१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

THE ERUPTION
of the Sepoys burst it open. Jennings, his daughter, and
a guest fell to the sword in an instant. Where is that
Captain Douglas, who was running already dying with
terror, all through the streets of Delhi ? Kill him, too !
And this Collector hiding in the corner ? Give him also
leave of life ! Well, now there is not a trace of Feringhi
authority left in the palace of Delhi ! Now, Sepoys, you
can surely rest a while ! Let the cavalry pitch their
quarters in the palace, and let the Sepoys who had march-
ed all night take a little rest in the palace in the Dewan-
i-Khas.
In this way the palace of Delhi came into the hands
of the army of the people, and the Emperor, the Empress,
and the leaders of the Sepoys held a conference as to
future plans. It was now evidently foolish to wait till the
31st of May as previously arranged ; so after a little hesi-
tation, the Emperor decided openly to take the side of the
Revolutionaries. As this was going on, a large part of
the artillery of Meerut, who had also risen, arrived at
Delhi. They entered the palace and gave a salute of
twenty-one guns in honour of the Emperor and of free-
dom. The little hesitation that remained in the mind of
the Emperor, even after the pleadings and arguments of
the Revolutionary Sepoys, now completely disappeared
after this thunder of cannon ; and the hundred Imperial
yearnings in his heart awoke with a flash. The leaders
of the Sepoys, with their swords dipped in English blood,
stood before the dignified and magnificent person of the
Emperor, and said, “ Khavind ! the English are defeated
at Meerut, Delhi is in your hands, and all the Sepoys
and people, from Peshawar up to Calcutta, are awaiting
your orders. The whole of Hindusthan had arisen to
break the chains of English slavery, and to acquire their
God-given independence. At this time, take up the flag
of Liberty in your own hands, so that all the warriors of
India may assemble to fight under it ! Hindusthan has
begun to fight to get back Swaraj and if you accept her
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