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

THE ERUPTION
delivering sweet speeches to pacify the Sepoys ! But the
days were gone when such empty lectures would have
pacified soldiers. The 31st of May dawned, and the
Barracks at Benares were set fire to, the sign for the
other Sepoys in the province to rise. So, the rising must
take place in the first week of June. To-day is the 3rd
of June and a good day. For, don’t you see that the
treasure of Gorakhpore, together with the treasure of
Azimgarh—altogether seven lakhs of Rupees—is being
sent to Benares ? What better opportunity can you
desire or expect ?
The twilight of the 3rd of June was slowly changing to the
darkness of the night at Azimgarh. All the English
officers of Sepoy regiments were dining together at the
club, and the women and children were playing and frolic-
king near by. Immediately, the party heard a tremendous
noise. The English had by the first week of June learnt
by heart the meaning of these sudden crashes. Even the
sudden hush in the midst of their jollity looked like a
mutual whisper of “ The Sepoys have risen ! ” Just then
followed a thundering noise of drums and clarionets !
Not a moment passed before the white people, with the
picture of the Meerut events before their mind’s eye,
started running for dear life. Officers, women and chil-
dren despaired of life. But the Azimgarh Sepoys, seeing
this unfortunate people suffering a worse agony of death,
relinquished all thoughts of revenge. They took charge
of them in order to protect them from being harmed by
stray Sepoys, and ordered them to leave Azimgarh at
once. But what about some of the over enthusiastic Sepoys
who had sworn to shed English blood on that day ? ³
Well then, Lieutenant Hutchinson and Quarter-Sergeant
Lewis, at least your bodies must fall a prey to our bullets!
Enough, let the rest run away alive. If they cannot run,
we have no objection to their leaving in carriages ! But
3. Narrative, p. 58.
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