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

THE ERUPTION
half, got down on the sands, the Sepoy lines closed from
behind and guarded the way. While embarking on the
boats from the palkees and elephants, no Indian came
forth that day to help the English. Yes ; but there were
exceptions. In one or two cases, they did get help when
they were getting down but, then, the Sepoys offered
their swords, not their hands. The wounded Colonel
Ewart had been put in a doli. A Sepoy stopped his doli
and said : “ Well, Colonel, how do you like this parade ?
How are the regimental uniforms ? ” With these words,
he dragged him down from the palkee and cut him to
pieces. His wife was near by. Some said to her : “ You
are a woman and your life will be spared ! ” But,
one frightful young man rushed forward, shouting,
“ Get away ! A woman ? Yes. But she is a Feringhi !
Cut her to pieces ! ” Before he finished the sentence, the
thing was done !
The English committee itself has admitted after enquiry
that all the boats on the river contained ample provisions
on board. The English waded through the water and took
their seats in them. Everywhere there was a dead silence
and calm. The boats were almost crowded. The boat-
men were ready with their oars. At last, Tatia Topé
waved his hand backward and forward in the air as the
sign for the boats to start. Suddenly, in one corner, some
one blew a bugle to break the terrible silence. As soon as
the shrill sound of the bugle was heard, a crashing noise
started—the noise of guns, rifles, swords, kukris, and
bayonets. The boatmen jumped from the boats and came
to the bank, and the Sepoys rushed into the water
with a jump ! No other sound was heard but “ Mâro
Feringhiko ! ”
Soon all the boats caught fire, and men and women and
children all jumped hastily into the Ganges. Some began
to swim, some were drowned, some were burnt and most
succumbed to bullets sooner or later ! Lumps of flesh,
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