262 IN THE VISION OF GOD
on the other side and both together started back to Swar-
gashram. Ramdas was now alone. It must always be under-
stood that Ram ever kept him company. He ran on,
dancing on the banks of the Ganges. He rounded a curve
of the bank and rushed on for about half-a-mile only to
meet again another headland. He looked aloft and dis-
covered about fifty feet up-hill a hollow—a wide gaping
cavity in the hill. To cross the hill at the sharp edge of the
river was out of the question. He now ascended the slope
on all fours, and creeping up like a mouse came to the
hollow. It was a shallow cave. On entering it he found
that he could just stand erect in it. In the interior at its
roof was a huge honeycomb. He found thousands of bees
humming around their picturesque abode. The sweet music
of their buzz filled the cave. He listened to it for a time in
rapture. Emerging, he looked at the prospect. The giant
rock to be traversed in front was very smooth and slippery.
It extended over a hundred yards. What was to be done?
Ramdas spoke:
"Ram, now it seems to be Thy will that Ramdas should
not visit Yasishtashram, although it was by Thy will he
started on this adventure. What does it matter to
Ramdas if he should not? He will return by the way
he came."
He felt no sense of disappointment. He climbed down
to the bank of the G-anges, and turning back kept running
close to the water-side. He had not gone fifty yards when he
came upon a sight which arrested his further progress.
A human skeleton was lying before him at the edge of
the waters. From its size it appreared to be of a boy, still
in his teens. It was a fresh skeleton and the natural gloss
was still on the bones. Except for a few patches of skin
and hair on its skull, the rest of it was clean stripped off
all flesh.
Hitherto silent, Ram now addressed Ramdas:
"Ramdas, do you see the skeleton—a mere inert mass of