登陆注册
4370400000012

第12章 THE MIRACLE OF PURUN BHAGAT(5)

"What is it? What is thy trouble, Brother?" said Purun Bhagat, for the langur's eyes were full of things that he could not tell. "Unless one of thy caste be in a trap--and none set traps here--I will not go into that weather. Look, Brother, even the barasingh comes for shelter!"The deer's antlers clashed as he strode into the shrine, clashed against the grinning statue of Kali. He lowered them in Purun Bhagat's direction and stamped uneasily, hissing through his half-shut nostrils.

"Hai! Hai! Hai!" said the Bhagat, snapping his fingers, "Is THISpayment for a night's lodging?" But the deer pushed him toward the door, and as he did so Purun Bhagat heard the sound of something opening with a sigh, and saw two slabs of the floor draw away from each other, while the sticky earth below smacked its lips.

"Now I see," said Purun Bhagat. "No blame to my brothers that they did not sit by the fire to-night. The mountain is falling.

And yet-- why should I go?" His eye fell on the empty begging-bowl, and his face changed. "They have given me good food daily since--since I came, and, if I am not swift, to-morrow there will not be one mouth in the valley. Indeed, I must go and warn them below. Back there, Brother! Let me get to the fire."The barasingh backed unwillingly as Purun Bhagat drove a pine torch deep into the flame, twirling it till it was well lit.

"Ah! ye came to warn me," he said, rising. "Better than that we shall do; better than that. Out, now, and lend me thy neck, Brother, for I have but two feet."He clutched the bristling withers of the barasingh with his right hand, held the torch away with his left, and stepped out of the shrine into the desperate night. There was no breath of wind, but the rain nearly drowned the flare as the great deer hurried down the slope, sliding on his haunches. As soon as they were clear of the forest more of the Bhagat's brothers joined them. He heard, though he could not see, the langurs pressing about him, and behind them the uhh! uhh! of Sona. The rain matted his long white hair into ropes; the water splashed beneath his bare feet, and his yellow robe clung to his frail old body, but he stepped down steadily, leaning against the barasingh. He was no longer a holy man, but Sir Purun Dass, K.C.I.E., Prime Minister of no small State, a man accustomed to command, going out to save life. Down the steep, plashy path they poured all together, the Bhagat and his brothers, down and down till the deer's feet clicked and stumbled on the wall of a threshing-floor, and he snorted because he smelt Man. Now they were at the head of the one crooked village street, and the Bhagat beat with his crutch on the barred windows of the blacksmith's house, as his torch blazed up in the shelter of the eaves. "Up and out!" cried Purun Bhagat; and he did not know his own voice, for it was years since he had spoken aloud to a man. "The hill falls! The hill is falling! Up and out, oh, you within!""It is our Bhagat," said the blacksmith's wife. He stands among his beasts. Gather the little ones and give the call."It ran from house to house, while the beasts, cramped in the narrow way, surged and huddled round the Bhagat, and Sona puffed impatiently.

同类推荐
  • 菩萨睒子经

    菩萨睒子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 咽喉门

    咽喉门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三光注龄资福延寿妙经

    三光注龄资福延寿妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛升忉利天为母说法经

    佛升忉利天为母说法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 隋遗录

    隋遗录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 古代帅哥

    古代帅哥

    她,端木灵。与几个好姐妹一起去东方明珠游玩,没想到竟穿了?在古代她举目无亲,没想到其她的三个姐妹竟然跟着她一起穿到了古代,悲哀的是,她们几个人并不像书中所说的那样穿越时空都会有一段美好的爱恋,那些个古代帅哥们咋比二十一世纪的帅哥还要拽呢?看她们怎么反击,嘿嘿嘿~      
  • 冲吧白起

    冲吧白起

    在一个繁华的大城市中,一群黑恶势力在蠢蠢欲动,由于白起的诞生,这个城市终于转危为安的故事,他们有什么样的阴谋呢?有什么样的危机在等待着他呢?这里面究竟会发生什么有趣的事呢?一切皆在冲吧,白起!
  • 不愿错过你

    不愿错过你

    谁年少时,没有放弃过一段爱情?长大后才发现,我们放弃的,或许是自己的一生。爱情伊始,她犹豫不决,他却不惜抛却所有。决然分离,她抽身远走,他独自在原地徘徊。他们的再次相遇,是命运的玩笑,还是,有人不愿错过?
  • 上海滩七百弃婴

    上海滩七百弃婴

    一九九八年二月二十三日,长时期以来一直无法出现轰动效应的上海新闻界,终于打破了沉寂。这一天,《解放日报》“社会新闻版”刊登了一封由十九名六十年代初在上海被遗弃的孤儿写的读者来信,尽管所占版面极其有限,但却在整个上海滩引起了一场不大不小的波澜——编缉同志:今天,当我们提笔给你们写这封信时,我们十九颗沉重的心只剩最后的憧憬。三十五年了,我们从一个个嗷嗽待哺的婴儿,开始步入中年,然而,我们那一段共同的身世,却像一块巨石压着每一颗曾经失去亲情的心。
  • 药神

    药神

    药师慕闲表示压力山大,年纪轻轻本来前途无量,却倒霉的穿越到了万年之前。好吧,在这武道荒芜的时代,还好自己可以用前世的渊博知识和技能去开拓未来。不过却发现自己这一生更苦逼,没钱,没实力,没地位,更坑爹的还是自己天生绝脉,不能修炼。慕闲中指竖天,既然老天这么对待他,那他就去创造属于自己的辉煌!钱不够,炼成圣丹无尽财富收入囊中!没实力,极品圣药锻骨塑脉逆天改命碎虚空!没地位,那就踏着万千尸骨登上属于自己的至尊宝座!
  • 引导青春期女孩全书:10~18岁女孩的父母必读

    引导青春期女孩全书:10~18岁女孩的父母必读

    本书针对女孩的生理和心理特征,用生动的故事讲述了女孩成长中会遇到的各种问题,指导家长当好女孩青春期的良师益友。
  • 浙东纪略

    浙东纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 在火影的人生

    在火影的人生

    这是一个秘密重重的穿越者,在火影世界生活的故事……(⊙﹏⊙)
  • 天台传佛心印记注

    天台传佛心印记注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 乱世嫡女

    乱世嫡女

    她是侯府嫡女,从小性情冷淡不惹尘埃,谁知道一次的砰然心动,却被人当成屠杀全家的匕首,而赐予她这一切的,却是她全然信赖的枕边人和妹妹。重生一世,她收起自己的个性,长袖善舞,连横敌人的敌人,压继母,除家贼,摆弄朝廷,华丽绽放。用前生的教训,换一个领悟,她以为她今生不会再爱,却不想到会遇到他,从此天涯海角,刀山火海,一起颠覆这个世界。