he gasped -- ` what is this dreadful thing ? How am I to know it and to catch it ? Only counsel me and help me , and I will do all that you advise . ' ` Ah ! ' replied the jogi , ` it is indeed dreadful . It is in the shape of a beautiful girl , but it is really an evil spirit . Last evening it came to visit me , and when I looked upon it its beauty faded into hideousness , its teeth became horrible fangs , its eyes glared like coals of fire , great claws sprang from its slender fingers , and were I not what I am it might have consumed me . ' The king could hardly speak from alarm , but at last he said : ` How am I to distinguish this awful thing when I see it ? ' ` Search , ' said the jogi , ` for a lovely girl with a lance wound in her leg , and when she is found secure her safely and come and tell me , and I will advise you what to do next . ' Away hurried the king , and soon set all his soldiers scouring the country for a girl with a lance wound in her left . For two days the search went on , and then it was somehow discovered that the only person with a lance wound in the leg was the princess herself . The king , greatly agitated , went off to tell the jogi , and to assure him that there must be some mistake . But of course the jogi was prepared for this , and had his answer ready . ` She is not really your daughter , who was stolen away at her birth , but an evil spirit that has taken her form , ' said he solemnly . ` You can do what you like , but if you do n't take my advice she will kill you all . ' And so solemn he appeared , and so unshaken in his confidence , that the king 's wisdom was blinded , and he declared that he would do whatever the jogi advised , and believe whatever he said . So the jogi directed him to send him secretly two carpenters ; and when they arrived he set them to make a great chest , so cunningly jointed and put together that neither air nor water could penetrate it . There and then the chest was made , and , when it was ready , the jogi bade the king to bring the princess by night ; and they two thrust the poor little maiden into the chest and fastened it down with long nails , and between them carried it to the river and pushed it out into the stream . As soon as the jogi got back from this deed he called two of his pupils , and pretended that it had been revealed to him that there should be found floating on the river a chest with something of great price within it ; and he bade them go and watch for it at such a place far down the stream , and when the chest came slowly along , bobbing and turning in the tide , they were to seize it and secretly and swiftly bring it to him , for he was now determined to put the princess to death himself . The pupils set off at once , wondering at the strangeness of their errand , and still more at the holiness of the jogi to whom such secrets were revealed .
It happened that , as the next morning was dawning , the gallant young prince of Dilaram was hunting by the banks of the river , with a great following of wazirs , attendants , and huntsmen , and as he rode he saw floating XXXXX the river a large chest , which came slowly along , bobbing and turning in the tide .
So at between from if into of on to with