CHAPTER XIII
BANGALORE-BOMBAY
fii) A Sadhu Magician
In due time the party reached Bangalore and for the
first day stopped at Bhavanishankerrao's house at Malle-
swaram. Ramdas requested Bhavanishankerrao to arrange
for him a separate dwelling- place for their stay. A vacant
house in the locality near the railway lines, well-known as
a haunted house, was pitched upon as his future abode, for
the time he remained in Bangalore.
Ramdas and Ramcharandas shifted to the house. It was
a straggling and Irregular pile of buildings "with a decidedly
desolate look about it. They selected a spacious room In it
for their occupation.
Bhavanishankerrao provided Ramdas -with a mat and
two blankets. The season was cold. Ramcharandas also
settled down beside Ramdas to his left. Ramcharandas lad
the tiger-skin always with him. In the wanderings through
the villages of Sholaptir he had not failed to offer Ramdas
the fall use of it. Wherever le rested or slept, it was on the
skin. Here, as well, he laid the skin on the blanket, spread
out on the floor for Ramdas. He was wearing flashily the
red, woollen shawl about his body and a japa-mala was seen
running on his fingers. His deep love for Eaindas revealed
itself in the unstinted and Joyous service he rendered to him.
He tenderly looked after Ramdas in every way.
The news of Ramdag* arrival spread, and visitors from
tie suburbs and the city came to see him in large numbers.
For bath and midday meal le had to go to Bhavani-
shankerrao's house where he was bathed with particular
love and care by Sadashivrao, brother of Bhavanishankerrao.
When he wag soaping the body briskly Ram das would
remark:
"Take care, Bam, if you exert undue pressure -whilst