Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/212

184 I want the information tonight. A hundred rupees will be your reward." " Give a hundred or a thousand, what you will, but these legs can't cover twenty miles," " Could you go on horseback ?" " If I could ride a horse, do you think I should be coming to your camp to sing and beg ?" " Well, you may be carried on the lap. " " On the lap ! Why, have I no modesty ? " " What a fix ! I'll pay you five hundred rupees." " Who will go with me ? Yourself ? " The Major then pointed to a young Ensign named Lindlay who stood before him and asked, "Well Lindlay, would you go ? " Lindlay looked at Santi's beauty and youth, and answered, l( gladly." A great Ar?*b horse was then brought there and Lindlay dressed himself. He then tried to help Santi on the horse but Santi said, " For shame ! not before so many men. Let's go a little way out of the camp." Lindlay mounted the horse and took it at a walking pace, Santi following. So they came out of the camp. Reaching the lonely plain out of the camp, Santi put her foot on Lindlay's and lightly jumped on the horse. Lindlay smiled and said, " I see you are a pucca rider." " Yes, such a one that I am ashamed to ride with you! To think of riding a horse with feet in the stirrup ! For shame !"