“At any rate, we must have the fire,” said Surya Bai. So she unlocked the seven doors, one after another, and climbed down from the tree and set out on her journey.
She went on and on for a long way and then, without knowing it, she really did come into the country of the Rakshas. There she saw a house, and in it was an old, old woman, bending over a fire. She was so old that her nose and chin almost met, and so crooked she was like a bent stick. Her gray hair fell over her eyes in a mat, and her teeth were long and yellow, and she was a Rakshas.
When she saw the maiden, she asked her who she was, and where she had come from, and what was her errand.
Surya Bai told her she came from a little house that had been built for her by a pair of eagles in a tree top far away. She told her the eagles were away from home, for they had gone to fetch her a diamond ring from far away and had left her with only a little dog and cat for companions. “And now the cat has put out the fire,” said she, “and I have no way to cook the food. We are very hungry, so give me, I beg of you, a little of your fire to carry home with me.”
Now the old woman Rakshas had a son who was very strong and terrible, but he was away from home on some business. “What a pity he is not here,” thought the old woman. “This pretty little girl would make a fine morsel for him. I will try to keep her until he returns, so that he may have her for his supper.”
So she made her voice as soft and friendly as she could, and said, “You may have the fire and welcome, but pound this rice for me before you go, for my arms are too weak and old for pounding. After that you shall have the fire.”
Surya Bai was very obliging. She pounded the rice and pounded and pounded, but still the young Rakshas did not come, and presently she had finished.
“Now give me the fire,” said the maiden.
But the old woman still wished to keep her. “I have no daughter to help me,” said she. “Grind this corn for me, I beg of you, and then I will give you the fire.”
Surya Bai ground the corn, but still the Rakshas had not come.