And she answered him,—
“By following after this he-goat, thus I came hither.”
“Will you come with us seven brethren, and be our wife,” rejoined the brother, who had spoken first; and when she willingly agreed they took her home with them.
But they both were evil Râkshasas[7], who had only come out to find men whose lives to devour; the male Manggus[8], had taken the form of a he-goat, and the female Manggus that of a beautiful maiden, the better to deceive.
When therefore the seven took her home and the goat with her, the two Manggus had ample scope to carry out their design, and every year they devoured the life of one of the brothers, till now there was only the Khan left, and they began to consume the life of him also.
When the ministers saw that all the brothers were dead, and only the Khan left, they held a council, and they said, “Behold, all the other Khans are dead, notwithstanding all the means we have at our command, and despite the arts of all the physicians of this country.” Now there remains no other means for us but to send for the Pig’s head soothsayer who found the Khan’s talisman, and get him to restore the Khan to health.” This counsel was found good, and they all said, “Let us send for the Pig’s head soothsayer.”
Four men were sent off on horseback to call the Pig’s head soothsayer, who laid all the case before him.
When he heard it he was greatly embarrassed, and knew not what to answer, but his vacancy passed, with them, for his being immersed in deep contemplation, and they reverenced him the more. Meantime his wife bid them put up their horses and stay the night.
In the night-time she asked of him what the men had come about, and he told her all his embarrassment.
“True, last time you exerted yourself a little and had good luck,” she replied, “but now that you have been sitting here doing nothing, and looking so stupid all this time, whether you will cut as good a figure, who shall say? But go you must, seeing the Khan has sent for you.”