Some time after this a young Rajah came into that very jungle to hunt. In some way he became separated from his attendants and wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, until at length he came to the tree where the Princess sat. He threw himself down beneath the tree to rest. Hearing a sound of wings above him the Rajah looked up and was amazed to see a beautiful girl sitting there among the branches with a flock of crows about her.
The Rajah climbed the tree and brought the girl down, while the crows circled about his head, cawing hoarsely.
“Tell me, beautiful one, who are you? And how come you here in the depths of the jungle?” asked the Rajah.
Weeping, the Princess told him all her story except that the crows were her brothers; she let him believe that her brothers had gone off hunting and had never returned.
“Do not weep any more,” said the Rajah. “You shall come home with me and be my Ranee, and I will have no other but you alone.”
When the Princess heard this she smiled, for the Rajah was very handsome, and already she loved him.
She was very glad to go with him and be his wife. “But my crows must go with me,” she said, “for they have fed me for many long days and have been my only companions.”
To this the Rajah willingly consented, and he took her home with him to the palace; and the crows circled about above them, following closely all the way.
