Page:Karl Gjellerup - The Pilgrim Kamanita - 1911.djvu/185

 "Now, Angulimala," Satagira broke the silence, "repeat in the presence of this noble maiden what thou hast confessed on the rack regarding the murder of the young merchant Kamanita of Ujjeni."

"Kamanita was not murdered," answered the robber gruffly," but taken prisoner and made away with, according to our customs."

And he now related to me in a few words what my father had already told me of the matter.

I stood, meanwhile, with my back to the asoka tree, and supported myself by clutching the trunk with both hands, burying my finger-nails convulsively in the bark in order to keep myself from falling. When Angulimala had finished speaking, everything seemed to be going round in a whirl. But even yet I did not give up.

"Thou art an infamous robber and murderer," I said. "What value can thy word have for me? Why shouldst thou not say what he commands thee, into whose power thy villainies have brought thee?"

And, as if by an inspiration which astonished even myself, and caused a glimmer of hope to flash up within me, I added—

"Thou dost not dare to look me even once in the eyes—thou, the terror of all human beings—me, a weak girl! Thou dost not dare—because at the instigation of this man thou art telling a cowardly lie."

Angulimala did not look up, but he laughed harshly, and answered in a voice that sounded like the growling of a fettered beast of prey—

"What good end would be served by looking thee in the eyes? I leave that to young dandies. The eyes of an 'infamous robber' thou wouldst believe as little