THE STORY OF ICHALKARANJI
the future as to picture her fatherless son becoming a mighty soldier and a great ruler.
It cannot be said definitely whether it was Providence or sheer accident that inspired her to leave the place which was so wrapped round with the saddest of memories, but the story as it is now unveiled to us by very faded and dusty records certainly seems to suggest the pointing of the finger of Providence. Be that as it may, early in 1670 Gangabai disposed of her few household chattels and personal trinkets, and with seven year old Naro Pant as her chief bodyguard left Mhapana and crossed the Ghauts. It is a pity that the full story of this adventurous trip is not available, for in those days such journeying as this was accompanied by dangers and thrills even to hardened warriors. Likewise, it is left to us to guess whether Gangabai deliberately planned to set out for Kapshi or whether she merely settled down there haphazardly at the end of a long and wearying trip. But the fact remains that she could have made no better move than that which landed her at Kapshi, for that was the residence of the brave Maloji Ghorpade, one of the well-known faithful lieutenants of Shivaji.
Maloji Ghorpade was a fine Cavalry leader and had made a name which was renowned almost second to that of Shivaji Maharaja throughout the Empire which the great Emancipator of Maharashtra had built up. The great Shivaji had freed and
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