Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/33

 the night in a wayside inn. At break of day he resumed the journey and after a while reached the shore of Damodar. The river was brimming with monsoon-floods; the current was rapid and rough. There was no bridge over it and the ferry boat was then on the opposite side. Even in this extremity he kept cool and self-possessed. Not a moment did he lose. Making up his mind to set forward at any price, he plunged into the terrible river and with the greatest difficulty landed on the other bank. On he hurried with breathless speed, soon to sight a second stream swollen and swift. No bridge could be espied. Nor was there any boat in which he could trust himself to the tides. Though assailed with fatigue he again buffeted the waves and swam across safely. The day was drawing to a close; still he had many miles to cover. He was footing it since sunrise and had put nothing in his mouth. Yet dreading to pass another night of misery on the way, he quickened his pace and