Bai, looking up, saw that instead of a feeble old woman she was supporting on her shoulders a Rakshas, who was tearing down portions of the flesh and devouring it. Horror-stricken, she sprang back, and with a shrill scream the Rakshas fled away, leaving in her hands the shining saree.
Seventee Bai did not choose to say anything about this adventure to the Ranee, not wishing to alarm her; so on returning to the palace, she merely said that the noise was made by an old woman whom she had found crying under the gallows. She then returned home, and gave the bright saree to Parbuttee Bai.
One fine day, some time after this, two of the Rajah's little daughters thought they would go and see Parbuttee Bai; and as it happened, Parbuttee Bai had on the Rakshas' saree, and was standing by the half-closed window-shutters looking out, when the Princesses arrived at her house. The little Princesses were quite dazzled by the golden saree, and running home said to their mother, 'That young Rajah's wife has the most beautiful saree we ever saw. It shines like the sun, and dazzles one's eyes. We have no sarees half so beautiful, and although you are Ranee you have none so rich as that. Why do you not get one too?'
When the Ranee heard about Parbuttee Bai's saree, she was very eager to have one like it; and she said to the Rajah, 'Your servant's wife is dressed more richly than your Ranee. I hear Parbuttee Bai has a saree more costly than any of mine. Now, therefore, I beg you to get me one like hers; for I cannot rest until I have one equally costly.'
Then the Rajah sent for Seventee Bai, and said, 'Tell me where your wife got her beautiful golden saree; for the Ranee desires to have one like it.' Seventee Bai answered, 'Noble master, that saree came from a very far country—even the country of the Rakshas. It is impossible to get one like it here; but if you will give me leave I will go and search for their country, and, if I succeed in finding it, bring you home sarees of the same kind.' And the Rajah was very much pleased, and ordered Seventee Bai to go. So she returned to her house and bade goodbye to Parbuttee Bai, and warned her to be discreet and cautious; and then mounting her horse, rode away in search of the Rakshas' country.
Seventee Bai travelled for many days through the jungle, going one hundred miles each day, and staying to rest every now and then at little villages on her road.
