CHAPTER XXV
EKXAKULAM
tii Friend of Bird and Beast
At Shoranm* Ramdas met Sanjivarao who haĞl c<*me to
*seĞiri him. For the first few days he was put np at bis
house. Now a remittance and a telegram carne fr^m
Madhavrao Knlkami of Anjangatim, requesting h;m to
start immediately so as to be present at tie religions
celebration held annually in his house. Bnt < ğ\viiig to the
indifferent health of Ramdas, due to frequent attacks of
malaria even after reaching Ernakulam, the friends litre
resolutely stood against his travelling tĞ* such a distant
place as Sholapnr. He had to submit, and the money having
been returned, 3Iadhavrao was duly informed by the friends
through a joint letter that Ramdas' then condition of health
did not permit of his travelling, and that he needed perfect
rest for some time.
Ramdas proposed to Sanjivarao to provide him -with a
dwelling place outside the town so that people wL<ğ wanted
to see Mm might visit him there and have talks with him.
Soon a house about a mile from the town was pitched upon
for his stay. A day prior to his shifting to his house, a
friend, a pions brahman, came to see Eamdas at Sanjiva-
rao's abode. Ramdas was sitting on a chair facing the
entrance in the front room. The time was about eight in
the morning. The brahman ascended the first front step
and stopped suddenly and stood stock-still like a statue,
gazing at Ramdas. He possessed large eyes which looked
at Ramdas with a winldess stare. A minute cr two later he
canie inside and took a chair beside Ramdas. He was still
gaang on Eamdas. For five minutes there was complete
silence. Then he broke out into speech.
"Do you know/' he asked, "why I stood ou the stepe
gazing on yon so intently? I shall tell yon. I beheld a