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THE WRECK

dark fortnight two hours after midnight. That nig all houses were festooned with garlands and the wh city was illuminated to celebrate the marriage of t princess Chandra.

"And yet the princess did not know who her destine husband was. At the time of her birth the sage Para- mananda Swami had announced to her father, 'The as- pect of one of the planets portends evil to your daugh- ter. When the time comes for her marriage do not divulge to her the name of the man whom she is to wed.'

"At the time appointed the princess went through the marriage ceremony with the sword. Indrajit Singh proffered the customary gifts on the bridegroom's be- half and did obeisance to his brother's wife. Indrajit was as loyal to his brother Ranjit as Lakshman was to Rama, and he did not raise his eyes to the face of the noble maid blushing behind her veil, but kept them fixed on her lovely little feet dyed with lac beneath the jingling anklets.

"On the day after the nuptials Indrajit installed the princess in a bejewelled and canopied litter and set forth for his own country. With dread in his heart, as he remembered the evil planet that threatened mis- hap to his daughter, the king of Conjeveram laid his right hand on her head and gave her his farewell bene- diction. The queen could not restrain her tears as she kissed her daughter on the lips. In the temples a thousand priests were repeating incantations to propi- tiate the evil destiny.

"Conjeveram is far distant from Madura — nearly a month's journey. On the second evening the Rajputs had pitched their tents on the banks of the Vetsha river and were preparing for the night's rest when the blaze of torches was descried in the neighbouring forest. Indrajit sent a man-at-arms to investigate and he brought back the following report: 'Sire, the lights

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