that his treasure would never be found.  They said they would all do everything they possibly could to get it back for him.  Some of them thought it was very wrong of him to make such a fuss about it, and blamed him for being a miser.  They told him it was foolish to care so much for what he could not take with him when he died, and one specially wise old man gave him a long lecture on the wickedness of taking away the life which had been given to him by God to prepare for that in the other world.  “Put the idea of starving yourself out of your head,” he said, “and whilst we are seeking your treasure, go on as you did before you lost it.  Next time you have any money and jewels, turn them to good account instead of hoarding them up.”

9.  Do you think the Brahman was of any real use to the people of Sravasti?

10.  In what qualities do you think the Brahman was wanting when he made up his mind to starve himself to death?

CHAPTER VI

In spite of all that any one could say to him, the Brahman was quite determined that he would not live any longer.  He set off to the place of pilgrimage he had chosen, taking no notice of any one he met, but just marching steadily on.  At first a number of people followed him, but by degrees they left off doing so, and soon he was quite alone.  Presently however he could not help noticing a man approaching from the direction in which he was going.  Very tall, very handsome, very dignified, this man was one whom no one could fail to admire, even if he had been only an ordinary person.  But he was the king of the whole country, whose name was Prasnajit; and a little distance behind him were a number of his attendants, waiting to obey his orders.  Everybody, even the Brahman, loved the king, because he took such a very great interest in his people and was always trying to do them good.  He had heard all about the loss of the money, and was very much vexed that such a thing should have happened in his land.  He had also heard that the Brahman meant to kill himself, and this distressed him more than anything else, because he thought it a very wicked and terrible thing to do.

The king stood so exactly in the path of the Brahman that it was impossible to pass him by without taking any notice of him, and the unhappy man stood still, hanging down his head and looking very miserable.  Without waiting for a moment, Prasnajit said to the Brahman:  “Do not grieve any more.  I will find your treasure for you, and give it back to you; or if I fail to do so I will pay you as much as it was worth out of my own purse:  for I cannot bear to think of your killing yourself.  Now tell me very carefully where you hid your gold and jewels, and everything about the place, to help me to make sure of it.”

The Brahman was greatly delighted to hear this, because he knew full well that the king would keep his word, and that, even if his own treasure was never found, he would have plenty of money given to him by the king.  He at once told Prasnajit exactly where he had put his store, and offered to take him there.  The king agreed to go with him at once, and he and the Brahman went straight away to the big hole in the forest, the attendants following them a little way behind.