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

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
But while her side was fighting with such unexampled
bravery, she saw the English army advancing on her rear
—for they had broken through the ranks of Revolutiona-
ries who were holding the posts behind her !
The artillery dumb, the main army routed, the victorious
English army closing on her from all sides, with only
fifteen or twenty horsemen with her, Ranee Lakshmi,
accompanied by her maids, put her horse to a gallop,
in order to break through the enemy, and to join her
comrades on the other side. The Feringhi horsemen of
the Hussars, who knew not so far where she was, fired
shot after shot on her and pursued her like hounds. But
the Queen, with unexampled courage, cleared her way
with her sword and marched on. Suddenly was heard a
cry, “ I am dead, Bai Sahib, I am dead ! ” Alas, whose
is this cry ? Lakshmi turned round and found that it
was her maid Mandar whom a white soldier had shot
and killed ! Angered, she attacked the Feringhi, and her
blow felled him on the spot. She had avenged the death
of fair Mandar ! She then marched on. She came to a
small rill. Now, one jump and Jhansi would have been
out of the Feringhi’s clutches. But her horse would not
take that jump ! If only she had had her old horse ! As
if the fiery line of a magician was round him the horse
moved in circles, round and round, but would not cross.
Before you could say “one”, the English horsemen
closed on her ! Still not a word of surrender or fear !
One sword against their several swords,—yet she closed
on them. She crossed sword with sword with them all,
but one of them hit her on the head from behind. With
that blow, the right part of her head, and even her right
eye came out—just then, another blow hit her on the
chest. Oh Lakshmi, Lakshmi ! the last drop of thy
sacred blood is dripping and, therefore, now, Mother,
take this last sacrifice for thee ! Even at the point of
death, she killed the British foe who had attacked her,
and now the young Queen was breathing her last breath !
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