One night when I had told Ram Dass all that was in my heart of the lawsuit that I would bring against the landholder, and Ram Dass had said that he had made the arrangements with the witnesses, giving me their names written, I was taken with a new great sickness, and they put me on the bed. When I was a little recovered—I cannot tell how many days afterwards—I made enquiry for Ram Dass, and the sister of my father said that he had gone to Montgomery upon a lawsuit. I took medicine and slept very heavily without waking. When my eyes were opened, there was a great stillness in the house of Ram Dass, and none answered when I called—not even the sister of my father. This filled me with fear, for I knew not what had happened. Taking a stick in my hand, I went out slowly, till I came to the great square by the well, and my heart was hot in me against the landholder because of the pain of every step I took. I called for Jowar Singh, the carpenter, whose name was first upon the list of those who should bear evidence against the landholder, saying: “Are all things ready, and do you know what should be said?” Jowar Singh answered: “What is this, and whence do you come, Durga Dass?” I said: “From my bed, where I have so long lain sick because of the landholder. Where is Ram Dass, my brother, who was to have made the arrangement for the witnesses? Surely you and yours know these things!” Then Jowar Singh said: “What has this to do with us, O Liar? I have borne witness and I have been paid, and the landholder has, by the order of the Court, paid both the five hundred rupees that he robbed from Ram Dass and yet other five hundred because of the great injury he did to your brother.” The well and the jujube-tree above it and the square of Isser Jang became dark in my eyes, but I leaned on my stick and said: “Nay! This is child’s talk and senseless. It was I who suffered at the hands of the landholder, and I am come to make ready the case. Where is my brother Ram Dass?” But Jowar Singh shook his head, and a woman cried: “What lie is here? What quarrel had the landholder with you, _bunnia_? It is only a shameless one and one without faith who profits by his brother’s smarts. Have these _bunnias_ no bowels?” I cried again, saying: “By the Cow—by the Oath of the Cow, by the Temple of the Blue-throated Mahadeo, I and I only was beaten—beaten to the death! Let your talk be straight, O people of Isser Jang, and I will pay for the witnesses.” And I tottered where I stood, for the sickness and the pain of the beating were heavy upon me.