became as the gold of a jewel when it holds a ruby most precious.
In
due time a son was born to them, and the father and his sire and all
the people with them were exceeding glad, for said they, "Now is wisdom
and power established on the throne of Travancore and a son's son will
guard the name of our lord."
Now
when the princess was a maid in the land of her father, a Rover from
the coast of Kandy had greatly desired her, and when she was carried
away to Travancore he was very wroth. It was told that he would seek
vengeance, but another year passed and another son came and both the
children and the mother thrived.
But
one day, when many sea-boats lay within the harbor of a city of
Travancore where much trading was done with men who came from far-off
countries and when multitudes were gathered there, it chanced that the
princess passed by the market-place. Suddenly, a great number of them
that were there from foreign shores, gathered together, and drawing
swords, rushed upon the guards which accompanied
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