Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/170

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and reached the other bank safe. What a good swimmer! He then proceeded on his way with running speed, and was soon on the banks of the Dvarakesvar. Here was the same difficulty again. The river was as swollen and turbulent as the Damodar. There was no ferry boat. He was now quite exhausted. He had nothing to eat the whole day. But he did not care for all this. He was animated with divine inspiration. He plunged into the river, and with God's grace, who is ever ready to help those that help themselves, swam across safely to the other side He now ran apace, for it was growing dark. When he came to the Kuran-Khal, the sun had already set, and it was quite dark. The place was very dreadful. It was notorious as the chief haunt of robbers, who lay in wait, concealed under some covert, and as opportunity presented itself, fell on and plundered wayfarers, occasionally killing them. But Vidyasagar had no room in his mind for fear or anything of the kind, save the thought of his mother. He proceeded on fearlessly, and when he reached home, it was past nine O'clock in the night. He found, that the marriage procession had already left for the bride's. He looked for his mother, but could not find her, for she had shut the doors of her room, and lay there weeping for her dear child. Vidyasagar called aloud;—"Mamma, where are you, mamma, I am come," The mother knew her son's voice, and