160 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA 



Good and well, if not you won't 



be." 

 And they thought this was an 

 omen. 

 Now the Brothers, greatly fear- 

 ing 

 Lest they all should eaten up be. 

 Counsel taking, sent the youngest, 

 Sent Ahkeseral the youngest, 

 To prospect the Giant's quarters. 

 By that pathway straight and 



Went this very young Ahkeseral; 

 Saw the Giant's smoke ascending ; 

 Coming nearer saw the Giant. 

 Saw Mm, hke a shapeless tree 



trunk. 

 Sleeping by the fire and snoring — 

 By the fire of mighty tree stems, 

 Stems of Mohwa, stems of Anjan, 

 Stems of Sajna, stems of Tekta ; 

 Blazing red, its glow reflected 

 From that form huge and shape- 

 less 

 Of the Giant Rikad Gowree, 

 Of that very dreadful Rakshis, 

 Of that terrible Devourer. 

 Then his knees began to quake all. 

 O'er his body came cold shudders. 

 Leapt his liver to his throat all, 

 Leapt the Uver of Aikeseral. 

 But he crept up to the fireplace, 

 Crept and snatched a blazing fire- 

 brand. 

 Blazing brand of Tdmdditd. 

 Groaned the Giant, fled Ahkeseral, 

 Dropped the firebrand, and a 



spark flew. 

 Flew and Hghted on the Giant, 

 On his shapeless hip it lighted. 

 Raised a blister like a saucer ; 

 Started up the Giant swearing ; 

 Also feeling very hungry, 

 FeeHng very much Hke eating. 

 Saw that very young Ahkeseral, 

 Plump and luscious as a cucumber, 

 Saw him running and ran after, 

 Ran and shouted loud behind 

 him. 



But in vain he followed after. 

 For the very young Ahkeseral, 

 Speeding swiftly through the 



forest. 

 Shortly vanished and was seen not. 

 And the Giant, much disgusted, 

 Then returned to his fireside. 

 And Ahkeseral, returning, 

 Told his greatly trembling bro- 

 thers 

 Of that very dreadful Giant. 

 But the very valiant Lingo 

 Said, " Repose ye here a little, 

 I will go and see this monster 

 That so much has discomposed 



you." 

 At the crossing of a river. 

 In that straight and easy pathway, 

 Lingo saw the stick Wadiida 

 Floating down upon the current. 

 Saw he too a bottle-gourd tree. 

 Saw it growing by the river ; 

 Pulled a bottle-gourd from ofi it. 

 Fished Waduda from the river. 

 Stuck the one into the other. 

 Plucked two hairs wherewith to 



string it, 

 Made a bow and keys eleven. 

 Played a tune or two, and found he 

 Had a passable guitar. 

 Pleased was Lingo, and proceeded 

 To the field of Rikad Gowree ; 

 Rikad Gowree lying snoring 

 By the fireside, mouth wide gaping, 

 Tushes horrible displaying. 

 Lying loglike with his eyes shut. 

 Close by grew the tree called 



Peepul, 

 Peepul tall with spreading 



branches. 

 Quickly Lingo clambered up it, 

 Climbed aloft into its branches ; 

 Sat and heard the morning cock 



crow. 

 Thought this Giant soon would 



waken. 

 Then he took his banjo Jantur, 

 Struck a note that sounded 



sweetly. 



