132 Tam Garai, the Good Banyan. [Fex, 
The king darted, with all his court, to the seat of the disaster. -In his 
hand he waved a massy goblet of gold, of inestimable workmanship, and 
enriched with the finest diamonds of the regalia.— This for their pre- 
server !” cried he. r ; 
A murmur of approbation arose on every side: yet not one of the 
numerous bystanders attempted to deserve the goblet. The king made 
it once more glitter before all eyes ; all still withstood the temptation. 
Just then there was a man perceived whirling down the rapid current 
of the Lambremetti in a little junk. After the Indian manner, he 
worked the oar with his foot, while he propped himself on his hands, ° 
and put forth all his strength to reach the wretched victims. But the 
frail bark was flung, by the turmoil of the waters, against a projection 
from their surface, and dashed to pieces, and, with its unknown navi- 
gator, disappeared. But the gallant boatman was seen presently to rise 
above the waves. Expert in swimming, he glanced from projection to 
projection—caught an axe from the scaffolding of an unfinished building 
which was nearly submerged, and, tearing apart some of the materials 
which formed it, laid them in order for a raft, and knit them firmly 
together with ligatures, which were flung to him from the trembling pair 
upon the adjacent house-top. He reached the mother and her child ; he 
placed them on the raft, and bound them there, and launched them on 
the stream, from whose impetuosity he in some degree screened them by 
means of a rope which he held extended as he swam behind them. 
Driven at length into a creek of the river, they landed there in safety. 
The people rushed to receive them ; the air resounded with acclama- 
tions ; the hero was conducted, on the shoulders of the multitude, to the 
king. 
It was Tam Garai. The young prince blushed to hear him named. 
“ Take this,” said he, offering the goblet; “ you have deserved the 
promised recompence.” 
“TI cannot take it,” replied the banyan; “ it will, in Brama’s eye, 
deprive the action of its virtue.” . 
« But, remember,” answered the astonished prince, “ had you 
perished, none would have given you credit for your disinterested- 
ness.” 
« What care I for the judgment of man? I saw two fellow-creatures 
perishing. My heart prompted me to save them. I am more than 
rewarded in the approbation of my heart.” 
«« Be it so ;—but I am aware that the prodigality of your benevolence 
has been your ruin. Let me be the restorer of your fortune.” 
“ Heaven has restored it, prince. A large sum which I lent formerly 
was restored to me this very morning.” 
Nothing was spoken of at court but the magnanimity of the king, who 
would have sacrificed the most beautiful of his goblets to save two of his 
subjects. Nothing was spoken of among the people but the noble disin- 
terestedness of Tam Garai. 
The rajah said to the brahmin, “‘ My father, are you satisfied with my 
conduct ?” 
« Yes,” replied the brahmin, “ your action is noble; but that of the 
banyan will eclipse it. You sought a glory without peril ;—he braved a 
peril without glory, for a triumph without reward.” 
Some months more passed away in warlike preparations; but for what 
war, or for what object there should be a war, not even the king himself 
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