indarpuri Kuri had a stall it. This Indarpuri Kuri had given out, that whoever would go and come twelve kos seven times within an hour should be her husband.
The four sons of the raja, who had come in search of hiras and manis hearing this said, “Some one from amongst us four brothers must marry this girl. Let us exercise our horses, it is possible that some one of them may do the distance in the specified time.” They had left home in search of hiras and manis, and now were scheming to secure the Indarpuri Kuri as the wife of one of them. So they returned to camp, and sitting down began to discuss the subject. They said, “If our horses are well exercised, no doubt, but that they will be able to run the distance in the time. Therefore, let us diligently train our horses, so that they may be able to accomplish the task.”
While they were thus engaged, Lelha said, “What is it, brothers, that you are discussing?” His brothers rebuked him, saying, “Why are you eavesdropping? We will beat you.” They did not, however, beat him, as they feared he would return home, and leave them without a cook. So he cooked the supper and set it before them, and when they had eaten, they retired to rest.
In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his four brothers having breakfasted, mounted and rode off to the bazaar, and there exercised their horses. After they had left Lelha collected all the brass vessels, and what other property there was, and carefully hid them away. Then he called to the Indarpuri Kuri, “Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, give me a horse,” and instantly, just such a horse as he desired stood beside him. He mounted and galloping away soon overtook his brothers. He saluted them, but they did not recognize him. He said to them, “Wherefore, brothers, have you brought your horses to a standstill? Make them race.” They replied, “We were waiting for you. We are tired. It is your turn now.” Lelha immediately switched up his horse, and away it flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely be seen. That day his horse ran twelve kos there and back three times within an hour. At the end of the race soldiers tried to lay hold of Lelha’s horse, but he called out, “Do not touch him. He will not allow you to lay a finger on me.” The soldiers said, “The raja has given orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times is to be brought before him.” Lelha replied, “Go, and tell the raja, that the horse bites, so we could not stop him. The raja will not be displeased with you.” He then rode away to the camp, and having returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he began to prepare the evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers arrived.
After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, wondering who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, and said, “What is it, brothers, that you are talking about?” Some said, “Beat him, what has he got to do listening?” Others said, “Do not beat him, he cooks for us.” So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night.
In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers having breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, where they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all their property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. Then, mounting an Indarpuri Sadom, he followed his brothers, and on coming up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as their brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha’s horse ran the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The raja’s soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha’s horse, but he told them that it was in the habit of biting, so they allowed him to pass, and he galloped off to the camp, and returning the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri began to prepare the evening meal. When his brothers arrived Lelha set food before them, and they ate and drank. After they had supped they sat and talked about the wonderful horse, and its feat that day. Lelha again enquired what they were talking about, but they rebuked him saying, “Do not listen. It is not necessary for you to know what we are speaking about.” They all then retired for the night.
Early next morning Lelha set about preparing breakfast, and his brothers, having partaken of it, set out for the bazaar. After their departure Lelha gathered everything together, and hid them as before, and then called upon Indarpuri Kuri for a horse. The horse came, and Lelha mounted and galloped after his brothers. On overtaking them he saluted, and then said, “Wherefore, brothers, do you stand still? Race your horses.” They replied, “It is your turn now. We have run, and our horses are tired.” Lelha then started his horse, and it ran twelve kos there, and twelve kos back, seven times within the hour. The raja’s soldiers again attempted to capture Lelha’s horse, but he prevented them, and so returned to the camp. When he had returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he resumed his office of cook, and had supper ready by the time his brothers returned. They sat down together, and began to discuss the wonderful performance of the horse which had that day done the distance seven times in one hour. Lelha again enquired, “What is it that you are talking about, brothers?” Some one said, “Beat him. He has no right to be listening,” but another said, “Do not beat him, he cooks our food.” When the four brothers were tired talking Lelha set supper before them, and having supped, they lay down to sleep.
Next morning Lelha cooked the breakfast as usual, and his brothers having partaken of it, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar. After they had left Lelha put everything out of sight, as usual. Then he desired the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse, and having mounted, he followed his brothers, and on coming near saluted them as before, but again they failed to recognize him.