_Our hair shall never turn grey, Never. We will never doubt the world and shut our eyes to ponder. Never. We will not grope in the maze of our mind. We flow with the flood of things, from the mountain to the sea, We will never be lost in the desert sand, Never._ We can tell, by his looks, that Dada will some day go to that Old Man, to receive his lessons. _Leader_ Which Old Man? The Old Man of the line of Adam. He dwells in a cave, and never thinks of dying. _Leader_ Where did you learn about him? Oh, every one talks about him, And it is in the books also. _Leader_ What does he look like? Some say he is white, like the skull of a dead man. And some say he is dark, like the socket of a skeleton's eye. But haven't you heard any news of him, Leader? _Leader_ I don't believe in him at all. Well, that goes entirely against current opinion. That Old Man is more existent than anything else. He lives within the ribs of creation. According to our Pundit, it is we who have no existence. You can't be certain whether we are, or are not. _Chandra_ We? Oh, we are too brand new altogether. We haven't yet got our credentials to prove that we exist. _Leader_ Have you really gone and opened communication with the Pundits? Why? What harm is there in that, Leader? _Leader_ You will become pale, like the white mist in autumn. Even the least colour of blood will disappear from your mind. I have a suggestion. What, Leader? What? _Leader_ You were looking out for a play? Yes, yes, we got quite frantic about it. We thought it over so vigorously, that people had to run to the King's court to lodge a complaint. _Leader_ Well, I can suggest a play which will be new. What?--What?--Tell us. _Leader_ Go and capture the Old Man. That is new, no doubt, but we very much doubt if it's a play. _Leader_ I am sure you won't be able to do it. Not do it? We shall. _Leader_ No, never. Well then, suppose we do capture him, what will you give us? _Leader_ I shall accept you as my preceptor. Preceptor! You want to make us grey, and cold, and old, before our time. _Leader_ Then, what do you want me to do? If we capture him, then we shall take away your leadership. _Leader_ That will be a great relief to me. You have made all my bones out of joint already. Very well, then it's all settled? Yes, settled. We shall bring him to you by the next full moon of Spring. But what are we going to do with him? _Leader_ You shall let him join in your Spring Festival. Oh no, that will be outrageous. Then the mango flowers will run to seed at once. And all the cuckoos will become owls. And the bees will go about reciting Sanskrit verses, making the air hum with m's and n's. _Leader_ And your skull will be so top-heavy with prudence, that it will be difficult for you to keep on your feet. How awful! _Leader_ And you will have rheumatics in all your joints. How awful! _Leader_