When I was passing through the hill-forest named Bheelera, I saw four men sitting by the side of the road. One of them sprang at me with a big knife in his hand. Seeing no possible way of escape, I bent my neck. Then he refrained from stricking, but snatching my blanket from my shoulder he cleared off. When I had gone about a furlong, he called me back. I thought to myself there was now no hope for me, but it turned out exactly opposite to my imaginings. When he said, “Who are you?”

I told him about myself and my purpose in touring these parts, and read to him the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This thought struck him to the heart, that, if the rich man who had never robbed was in hell, then what would be his own fate, who had robbed hundreds of times? He then repented on the spot and asked for my forgiveness. He returned my blanket to me... He made for me some tea flavoured with salt and gave me some dried fruit to eat. It was as though the Lord had taken out for me "meat from the eater and sweetness from the strong" (Judges 14: 14), and "prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23 : 5).

I prayed with him, but he was very distressed. Then he took off his coat, spread it under me, and going on one side he began to weep over his condition. When I woke up in the morning, he told me all about his evil life and, showing me a lot of bones in a cave, said: "This is my sin.” Then I pitied him very much, but for myself I thanked God that He had been with me, otherwise to-day my bones too would have been found on that heap. Afterwards I told him the story of the thief to whom the Lord had said, “This day shalt thou be with me in paradise," and again I prayed; and he was comforted in his heart with the thought, “The Lord will save even me." He desired that I would baptize him, but on my advice he set out for the plains that he might receive baptism at the hands of some clergyman.