his fingers on the board. At the time they may seem clear, but they usually lack detail or provisions for the miscarriage of plans. The picture is outlined in a few swift strokes, and it is taken for granted that there will be no obstacles. Readers will then wonder whether his followers are conscious of spiritual forces guiding their footsteps unerringly to the right place. The writer can only say that he has usually to rely on common sense, and often (perhaps due to his lack of faith and to a worrying disposition) to be in doubt as to whether he has decided wisely.

"I felt quite ill and very depressed as the time drew near on Friday, when I had meditated in the cave for eight hours. I trudged up the dusty road in the heat of the sun ten times, carrying in my rucksack the various articles required: water bottles, a raincoat, blankets, matches, paper candles, flashlight, sticks of incense to drive away insects, a metal stove to make tea for Baba during his fast, and an umbrella in case of rain. I borrowed a thick rug from the monk. I pulled down some green saplings to block the path, to close the entrance, and to put in place of the roof.

"On Saturday, the fifth day of my stay in Assisi, Baba was due to arrive by car at 2 P.M. This would enable him to finish his fast on Sunday. I felt both ill and depressed. I stood at my window to watch the car come up the road from the station. Every sound seemed to herald his arrival in the hot sleepy afternoon. Two, three, four P.M. and no car came. I felt disheartened because he is nearly always punctual, and I had received none of the customary wires.

"On August the fifth, before his departure by car for Assisi, Baba told them to sit in the same room with him. He was not due to leave until about midnight. Baba lay down for an hour, not asleep because his hands continually made signs and motions in the air; there was a stillness in the room. Baba had said previously that before he could do his work in Assisi, one of two things would happen, either there would be a storm or he would be ill. He asked one of them to come near to him. Gradually his pains increased. His illness was so severe that he was unable to start at the time arranged. Two hours later they started. During the long drive, Baba's pains decreased, but at La Spezia, Quentin became ill; and at Pisa, Kaka became ill. It would almost seem as if the illness had been transferred to another.

''The driver of the car was unsteady and at times, careless. Once they were nearly run into by another car from behind, and an accident was narrowly averted. They arrived in Assisi three hours late.

"I had explained both at the hotel and to the monk that on my last day I would like to meditate for a longer period. After a wash and a meal at 6:30 P.M., our programs were arranged.

"We motored part of the way up the hill to save time. I then led them down by a hidden path to the cave which we reached at 7:30 P.M. Baba would rest in the cave during the entire fast, and none were to go near him or to look. At all costs we were to keep intruders away. If he required anything to drink, it was to be put just outside the entrance, Chanji and I were to sit outside and guard the cave all night until 10 A.M., and then Kaka and Quentin would relieve us. But at 4:30 we were to return, and at 5:30 P.M. eat together when Baba's fast was concluded. The leafy saplings hid the entrance to the cave and blocked the path leading to it.

"At 8:40 P.M. Kaka and Quentin left us to walk back to the hotel. Chanji and I shivered and sat at a little distance from the cave. He told me of watching at the cave at Panchgani in India. Strange thoughts and questions — how little we really understood the nature of the Perfect Master's work! His body was there in the cave, but where was he? Were all the churches militant on earth? Were all the Saints together in councils? If so, why could we not see golden rays illuminating the dark forests, or Jacob's ladder pitched between this