Page 96 - Lavender-B-8

‘Very well, go ahead with your preparations. May Goddess Bhawani bless you.’
6
Tanaji bowed to Shivaji and left. He called Suryaji and some of his personal friends who
were waiting in the adjoining room. He swore them to secrecy and then told them of
the plan.

‘We begin preparing at once. Drill the soldiers, perfect them in the use of arms, but do not
tell them for what. We have to take the enemy by surprise.’

Soon everything was ready. Tanaji called his friends, and announced, ‘Tonight we attack.
It is a moonless night and nothing will be visible. All of you must be absolutely silent as
you approach Kondana Fort. I will take the iguana
Yashwanti. With her help, we will scale the rock.’

Then he turned to Suryaji. ‘You are to take the rest
of the men and wait at Kalyan Gate. We will throw

it open for you.’
Last minute preparations were over and they

marched to the fort quietly as shadows.

In a short while, they reached the foot of the
precipice. Tanaji tied a rope to Yashwanti’s neck.
Then he threw her up hard, so she could clutch
the wall. But the iguana lost her grip and
slithered down.

‘Oh, it is a sign of bad luck!’ exclaimed one of
the soldiers.

Tanaji whirled round, ‘Who said that? There is no
place for superstition in a soldier’s life. He must
only have faith, in himself and in God.’

Tanaji once again hurled the iguana up with
greater force. This time Yashwanti gripped the

top of the fort wall. Tanaji breathed a sigh
of relief.

‘Hand me the bag containing the ropes,’ said
Tanaji. A soldier gave it to him and he slung it on his back.

‘I go up first. I will tie the ropes to the projections on the wall adjoining: next to
and let them down. With their help you can all climb up. slithered: moved smoothly over a

Remember not a sound.’ surface with a twisting motion

6 Shivaji’s family deity

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