Give me enough to kill two jackals, and I will
pay you fifty rupees."
The _Chandal_ felt certain that a murder was intended, but he could
not resist the fifty rupees, and consented to sell the poison.
Hira fetched the money from her house and gave it to him. The
_Chandal_ twisted up a pungent life-destroying poison in paper, and
gave it to her.
In departing, Hira said, "Mind you betray this to no one, else we
shall both suffer."
The _Chandal_ answered, "I do not even know you, mother."
Thus freed from fear, Hira went home. When there she held the poison
in her hand, weeping bitterly; then, wiping her eyes, she said--
"What fault have I committed that I should die? Why should I die
without killing him who has struck me? I will not take this poison.
He who has reduced me to this condition shall eat it, or, if not, I
will give it to his beloved Kunda Nandini. After one of these two are
dead, if necessary I also will take it."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HIRA'S GRANDMOTHER.
"Hira's old grandmother
Walks about picking up
A basket of cowdung.
With her teeth cracking pebbles.
Eating _jak_ fruit by the hundred."
Hira's grandmother hobbled along with the help of a stick, followed by
boys reciting the above unrivalled verses, clapping their hands and
dancing as they went.
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