ll her women followed。
All the streets were thronged with women； weeping and beating their breasts。 Very greatly they wept； and no men were seen； for their livers were black within them for shame as the Treasure of Chitor departed； nor would they look upon the sight。 And across the plains went that procession； as if the stars had fallen upon the earth； so glittered the sorrowful lights of the Queen。
But in the camp was great rejoicing； for the Barbarians knew that many fair women attended on her。
Now； before the entrance to the camp they had made a great shamiana ＇tent＇ ready； hung with shawls of Kashmir and the plunder of Delhi； and there was set a silk divan for the Rani； and beside it stood the Loser and the Gainer； Allah…u…Din and the King； awaiting the Treasure。
Veiled she entered； stepping proudly； and taking no heed of the Moslem； she stood before her husband； and even through the veil he could feel the eyes he knew。
And that Accursed spoke； laughing。
〃I have won…I have won； 0 King！ Bid farewell to the Chosen of the Palace … the Beloved of the Viceregent of Kings！〃
Then she spoke softly； delicately； in her own tongue； that the outcast should not guess the matter of her speech。
〃Stand by me。 Stir not。 And when I raise my arm； cry the cry of the Rajputs。 NOW！〃
And she flung her arm above her head； and instantly； like a lion roaring； he shouted； drawing his sword； and from every litter sprang an armed man； glittering in steel； and the bearers； humble of mien； were Rajput knights； every one。
And Allah…u…Din thrust at the breast of the Queen； but around them surged the war； and she was hedged with swords like a rose in the thickets。
Very full of wine； dull with feasting and lust and surprised； the Moslems fled across the plains； streaming in a broken rabble； cursing and shouting like low…caste women； and the Rajputs； wiping their swords； returned from the pursuit and laughed upon each other。
But what shall be said of the joy of the King and of her who had imagined this thing； in… structed of the Goddess who is the other half of her Lord？
So the procession returned； singing； to Chitor with those Two in the midst； but among the dogs that fled was Allah…u…Din； his face blackened with shame and wrath； the curses choking in his foul throat。
（Aid！ that the evil still walk the ways of the world！）
V
So the time went by and the beauty of the Queen grew； and her King could see none but hers。 Like the moon she obscured the stars； and every day he remembered her wisdom； her valour； and his soul did homage at her feet； and there was great content in Chitor。
It chanced one day that the Queen； looking from her high window that like an eagle's nest overhung the precipice； saw； on the plain beneath； a train of men； walking like ants； and each carried a basket on his back； and behind them was a cloud of dust like a great army。 Already the city was astir because of this thing； and the rumours came thick and the spies were sent out。
In the dark they returned； and the Rana entered the bower of Padmini； his eyes burning like coal with hate and wrath； and he flung his arm round his wife like a shield。
〃He is returned； and in power。 Counsel me again； 0 wife； for great is thy wisdom！〃
But she answered only this；…
〃Fight； for this time it is to the death。〃
Then each day she watched bow the baskets of earth； emptied upon the plain at first； made nothing； an ant heap whereat fools might laugh。 But each day as the trains of men came； spilling their baskets； the great earthworks grew and their height mounted。 Day after day the Rajputs rode forth and slew； and as they slew it seemed that all the teeming millions of the earth came forth to take the places of the slain。 And the Rajputs fell also； and under the pennons the thundering forces returned daily； thinned of their best。
（A hi！ that Evil rules the world as God！）
And still the earth grew up to the heights； and the protection of the hills was slowly withdrawn from Chitor； for on the heights they made they set their engines of war。
Then in a red dawn that great saint Narayan came to the Queen； where she watched by her window； and spoke。
〃0 great lady； I have dreamed a fearful dream。 Nay； rather have I seen a vision。〃
With her face set like a sword； the Queen said；…
〃Say on。〃
〃In a light red like blood； I waked； and beside me stood the Mother； … Durga； … awful to see； with a girdle of heads about her middle； and the drops fell thick and slow from That which she held in her hand； and in the other was her sickle of Doom。 Nor did she speak； but my soul heard her words。〃
〃Narrate them。〃
〃She commanded： ‘Say this to the Rana： 〃In Chitor is My altar； in Chitor is thy throne。 If thou wouldest save either； send forth twelve crowned Kings of Chitor to die。'〃
As he said this； the Rana； fore…spent with fighting； entered and heard the Divine word。
Now there were twelve princes of the Rajput blood； and the youngest was the son of Padmini。 What choice had these most miserable but to appease the dreadful anger of the Goddess？ So on each fourth day a King of Chitor was crowned； and for three days sat upon the throne； and on the fourth day； set in the front； went forth and died fighting。 So perished eleven Kings of Chitor； and now there was left but the little Ajeysi； the son of the Queen。
