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What Shaibalini Did


command, the man began to strike her severely with that awful instrument of torture. Shaibalini got scorched under those fearful strikes. Unable to bear the pains of that horrible infliction, she threw herself into that river of blood. Forthwith, those strange and fearful crocodiles rushed towards her, but they did not seize her. She began to swim; the current of blood was entering into her mouth, and occasionally rotten dead bodies, emitting a most noxious smell, came floating upon her. The extraordinary man was following her closely. He, however, had not to swim—he walked over the river. In this way, Shaibalini arrived at the other side of the river. She got up on the bank, and repeatedly cried out for help, at the sight of some fearful object before her. What she saw before her had no limit, no shape, no colour and no name. There the light was very dim, but it was yet so very intense that it produced a most painful burning effect upon Shaibalini's eyes—it was like the burning sensation of some deadly venom. So foul and offensive was the smell there that although Shaibalini had covered her nose with her cloth, it made her painfully restless. A horrible mixture of confused sounds was entering

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