their own men the guards who were on duty, and the captives in irons, Siddaramappa and Basavapa were not there. He searched about the hill for an hour, and made up his mind that they had fled : so he came down [the mountain,] and told the fact to Ramapa the chieftain of Bellari. He was in a great rage ; he summoned his men and horse and sent them out in all directions for six miles, ordering that wherever the [fugitives] should be found they should be chastised and brought back.
14. Then the [marks] men and riders searched on all sides, and seeing a multitude near that field, four riders came to take notice : but were answered by the Reddi and others, thus : When we came out of town there were two men-persons going along the Kudutani road, a long way off, and we saw them. But nobody has since come along this road. On hearing these words, they proceeded along the Kudutani road, and after louldng around on all sides, the whole body, horse and foot, went back and said to Ramapa Nayu " They have no where appeared." Thereupon he reflected thus : " Those who fell into my hands have disappeared : they [must] have had divine assistance : it is uncertain what may happen in future." Such were his reflections.
15. Afterwards(*) the head man (Reddi) of Hirehal, after evening fell, took Basavapa and Sidda Ramapa Nayu out of the rye-straw, and carried them to his own house : he- got [them] bathed, and caused whatever food there was in the house to be given them : he sent for an ironsmith and made him take the fetter off the leg of Basavappa. Then he gathered some people of his village : he had them mounted on two bullocks, and with a crowd [of attendants] he conveyed them to Hirehal ; where he told all the matter to Sivappa the Ameen [or local magistrate] who carried on the business of the town, under [the Marata chief] Murari Rao. Committing the two [hapless wretches] to him, he himself took leave and went home to his village.
