Page:Masani - Gandhi's story.pdf/15

Rh who walked on either side of him. Slowly they approached the crowd. Gandhiji smiled and greeted people as he walked to the platform on which he was to sit. As he was about to climb up the stairs to the platform, a young man sprang out from the side and stood facing him. His hands were raised as if in salutation. Gandhiji was about to acknowledge his greetings when three shots rang out in the air. Gandhiji folded his hands in prayer and fell to the ground with Ram Ram, the name of God, on his lips. For a few moments everybody was too stunned to realize what had happened. The murderer saw his opportunity and tried to get away, but somebody from the crowd leapt on him and held him fast. The people rushed to the spot where Gandhiji lay bleeding. They lifted him tenderly and carried him inside. He lay unconscious and never opened his eyseyes [sic]. After a few minutes he breathed his last."

There was silence. Nobody spoke for a while.

Paltoo sat with his face buried in his hands. He raised his head and sighed, “Ah, these are wicked times indeed if the life of one so holy is not safe. Surely the end of the world is near.”

"They say Gandhiji knew he was going to die,” continued Krishna.“ He sent for all his papers and letters this morning and insisted that he should answer them and that no important matter be left undecided. He