the
idea, and begged him not to go. But the lad was resolved on going, and
nothing could prevent him from carrying out his purpose. He accordingly
went alone on board that same vessel which had brought him and his
mother, and set sail. He reached the whirlpool, from near which he had
formerly picked up the rubies. This time, however, he determined to go
to the exact spot whence the rubies were coming out. He went to the
centre of the whirlpool, where he saw a gap reaching to the bottom of
the ocean. He dived into it, leaving his boat to wheel round the
whirlpool. When he reached the bottom of the ocean he saw there a
beautiful palace. He went inside. In the central room of the palace
there was the god Siva, with his eyes closed, and absorbed apparently in
intense meditation. A few feet above Siva's head was a platform, on
which lay a young lady of exquisite beauty. The prince went to the
platform and saw that the head of the lady was separated from her body.
Horrified at the sight, he did not know what to make of it. He saw a
stream of blood trickling from the severed head, falling upon the matted
head of Siva, and running into the ocean in the form of rubies. After a
little two small rods, one of silver and one of gold, which were lying
near the head of the lady, attracted his eyes. As he took up the rods in
his hands, the golden rod accidentally fell upon the head, on which the
head immediately joined itself to the body, and the lady got up.
Astonished at the sight of a human being, the lady asked the prince who
he was and how he had got there. After hearing the story of the prince's
adventures, the lady said, "Unhappy young man, depart instantly from
this place; for when Siva finishes his meditations he will turn you to
ashes by a single glance of his eyes." The young man, however, would not
go except in her company, as he was over head and ears in love with the
beautiful lady. At last they both contrived to run away from the palace,
and coming up to the surface of the ocean they climbed into the boat
near the centre of the whirlpool, and sailed away toward land, having
previously laden the vessel with a cargo of rubies. The wonder of the
prince's mother at seeing the beautiful damsel may be well imagined.
Early next morning the prince sent a basin full of big rubies, through a
servant. The king was astonished beyond measure. His daughter, on
getting the rubies, resolved on marrying the wonderful lad who had made
a pr