Affairs continued in this state for four years. When the girl was sixteen, she happened one day to be bathing in a tank with a number of her companions, and, while amusing herself in the water, she saw an idol lying near. She ordered her attendants to lift it out and carry it to a zayat, or rest-house, that was at hand. They reminded her that she would certainly be put to death for meddling with it; but she was very determined, and declared that she would worship that image as long as she lived. It was accordingly lifted out of the water, washed and carried into the zayat. A report of what had been done was immediately taken to the king, and you can imagine how enraged he was. He ordered his servants to take a fierce elephant, and make the savage animal trample this bold young woman to death, thus making a terrible example of her case. But it was not so easy to do this. The seven principal Nats, who had been greatly displeased by the king’s wickedness, came to the defense of the girl. These seven were, the Nat of the universe, the Nat of the earth, the Nat of the trees, the Nat of the air, the Nat of the cities, the Nat of the villages and the Nat of the white umbrella. The elephant was brought, but he did not touch the girl; he was beaten and goaded, but it was of no avail; he would not lift up a foot against her, and instead of being angry only grew frightened, and tried to run away from her without harming her in the least. When the king heard that she could not be put to death this way, he ordered a quantity of dry straw to be collected, the girl placed in the midst of it, and so be burnt to death. The straw was brought, she was put in the middle, but no number of torches, no quantity of fire would make it burn. The Nats were there, and they would not allow her to be put to death. Then the king sent for her to his palace. He was surprised as well as angry now, and was wondering whether he might not possibly have been wrong in forsaking the gods of his forefathers. “If the image which you have dared to take from the water,” said he, “will come through the air into my presence, and I see it, your life shall be spared; but if not, you shall be cut into seven pieces.” The young woman asked permission to return for a short time to the zayat. Her request was granted, and there she went and prayed very earnestly that the image might be carried into the king’s presence. And, lo! not only one, but eight images, and the young woman herself with her attendants, were immediately taken up by the Nats, conveyed through the air, and put down before the king and his principal queen, his commander-in-chief, his officers, and a multitude of people. How they all shouted and wondered! “Now,” said the girl, turning to the king, “now that the image of my god and teacher has flown to you, will you order the teachers from whom you have learned this false religion to mount up also and fly through the air?”