a dolt as not to understand all this. Is there none to fetch Nau and Chota Rani to the palace?" This speech of the Raja added fuel to the fire of excitement burning in Kalabutti's bosom, and she hurried off at the head of her whole Court to the two Ranis, and formally escorted them into the royal mansion. The other Ranis and their sons, in shame and sorrow, sought their own chambers. Bhootoom and Boodhu came into the Durbar, and made their obeisance to their father. Their stars were at last in the ascendant. Next day, with great éclat, Boodhu was married to Kalabutti, and Bhootoom to a foreign princess, Herabati by name. But a sad visitation fell upon the heads of the five princes and their mothers. The doors of the rooms in which they had shut themselves up were blocked up with mud and thorns, and they were left to die of hunger.
Time passed smoothly over the heads of the Raja and his people, when one night they were startled by the cries of Kalabutti and Herabati, who, waking out of their sleep, had respectively seen on their beds a monkey's and an owl's skin. The whole house resounded with lamentations at the probable death of Bhootoom and Boodhu, but every one was soon disabused of his error by the Raja's daughters-in-law who, peeping out of their windows, saw two princes of godlike mien on horseback, keeping watch at the palace gate. They recognized their husbands in the riders, understood what the mystery was, and at once burned the disguises their lords had assumed. Bhootoom and Boodhu were then formally acknowledged as Jubarajas, or heirs apparent to the crown. Their names were changed into Rupkumar and Budhkumar. The Raja, with his two reconciled Ranis, their sons and daughters-in-law, passed his days in great happiness till, stricken in years, he retired to the distant forest to seek his spiritual and eternal welfare, leaving the kingdom to his sons.
