'Returns the number of results the backend found for the query.
If the query has not been run, this will execute the query and store
the results.'

def get_count(self):

    if (self._hit_count is None):
        if (not self.end_offset):
            self.end_offset = 1
        if self._more_like_this:
            self.run_mlt()
        elif self._raw_query:
            self.run_raw()
        else:
            self.run()
    return self._hit_count
