1 A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE JUMMOO FAMILY. 245
2 time the Ravee washed the north and west angles of the fort,
3 and as it partially served as a defence on this side, the walls
4 there were not more than six or seven feet high. One day
5 while Runjeet Dehu, on the noble steed which he had so com-
6 pletely subdued to his will, was careering about the Hazooree
7 Ba°h, exciting* the wonder and admiration of a crowd of
8 spectators, he suddenly wheeled about,— charged at the six feet
9 wall, — cleared it, alighting in the deep stream of the river that
10 ran beneath. For a moment horse and rider sunk • — for an
11 instant they were seen on the opposite bank, — and then they
12 were off and away. A thousand cavalry were soon on the track
13 of the fugitive, but mounted as he was, their pursuit was vain.
14 A reward of twenty thousand rupees was proclaimed for any
15 one who should recover the gallant steed, — the recapture of
16 his rider being, in comparison with this, hardly worth a
17 thought. But Runjeet Dehu and the good horse were away
18 to the hills, and ere the day had passed, the chieftain stood
19 amidst his family at Jummoo. Scarcely, however, had he
20 received their embraces and congratulations than, to their grief
21 and astonishment, he set forth on his return to Lahore, where
22 about forty hours after his departure he again presented him-
23 self to those who had given up all hope of seeing him or the
24 animal which he bestrode. He had been seized, he said,
25 with a sudden desire to try the speed of the horse and to pay a
26 short visit to his home, and having accomplished his purpose,
27 again committed himself and his steed to the hands of their
28 keepers. It is gratifying to have to read that the Mussulman
29 chiefs appreciated the conduct of the brave and honorable
30 hill-man sufficiently to induce them to grant him his liberty. In
31 further token of favour a reward of twenty thousand rupees
32 was bestowed upon him, he was invested with a khilut, and
33 received a written acknowledgment of his rank as Rajah
34 of Jummoo, and furthermore was escorted back to his prin-
35 cipality by a body of eight hundred cavalry, charged with