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There, sure enough, near the western tower were the oxen, the plough and a great pile of seed. Never before had poor Sringa-Bhuja had to work for himself, but his great love for Rupa-Sikha made him determine to do his best. So he was about to begin to guide the oxen across the field, when, behold, all was suddenly changed.
He waited for her to go on, and as she said no more, he suddenly turned angrily upon her and in a loud voice asked her: "And what did my daughter answer?" Then Rupa-Sikha knew that her secret had been discovered. And rising to her full height, she answered proudly, "I told him I would seek you and ask you to receive him.
But his daughter was as obstinate as he was; and finding that he could not get his own way unless he yielded to her, he said crossly: "He shall keep his fine head on his shoulders, and leave the palace alive; but that is all I will say." "But that is not enough," said Rupa-Sikha.
"I cannot send," replied Rupa-Sikha, "for none knows where I have left him; nor will I fetch him till you promise that no evil shall befall him." At first Agni-Sikha laughed aloud and declared that he would do no such thing.
Without a moment's hesitation Sringa-Bhuja picked out the right sister; and the magician, though inwardly enraged, pretended to be so delighted at this proof of a lover's clear-sightedness that he cried: "You are the son-in-law for me! The wedding shall take place to-morrow!" Can you understand how it was that the magician did not notice the trick Rupa-Sikha had played upon him?
Just as they thought they were safe from pursuit, they heard a loud rushing noise behind; and looking round, they saw the father of the bride close upon them on his Arab steed, with sword uplifted in his hand to strike. "Fear not," whispered Rupa-Sikha to her husband. "I will show you now what I can do."
Again Rupa-Sikha came to cheer him, and again she warned him that their trials were not yet over. She feared, she said, that her father might prove stronger than herself; for he had many allies at neighbouring courts ready to help him in his evil purposes. "Whatever else he orders you to do, you must see me before you leave the palace.
Sringa-Bhuja guessed at once from whom it came; and anxious to read it alone, he hastily finished his toilette and dismissed the attendants. "My beloved," said the letter which was, of course, from Rupa-Sikha "My father is plotting against you; and very foolish were you to promise you would obey him in all things.
This you must sow this very day, or instead of a bridegroom you will be a dead man to-morrow." Great was the dismay of Sringa-Bhuja when he heard this. But Rupa-Sikha whispered to him, "Fear not, for I will help you." Sadly the prince left the palace alone, to seek the field outside the city; the guards, who knew he was the accepted lover of their favourite mistress, letting him pass unhindered.
This time Rupa-Sikha contented herself with making her husband and Marut invisible, whilst she changed herself into a letter-carrier, hurrying along the road as if not a moment was to be lost. She took no notice of her father, till he reined up his steed and shouted to her: "Have you seen a man and woman on horseback pass by?"
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