Page:Chandra Shekhar.djvu/164

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She Laughs


in great surprise. The sentinel was going to stop him, when he kicked down the man, saying, "Rascal, a woman is about to drown herself in your presence, and you are standing here quite indifferent!"

At that single kick, the sentry fell down from the boat, on the bank. Pratap then leaped into the water, crying out, "To the rescue—to the rescue of the dying woman."

Shaibalini, who was an expert in swimming, was going ahead, and Pratap was following her.

The sentinel at the back of the boat then raised a hue and cry, and levelled his gun at Pratap. Pratap saw this, and cried out to the man, "Don't be afraid—I don't mean to get away—I will save that woman—how can I suffer my heart to see her perish for want of help. You are a Hindu—don't sin by killing a Brahmin for nothing."

The Sepoy lowered his gun.

At that time, Shaibalini was swimming away by the side of the last boat in the row. At the very sight of it she got startled. She saw that it was the very Bundgerow in which she had to live with Foster. She fixed her eyes on the boat for a while, and

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