"
"A _johur_, a last death-rush, is it not?"
"They will be smashed forever, and their lands taken."
"But the King of Oudh has been promised a return to glory to join in
this revolt. The fighting Rajputs--what of them? Backed by the
English they should hold these black accursed Mahrattas in check."
Barlow rose and, the wary eyes of the Chief on every move, stepped over
to the table and pointed to a signature upon the document.
"That," he said, "is the signature of the Rana of Mewar, meaning that
he also passes the salt of friendship to Amir Khan."
He turned the document over, and there written upon it was the figure
"74 1/2."
"Bismillah!" the Chief cried for he had not noticed this before; "it is
the _tilac_, the Rana's sealing of the document; it is the mystic
number that means that the contents are sacred, that the curse of the
Sack of Fort Chitor be upon him who violates the seal, it is the oath
of all Rajputs--_tilac_, that which is forbidden. And the Sahibs have
heard a rumour that Amir Khan has a hundred thousand horsemen to cut in
with.
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