Page:The Dravidian Nights Entertainments.djvu/147

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thousand similar questions every one began to put him. He answered them all in the affirmative, and by his description of their happiness increased their curiosity. So, one and all determined to pay a visit to their departed relatives by throwing themselves into the fire, and asked Jagatalapratâpa to assist them in their transit. He promised to do so, and asked the king and minister to dig up a still larger pit.

That larger pit was blazing with fire and all the persons awaited the evening to fall into the flames. The evening came on. The king, the minister, and all the persons of the town taking their choice presents to the spirits of their forefathers approached the fire place. Jagatalapratâpa was waiting there to conduct these people down to their ancestors. He bore a note in his hand which was given by his wife, the daughter of Indra. She therein had written to her uncle Agni the following sentences: "My dear uncle, this evening shall fall into your mouth your son-in-law Jagatalapratâpa with all the inhabitants of Visvarañjitanagara. Spare your son-in-law only and burn every one else to ashes." The king, the minister and every one requested Jagatalapratâpa that evening to conduct them to their departed relatives. The conductor asked them all to hold each others hands. Every one on the bank jumped after him, and down they all went.

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