CHAPTER XXIV
Early in the afternoon the steamer grounded on a shoal. All efforts to set her afloat proved unavailing and evening found her still fast aground. From the high bank, which marked the river's flood-level, a wide stretch of sand covered with footprints of waterfowl shelved gradually to the water's edge.
The village girls, who had flocked down to the river to fill their water-pots for the last time before dark, turned curious eyes on the steamer, the bashful ones from behind their veils, while the bolder spirits dis- pensed with any such concealment.
A host of urchins danced and shouted on the top of the high bank, mocking at the plight of the leviathan which was wont to steam proudly past them, nose in air.
The sun went down behind the waste of sand. Rar mesh was standing by the fail gazing across the river at the western sky lit up by the last rays of sunset when Kamala stepped out of her fenced-off kitchen and, halting at the cabin door, coughed gently to attract Ramesh's attention. As he did not turn his head she took her bunch of keys and rattled it against the door. She had to rattle loudly before he turned around and, seeing her, stepped across the deck to her side.
"So that's your way of calling me, is it?" he re- marked.
"I couldn't think of any other way."
"Why, what do you think my parents gave me a name for, if they didn't intend it to be used? Why not call out, 'Ramesh Babu!' when you want me for anything?"
lOI
