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210 TALES OF THE PUNJAB

had followed so long saw one like himself, he took courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, ‘Who and what are you?’

Then the old man smiled and answered, ‘Some call me the Lord of Death, because I go about bringing . death to the world.’

‘Give me death!’ pleaded the other, ‘for I have followed you far, silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.’

But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, ‘Not so! I only give to those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!’

Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell?

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