THE RAJP00TNI BRIDE. 
169 
its prey, lest he should be observed by any of the 
enemy’s scouts. He at length gained the tent of his 
mortal adversary, who had been long hushed in slum- 
ber after the fatigues of that sanguinary day. 
The Rahtore, covered by the darkness, reached the 
opening of the tent, which was negligently guarded, 
as it was known that the adverse party had been cut 
off to a man, and their chief was even supposed to 
be among the slain. He found no impediment — all 
was still as death. He entered. A dim lamp, which 
threw a heavy ochreous light around, was burning on 
the ground, near which lay the Hara chief upon a 
coarse rug, and covered with a common palampore. * 
A sardonic smile passed over the convulsed features 
of the Rahtore as he gazed upon the prostrate form be- 
fore him. Withdrawing his eyes for a moment from 
his victim, an expiration of the deepest bitterness 
slowly escaped from his labouring bosom. He drew 
his sword ; it gleamed faintly in the lamp-light. He 
tore the covering from his sleeping foe, standing over 
him like an avenging demon to whom the cry of pity 
would have been at once a mockery and a provocation. 
The old man started from his sleep, instantly grasped 
his sabre, but, ere he could raise his arm, he fell a 
headless trunk at the feet of the vindictive Rahtore. 
The noise occasioned by this work of destruction 
was heard by the guards, who immediately rushed in. 
When they saw a Rajpoot standing in the safron robe, 
they but too well knew what had been his purpose, 
and a single glance sufficed to show how terribly he had 
accomplished it. He deliberately bestrode the body 
* Counterpane. 
Q 
