Madhub Babu’s Chandernagore house stood on the bank of the river.  One dark night a boat came quietly to the ghat.  Its occupants silently landed and proceeded stealthily to the house.  Every door and window was securely fastened, but what mattered that to Raghu and his band?  Tall trees graced the grounds everywhere and many grew near the house.  Climbing the nearest, some of the dacoits reached up a long and stout bamboo from it to the flat roof.  A slim youth crawled over and fixed the other end securely.  Then one by one some of the gang slid across.  The door of the staircase leading down into the house stood open.  Creeping like cats downstairs they gained the entrance hall.  Here they found all the durwans fast asleep.  The light of their lanterns showed the durwans’ swords hanging on the wall.  In a trice the dacoits had them down, unsheathed, and, oh, bitter blow! despatched Madhub Babu’s men with their own weapons.

Then noiselessly opening the door they admitted the remainder of the band.  For a few hours there was uproar, confusion and dismay while the burglars invaded room after room and collected all Madhub Babu’s treasures with which they disappeared.

While still smarting under the loss of his valuables, the Babu received another letter from Raghu Dacoit asking, “Had his visit given Madhub Babu pleasure?”

Girl as Kali-Ma

A large and well-to-do family lived happily in a country place in Bengal.

One day their peace was disturbed by an anonymous letter.  The writer warned them to expect a “dacoity” (burglary).  These Indian outlaws always make it a point of honour to inform their intended victims, and always come with drums, torch-light and a sort of war-cry.

There was much valuable jewellery in the house and the family, thinking discretion the better part of valour, gathered all together, packed it securely and, taking it with them, left their home about sunset for safe quarters.

Somehow one of the younger ladies with a tiny infant was left behind.  Unaware of the warning letter or desertion of the family, she slept peacefully through the early hours of the night.  But later, she was awakened by the sound of drums and loud cries, which she recognised as the signal of the dacoits.  Rushing out of her chamber she discovered that the burglars were already in the house and that none of the family were to be found.  From room to room she fled, finding none to protect her, and realised that she was alone and helpless.  Even her husband was gone!

She was a high-spirited and resourceful girl.  She knew her life and the baby’s as well were in danger and she determined to outwit the burglars.  She had a swarthy complexion like Kali, the dacoits’ divinity.  Often had her mother bemoaned its darkness!  Now it should serve her.  But was she black enough?  To make assurance doubly sure, she caught up a bottle of ink, which she knew where to find, and hastily smeared her face and limbs with it.  Then, hiding her baby in a safe corner, she uncoiled her heavy hair and let its luxuriant black tresses fall about her like a cloak.  Her preparations complete, she placed herself in a large niche at the head of the stairs.