KUDLU-KADR! HILL $1
with heavy showers. One memorable night the rainfall was
unusually violent. There were deafening peals of thunder
preceded by flashes of lightning. Bain and storm raged in
all their fury. A mass of rushing water was dashing against
the sides of the house. Every thunder-crash shook the
building to its very foundation. The maddened wind was
whistling through the snutterless windows beating torren-
tial showers of rain into the room. In the midst of this
warfare of the elemental gods, Ramdas was seated unmoved
in the room, in a state of perfect exaltation, watching the
progress of the terrific scene. Every situation of dread and
danger only hardened the fibre of his being. The terrors of
the storm did not affect him. The Truth-God within hini-
spoke out:
"I am in the storm, the wind and the rain. I am in the
thunder and the lightning. I am the active creator, the
merciful protector and the ruthless destroyer. I am all in all.
I am all."
The storm still raged on. Ramdas heard a sudden thud
on the floor about two yards from where he sat. He turned
in the direction from which the sound came aud discovered
a big wild cat, black as jet, standing with a fixed gaze at
him. It had jumped down from the top of the -wall. Its
lustrous eyes gleamed in the dim corner of the room.
Ramdas at once stood up and taking the lantern walked
towards it. It was about twice the size of an ordinary cat —
tall, gaunt and ferocious. It did not await Ramdas'
approach. It leapt on the nearest window sill and, wriggl-
ing out through the iron bars, disappeared into the rain and
darkness outside. Till morning Eamdas enjoyed the glorious
battle of the elements.
One evening a devotee from Easaragod carne to fetch
him. It was arranged to perform a nagar bhajan. He, in the
company of a saint belonging to the Sri Krishna Chaitauya
cult of Bengal and other devotees, danced to the music of
nama sankirtan. in the street procession. Ever since this