1 86 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 caressing her, and ordering her a liberal provision, gave her in
3 charge to her step-son, Heera Sing, with the strictest injunctions
4 to take care of her. But the child would not live ; three times
5 she threw herself on the pile, imploring her mistress to let her
6 share her fate. With an energy beyond her years, she
7 loudly protested by the dead and murdered corpse before her,
8 that if she was not allowed to die now, she would by some other
9 means put an end .to her life. On this the Ranee and all
10 around seeing her resolutely bent on performing the suttee,
11 and that to prevent her doing so would be to no purpose, reluc-
12 tantly allowed her to share the fate of her mistress and her
13 older companions. The Ranee took her and placed her at her
14 feet, while the others reclined around their mistress, who lay with
15 the head of her husband in her lap, — the torch was applied to
16 the pile, and the living and the dead were alike reduced to ashes.
17 The fight being over in the fort, the plunder, which had con-
18 tinued some time, was stayed by order of Heera Sing, and a
19 search was made for Lena Sing Scindawalla who had disap-
20 peared from the strife, and was not found among the dead.
21 This chief was soon found hid in a dark and secret subterranean
22 chamber or cell to which with a broken thigh he had retired the
23 night before. He was attended by one faithful follower, who
24 defended his master to the last, but all in vain. The name of
25 this gallant man was Rah Sing, a strong and large-bodied
26 Seik of abont fifty years old. On being recognised as he stood
27 sword in hand at the entrance of his master's retreat, he was
28 repeatedly entreated both by Lena Sing and his enemies to
29 sheath his weapon and make his escape, while he might do so.
30 But he disdainfully refused to avail himself of the forbearance
31 of the enemy, requesting only that they should not fire at him,
32 and the Seiks, knowing him, and honoring his bravery,
33 actually complied with his request. They, however, rushed on
34 him with their swords, and after killing thirteen of them he