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Updated: June 3, 2025
He saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he saw the hungry and holy faqir pick the bones, and, finally, he saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with his hundredweight of gold! Then Bikru knew what to do! So the very next day he rose very early, and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over.
Then Bikru, or Bikramajit, took the faqir's old coat, and shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!
By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man of his word, and though the wily Bikru came and tried to persuade him to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head, and turned his face to the wall.
Now, if I keep the coat, I can shake it down there. To this the faqir agreed, and off went Bikru with the coat. Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised, when he entered the faqir's house, to find the fire out, the frying-pan put away, and the faqir himself as holy as ever, but not in the least hungry. 'Why, what is the matter? faltered the King.
Of course Bikramajit, who was, as every one knows, the most generous of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant, and taking the name of Bikru, journeyed northwards till he came to King Karan's kingdom. Then he took service with the King, and helped every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces.
Tell me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you ask. Whereupon Bikru told him the way it was done, and promised to devil himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return. 'For, said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of gold to the palace every day.
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