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40
WARS OF THE RAJAS.
[Chap. IV.

12. After it dawned, as [the fugitives] Basavappa and his honour Siddaramappa, having been in prison without (anna-saralam) proper food, they were unable to walk [further.] So, when they entered the field which was before the hamlet Haradalu, under the village Hirēhal, being faint and very hungry, Siddappa said to Basavappa; If our enemies come and catch us, let them: [there's an end of all:] I am hungry. So saying, he sat down under a tree; which was within [two parugus, i.e. coss] four miles of Hirēhāl. Hereupon Basavapa Nayu thought in his heart "Behold! Though we have once escaped, the hour is come for us to fall again into their hands."

But by the mercy of God, there came an honest man, of the Balija caste, out of this Hire-hāl: he was a Reddi: (burgher) he cultivated a rye-field[1] and had reaped it and stacked [the grain]. He now came for the purpose of getting the crop trodden out, and made into grain be brought his cattle and men, and their breakfast in vessels, and water as he was[2] passing along he saw the two men sitting under a tree with fetters on their legs.[3] He asked who are you, and whence come you? Then Basavappa related all their adventures to the burgher, and said, "If you will in this (evil) hour supply us with bread and water, and conceal us from the view of all persons, you will have the virtue of having granted us our lives." By the grace of God he felt compassion for them, and comforted them saying "Be not afraid." He thus reassured them; and seating Sidda Ramapa on his own bullock,[4] and taking Basavappa along with him, brought them into his field threshing-floor: there he at once served up to them the breakfast that he there had, and hid them among the heaps of rye.

13. Afterwards, a marksman, who had charge of the guard on the bill at Bellari, came, and looking into the guard room, he saw that

  1. ↑ Corralu, a certain grain.
  2. ↑ Page 36.
  3. ↑ Probably the shackle remained on the master's leg alone, and he was therefore borne by Basavappa.
  4. ↑ It is worthy of remark, that however miserable his situation, the feudal chief is always reverenced by the Hindu, as well as by the Scotch Highlander and the Arab.
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