"See, heavenborn!" he said, pointing. "Those will be your husband's
guns! See, over on the left, there. See! They fire! Those two!
We can reach them if we make a circuit on the flank here!"
"But can we get through, Risaldar? Won't they see us and cut us off?"
"Heavenborn!" he answered, "men who dare ride into a city temple and
snatch thee from the arms of priests dare and can do anything! Take
this, heavenborn--take it as a keepsake, in case aught happens!"
He drew off the priest's ring, gave it to her and then, before she
could reply:
"Canter!" he roared. The horses sprang forward in answer to the spurs
and there was nothing for Ruth to do but watch the distant battle
and listen to the deep breathing of the Rajputs on either hand.
XI.
There could be no retreat that day and no thought of it. Jundhra
and Doonha were in ruins. The bridges were down behind them and Hanadra
lay ahead. The British had to win their way into it or perish. Tired
out, breakfastless, suffering from the baking heat, the long, thin
British line had got--not to hold at bay but to smash and pierce--
an over-whelming force of Hindus that was stiffened up and down its
length by small detachments of native soldiers who had mutinied.
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