The next morning the thief was led to the place of execution to be impaled, and the drums were beaten.And Pearl, the merchant's daughter, saw him from her balcony.All bloody and dusty as he was, she went mad with love, found her father, and said to him: "Father, I am going to marry that thief who is being led to execution.You must save him from the king.Otherwise I shall die with him."But her father said: "What do you mean, my daughter? That thief stole everything the citizens had, and the king's men are going to kill him.How can I save him from the king? Besides, what nonsense are you talking?" But the more he scolded, the more determined she became.And as he loved his daughter, he went to the king and offered all he had for the release of the thief.
But the king would not be tempted by millions.He would not release the thief who stole everything, whom he had captured at the risk of his life.So the father returned home sadly.And the girl, not heeding the arguments of her relatives, took a bath, entered a litter, and went to the death-scene ofthe rogue, to die with him.Her parents and her relatives followed her, weeping.
At that moment the executioners impaled the thief.As his life ebbed away, he saw the girl and the people with her, and learned her story.Then the tears rolled down his cheeks, but he died with a smile on his lips.
The faithful girl took the thief's body from the stake, and mounted the pyre to burn herself.But the blessed god Shiva was staying invisibly in the cemetery, and at that moment he spoke from the sky: "O faithful wife, I am pleased with your constancy to the husband of your choice.Choose whatever boon you will from me."The girl worshipped the gracious god and chose her boon: "O blessed one, my father has no son.May he have a hundred.Otherwise his childless life would end when I am gone."And the god spoke again from the sky: "O faithful wife, your father shall have a hundred sons.But choose another boon.A woman faithful as you are deserves more than the little thing you asked."Then she said: "O god, if I have won your favour, may this my husband live and always be a good man."The invisible Shiva spoke from the sky: "So be it.Your husband shall be made alive and well.He shall be a good man, and King Hero-banner shall be pleased with him."Then the thief arose at once, alive and well.And the merchant Jewel was overjoyed and astonished.He took Pearl and the thief, his son-in-law, went home with his rejoicing relatives, and made a feast great as his own delight, in honour of the sons he was to have.
And the king was pleased when he learned the story, and in recognition of the stupendous courage of the thief, he appointed him general at once.The thief reformed, married the merchant's daughter, and lived happily with her, devoted to virtue.
When the goblin had told this story, he reminded the king of the curse, and said: "O king, when the thief on the stake saw the merchant's daughter approaching with her father, did he weep or laugh? Tell me."And the king answered: "He thought:I can make no return to this merchant for his unselfish friendship.' Therefore he wept from grief.Andhe also thought:Why does this girl reject kings and fall in love with a thief like me? How strange women are!' Therefore he laughed from astonishment."When the goblin heard this, he immediately slipped from the king's shoulder and escaped to his home.But the king was not discouraged.He followed him to the sissoo tree.
