like the flash of lightning in a cloudy sky, it died out as suddenly as it came.
Indra seemed to regard Didi's laughter as an encouragement and he said smilingly, 'I know that you know everything. Teach me every one of the things you have learnt, and I will remain your slave for the rest of my life. How many dead bodies have you brought to life, Didi?'
'But I tell you I don't know how to bring the dead back to life, Indranath.'
'Hasn't Shahji taught you that mantra, Didi? But you must have learnt from him how to "pass the cowrie-shells"?'
'Oh, no,' said Didi; 'I don't even know what that is.'
Indra evidently did not believe it. 'Of course you don't,' he said sarcastically. 'Why not tell me plainly that you won't teach me?' Then, turning towards me, he asked 'Have you ever seen cowrie-shells being passed, Srikanta? Two shells, under the spell of mantras, will fly and find where the snake is; and then they will stick to his hood with the grip of a vice. Even if the snake were the distance of a day's journey away, they would drag him all the way to your feet. Such is the power of spells. But, Didi, you must know the art of "binding the house and binding the body" and "magnetizing dust" and so forth? If you don't, how could you catch that snake as you did?' and he turned a questioning face towards Didi.
55
