and demanded the girl’s hand in marriage, but the monarch declined to yield the favour until he had obtained the consent of her father. This was by no means easy to obtain, for not only had the father other intentions in regard to his daughter, but by an evil chance it had happened that in the war shortly before concluded Kai had slain in single combat the dearest friend of the old man, in whose hands the fate of the lovers lay. He answered the King very respectfully that he was unable to bestow his child upon the young warrior, because he had already given his promise that she should be the wife of Mai the Bone breaker; but he added that he was content to allow the matter to be settled by a combat with bare hands between the rival claimants. The proposition seemed fair, and the King having yielded assent, the preparation for the struggle took place. As Kai proceeded to the place where the people had assembled to witness the duel, Kaa sprang forward and seizing the hand of her lover said, “Although my people have fallen in war before your spear, only save me from the Bone-breaker and I will be your faithful servant all your life.” Her father tore her away, and Kai proceeded to the ring around which the nobles and common people had
