302 IN THE VISION OF GOD
(iii) In the cave
The mountaineer escorted the sadhus to a cave about a
hundred yards from the shrine of Nilkant, on the edge of
a stream that supplied water to the shrine. The place was
out of the way. The cave had a wide yawning mouth at its
front and, as you entered it, it narrowed until you came
to a small inner cavity just sufficient for ono person to sit
in. They swept the floor and set up a fire. There wore signs
of ashes indicating its previous occupation by some sadha.
The sweet music of the running stream close by and the
distant roars of wild beasts were heard in the nights. The
cave presented a prospect at once weird and awe-inspiring,
and Ramdas liked the place very much.
The victuals that Ramcharandas possessed lasted them
for about five days. Meanwhile, news spread among sadhus
and pilgrims in Rishikesh and Swargashram that two sadhus
were living on this hill in a cave, situated in a dreadful
place. Hundreds of people commenced to come for the
darshan of the sadhus. They brought various presents, such
as milk, grapes, sugarcandy, fried gram, almonds etc. It
was clear that God was busy in seeing that they did not
feel the want of the necessities of life!
One day, Ramcharandas asked:
"Swamiji, how long are we to stay here ?"
"Ramdas has no idea," replied Ramdas, "It may bo for
months. The place has captured Ramdas' heart."
When there were no visitors they started collecting
firewood. Stout, green branches were cut down and put up
in the sun for drying. Ramdas was hewing down a thick
stump of a dried-up tree. The axe was a small one and he
had to work at it for three days, spending on it a couple of
hours in the morning and evening. At last it was cut down,
but the heavy log had yet to be carried to the mouth of
the cave, and this task was reserved for a later occasion.
Daily the nuinber of visitors increased. One evening a
strong and well-built sadhu paid them a visit. He had