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SANTAL FOLK-TALES.

nize him. He said to them, " Wherefore, brothers, have you brought your horses to a standstill ? Make them race." They replied, " We were waiting for you. We are tired. It is your turn now." Lelha immediately switched up his horse, and away it flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely be seen. That day his horse ran twelve kos there and back three times within an hour. At the end of the race soldiers tried to lay hold of Lelha's horse, but he called out, " Do not touch him. He will not allow you to lay a finger on me." The soldiers said, " The raja has given orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times is to be brought before him." Lelha replied, " Go, and tell the raja, that the horse bites, so we could not stop himi The raja will not be displeased with you." He then rode away to the Camp, and having returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he began to prepare the evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers arrived.

After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, wondering who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, and said, " What is it, brothers, that you are talking about ?" Some said, " Beat him, what has he got to do listening ?" Others said, " Do net beat him, he cooks for us." So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night.

In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers having breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, where they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all their property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. Then, mounting an Indarpuri Sadom, he followed his brothers, and on coming up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as their brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha's horse ran the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The raja's soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha's horse, but he told them that it was in the habit of biting, so they

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