"Even so, father," said Hanuman. "And to the South I go who am the
oldest of the Gods as men know the Gods, and presently I touch the
shrines of the New 'Faith and the Woman whom we know is hewn
twelve-armed, and still they call her Mary."

Small thanks, brother," said the Tigress. "I am that Woman."

"Even so, sister; and I go West among the fire-carriages, and stand
before the bridge-builders in many shapes, and because of me they
change their faiths and are very wise. Ho! ho! I am the builder
of bridges, indeed - bridges between this and that, and each bridge
leads surely to Us in the end. Be content, Gunga.

"Neither these men nor those that follow them mock thee at all."

"Am I alone, then, Heavenly Ones? Shall I smooth out my flood lest
unhappily I bear away their walls? Will Indra dry my springs in
the hills and make me crawl humbly between their wharfs? Shall I
bury me in the sand ere I offend?"

"And all for the sake of a little iron bar with the fire-carriage
atop. Truly, Mother Gunga is always young!" said Ganesh the Elephant.
"A child had not spoken more foolishly. Let the dirt dig in the
dirt ere it return to the dirt. I know only that my people grow
rich and praise me. Shiv has said that the men of the schools do
not forget; Bhairon is content for his crowd of the Common People;
and Hanuman laughs."

"Surely I laugh," said the Ape. "My altars are few beside those of
Ganesh or Bhairon, but the fire-carriages bring me new worshippers