e? This will I not do; surely I should be accounted
worthy of death." The king would not listen to him, but entered the
royal kitchen, and with his own hands cooked some food which he
compelled the thief to eat.

Now, the king had prepared two messes, one in which he had cunningly
placed some opium and one without, and it was the food which contained
the opium that the king gave to the _boh_. Therefore, after a little
time, he said to the king:

"O disciple of mine, I know not what is the matter with me. I have no
strength and although it is death to sleep in the Golden Palace yet must
I sleep, for if I do not I shall surely die."

As he said these words his head drooped upon his chest, his eyes closed
and he fell asleep. Once more was the heart of the king filled with joy
and he bound the _boh_ with strong ropes in great haste and made him a
prisoner.

Early the next morning the king called the officer who was in charge of
the guard the night before and when he was come before the face of his
majesty, the king said:

"I have a parable to tell thee. Once upon a time there was a great king
and in his country was also a famous robber chief and, behold, one night
the king was sore troubled with questions of statecraft so that he could
not sleep, therefore he walked throughout his palace. As he was passing
through the courtyard he spied a ladder hanging from the top of the
wall. Now the thief of whom I have spoken had that very night entered
the Golden Palace and at that same moment the king caught sight of him,
loaded down with plunder, creeping toward the rope ladder beside which
he stood. Then the king fell upon him and took him prisoner, bound him
securely with strong ropes and dragged him to a safe place; but the
soldiers who should have been watching were all asleep. What should be
done to such guards as these?"

Now the officer did not yet know that the _dahs_ of his men had been
stolen, so bowing before the Golden Foot, he replied:

"Head of thy servant's body, there is but one thing to be done, they are
worthy of death. Their lord should pass judgment upon them without mercy
and that immediately."

"That is a good judgment," replied the king, and turning again to the
officer of the guard, he said:

"Last night I saw the great and renowned robber chief, Boh Lek Byah, in
this palace. I took him prisoner with mine own hands, behold, he lies
tied fast with ropes in yonder room, but all the guards who should