Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/56

Bhavananda answered, " We are The Children! 1 " Children ! Whose children are you ?" " Our mother's." " Well, but does a child worship its mother with the proceeds of robbery ?" " We do nothing of the sort" 41 Presently you looted a cart." " Was that robbery ? Whom did we rob ? " " Why, of course the king !" " The King ! What right has he to take this money ? " " It is the royal portion which goes to the king." " How do you call him a king who does not rule his kingdom ? " " I fear you will be blown up before the sepoy's cannons one of these days." " We have seen plenty of sepoys ; even to-day we have had some." 4t You haven't yet known them aright, you will know them one day however." " What then ? One never dies more than once." " But why should you willingly invite death ?" " Mahendra Sin ha, I thought you to be a man amongst men, but I now see there is little to choose between you and the rest of your lot ; — you are only the sworn consumer of milk and butter. Just think of the snake. It creeps on the ground ; I cannot think of any creature lower and meaner than it ; but put your foot on its neck and it will spread its fangs to bite you. But can nothing disturb your equanimity ? Look round and see,