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 Besides, he thought that to an Englishman it was better to die than to fear an Indian foe. So, he had taken his stand there and raised his gun to fire. But instantly a flash of light was seen in the bush—a report of a gun was again heard—Foster was struck on the head and he fell into the water of the Ganges like the sentinel. His gun fell on the boat with a noise.

At that moment, Pratap, taking out a knife from his waist, cut down the ropes with which the Budgrow was fastened at the bank. The water was very shallow there and the current being very mild, the boatmen had not cast down the anchor. Even if it had been dropped down, it would have mattered very little to the strong and swift-handed Pratap, who briskly jumped upon the Budgrow, as soon as the ropes were cut off.

All these happened within a time which is only a hundredth part of what has been taken in describing them. The fall of the sentinel, Foster's appearance on the top of the Budgrow, his fall from and Pratap's getting on it—all these had taken place before the men from the other boat could come there.

When they arrived at the spot, they found that