ts 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.

"O 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 sword