1 84 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 skill and diligence to effect the purpose that he had enjoined on
3 them. But there was still another and a stronger incitement
4 which urged them on to the work more effectually even than the
5 bounties and entreaties of the Rajah. The great body of the
6 Khalsa troops, though they had themselves plundered above half
7 the city, and had been well plied with presents by Heera Sing,
8 were promised also the plunder of the fort, when they should
9 have brought to him the dead bodies of his enemies the
10 Scindawallas. The result was that the troops by threats and
11 persuasions urged the artillerymen to incessant and greater
12 zeal and diligence in their work. Hence by the time that
13 the day was two or three hours advanced, a large breach,
14 declared practicable, had been made in and near the tower at
15 the S. W. angle of the fort.
16 By this time the widow of the murdered Minister and her
17 female slaves were preparing to mount the funeral pyre
18 with his corpse. But Rajah Heera Sing craftily delayed the
19 immolation of his step-mother and her women, keeping them
20 waiting in the presence of the troops, whose fury against
21 the murderers of Dehan Sing was increased tenfold by the scene.
22 The Rajah had it also publicly proclaimed that not only would he
23 not eat or drink till the assassins were slain, but that the widowed
24 Ranee would not mount the pile till she had beheld the severed
25 heads of her husband's murderers. On this the troops wildly and
26 clamorously demanded orders to advance ,* but ere these were
27 given they had rushed forward, forty or forty-five thousand
28 men, infantry and dismounted cavalry, — and were soon clinging
29 and clustering about'the breach like bees at the entrance of
30 their hive. They quickly effected a good footing in the fort,
31 and doubtless concluded that as they had met with no opposi-
32 tion hitherto their prize was won. But now the little garrison
33 seemed to have shaken of its lethargy, and a resistance so fierce
34 was offered as for a time appalled the host of Seiks. But as
35 the close and deadly struggle continued, the superior numbers