At last, after having gone several hundred miles, she came one day to a fine city situated on the banks of a beautiful river, and on the city walls a proclamation was painted in large letters. Seventee Bai inquired of the people what it meant, who told her that it was to say the Rajah's daughter would marry any man who could tame a certain pony belonging to her father, which was very vicious. 'Has no one been able to manage it?' asked Seventee Bai. 'No one,' they said. 'Many have tried, but failed miserably. The pony was born on the same day as the Princess. It is so fierce that no one can approach it; but when the Princess heard how wild it was, she vowed she would marry no one who could not tame it. Every one who likes is free to try.' Then Seventee Bai said, 'Show me the pony to-morrow. I think I shall be able to tame it.' They answered, 'You can try if you like, but it is very dangerous, and you are but a youth.' She replied, 'God gives his strength to the weak. I do not fear.' So she went to sleep, and early next morning they beat a drum all round the town to let every one know that another man was going to try and tame the Rajah's pony, and all the people flocked out of their houses to see the sight. The pony was in a field near the river, and Seventee Bai ran up to it, as it came running towards her intending to trample her to death, and seized it firmly by the mane, so that it could neither strike her with its fore-legs nor kick her. The pony tried to shake her off, but Seventee Bai clung firmly on, and finally jumped on its back; and when the pony found that it was mastered, it became quite gentle and tame. Then Seventee Bai, to show how completely she had conquered, put spurs to the pony to make it jump the river, and the pony immediately sprang up in the air and right across the river (which was a jump of three miles), and this it did three times (for it was strong and agile, and had never been ridden before); and when all the people saw this they shouted for joy, and ran down to the river-bank and brought Seventee Bai, riding in triumph on the pony, to see the Rajah. And the Rajah said, 'O best of men, and worthy of all honour, you have won my daughter!' So he took Seventee Bai to the palace, and paid her great honour, and gave her jewels, and rich clothes, and horses and camels innumerable. The Princess also came to greet the winner of her hand. Then they said, 'To-morrow shall be the wedding day.' But Seventee Bai replied, 'Great Rajah and beautiful Princess, I am now going on an important errand of my own Rajah's; let me, I
