With the help of the servant, the hermit lifted the fallen man from the ground, where a blow from the tiger’s paw had laid him; and finding that life still lingered, they placed him carefully on the moss.
“I know this man,” said Gurupada, after having closely examined him. “In the days of my power I showed him many favours and benefits. What could have driven him to this treacherous attack?”
On hearing these words, the wounded man looked up, and gazed attentively and earnestly at the hermit; then murmured, with astonishment, “Nandigupta! is it possible!”
“Nandigupta, in truth,” was the answer. “What induced you to seek my life?”
“My lord and prince,” said the Thug, with a firm voice, “I swear to you by Siva and his holy consort that I knew not who you were, and had long thought you dead. Had I known it, I should never have had the strength or courage to fulfil the behest of Durga, however great the punishment of her anger might have been. But, happily, she herself did not desire your death, and sent this tiger to take my life in the place of yours. Blessed be her name!”
Exhaustion prevented his saying more. With the servant’s help, Gurupada washed and bound, as well as was possible, the terrible wound caused by the tiger’s claws, and having given him drink, and seeing he began to recover a little, Gurupada asked further, “What drove you to this deed? and if you did not know who I was, who told you that Durga desired my death?”
“Gorakh the Yogi,” was the reply.
“Ha! the villain!” murmured Gurupada; “then there must be more behind. So you have become a Thug,” he continued. “I am sorry to see you so led away and blinded. Was I the only one pointed out to you by Gorakh as a chosen sacrifice?”
Pain for a few minutes hindered the wounded man from replying, though his countenance betrayed nothing of what he was suffering. At last he answered and spoke very steadily, with pauses between his words, “The First Minister of Kashmir, Salhana’s brother, is also chosen; but his death is entrusted to my brother, who is also well known to you. Should he fail, then I am to carry it out.”
“And has your brother started for Kashmir?”