PAGE 6
The Two Chinamen
by
The beggar assented to these terms and seized the bow. He took hold of the string and without any show of strength pulled it a hand’s-breadth, and then as the king and his courtiers looked on in amazement he pulled it to its full length, placed the string on the ivory trigger, put an arrow on it, and asked the king where he should shoot.
“Straight up into the air,” said the king. The beggar raised the bow, twang went the string, and the arrow whizzed out of sight. Everybody stood looking up into the sky when suddenly one of the courtiers gave a warning cry. It came too late. The arrow had gone straight up, turned, and fell almost on the same spot from whence it was shot. Almost, but not quite, for in its fall it struck the upturned face of the king and he fell dead.
A great cry was raised as the king fell and the guards rushed forward to seize the beggar and lead him to immediate execution, but he waved them off with a gesture of his hand. The next instant his rags fell from him and he stood before them in the royal robes of a king.
Thus we see that the younger brother, although indeed he had not murdered his brother the king, yet did kill him in his thoughts and intentions, and he suffered the punishment that is always meted out to the man who kills his fellow.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
PUC. Curry.
ZAYAT. A place built for the accommodation of travelers, also used as an assembly place for worship, especially during religious feasts; they are usually built near monasteries.
PARAH. (Burmese, payah ) a god; an image of Gautama Buddha.
KAM. Luck.
MAU. To be skillful.
AMAT LOeNG. The chief amat or chief counselor of a prince.
SOIE. The Indian ” viss “; a weight equal to about three and a half pounds avoirdupois.
CHATTIE. A cooking pot, usually made of earthenware.
HUeK. A deep rent in the earth with steep sides; a ravine; a torrent usually runs in it during the rainy season, but it is dry in the hot season.
HPEA. Spirit or supernatural being.
AMAT. A minister of State.
HSAN. A rice bag.
NANG ME PRAH. A queen.