Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/14

 and took a hasty meal, knowing that however early we started it would be nightfall before we reached our journey's end. Halfway, there was a great lake of water known as the Black Tank, nearly a mile long, lying in the midst of lofty banks looking like hills, through which our road lay. The lake was surrounded by dense groves of ancient banyan trees. Its waters were as the dark thunderclouds in colour, very beautiful to look upon. The place was almost uninhabited. There was a single shop at the spot where travellers drew water when they halted by the lake. Not far distant was a little village, also called Kaladighi, after the Black Tank.

People feared to pass by this lake. The region had a bad repute for robbers, and travellers made up strong parties if they had to go this way. In fact the lake was commonly known as "Dakate Kaladighi", the Black Lake of the Dacoits. The solitary shopkeeper was suspected of being in league with thieves. As for me, I entertained no fears. There were