sentinels awoke, and snatching up their arms, and being on the alert, began to fire their muskets. On hearing their report, the elephants began to scream, lions to roar, and dogs to bark. At this time amidst the darkness of night, and in the rain, a sentinel came, and having joined his hands, said to Kuns, “O great king! your enemy has been born.” On hearing this, Kuns fell down insensible. CHAPTER V. On hearing of the birth of the infant, Kuns trembling with fear arose, and taking a sword ran reeling along; his hair dishevelled, bathed in sweat, he came to his sister in extreme agitation. When he snatched away the child from her, she said, joining her hands, “O brother! this infant girl is thy niece, do not kill her, as she is my last child. You have put to death my sons, the loss of whom afflicts me greatly; why will you increase your crimes by killing this infant without cause?” Kuns replied, “I will not give the child alive to thee; that is, I will not let her live, because whoever marries her, will put me to death.” Having said this, and gone outside, just as he was about to dash the child to pieces, she escaped from his hand, and ascended to heaven, and exclaimed, “O Kuns! what have you gained by attempting to dash me to pieces, thy enemy has been born somewhere, and now thou shalt not escape with life?” Having heard this, Kuns filled with regret, came to where Basoodeo and Dewukee were standing, and on his arrival, had their handcuffs and leg-irons cut off; and submissively said, “I have committed a great crime in putting your sons to death; how will this stain be washed out, in what birth shall I obtain salvation? Your gods were false, who said, that in Dewukee’s eighth pregnancy a boy should be born; this has not been the case, but a girl has been produced, and she too having escaped from my hands has ascended to heaven; exercise compassion, and do not allow your thoughts to dwell upon my sins; because no one can obliterate what has been written in fate. After having come into the world, a man cannot be free from life, death, good and bad fortune. They, who are wise, consider life and death alike, and the proud look upon them as friendly and hostile. You are great observers of truth in having brought your sons to me.”