Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/178

166 sun would set. Khoka took possession of his father's lap. The forest child was entrusted to the servant. By seven o'clock the party returned to Simla.

 

On the next day Giribala gave the forest child a warm bath, took off his necklace, wrapped him in flannel and touched his eyes with black. Kumud Nath said his name was to remain Buno (Forester). Khoka now began to regard him as a fellow-creature,—hitherto he had shrunk from him as from some wild animal.

In the evening Jadu Babu was to come to dinner. He soon gave proof that vain boasting was not a habit with him. After dinner he said—"One day you will have to pay for having adopted that child."

Kumud Nath replied, with a laugh—"My dear sir, he is not a tiger-cub that he should, when grown, be unable to forget the habits of his race, and eat one up."

Jadu Babu did not answer immediately, but after a time he said, with a loud laugh—"Quite true, quite true; we'll see you make a man of him—don't coddle him."

The forest child played heartily all day, but at dawn next day his body was very hot—he had