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

THE CONFLAGRATION
Shahjahanpur. Thus reinforced, the Moulvie marched
out of Shahjahanpur, warring night and day with his now
discomfited foe, and again escaped the coils that the com-
mander-in-chief had prepared for him. So sure was Sir
Colin of capturing the Moulvie that, in view of the cer-
tainty of the ruin of the Revolutionary party at Shah-
jahanpur, he had already issued orders for dividing his
forces again and sending them to different directions.
And, having dashed to pieces these orders and hopes of
the enemy, where did the Moulvie go? He entered Oudh
—the very province which the English had, after a year's
trouble and bloodshed and with the greatest difficulty,
succeeded in sweeping clear of the Revolutionaries. Sir
Colin conquered Ayodhya—the Moulvie occupied Rohil-
khand; now, Sir Colin comes and conquers Rohilkhand
—the Moulvie wheels back and again occupies Oudh!
In such a dogged manner and with such bravery did the
Moulvie fight with the foreign foe.
The British power is now bent on crushing him and
putting an end to his dangerous activities. Is there any-
one who would assist them in this plight? Whose
sword is mighty enough to kill this powerful head
of the Revolution, whom the sword of Sir Colin
has proved too blunt to cut? What is the best
way to accomplish this end?
What is the best way? There need not be any such
anxiety in the English camp. Is it not true that the Bri-
tish sword had, many a time before the present, proved
equally helpless and unsuccessful in eradicating the
enemies of British power in India? Well then, those
who could and did save England in all those periods of
danger and despair would come forward to save her once
more. If the English sword is too blunt to cut to pieces
this Indian patriot, let the dagger of treachery accomplish
the task!
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