sincere kindly glance, his swan-like neck a little bent, and other
traits of a fine man, no one would have believed that from him there
was anything to be feared.

Then the figure dissolving as a cloud in the sky, the mother said--

"Forget not this god-like form. Though benevolent, he will be the
cause of thy misery; therefore avoid him as a snake."

Again pointing to the heavens she continued--

"Look hither."

Kunda, looking, saw a second figure sketched before her, not this time
that of a man, but a young woman of bright complexion and lotus-shaped
eyes. At this sight she felt no fear; but the mother said--

"This dark figure in a woman's dress is a _Rakshasi_.[2] When thou
seest her, flee from her."

[Footnote 2: A female demon.]

As she thus spoke the heavens suddenly became dark, the halo
disappeared from the sky, and with it the bright figure in its midst.

Then Kunda awoke from her sleep.

Nagendra went to the village, the name of which he heard was
Jhunjhunpur. At his recommendation and expense, some of the villagers
performed the necessary rites for the dead, one of the female