The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, the boats in the
same order as previously.
Lelha's four brothers were envious of his good fortune, and on the way
they talked about him, and decided that he must be put to death. They
said, "How can we put him out of the way? If we do not make away with
him, on our return home, he will be sure to secure the succession to
our father's kingdom." Having come to this conclusion the next thing
was, how could it be accomplished, for Lelha was far more powerful than
they were. It was only by stratagem that they could hope to accomplish
their purpose, so they said, "We will invite him to a feast and when
he stands with a foot on either boat, before stepping into ours,
we will push the boats apart and he will fall into the river and
be drowned. We must get his wives to join in the plot, for without
their aid we cannot carry it into execution." During the day they
found means to communicate with Lelha's wives. They said to them,
"We will make a feast on our boat. Make him come on board first,
and when he has a foot on each boat you push yours back, and we
will do the same to ours, and he will fall into the water, and be
drowned. We are the sons of a raja, and our country is very large. We
will take you with us and make you ranis." Lelha's wives pretended to
agree to their proposal; but they afterwards told him all. They said,
"Do as they wish, but you will not be drowned. We will remain faithful
to you, and you will reach home before us."
So the four brothers prepared a sumptuous feast, and the boats were
brought close to each other to enable Lelha and his wives to go on
board. One of Lelha's wives tied a knot on his waist cloth, as a
token that they would remain true to him. He then preceded them in
going into the other boat, and just as he had a foot on each gunwale,
the boats were pushed asunder, and Lelha fell into the water. Having
thus got rid, as they thought, of Lelha, the brothers made all possible
speed homewards.