12                          ALBERUNTS INDIA.

There he was found by the hostile army, was recog¬
nised and brought before Kanik, who asked what was
the matter with him. The Vazir said: "I tried to
dissuade him from opposing you, and sincerely advised
him to be obedient to you. He, however, conceived a
suspicion against me and ordered me to be mutilated.
Since then he has gone, of his own accord, to a place
which a man can only reach by a very long journey
when he marches on the high road, but which he may
easily reach by undergoing the trouble of crossing an
intervening desert, supposing that he can carry with
himself water for so and so many days." Thereupon
Kanik answered: "The latter is easily done." He
ordered water to be carried along, and engaged the
Vaztr to show him the road. The Vazir marched be¬
fore the king and led him into a boundless desert.
After the number of days had elapsed and the road did
not come to an end, the king asked the Vazir what was
now to be done. Then the Vazir said: "No blame
attaches to me that I tried to save my master and to
destroy his enemy. The nearest road leading out of
this desert is that on which you have come. Now do
with me as you like, for none will leave this desert
alive."

Then Kanik got on his horse and rode round a de¬
pression in the soil. In the centre of it he thrust his
spear into the earth, and lo! water poured from it in
sufficient quantity for the army to drink from and to
draw from for the march back. Upon this the Vazir
said: "I had not directed my cunning scheme against
powerful angels, but against feeble men. As things
stand thus, accept my intercession for the prince, my
benefactor, and pardon him." Kanik answered: "I
Page 208. march back from this place. Thy wish is granted to
thee. Thy master has already received what is due to
him." Kanik returned out of the desert, and the Vazir
went back to his master, the rdi of Kanoj.    There he