Page:Satyagraha in South Africa.pdf/80

 Indian dress and painting his face to see me and deliver to me the following message: “If you wish to save your friend, his guests and property, and your own family, I advise you to disguise yourself as an Indian constable, come out through Rustomji’s godown, steal through the crowd with my man and reach the Police Station. A carriage is awaiting you at the corner of the street. This is the only way in which I can save you and others. The crowd is so excited that I am not in a position to control it. If you are not prompt in following my directions, I am afraid the crowd will raze Rustomji’s house to the ground and it is impossible for me to imagine how many lives will be lost and how much property destroyed.”

I gauged the situation at once. I quickly disguised myself as a constable and left Rustomji’s house. The Police Officer and I reached the Police Station in safety. In the meantime Mr Alexander was humouring the crowd by singing topical songs and talking to them. When he knew that I had reached the Police Station, he became serious and asked:

“What do you want?”

“We want Gandhi.”

“What will you do with him?”

“We will burn him.”

“What harm has he done to you?”

“He has vilified us in India and wants to flood Natal with Indians.”

“What if he does not come out?”

“We will then burn this house.”

“His wife and children are also there. There are other men and women besides. Would you not be ashamed of burning women and children?”

“The responsibility for that will rest with you. What can we do when you make us helpless in the matter? We do not wish to hurt any one else. It would be enough if you hand over Gandhi to us. If you do not surrender the culprit, and if others are injured in our endeavour to capture him, would it be fair on your part to blame us?”