rest until he returns.  How do they live there?  Have they enough to eat and dress themselves withal?” These and a hundred other questions she put to the rogue, who, for his part, wished to get away as soon as possible, knowing full well how he would be treated if the miser should return while he was there.  So he replied, “Mother, language has no words to describe the miseries they are undergoing in the other world.  They have not a rag of clothing, and for the last six days they have eaten nothing, and have lived on water only.  It would break your heart to see them.”  The rogue’s pathetic words deceived the good woman, who firmly believed that he had come down from Kailasa, a messenger from the old couple to herself.  “Why should they so suffer,” said she, “when their son has plenty to eat and clothe himself withal, and when their daughter-in-law wears all sorts of costly garments?” So saying, she went into the house, and soon came out again with two boxes containing all her own and her husband’s clothes, which she handed to the rogue, desiring him to deliver them to the poor old couple in Kailasa.  She also gave him her jewel-box, to be presented to her mother-in-law.  “But dress and jewels will not fill their hungry stomachs,” said the rogue.  “Very true; I had forgot:  wait a moment,” said the simple woman, going into the house once more.  Presently returning with her husband’s cash chest, she emptied its glittering contents into the rogue’s skirt, who now took his leave in haste, promising to give everything to the good old couple in Kailasa; and having secured all the booty in his upper garment, he made off at the top of his speed as soon as the silly woman had gone indoors.

Shortly after this the husband returned home, and his wife’s pleasure at what she had done was so great that she ran to meet him at the door, and told him all about the arrival of the messenger from Kailasa, how his parents were without clothes and food, and how she had sent them clothes and jewels and store of money.  On hearing this, the anger of the husband was great; but he checked himself, and inquired which road the messenger from Kailasa had taken, saying that he wished to follow him with a further message for his parents.  So she very readily pointed out the direction in which the rogue had gone.  With rage in his heart at the trick played upon his stupid wife, he rode off in hot haste, and after having proceeded a considerable distance, he caught sight of the flying rogue, who, finding escape hopeless, climbed up into a pipal tree.

The husband soon reached the foot of the tree, when he shouted to the rogue to come down.  “No, I cannot,” said he; “this is the way to Kailasa,” and then climbed to the very top of the tree.  Seeing there was no chance of the rogue coming down, and there being no one near to whom he could call for help, the old miser tied his horse to a neighbouring tree, and began to climb up the pipal himself.  When the rogue observed this, he thanked