XIV.

THE THREE CALAMITIES.

From that time these four young men becamethe confidential advisers of king Alakesa in allimportant affairs of state, and, as night is the houseof sins, they in turn kept a regular watch in thecity of Alakapuri, each patrolling the streets duringthree hours of the night. Thus they continued tofaithfully servė king Alakesa, till one night, theFirst Minister, when his watch was over, proceededas usual, to see whether the royal bedchamber wasproperly guarded; after which he went to the templeof the goddess Kali, where he heard what seemed tohim the voice of a woman, lamenting and sobbing ingreat distress. Concealing himself behind the vad-tree of the temple, he called out:-

" Who are you, poor woman? and why do youthus weep?"

At once the cries ceased, and a voice from thetemple inquired:-

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" Who art thou that thus questionest me?"

Then the minister knew that it was Kali herself