ten complete years rolled away in close imprisonment. on the last evening of the tenth year one of the serpents got into the bed-chamber of the princess and sucked her life. she breathed her last. she was the only daughter of the king. the king at once sent for all the snake-bite curers. he promised half his kingdom and his daughter's hand to him who would restore her to life. now a servant of the king who had several times overheard gangazara's cries, reported the matter to him. the king at once ordered the cell to be examined. there was the man sitting in it. how had he managed to live so long in the cell?