to be done, I walked right up to them with unsteady gait and idiotic
look, and said: "Sirs, if I am a thief kill me, but you have no right
to touch this old woman."

She, perceiving my intention, came up, and very humbly said: "Honoured
sirs, this young man is my son. He has been for some time confined as
a lunatic; but was supposed to be cured, and I brought him home
yesterday. In the middle of the night, however, he started up, and
calling out: 'I will kill Kantaka and make love to the king's
daughter,' rushed out into the street. I have at last overtaken him,
and am trying to take him home. Will you be so good as to help me, and
tie his hands behind him that he may not get away again?"

As she said this, I called out: "O old woman, who ever bound a god or
the wind, Shall these crows catch an eagle?" and started off at full
speed. She, renewing her entreaties, begged them to pursue me; but
they only laughed at her, and said: "Do you think we have nothing to
do but to run after madmen? You must be as mad as he is to have taken
him out;" and so they went on their way.

I stopped when I found I was not pursued. She soon overtook me, and
we went to my house, to the great joy of my wife, who had scarcely
hoped for my deliverance.

In the morning I saw Dhanamittra, told him all that had happened, and
thanked him for following my directions so punctually.

After this I went to the forest, to see Mâríchi. I found him restored
to his former condition, and able to give me the desired information.
From him I learnt that you would be here about this time.