Page:Srikanta (Part 1).djvu/60

Srikanta 'This! Your Didi's home! But these people are snake-charmer Musalmans.'

Indra was about to say something, but suddenly stopped short: his eyes, as he looked at me, seemed dim with pain. At length he said, 'Some day I will tell you everything. Would you like to see me make a snake dance?'

Surprised at his words, I said, 'You make a snake dance? Won't it bite you?'

Indra went inside the room and brought out a small, cane box and a snake-charmer's bagpipe. The cane box he placed before him on the verandah, and, having unloosed its lid, played on the bagpipe. Petrified with fear, I shouted, 'Don't, please don't open the lid. There may be a cobra inside.' Indra made no reply, but, playing on the bagpipe and waving his head to and fro, he opened the lid of the box. In the twinkling of an eye an enormous cobra raised itself from the box. Spreading its hood, it stood up a foot and a half high. With a great sweep it struck savagely at the lid which was still in Indra's hand, and then jumped out of the box.

'Great God!' cried Indra in utter consternation as he leaped down from the verandah into the yard. I clambered up the fence again, while the enraged snake with another vicious bite at the bagpipe entered the room at lightning speed. Indra was livid with fright. 'This is a wild one,' he said, 'not the one I usually play to.'

I was on the verge of tears, overcome by fear, disgust, and anger. 'What did you do it for?' I asked. 'Supposing he comes out again and bites Shahji?'