DELHI. 
39 
being no longer able to discern the tree under which 
it was laid, gave way to her excessive grief. She cast 
herself from the horse upon the ground, exclaiming, 
in heart-rending accents of agony, “ My child ! my 
child!” Khaja Aias endeavoured to raise her, but 
she was unable to support herself, and believing that 
she was about to die, she cried aloud, and implored 
that she might be granted a last look at her beloved 
baby ; she rent her hair with despair and remorse for 
her cruelty in abandoning the infant, while breath 
remained to her. Khaja Aias was also pierced to 
the heart with grief at the sight of her anguish, and 
entreating her to compose herself, he promised to 
bring her the infant ; assuring her that his returning 
anxiety to recover the child had endowed him with 
renewed strength. After a painful retrogression he 
at length regained the spot where they had left the 
child ; but who shall describe the state of mind of 
that horror-stricken parent when he beheld his first- 
born enfolded within the deadly coils of a huge 
serpent ! For some minutes his presence of mind was 
suspended, and his energies were only recalled when 
he beheld the venomous monster extend its jaws, as 
if to devour the innocent babe. The bewildered 
father rushed forward to the rescue, and the serpent, 
alarmed at his vociferations and the flashing of his 
sword, retired into the hollow tree, leaving the child 
uninjured. With a grateful heart he took the infant 
to his bosom, and returned to his afflicted wife. 
