A few months after that evening, news came that a neighbouring king has declared war.
Bholenath and his king gathered at the royal court.
The king told Bholenath, “You are the Commander-in-chief of my army.
I entrust you with the duty of protecting my state.”
Bholenath came back home in utter despair.
“I don’t even know how to ride a horse”, he told his wife helplessly, “How will I defend our borders against eight thousand enemy soldiers?”
“Don’t worry,” his wife said, “I’ll tie you to the horse.”
In the morning, the king sent Bholenath a magnificent stallion.
Bholenath and his king gathered at the royal court.
The horse did not like the feel of the tight ropes.
It reared suddenly and galloped off wildly.
Bholenath hung desperately to its mane.
Realising that the horse was headed straight for the enemy camp, Bholenath shouted in fear.
The horse could not be stopped.
Bholenath noticed a large tree with its branches hanging over the road.
As the horse galloped under the tree, Bholenath reached up to grasp the branches and pull himself free.
But the branches broke away in his hands.
The horse had entered the enemy camp.
The enemy soldiers were astonished to see a wild-looking man tied to a fierce stallion, waving branches excitedly.
“Help, help!”Bholenath was shouting.
The enemy soldiers did not hear him.
They were greatly scared.
“This must be some great warrior come single-handedly to defeat us!”
The soldiers were overcome with fear and instantly ran away without putting up a fight.
Soon the news of Bholenath’s great victory spread.
Everyone was amazed that he had defended his state all by himself against eight thousand enemy soldiers.
The king awarded him in a public ceremony.
Bholenath became a legend.
It all had started with a drip-drip!
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