28 APRIL 



buttons. They are gone and I don't know where 

 they are, but I don't believe Bhagwan took them " ; 

 and I left them resuscitating the garden coolie by 

 pouring water over his face, and beginning to peel 

 the plantains, preparatory to eating them. I saw 

 him come to, with a dazed look ; and no wonder, 

 after inhaling all that smoke. I picked up a bit 

 of what they had burned, and it looked like 

 resin. 



About a fortnight after that I was prowling 

 round by the stables looking at the horses, when I 

 caught sight of a monstrous thing hanging to the 

 banyan tree. It was like a gigantic rag doll, of 

 hideous lean proportions ; it was painted black, 

 with arms and legs all akimbo, and a face with 

 wide red mouth, and frightful goggle eyes. It had 

 on a turban and waist cloth, and was hanging by a 

 rope round its neck. 



" Whatever is that ? " I asked. 



" That," said the old groom who has been with 

 us many years, " that is the Shaitan who took your 

 honour's buttons; and every morning and every 

 evening, I beat him very hard till he brings back 

 the buttons " ; and he took the thing down, and 



