Page:Chandra Shekhar.djvu/247

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Chandra Shekhar

Saidabad and Rangamati, yet, he could not shake off the fear of being overtaken by a pursuing enemy. Any boat which he found coming from behind, he fancied, belonged to the Mahamedans.

Foster noticed that a little boat was following his Budgrow, it seemed to him, persistently. At this, he began to think out a means, by which he could effect an escape. His diseased brain suggested one and a hundred ways by which, he believed, he could save himself from the hands of the pursuing enemy. He once thought, that the best thing for him would be, to leave the boat and escape by land. But, at the very next moment, he felt that it was quite impossible for him to run away—he was physically unfit to do so. Again, it occured to his diseased mind, that he would be safe if he would jump into the water. But, he instantly perceived that it would mean his death as well. He next thought, that his boat would go faster if he would cast into the river the two women with him.

All on a sudden, Foster jumped into another conclusion, which forced itself on him through his perverted understanding. It was, now, his firm belief, that the Mahamedans were pursuing him so

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