When the men returned to their master and told him the reception they had met with, he was in a furious rage, and, disregarding the smallness of the force which was with him, marched out at once to attack Manapala, who was quite prepared to meet him.

When I entered the camp, after my escape, Manapala, who received from his servants an exaggerated account of my coolness, dexterity, and courage, had treated me with great honour, and now I offered my services in the approaching fight.  They were gladly accepted, and I was furnished with an excellent chariot and horses guided by a skilful charioteer, a strong coat of mail, a bow and two quivers full of arrows, as well as with other weapons.

Thus equipped, I went forth to meet the enemy, and seeking out the leader, soon found myself near him.  First confusing him with arrows poured upon him in rapid succession, I brought my chariot close to his, and suddenly springing into it, cut off his head at a blow.

Seeing the king fall, his soldiers were discouraged, and fled; the camp was taken, much booty gained, and the princess led back, to her father.  He having received an account of the victory, and of my share in it, through a messenger sent from Manapala, came forth to meet us when we entered the city, and received me with great honour.  After a time, as I continued daily to increase in favour with him, he bestowed on me the hand of his daughter, and declared me his successor.

Being thus arrived at the height of prosperity and happiness, I had but one cause of sorrow—­my absence from you.  I am on my way to Mahakala, to worship Siva there.  I have stopped at this place, hoping, at a festival so much frequented, I might at least hear some tidings of you, and now the god has favoured his worshipper, and through this happy meeting all my wishes are fulfilled.

Rajavahana, who delighted in valour, having heard Somadatta’s story, while expressing his sorrow for his undeserved imprisonment, congratulated him on the happy result of it, and told him his own adventures.

He had scarcely finished the relation of them when a third person came up, and the prince, warmly greeting him, exclaimed, “O, Somadatta, here is Pushpodbhava.”  Then there were mutual embracings and rejoicings, after which they all three sat down again, and Rajavahana said:  “Somadatta has told me his adventures, but I know nothing of the rest of my friends.  What did you do when you missed me that morning in the forest?” Then Pushpodbhava respectfully spoke as follows:—­

* * * * *

ADVENTURES OF PUSHPODBHAVA.

My lord, your friends being convinced that you had gone on some expedition with the brahman, and knowing nothing of the direction which you had taken, were greatly perplexed.  At last we agreed to separate, each going a different way, and I, like the rest, set out by myself.  One day, being unable to bear the heat of the noonday sun, I sat down in the shade of a tree at the bottom of a mountain.  Happening to look up, I saw a man falling from the rock above, and he came to the ground very near me.