They mention the "Play of the spear" and speak of "putting to sleep with the sword," as if the din of war were in their ears a slumber melody.

The warlike weapons that I don Are festal robes to me; To me the din of battle Is sweet tranquillity; The direst toils the warrior bears With steadfast joy I meet; To me the watch that nightlong lasts Is like a slumber sweet.

At intervals the din of hail on cobble-stones and roofs became a stinging sea of sound.

Alla-o-din was, however, not to be caught napping, and, being prepared for all contingencies, a fierce combat took place, and the warriors of Chitor were hard put to it to stand their ground until Bheemsi had escaped to the stronghold on a fleet horse.

The din about him became fainter and fainter as though he was being carried rapidly away from it; shouting voices came to him in whispers, and deadened sounds, like the quick tapping of a finger on his forehead, were all that he heard of the steady rifle fire that pursued the defeated mainlanders in their flight.