(A hi! that Evil rules the world as God!)
And still the earth grew up to the heights, and the protection of the hills was slowly withdrawn from Chitor, for on the heights they made they set their engines of war.
Then in a red dawn that great saint Narayan came to the Queen, where she watched by her window, and spoke.
“O great lady, I have dreamed a fearful dream. Nay, rather have I seen a vision.”
With her face set like a sword, the Queen said,—
“Say on.”
“In a light red like blood, I waked, and beside me stood the Mother,—Durga,—awful to see, with a girdle of heads about her middle; and the drops fell thick and slow from That which she held in her hand, and in the other was her sickle of Doom. Nor did she speak, but my soul heard her words.”
“Narrate them.”
“She commanded: ‘Say this to the Rana: “In Chitor is My altar; in Chitor is thy throne. If thou wouldest save either, send forth twelve crowned Kings of Chitor to die.’”
As he said this, the Rana, fore-spent with fighting, entered and heard the Divine word.