The people of the village marvelled when Nitai Pal was unexpectedly
made so much of by Jaganath. They felt sure that the old man's end
was near, and the prospect of his bequeathing all his property to this
unknown brat made their hearts sore. Furious with envy, they determined
to do the boy an injury, but the old man took care of him as though
he was a rib in his breast.
At times, the boy threatened that he would go away, and the old man
used to say to him temptingly: 'I will leave you all the property I
possess.' Young as he was, the boy fully understood the grandeur of
this promise.
The village people then began to make inquiries after the father of the
boy. Their hearts melted with compassion for the agonised parents,
and they declared that the son must be a rascal to cause them so much
suffering. They heaped abuses on his head, but the heat with which
they did it betrayed envy rather than a sense of justice.
One day the old man learned from a wayfarer that one Damodar Pal was
seeking his lost son, and was even now coming towards the village.
Nitai, when he heard this, became very restless and was ready to run
away, leaving his future wealth to take care of itself. Jaganath
reassured him, saying: 'I mean to hide you where nobody can find
you--not even the village people themselves.'
This whetted the curiosity of the boy and he said: 'Oh, where? Do show
me.'
'People will know, if I show you now. Wait till it is night,' said
Jaganath.
The hope of discovering the mysterious hiding-place delighted Nitai. He
planned to himself how, as soon as his father had gone away without
him, he would have a bet with his comrades, and play hide-and-seek.
Nobody would be able to find him. Wouldn't it be fun? His father, too,
would ransack the whole village, and not find him--that would be rare
fun also.
At noon, Jaganath shut the boy up in his house, and disappeared for
some time. When he came home again, Nitai worried him with questions.