Santal (South Asian people) -- Folklore; Santali literature -- Translations into English; Tales -- India
In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his four brothers
having breakfasted, mounted and rode off to the bazaar, and there
exercised their horses. After they had left Lelha collected all the
brass vessels, and what other property there was, and carefully hid
them away. Then he called to the Indarpuri Kuri, "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri,
give me a horse," and instantly, just such a horse as he desired
stood beside him. He mounted and galloping away soon overtook his
brothers. He saluted them, but they did not recognize him. He said
to them, "Wherefore, brothers, have you brought your horses to
a standstill? Make them race." They replied, "We were waiting for
you. We are tired. It is your turn now." Lelha immediately switched
up his horse, and away it flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely
be seen. That day his horse ran twelve kos there and back three times
within an hour. At the end of the race soldiers tried to lay hold
of Lelha's horse, but he called out, "Do not touch him. He will not
allow you to lay a finger on me." The soldiers said, "The raja has
given orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times
is to be brought before him." Lelha replied, "Go, and tell the raja,
that the horse bites, so we could not stop him. The raja will not
be displeased with you." He then rode away to the camp, and having
returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he began to prepare the
evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers arrived.
After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, wondering
who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, and said,
"What is it, brothers, that you are talking about?" Some said, "Beat
him, what has he got to do listening?" Others said, "Do not beat him,
he cooks for us." So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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