188 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM
the memory of man. Down, down, down it poured, hour after hour, day after day, without one moment of intermission ; and the river began to overflow, and the trees to be washed away; and it looked as if the people, and their herds, and their villages would all be lost, nay, as if the very world itself would be drowned in one great flood. But to Krishna all the anger of Indra was a very little thing. When He saw the danger of His people, He simply called them together, and, telling them to bring with them their cattle and their tools, and all their worldly possessions. He lifted up the mountain itself, and, holding it up with a single finger. He made them all take shelter beneath it ! And so He stood, protecting them, seven days and nights, till even the mighty Indra was exhausted and repentant, and ready to offer worship to Him Who was greater than all the ancient gods together. Then all the herdsmen and women came forth once more from their refuge, and the sun shone brightly upon them, and the mountain was restored to its own place, and even the spirit of the Jumna was appeased, and her flow became gentle and untroubled as before. But one by one came the old men and prostrated themselves before Krishna, saying, " Child I in sooth we know not Who You are — but whoever and whatever You be, to You be our salutation ! To You be our worship 1 "
