Swish, swish, swish, sounded the nimble cane, and made a grey pattern on Sadhu’s naked flesh.  His screams and prayers for mercy were mocked by the obsequious crowd, and at length he fell senseless on the floor.

“Look, he is shamming,” observed Ramani Babu; “drag him outside and souse him with water until he comes to.”  The command was obeyed, and when Sadhu was able to sit up he was brought back to the dreaded presence.  Again his arrears of rent were demanded, and once more he feebly protested that he could not discharge them.  Thereon Ramani Babu ordered him to be hung up.  Forthwith, a dozen eager hands were laid on him, a rope was passed under his armpits, and the free end thrown over a rafter of the office.  By this means he was hauled from the ground and swung suspended, a butt of sarcasm and abuse for Ramani Babu’s myrmidons.  After enduring this humiliation for an hour or so, he was let down and a final demand made on him for the arrears of rent.  On his again asserting inability Ramani Babu ordered his hut to be levelled with the ground and pulse to be sown on its site, as a punishment for his disobedience.  He was then allowed to leave the scene of his misery.

On reaching home he found Bemani seated in the porch, in expectation of his arrival.  His fellow-victim said that he had lodged an information against Ramani Babu and his servants at the police station and intended going to Ghoria, next day, to complain to the Deputy Magistrate.  Would Sadhu help him by giving evidence? he asked.  “That I will,” was the reply, “but I must first consult Jadunath Babu, who, I am sure, will help me.”  After Bemani’s departure Sadhu went to his protector and told the story of his sufferings in full.  Jadunath Babu bade him be of good cheer; for he would do all in his power to bring Ramani Babu to justice.  Sadhu was comforted by this promise.  He returned home and soon forgot all his sorrows in sleep.

About midnight he was aroused by voices in his yard, and, sallying forth, discovered a gang of clubmen employed by Ramani Babu, in the act of tearing the roof from his hut.  Remonstrance was met by jeering and threats of violence; so the luckless man stood helplessly under a neighbouring tamarind tree, while his house was reduced to a heap of bamboos and thatch.  The material was taken away in carts, the site dug up, and pulse sown thereon.  Thus not a trace of Sadhu’s home was left.  He passed the remaining hours of the night under the tree; and early next morning he called on Jadu Babu, to whom he unfolded the story of this latest outrage.  His patron boiled over with indignation.  He sent Sadhu to the police station, in order to lay an information against his persecutors, promising to give him a house and land to compensate his losses.  In less than a fortnight, the injured man was installed in a new hut and in possession of enough land to support him comfortably.  Then he settled down, with heartfelt prayers for Jadu Babu’s long life and prosperity.  He even sent for his wife and a young sister-in-law, who had been staying with her brother near Calcutta.