"

Ananda relished neither the imputation on his orthodoxy nor that on his
wisdom. He replied, notwithstanding, with all meekness:

"Heaven forbid that I should repine at any variety of martyrdom that tends
to the propagation of my master's faith."

"Wilt thou then first be healed, and moreover become the instrument of
converting the entire realm of Magadha?"

"How shall this be accomplished?" demanded Ananda.

"By perseverance in the path of deceit and disobedience," returned the
Glendoveer.

Ananda winced, but maintained silence in the expectation of more explicit
directions.

"Know," pursued the spirit, "that the king's son will revive from his
trance at the expiration of the thirtieth day, which takes place at noon
to-morrow. Thou hast but to proceed at the fitting period to the couch
whereon he is deposited, and, placing thy hand upon his heart, to command
him to rise forthwith. His recovery will be ascribed to thy supernatural
powers, and the establishment of Buddha's religion will result. Before this
it will be needful that I should perform an actual cure upon thy back,
which is within the compass of my capacity. I only request thee to take
notice, that thou wilt on this occasion be transgressing the precepts of
thy master with thine eyes open. It is also meet to apprise thee that thy
temporary extrication from thy present difficulties will only involve thee
in others still more formidable."

"An incorporeal Glendoveer is no judge of the feelings of a flayed
apostle," thought Ananda. "Heal me," he replied, "if thou canst, and
reserve thy admonitions for a more convenient opportunity."

"So be it," returned the Glendoveer; and as he extended his hand over
Ananda, the latter's back was clothed anew with skin, and his previous
smart simultaneously allayed. The Glendoveer vanished at the same moment,
saying, "When thou hast need of me, pronounce but the incantation, _Gnooh
Imdap Inam Mua_, [*] and I will immediately be by thy side."

[Footnote: The mystic formula of the Buddhists, read backwards.]

The anger and amazement of the Brahmins may be conceived when, on returning
equipped with fresh implements of flagellation, they discovered the
salubrious condition of their victim. Their scourges would probably have
undergone conversion into halters, had they not been accompanied by a royal
officer, who took the really triumphant martyr under his protection, and
carried him off to the palace. He was speedily c