Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/231

THE LORD OF DEATH 209

even now taking me home; and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned. So I have neither husband nor relations !’

‘Do not fear!’ cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become enamoured of her beauty; ‘come with me, and I will marry you,’

‘On one condition,’ answered the girl: ‘you must never ask me to do any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it me.’

‘I will obey you like a slave!’ promised the young man.

“Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water, Your brother can stay with me, quoth the girl.

But when the elder brother had gone, the snake girl turned to the younger, saying, ‘Fly with me, for I love you! My promise to your brother was a trick to get him away !’

“Not so!’ returned the young man; ‘ you are his promised wife, and I look on you as my sister.’

On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing until the elder brother returned, when she called out, ‘O husband, what a villain is here! Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you !’

Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to battle. Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow. But at last it changed into the like- ness of an old white-bearded man, and when he who

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