46 IN THE VISION OF GOD
The humour of the situation struck Ramdas more than
anything else, and he could not resist a hearty laugh.
"It is God's will. Ram. He means always well," consoled
Eamdas.
The night was pitch-dark and escape from the place
was out of the question. Ramcharandas drawing deep
breaths crept towards Eamdas and, in the posture of a rabbit
at feed, stuck close to him.
"Ram, what is the fun ?" Ramdas asked.
"Fine joke indeed!" he growled. "Rather than spend the
nights here, also tomorrow and the subsequent days of our
sojourn in Gokarn, we had better show a clean iDair of heels
to Gokarn as soon as the day breaks.17
At this Ramdas rolled on the floor with uncontrollable
laughter, and Ramcharandas had this time the good humour
to join in the merriment.
"Tomorrow's question be for tomorrow," said Ramdas.
"Now about the present. Keep on repeating Ram-niantram.
Since there is no fear of sleep encroaching upon the japa,
let us fill the hours with the Lord's remembrance.
Although the lips were shivering with cold, the japa
went on at an incredibly brisk rate. After all, every
circumstance in \vhich God places us has its own advan-
tages, if we would only see. Morning dawned. As the
first streaks of light from the rising sun dispelled the
gloom of darkness, a voice filtered out from within the
coverlet of Ramcharandas. He had fully enveloped himself
with the cloth clutching at its corners with a dogged
pertinacity.
"Swaxaiji, what does Ram want us to do next? If I may
suggest........."
Ramdas anticipating what he was driving at, said:
"Yes, Ram, \ve shall leave Gokarn and proceed still
further north. Let us start."
At these words Ramcharandas well-nigh bounded from
the corner in which he hacl cooped himself. Shouldering