launched it on the river along which the princes had passed, the durba, the paddy, and shells being considered emblems of good luck. As an additional security for success they marked each canoe with spots of vermilion, and anxiously waited for the owl and the monkey. On returning from the carpenter's they saw the preparations made by their mothers, gladly availed themselves of them, and set out on their voyage.
The princes had meanwhile reached the kingdoms of the three witches mentioned by Kalabutti, and were, with all their retinue, at once seized by three old men who stood as sentinels, put into a gunny-bag, and taken to the witches, who regaled themselves on the captives for three successive evenings. But by a miracle the princes lost neither their lives nor their consciousness. One night, though confined within the walls of the stomachs of the witches, they talked to one another thus, when their devourers were asleep, "O brothers, we shall have to remain buried within these infernal creatures. No more shall we see our parents." While they were in this state of despair the owl and the monkey, having finished the first stage of their voyage, reached the accursed shore. No violence was done to them, and coming where the old women lay snoring, they heard what the princes said. Boodhu thought of a clever plan to save them. He extended his tail, which they eagerly laid hold of, and dragged them out through the nostrils of the witches, whom they forthwith despatched with the swords put into their hands by Bhootoom. Thus were not only the princes saved, but all their attendants also; and the mayurpankhis were again set afloat. But of poor Bhootoom and Boodhu the ungrateful princes took no further notice. The Rubicon, however, was not yet passed. There still remained the expansive and boisterous waters of the red river to be crossed. The current carried the boats far out into the adjacent sea, at the mercy of which the princes remained for seven days in fear of instant death. It was then in utter helplessness that they exclaimed, "Oh, for Bhootoom
