The  following  morning  the  younger  prince  thought  that
he  also  would  visit  this  jungle  and  try  his  luck.  So  he
quickly  learnt  the  words  of  the  charm  and  started.  He
arrived  at  the  jungle,  and  climbed  the  same  tree  near  the
hut,  and  waited  there  patiently  for  the  robbers'  coming.
Just  before  dark  they  appeared,  bringing  with  them
several  loads  of  treasure.  On  reaching  the  hut  they
entered  by  means  of  the  charm,  as  before.  Great  was
their  surprise  and  anger  when  they  found  that  some  per-
son had  been  to  the  place  and  taken  some  of  the  things.
They  uttered  such  terrible  oaths,  and  vowed  such  fearful
vengeance  on  the  offender,  that  the  prince  up  in  the  tree
trembled  exceedingly,  and  began  to  repent  his  adventure.
In  the  morning  the  robbers  again  left ;  and  as  soon  as
they  were  well  out  df  the  way  ihe  boy  descended  the  tree
and  went  and  repeated  the  charm  whereby  the  door  of  the
hut  was  opened.  The  door  obeyed,  and  he  entered.  But,
alas !  the  door  closed  as  soon  as  he  was  inside,  and  would
not  open  again,  although  the  boy  shouted  till  he  was
hoarse,  and  begged  and  prayed  that  he  might  be  set  free.
Evidently  the  poor  boy  had  omitted  or  added  something
to  the  words  of  the  charm,  and  thus  brought  this  mis-


THE  ROBBERS  ROBBED.  269

fortune  on  himself.  Terrible  must  have  been  his  feelings
as  he  counted  the  hours  to  the  robbers'  return,  and  tried
to  imagine  what  they  would  do  to  him,  when  they  saw
him  there !  It  was  vain  to  hope  for  escape.  He  was
shut  up  in  a  prison  of  his  own  making,  and  must  bear  the
consequences.
