On coming to the sand Nobokumar saw that a large wood fire was burning as on the day before. Round about were strewn the things required for a Tantrik's pooja, and among them a human skull full of wine; but there was no corpse. Nobokumar inferred that he was to be the corpse.
Some dry and tough stalks of creepers were already collected there, and the Kapálik commenced to bind Nobokumar firmly. Nobokumar struggled with all his might, but his struggles were of no avail whatever. He found that, old as he was, the Kapálik had the strength of a mad elephant. Seeing Nobokumar's struggles, the Kapálik said, "Fool, why do you struggle? your birth is to-day fruitful; this ball of flesh of yours will be devoted to the worship of Durga; what greater piece of luck can befall a man like you?"
The Kapálik tied Nobokumar firmly, and flung him on the sand; and then commenced to perform the rites preliminary to sacrifice.
The dry creeper-stalks were very tough—
