q = 2 Fy | i IV.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. = 321 and sent to the fields to tend the sheep. Dhanapati was naturaliy indignant at this ; but as the party against him, who were jealous of his wealth and power, grew strong, Khullana, inspite of her hus- band’s strong objections, stepped forward on the scene and declared her unshaken resolve to pass through a number of ordeals with a view to estab- lishing her innocence. The ordeals began. A venom- ous snake was let loose to bite her, but she appear- ed livelier after the bite, Chandi having herself pro- tected her favourite. Her enemies, however, said that it was alla trick, the snake was a harmless one. Next she was branded with a red-hot iron; but by the grace of Chandi, it did not leave any mark on her person. ‘The relations again said that this was also a trick. The iron-bar was made red by some device without being heated. Next a house of lac was built and Khullang wis placed inside, and it was set on fire. The fire spread with fury; the lac-house was destroyed. Dhanapati grew mad with grief; he offered to throw himself into the fire and put an end to his life, as without his loving wife Khullana who had suffered great ills in life and now met a tragic death all for his own fault, life would be unbearable. But just as he stepped forward to fling himself into the burning embers, there appeared Khullana fresher and livelier, than ever,—her red apparel shining in the glare of the fire, and not a hair of her head touched by the flames with which she was sur- rounded. The relations and friends stood wonder-struck at this spectacle. Instinctively they bowed to her 41 The ordeals,
