How did Chand Patil first meet Sai Baba, and what was the first miracle he witnessed?

Chand Patil's first encounter with Sai Baba happened by chance under a mango tree. As narrated in Chapter 5 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, Patil, a resident of Dhup village, had lost his mare and was grieving while returning from a two-month search. He saw a Fakir wearing a kafni and cap, who called out to him to rest. The Fakir, who was Baba, asked about the saddle Patil was carrying. Upon hearing about the lost mare, Baba performed his first miracle for Patil by simply telling him, "Go search near those streams." Patil went and immediately found his horse, which made him realize he had met a divine saint, or Avaliya.