Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/197

Rh happen to you? I do not know but that you might fall in the hands of robbers or into a ditch. This night, mother, you should not go out" Kalayani said, " My child, I am a beggar woman and have not got a cowrie with me ; the robbers, I am sure, wont molest me." "But you have youth, mother," slyly observed the warder, "you have youth. That is the greatest jewel now-a-days. Why, even I may turn a robber for that." Kalyani saw it was dangerous to stay there, and, without saying another word, slowly passed the watch. The warder saw that the ' mother ' did not appreciate his joke, and in his anguish gave a mighty pull at his hemp and began a song of love in the Jhinjhit Kkambaj tune. Kalyani went away. On that night the roads swarmed with hoards of passers-by, some crying ( kill, kill ' and others crying ' fly, fly,' some laughing and others crying. Everybody made for every one whom he saw. Kalyani was in great distress. She did not remember the way nor could she ask anybody how it lay, for everybody looked suspicious. She could only hide herself in the dark as she walked. Even while she was going on, she was discovered by a company of insolent and excited rebels. They made a loud shout and ran to catch hold of her. Kalyani then ran breathlessly into the woods. There too, some robbers followed her. One caught hold of the skirt of her cloth and said, " What now, my good creature ? " At that movement another suddenly came up and gave a