The Memory Of A Lion-Part-4

We will prepare well and we will succeed."
Tanaji sounded confident.
"Very well, go ahead with your preparations.
May Goddess Bhawani* bless you."
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 over, 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.
"Shivaji's family diety.
22