not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home.  And when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved.  But the old woman’s son stayed in a wood outside the village.  And lo and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from Patala [7] and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and began to worship Mahalaxmi.  The boy was at first terribly frightened, but at last he plucked up courage enough to ask, “Ladies, ladies, what does one gain by worshipping Mahalaxmi?” “Whatever you lose you will find,” said the serpent-maidens from Patala; “and whatever you want you will get.”  The boy resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi.  And he joined the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs, and all night long they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they made. [8]

At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included, prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing.  She first blessed the serpent—­maidens from Patala and then the wood-nymphs.  And then she blessed the poor old woman’s son and said, “You will get half the kingdom of Atpat and half the king’s treasure.  He will build you a house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of ‘Navalvat’ or ‘Wonderways.’  For this very morning the king’s mighty enemy will break his neck and be found lying dead in the king’s courtyard,” With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and the old woman’s son went home.  Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up and went into the king’s courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar lying dead from a broken neck.  She was overjoyed, and ran back into the palace to tell the king.  The king inquired who had killed Nandanbaneshwar.  Every one said that the old woman’s son must have killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home.  The king sent for the old woman’s son.  He was very frightened, and when he reached the royal hall he called out, “I have made no false charge against any one.  I have done no one any harm.  Why, therefore, O King, have you sent for me?” “Do not be afraid,” said the king.  “My enemy Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed him.  Tell me if this is true.”  “No, O King,” said the boy, “he was killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi.”  “Where did you meet her?” asked the king.  The boy said, “I stayed when the other villagers returned home, and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs.  They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi.  In the morning she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own, and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways.”  The king did as the goddess had foretold.  He handed half his provinces and half his treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace.