6 LIFE AND WORK OF SIR JAGADIS C. BOSE 



themselves. A fine performance, though it was said after- 

 wards not without previous arrangement of who was to 

 win. A peasant onlooker remarked that if he were allowed 

 to take part he would wrestle the champion. So Mr. Bose 

 took him at his word, and started the pair. Sure enough 

 the peasant made good his boast ; but the policeman, 

 indignant at his defeat, suddenly threw his legs round his 

 victor's neck before he could rise. The peasant was plainly 

 choking ; the spectators shouted for fair play ; but the 

 angry man would not let go, not even for Mr. Bose's orders ; 

 so he had to strike him sharply on the feet till he relaxed, 

 leaving his unlucky victor half-strangled. The fellow was 

 revengeful as well as angry ; and at a quiet corner of the 

 road he lay in wait for Mr. Bose, as he would come to the 

 Jatra, the old form of Indian drama, to be played that 

 evening. He missed his intended victim ; so outside the 

 big tent where the play was held, he egged on his fellow- 

 policemen, who were also feeling humiliated before the 

 peasants, to annoy and hinder them as they came to the 

 performance, and keep them out of the tent, even with 

 blows. Mr. Bose, hearing a scuffle, came up ; and seeing 

 the policemen were bullying, and without cause, demanded 

 their sticks from them, and took up an armful. The ex- 

 champion refused : Bose pulled the bamboo from his hands, 

 and a sword fell out. With his criminal intent thus publicly 

 exposed, the man fell down at Mr. Bose's feet, and confessed 

 his intention to murder him. Then and there he was for- 

 given : ' Get up ; go back to your duty/ He was a decent 

 man ever afterwards. 



Another story of the same type of mercy follow- 

 ing justice, instead of superseding it is of a notorious 

 dacoit to whom he had given a long sentence. After his 

 years of jail were served, he came to Mr. Bose and said, 

 ' What am I to do ? I can get no honest employment : I 

 have no chance as a released convict.' Said Mr. Bose, ' I 

 will take you into my service : this little boy has to begin 

 school ; carry him there, and bring him back every day/ 