And that day was a great Council called。
Few were there。 On the plains many lay dead； holding the gates many watched； but the blood was red in their hearts and flowed like Indus in the melting of the snows。 And to them spoke the Rana； his hand clenched on his sword； and the other laid on the small dark head of the Prince Ajeysi； who stood between his knees。 And as he spoke his voice gathered strength till it rang through the hall like the voice of Indra when he thunders in the heavens。
〃Men of the Rajputs； this child shall not die。 Are we become jackals that we fall upon the weak and tear them？ When have we put our women and children in the forefront of the war？ I … I only am King of Chitor。 Narayan shall save this child for the time that will surely come。 And for us … what shall we do？ I die for Chitor！〃
And like the hollow waves of a great sea they answered him；…
〃We will die for Chitor。〃
There was silence and Marwar spoke。
〃The women？〃
〃Do they not know the duty of a Rajputni？〃 said the King。 〃My household has demanded that the caves be prepared。〃
And the men clashed stew joy with their swords； and the council dispersed。
Then that very great saint； the Twice…Born； put off the sacred thread that is the very soul of the Brahman。 In his turban he wound it secretly； and he stained his noble Aryan body until it resembled the Pariahs； foul for the pure to see； loathsome for the pure to touch； and he put on him the rags of the lowest of the earth； and taking the Prince； he removed from the body of the child every trace of royal and Rajput birth； and he appeared like a child of the Bhils … the vile forest wanderers that shame not to defile their lips with carrion。 And in this guise they stood before the Queen； and when she looked on the saint； the tears fell from her eyes like rain； not for grief for her son； nor for death； but that for their sake the pure should be made impure and the glory of the Brahman…hood be defiled。 And she fell at the old man's feet and laid her head on the ground before him。
〃Rise； daughter！〃 he said； 〃and take comfort！ Are not the eyes of the Gods clear that they should distinguish？ … and this day we stand before the God of Gods。 Have not the Great Ones said； ‘That which causes life causes also decay and death'？ Therefore we who go and you who stay are alike a part of the Divine。 Embrace now your child and bless him； for we depart。 And it is on account of the sacrifice of the Twelve that he is saved alive。〃
So； controlling her tears； she rose； and clasping the child to her bosom； she bade him be of good cheer since he went with the Gods。 And that great saint took his hand from hers； and for the first time in the life of the Queen he raised his aged eyes to her face； and she gazed at him； but what she read； even the ascetic Visravas； who saw all by the power of his yoga； could not tell； for it was beyond speech。 Very certainly the peace thereafter possessed her。
So those two went out by the secret ways of the rocks； and wandering far； were saved by the favour of Durga。
VI
And the nights went by and the days； and the time came that no longer could they hold Chitor； and all hope was dead。
On a certain day the Rana and the Rani stood for the last time in her bower； and looked down into the city； and in the streets were gathered in a very wonderful procession the women of Chitor； and not one was veiled。 Flowers that had bloomed in the inner chambers； great ladies jewelled for a festival； young brides； aged mothers； and girl children clinging to the robes of their mothers who held their babes； crowded the ways。 Even the low…caste women walked with measured steps and proudly； decked in what they had of best； their eyes lengthened with soorma； and flowers in the darkness of their hair。
The Queen was clothed in a gold robe of rejoicing； her bodice latticed with diamonds and great gems； and upon her bosom the necklace of table emeralds； alight with green fire； which is the jewel of the Queens of Chitor。 So she stood radiant as a vision of Shri； and it appeared that rays encircled her person。
And the Rana； unarmed save for his sword； had the saffron dress of a bridegroom and the jeweled cap of the Rajput Kings； and below in the hall were the Princes and Chiefs； clad even as he。
Then； raising her lotus eyes to her lord； the Princess said；…
〃Beloved； the time is come； and we have chosen rightly； for this is the way of honour； and it is but another link forged in the chain of existence； for until existence itself is ended and rebirth destroyed； still shall we meet in lives to come and still be husband and wife。 What room then for despair？〃
And he answered；…
〃This is true。 Go first； wife； and I follow。 Let not the door swing to behind thee。 But oh； to see thy beauty once more that is the very speech of Gods with men！ Wilt thou surely come again to me and again be fair？〃
And f