"What," said the Jemadar, "is there nobody to go and receive his
highness in due form?" One of the shopkeepers was untied, and
presented with fifteen rupees by his family, and those of the other
shopkeepers. These he took up and presented to his highness, who
deigned to receive them through one of his train, and then dismounted
and partook of the feast that had been provided. "Now", said his
highness, "we will go and hold an inquest on the body of the poor
boy"; and off moved all the great functionaries of government to the
sugar-cane field, with the village watchman leading the way. The
father of the boy met them as they entered, and was pointed out by
the village watchman. "Where", said the Thanadar, "is your poor boy?"
"There," said Madari, "cutting the canes." "How, cutting the canes?
Was he not murdered by the shopkeepers?" "No," said Madari, "he was
beaten by Girdhari, and richly deserved it! I find." Girdhari and the
boy were called up, and the little urchin said that he called out
murder merely to prevent Girdhari from giving him another clout on
the side of the head. His father was then fined nine rupees for
giving a false alarm, and Girdhari fifteen for so unmercifully
beating the boy; and they were made to pay on the instant, under the
penalty of all being sent off forty miles to the magistrate.
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