The Vedarāla having said, “It is good,” and told him to get and bring a torch, cunningly having gone near the yoke of cattle that remained entangled in the bush at that place where he went on coming, asked if these were his oxen. Then the man said, “These are indeed my cattle,” and having unfastened them and come back, in the morning gave him a half share[3] of the value of the cattle. Taking it, and throwing away the chaff and coconut husks, he went away.
That day also, having gone on until the time when it was becoming night, he got a resting-place in the very way in which, having spoken before, he got one. At the time when they were in the shed the persons of the party said, “Vedarāla, what are you staying looking about for? We must seek and get firewood and water.”
Then the house people say, “What are you saying ‘Vedarāla’ for? Does he know to say sooth and the like?”
After that, this party say, “He can also tell sooth. Last night he sought and gave a yoke of cattle.”
Then the house persons quickly having brought rice, fish, firewood, water, gave them to the men.
This party having amply cooked and eaten, while they were sleeping, the house person, having brought a packet of betel leaves, spoke to the Vedarāla: “How am I to ask sooth?”
The Vedarāla rebuked him. “All these persons being now without memory or understanding, what saying of sooth is there?”[4] Then that one having gone, he went to sleep.
A woman of the house was there; her name was Sihibuddī. The woman having heard the words which the Vedarāla said, came and having softly awakened the Vedarāla, said, “The Sihibuddī you mention is I indeed. It was I indeed who stole this house person’s packet of warāgan.[5] I will give you a share; don’t mention it.”
Thereupon the Vedarāla says, “Where is it? Bring it quickly, and having brought it place it near that clump of plantains.”
Then this woman having brought the packet of warāgan, and placed it at the foot of the plantain clump and gone away, he went to sleep.