RK LIFE

CHAPTER XXXV.
THE RETURN

CHAPTER XXXVI.
EXPLANATION

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE SIMPLETON AND THE SERPENT

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE CATASTROPHE

CHAPTER XXXIX.
KUNDA'S TONGUE IS LOOSENED

CHAPTER XL.
THE END

GLOSSARY OF HINDU WORDS

For the assistance of the reader, the names of the
principal characters in the tale are given--

NAGENDRA NATHA DATTA _A wealthy Zemindar_.

SURJA MUKHI _His wife_.

DEBENDRA DATTA _Cousin to Nagendra_.

SRISH CHANDRA MITTRA _Accountant in a Merchant's Office_

KAMAL MANI _His wife, sister to Nagendra_.

SATISH _Their baby boy_.

TARA CHARAN _Adopted brother of Surja Mukhi_.

KUNDA NANDINI _An Orphan Girl_.

HIRA _Servant in Nagendra's household_.

CHAPTER I.

NAGENDRA'S JOURNEY BY BOAT.

Nagendra Natha Datta is about to travel by boat. It is the month
_Joisto_ (May--June), the time of storms. His wife, Surja Mukhi, had
adjured him, saying, "Be careful; if a storm arises be sure you fasten
the boat to the shore. Do not remain in the boat." Nagendra had
consented to this, otherwise Surja Mukhi would not have permitted him
to leave home; and unless he went to Calcutta his suits in the Courts
would not prosper.

Nagendra Natha was a young man, about thirty years of age, a wealthy
_zemindar_ (landholder) in Zillah Govindpur. He dwelt in a small
village which we shall call Haripur. He was travelling in his own
boat. The first day or two passed without obstacle. The river flowed
smoothly on--leaped, danced, cried out, restless, unending, playful.
On shore, herdsmen were grazing their oxen--one sitting under a tree
singing, another smoking, some fighting, others eating. Inland,
husbandmen were driving the plough, beating the oxen, lavishing abuse
upon them, in which the owner shared. The wives of the husbandmen,
bearing vessels of water, some carrying a torn quilt, or a dirty mat,
wearing a silver amulet round the neck, a ring in the nose, bracelets
of brass on the arm, with unwashed garments, their skins blacker than
ink, their hair unkempt, formed a chattering crowd. Among them one
beauty was rubbing her head with mud, another beating a child, a third
speaking with a neighbour in abuse of some nameless person, a fourth
beating clothes on a plank. Further on, ladies from respectable
villages adorned