JWALAJEE-PATHANKOT 311
"Maharaj, don't do any walking for some days. If dust
is allowed to enter the wound you will get into further
trouble," the barber warned.
Jewandas left Jwalajee the next day for his native
place, Rawalpindi, and Ramdas also started. Some sadhus
including Ramcharandas tried to dissuade Ramdas from
travelling on foot just then, when the wound was still
raw and unhealed. But Ramdas did not take their advice
and came out on the road.
(ii) Ramcharandss fails the test
Ramdas limped as he walked. By midday they
covered about ten miles and reached a small wayside
hamlet. Ramcharandas undertook to fetch bhiksha of
cooked food from the villagers. About one o'clock he
returned, Ms cloth-sling filled with all kinds of foodmixed
up together. After dinner and rest they proceeded on their
journey. In the evening they came to another village, where
they remained for the night on a neighbouring hill top.
The following day they passed through the fertile and
enchanting Kangra valley and reached at dusk a small
town on an elevated plateau. Ramdas proposed that they
might occupy a dilapidated rest-house for the night. But
the boy was in no mood for rest, he was feeling hungry
and the thought of food was revolving in his mind.
" Swamiji," he said, " I shall try to get some food by
bhiksha. You may wait here beneath the tree."
The tree was in front of the rest-house, Ramcharandas
passed into the darkness, but returned in a short time
bare-handed arid with a wry face.
"What is the matter, Ram?" Ramdas questioned,
" I approached two houses," he replied ruefully; " I got
instead of bhiksha, reproaches and scolding of a very
virulent type, and at one place, a young man of the liouse
mistaking me for a prowling thief pursued me with a stout
stick iu his hand. I raced for very life and am here."