Merwanji then glared at the policeman in such an intense, forceful manner that the fellow actually stumbled back, thinking he might be in danger. Merwanji, however, immediately fell at the policeman's feet and begged his pardon. The man did not know what to think as Merwanji rose and turned away, walking off into the desolate blackness of the moonless night. The radiant glow on Merwanji's face could not be hidden, even in his dazed condition. The policeman stared at the strange young man as he disappeared into the night, puzzled by this chance encounter.
After Merwanji reached the village of Limbgaon, two miles from Shirdi, a strange incident occurred. Suddenly, out of the blackness, four large dogs bounded towards him. They barked ferociously but did not bite him. Paying no attention to their threats, Merwanji continued walking. A little farther along the road, four more wild dogs appeared and barked at him, but he paid no heed to them also and walked on.
After some distance, another pack of four dogs rushed at Merwanji, and this time they seemed ready to attack! But Merwanji did not show the least fear. The dogs surrounded him menacingly and began to bark furiously. Merwanji suddenly got an impulse to run as fast as he could! He took off with the dogs racing after him, howling crazily. Merwanji ran fast and left the dogs behind. He continued running until he reached Shirdi, at about 3:30 in the morning. He stopped on the outskirts of the village and glanced in each direction. Deciding not to go to Sai Baba, he lay down to rest alongside the road for a few hours.1 At dawn Merwanji got up from the roadside and strode rapidly toward Sakori, crossing the seven-mile distance in about an hour. No sooner had Merwanji stepped near Upasni Maharaj's hut than Upasni's close woman disciple, Durgabai, arrived carrying a large, dead dog in her arms. She told Maharaj that the dog had fallen into a well and had died during the night. As she gazed at Merwanji, she silently handed the carcass to him. Taking the dead animal in his arms, he ran far away with it and threw it into a pit. He then ran back and joined Upasni in his hut. No one knew of Merwanji's earlier encounters with the three packs of wild dogs. The villagers discussed the event of the dead dog for several days, because dogs seldom ever fall into wells.
