TOWARDS GOKARN-GOKARJ: 45
he suggested: "Swamiji, to provide against the cold let us
at least have a fire. There is a little way off—down on the
slope—a grove of trees. We can collect from beneath them a
sufficient quantity of dry twigs to serve our purpose for
the night."
Bam das consenting, both set out in the direction of the
trees and collected in their cloths a pretty large quantity of
twigs, and returned to the rock chamber.
Presently the snn was setting in the far horizon illumi-
nating the hill and all the space around it with its golden
effulgence. Ramdas stood still facing the sea. It was a
gorgeous sight. A silent prayer went up from him to the
throne of the almighty Lord of such lavish grandeur and
beauty that it merged him in his blissful omnipresence.
Night gradually threw her dark mantle over land and sea.
He turned to the rock chamber. The breeze had now deve-
loped into a gale. Ramcharandas was engaged in making a
fire. On peeping into the chamber, Ramdas saw that the
impatient boy had struck about half a dozen matches to
light the dry twigs, and he had failed. The strong breeze
which blew into the chamber would not permit of a fire.
Even the twigs were swept away by the wind. The cold
had also increased. Ramcharandas was not to be easily
foiled. He struck match after match fighting at the same
time to keep the twigs in their place, but all to no avail-
He threw the empty match-bos down in utter disgust, and
turning to Ramdas, with a face completely devoid of cheer,
cried vehemently;
"Swamiji, no fire for the night!"
The gale had now developed into a hurricane. Even
the cloth on the body could not be retained; the wind
was icy cold. They sought refuge in one of the corners
of the chamber. Even there the wind blew with all its
force.
"Nice mess we are in,1' grumbled Eamcharandas,
struggling to keep the coverlet tight on his body.