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

THE CONFLAGRATION
the other hand, like a hunter whose prey is escaped out
of his reach, unable to cross the river, stopped there with
their pride wounded and mission unaccomplished. The
lion, now triumphant by freeing itself from the hunter's
nets and lances, again rushed into his native forests of
Shahabad, came to Jagadishpur and, on the 22nd of April,
re-entered this his old capital. It was from this capital
that he was hunted out eight months back. Once more
now, in the palace of Jagadishpur is ruling the prince of
Jagadishpur. His brother, Amar Singh, who had collected
together a force of patriotic peasants and villagers even
before Kumar Singh had crossed the Ganges, now joined
him. The brave Kumar ordered out in divisions these
united forces to guard the capital on all sides, while he
too, as intrepid and unexhausted as ever, took again
to warfare.
The entrance into Jagadishpur was so sudden and dash-
ing that the British forces at Arrah which had been kept
there for the express purpose of watching Jagadishpur
had no notice of Kumar Singh's descent on Arrah. Thus
outwitted, Le Grand, the British general at Arrah, became
wild at the discovery of this his enemy's triumph. What
audacity that this rebel chief should give the slip to all
the British forces in East Oudh, should enter Jagadishpur,
and even begin to rule with all the pomp of an independent
prince here, under the very nose of the British general ?
It is not even eight months since Sir Eyre had chased this
rebel out of these forests ;—well, even like that will this
Le Grand rush in the Jagadishpur wilds to hunt down
this marauding chief. With this hope, the brave general,
with four hundred British troops and two guns, marched
on the doomed city of Jagadishpur on the 23rd of April.
How, now, is it possible that this field should be contested
by Kumar Singh ? During all these months, the old
warrior had been fighting incessantly and without a mo-
ment's rest ; his forces had never been able to snatch a
hearty meal or an undisturbed sleep ; but yesterday had
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