THE COBRA'S MATE 131 



had taken the life of the guardian cobra of the 

 shrine! "Urray-ray! Bap-ray!" he cried, "Jot 

 what demerit of mine has this ill-luck befallen me 

 in my old age ? What will happen now ? ' ' 



" Nay, Sethjkee," said the Malee, " be not afraid. 

 It was in your destiny that this offspring of Satan 

 should come to its end by your hand. We have 

 pounded its head properly, so it will not return to 

 you." 



" But what of its mate ? " said Beharilal. " I 

 have heard that, if any man kills a cobra, its mate 

 will follow him by day and by night until it has 

 had its revenge. Is that not so ? " 



The Malee answered, " Chh, Chh ! There is no 

 mate of this cobra,' ' but his tone was not confident. 



" Go," cried Beharilal — " go quickly and call 

 Nagoo, the snake-charmer. He has knowledge." 



" I will go," said the Malee, and set off at a run ; 

 but when he got out of the gate he lapsed into a 

 leisurely walk, for why should a man lose his breath 

 without cause ? In time he found his way to the 

 little settlement of huts constructed of poles and 

 mats, where Nagoo sat on the ground smoking his 

 " chillum," and told his errand. 



" Why should I come ? " was Nagoo' s reply ; " I 

 went to take away that cobra and the Bunia drove 

 me from the garden with abuse. Why does he send 

 for me now ? ' ' 



" He is a Bunia," said the Malee, as if that summed 

 up the whole matter ; but he added, after a pause, 



