In the Guardianship of God

story--if I remember right, by Mr

lt inclined to weep over an incident in

at my maturer age condemns as false sentiment. Perhaps my later em

*

on about Mai Kali and the Noose--the Noose that is so soft

spread on the verandah floor, half against the red and yellow livery coat of Bisram, bearer. The latter remained silent, his d

ee. Speak of Mai Kali and the Noose. Lo! Bisram, bearer, be not unkind.

s with quaint precision, and ended in the

and the red and yellow arms seemed to close round their charge at the very suggestion of sickness. Bisram gave another deprecating glance at the tall white figure at the doo

such is the Noose of Kali,

stretched the stuff lengthwise. It was of that curious Indian colour called oodah, which is not purple or crimson, but which looks as if it had been the latter and might become the former--the colour, br

it, Bisram, bearer! Ai! base-b

cine," began Bisram, interrupting the imperious little vo

to take it, mum," he called decisively, "till he's twisted a' Noose. I won't--I want a'

er eyes soft. For the child had but lately chosen the path of Life instead

peremptoriness of Hindustani with a wave of his small hand. "So twist and st

rple crimson rope of a thing, circled on itself, settled down upon the neck of a big painted mud tiger, bright yellow with

oor can pull," said Bisram,

a tiger. She wouldn't stwangle it. Would she, mum? I wouldn't stwangle my pony. I'd wa

horror at the still, helpless little figure which Bisram ha

inine, as if that were a mat

and then Mai Kali would be pleased for a fousand years; and then I'd stwangle Ditto

ssented Bis

over crabbed Sanskrit texts and bright-coloured talc pictures; for in his leisure hours he was compiling a Hindu Pantheon for the u

due time follow in his footsteps, and, perhaps, gain reputation whe

yhow when he begins Greek and Latin; he will in fact find this previous knowledge of great use. Kali, for instance, is the terrific form of Durga who, of course, corresponds to the Juno of the Greeks and Romans and the

sound nice. However, as Bisram is eager, now Sonny is really recovering, to get away at once for his usual leave, I won't say anything

ba's dictum. The Noose of Kali was scarcely a nice game for the little master; indeed his slave would never have introduced it under ordinary circumstances. But the mem must remember that dreadful day when the Heart's-eye lay so still, caring for nothing, and the doctor-sa

hib himself said your hand was fortunate with the child. If you had not been with him, I think-

is over--" He paused abruptly, then added quietly: "The Huzoor need have no fear. The

to look doubtfully at the talc pictures, and finally remark that after all the people really had a good deal of religious feeling, and actually seemed to believe in

olar without looking up. "She is another form of Kali or

lly think he might have stayed a few days longer till the boy was quite himself. But devoted

rvice as Sonny's bearer, he stipulated for a fortnight's leave every spring, about a

n't believe he would, not even to save Sonny's life. However, I think the child is all right, and even if I had k

e carried a network-covered pot for holy water, slung on his left wrist, and the yellow trident of Siva showed like a frown on his forehead. The thickets of flowering shrubs, the tangles of white petunias bordering the path, sent their perfume into the air; but above it rose the heavy, dead

and eyes, Devi, I am thy servant." Then for a second he raised himself to his full height, and stretched both his thin, fine hands--such delicately supple, strong hands

ed into the dusk, beyond the gat

a huge white turban with a bend, as the heralds call it, across it bearing his master's crest. So altered, he slipped back into his place as if he had never left it, and setting aside

gently. "You can speak

ard, now shut his eyes again, an

Bisra! where's the Noose?" The mother might smile, unable so far

gravely. "Thy servant remembers none; but he

ad never seen this kind before, and laughed as the snakes, made out of curled shavings, leapt and twisted. Leapt so like life that his mother drew back hastily, telling herself that the bearer had certainly a fine taste in horrors. And no doubt there would be

plied calmly. "It was some others who tied the Noose. Not this du