“Found what?” cried the Khan’s son, standing still to wonder. “I know! He found that Shrikantha was already dead with hunger, having waited so long for his friends!”
“No, not at all!” said the Siddhi-kur. “Nothing of the sort! Shrikantha was sitting on the shore, patiently awaiting the return of his friends. As soon as the mouse had handed him the magic blue stone, he wished back all the good things he had had before and a wise and beautiful wife to enjoy it all with him. And you may be sure the lady took charge of the talisman as soon as they were married, so there was no danger of their losing their fortune again, as poor, foolish, kind-hearted Shrikantha had lost it before.
“However, if the Prince wishes my story to end otherwise, he may finish it to suit himself. Meanwhile, since he has [[163]]again broken silence on the homeward way, I will leave him to meditate upon the story, his own lack of wisdom, or whatever he likes. As for me, I will hie me back to my mango tree in the cool grove beside the garden of ghost children!”
So the Siddhi-kur, with a joyful shout, leaped from the Prince’s back and sped away again to the northward.
The Khan’s son neither sighed nor lamented, but, setting his teeth grimly, he turned about and started forth once more after the magic creature, eating his cake which grew not less as he trudged along.
When the long journey to the north had been completed, and the Siddhi-kur had been called again from his mango tree and settled upon the back of the Prince, he began at once:
“I have a story in mind which is perhaps more strange and interesting than any I have yet told you. Listen, my friend, and I will begin it.” [[164]]