lse, and the gamblers won it all. Then he
wagered money he did not have, and lost that. And when they asked him
to pay, he could not. So the gambling-master caught him and beat him
with clubs.

When he was bruised all over by the clubs, the Brahman youth became
motionless like a stone, and pretended to be dead, and waited. After he
had lain thus for two or three days, the heartless gambling-master said
to the gamblers: "He lies like a stone. Take him somewhere and throw
him into a blind well. I will pay you the money he owes."

So the gamblers picked Moon-lord up and went far into the forest,
looking for a well. Then one old gambler said to the others: "He is as
good as dead. What is the use of throwing him into a well now? We will
leave him here and go back and say we have left him in a well." And all
the rest agreed, and left him there, and went back.

When they were gone, Moon-lord rose and entered a deserted temple to
Shiva. When he had rested a little there, he thought in great anguish:
"Ah, I trusted the rascally gamblers, and they cheated me. Where shall
I go now, naked and dusty as I am? What would my father say if he saw
me now, or any relative, or any friend? I will stay here for the
present, and at night I will go out and try to find food somehow to
appease my hunger."

While he reflected in weariness and nakedness, the sun grew less hot
and disappeared. Then a terrible hermit named Stake came there, and he
had smeared his body with ashes. When he had seen Moon-lord and asked
who he was and heard his story, he said, as the youth bent low before
him: "Sir, you have come to my hermitage, a guest fainting with hunger.
Rise, bathe, and partake of the meal I have gained by begging."

Then Moon-lord said to him: "Holy sir, I am a Brahman. How can I
partake of such a meal?"

Then the hermit-magician went into his hut and out of tenderness to his
guest he thought of a magic spell which grants all desires. And the
spell appeared in bodily form, and said: "What shall I do?" And the
hermit said: "Treat that man as an honoured guest."

Then Moon-lord was astonished to see a golden palace rise before him
and a grove with women in it. They came to him from the palace and
said: "Sir, rise, come, bathe, eat, and meet our mistress." So they led
him in and gave him a chance to bathe and anoint himself and dress.
Then they led him to another room.

There the youth saw a woman of wonderful beauty, whom the Creator must