Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/179



The army of ten thousand Children advanced swiftly upon the artillery with their spears up, singing 'Hail, Mother.' They were killed in numbers and rent assunderasunder [sic], terribly suffering from the incessant shower of cannon balls; but still they did not turn back. Presently a body of sepoys charged them with their bayonets on their right flank under the orders of Captain Thomas. Attacked from both sides the Children then gave up all hopes. Hundreds of them were being killed at every moment. Jivananda then said, "Bhavananda, you are right. There is no need for the massacre of more Vaishnavas. Let us slowly retire."

"How can you retire now? Whoever turns back now will die."

"We have been attacked on the front and in the right flank, there is nothing on the left. Come let us turn round and retire by the left."

"Where could you retire? Don't you know there is a river that side which has been swelled by the rains? Do you mean to drown the army of Children in the river?"

"But there is a bridge on it, I think."

"If ten thousand soldiers were to cross by that bridge, they would make such a hopeless rush that, I am sure, with one gun the enemy could easily destroy our whole army."