Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/113

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had once saved them from a case of robbery in which they were involved; so they felt a little ashamed to raise their hands against him. Mr. Wood gave a blow to the Jamadar, took the stick out of his hand and smote with it the head of the eldest Babu. The head was cracked, and he fell down senseless on the ground; I tried much, but was not able to go into that crowd. Torapa was observing this from a distance; and as soon as the men stood round the eldest Babu, he with violence rushed into this crowd like an obstinate buffalo, took him up, and flew off.

Torapa.   I was told [by the eldest Babu] "to stand at a distance, lest they take me away by force." The fools hate me very much! Do I hide myself when there is a tumult? If I had gone a little before, I would have brought the Babu safe, and would have sacrificed two of those rascals in the Durgah of Borkat Bibi (the temple of Benediction). My whole body was shrunk on observing the head of the Babu; then, when should I kill these? Oh! Allah! The eldest Babu saved me so many times, but I was not able to save him once. (Beats his forehead and cries).

Priest.   I see a wound from a weapon on his breast.

Sadhu.   As soon as Torapa rushed into the crowd, the young Saheb struck the Babu with the sword. Torapa saved the Babu by placing his own hand, in front of his, which was cut, and there was the sign of a slight bruise on the Babu's breast.

Priest.   (Deeply thinking for some time, says to himself) "Man knows this for certain, that understanding and goodness are necessary in the friend, the wife, and in servants." I do not see a single person in this large house; but a person of a different caste and of another village, is weeping near the Babu. Ah! the poor man is a day-labourer, and his very hand is cut off. Why is his face all daubed over with blood?

Sadhu.   When the young Saheb struck his hand with the sword, like an ichneumon making a noise when its tail is cut

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