"His bullet had struck the beast between the eyes, and the Lame One had died at the hands of a man!"
CHAPTER XIII
An Affront to Gannesha
"A little brother hath come," said Biroo, as Ram Deen dismounted from the mail-cart. The tall driver snatched up the little boy and hurried to his hut, over the door of which was affixed the green bough that is customary on such occasions, and whence came the wailing of a new-born child.
The inner apartment was guarded by a lean old woman, who refused Ram Deen admittance thereto, and who would have prevented even speech on his part had she been able. But Ram Deen was not to be denied such solace as could be gained from the voice whose accents had taken him captive the first time he had heard them.
The feeble wailing of the babe made the strong man tremble.
"Tara, Light in Darkness, is it well with thee?" he asked.
"Quite well, my lord and my master," came the faint answer. "Thy handmaid hath bestowed a man-child upon thee, and Nana Debi will require a kid of thee in recompense."
"He shall have a flock of goats, Heart of my Heart——"