i 3 2 THE COBRA BUNGALOW 



" If he sees a burning ground, he shakes like a peepul 

 leaf. The cobra has died by his hand and his liver 

 has become like water. Whatever you ask he will 

 give. You should come." 



Nagoo replied aloud, " I will come," and to him- 

 self, "I will give him physic." Then he took up 

 his baskets and his pipe and followed the Malee. 



Beharilal proceeded to business with a directness 

 foreign to his habit, looking over his shoulder at 

 intervals lest a snake might be silently approaching. 

 " Good Nagoo," he said, " a great misfortune has 

 happened. The cobra of the shrine has been killed. 

 Has it a mate ? " 



"How can a cobra not have a mate ? " answered 

 Nagoo curtly. 



Then Beharilal employed the most insinuating of 

 the many tones of his voice. " Listen, Nagoo. You 

 are a man of skill. Capture that cobra and I will 

 pay you well. I will give you five rupees." Then, 

 observing no response in the wrinkled visage of the 

 charmer, " I will give you ten rupees." 



Nagoo would have sold his revenge for a tithe of 

 the wealth thus dangled before him, but he saw no 

 reason to suppose that there was another cobra 

 anywhere in the garden, so he answered with the 

 calm confidence of an expert, " That cannot be 

 done. The serpent will not heed any pipe now. 

 In its mind there is only revenge." 



"Then what will it do?" said the trembling 

 Bunia. 



