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

THE CONFLAGRATION
reward this traitor's valour, a bullet entered right in his
breast ! He fell and immediately Cooper rushed in, and
behind him Ewart and Captain John Lumsden,—and then
Sikhs and Highlanders all quickly rushed in. The Sepoys
within were staggered for a moment on seeing the whole
army entering so quickly. But the hero who led the
Revolutionaries that day at Sikandar Bagh was no ordi-
nary leader. He does not think of retreat !
Victory or Death ! Death or Victory !! This cry fits only
the mouths of those who fight for freedom. Cooper is
the first man who has rushed into the Bagh ; therefore,
the Sepoy must try to kill him first. This cannot be done
except by the brave sepoy officer of the regiment which
revolted at Ludhiana. He looked out for Cooper and ran
straight at him. Clang! Clang! Clang of swords ! A
deep thrust, both simultaneously cut each other and both
fell dead ! Lumsden began to wave about his sword in
the air and shouted, " Come on, men, for the honour of
Scotland ! " How insolent ! For the honour of Scotland!
And has Hindusthan no honour ? Before any white man
came up for the honour of Scotland, a brown hero rushed
forth for the honour of Hindusthan—and blood began to
gush out of Lumsden's lifeless corpse ! While such a terri-
ble hand to hand fight was going on here, the English army
broke the wall on another side and rushed in from there
also. Now this Bagh had no hope of victory. Then, O
Sikandar Bagh, are you going to fight even after victory
is gone ? Fight on, fight on ! Let victory go but do
not lose honour, do not lose fame, jump into the battle as
a duty ! On every door; on every step, in every quadran-
gle, sword clashed with sword ! Blood was shed every-
where. Malleson says, " The fight for the possession of
the enclosure was bloody and desperate, the rebels fighting
with all the energy of despair. Nor did the struggle end
when our men forced their way inside. Every room,
every staircase, every corner of the towers was contested.
Quarter was neither given nor asked for ; and, when at
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