SOME CURRENT PUSHTU FOLK STORIES. 
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As dusk drew on, the Saint Hazrat Khizr came to that place. He said to the 
woman, <f Put the (severed) heads of these men close (to their bodies), that I may 
pray God that he restore them to life.” 
The woman arose quickly, and put the heads in their places. And when Hazrat 
Khizr had offered up his supplication, then by the Lord’s command the two men 
were again endowed with life. But their heads had become transposed. The head 
belonging to the woman’s husband, had been changed with that of the other man 
One of the men said, “This is my wife.” The other man asserted, “ You lie, she 
is mine ” 
Whose should the woman be ? Reader, decide. 
IV. The Story of the Three Brothers, and the Ruby. 
Folk relate that there was once a man who had three sons. In his house he had 
buried three jars full of rupees, and upon the mouth of each jar had put a ruby. 
When at length the father died, the youngest son was aware of these jars, — three, 
with a precious stone on each. So one of the rubies he purloined. 
Now when it came to the time for dividing up the inheritance, on the mouth of 
one of the jars there was no ruby. The eldest brother said, “It would seem that 
one amongst us brothers has stolen the ruby. But this I cannot say, whether it is 
the middle one of us, or the youngest.” 
The middle brother replied, “ I also am of opinion that there is a thief among 
us, inasmuch as no one else was aware of the existence of the jars.” 
The youngest brother expressed himself after the same fashion. 
They tried thoroughly, but could not clear up the matter, nor could anyone in 
the neighbouring villages bring it to an issue. 
Now there was a certain king, and he had two daughters. Folk advised the 
brothers (saying), “These maids are exceedingly clever. If you will go to them, 
they will decide this affair for you.” 
So the three brothers set out. They had gone some distance, when they 
reached a tree, underneath which it was fine and shady. So they sat themselves 
down there. 
The eldest brother observed, “ Under this tree a woman has been sitting.” 
“ Likewise,” said the next brother “ the woman in question was enceinte.” 
“ Also,” remarked the third, “ she was a runaway.” 
Thus exercising their intelligence they conversed, and presently when they had 
quitted the place, one of the brothers observed on the way, “ Along this road has 
passed a camel who is blind in one eye.” 
“ One of its teeth, too,” said the second brother, “ is missing.” 
And the youngest added, “On one side of it ghee was (loaded), and on the 
other side was some dung.” 
