The Water-carrier claims his reward
The King who kept his Word
There is one story told of Humayun, the Moon-Lady’s son, which is worth remembering.
Sher Khan, the Afghan, turned traitor, and the King was compelled to fly for his life. But there was no escape except across a river in flood; and his horse sank exhausted in mid-stream. Then the King would have died; but a water-carrier on the opposite bank saw the King’s trouble, and brought him his own skin-bags, on which Humayun floated safely to land.
“I have nothing to give thee now,” said the King; “but come to me in Agra, and if I live thou shalt sit on my throne for a whole day.” The King did live, and got back his kingdom; and the water-carrier came to claim his reward.
Humayun kept his word, like the King that he was.
For one whole day the water-carrier sat on the throne; and the skin that had saved the King’s life was cut into little pieces and stamped into money by the Royal Mint.