214 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Edsd, [No. 3, 



heaven — Gaiianath, Sambhu, Dinakar and Khethrapal. There followed a 

 violent contest between them. Exulting and angry, they sprang on the 

 heads of each other. Now they roared, now darkness covered the face of 

 the earth making everything look terrible, now it rained very fast, now 

 they rode on the clouds and exchanged angry words with one another. Now 

 tbey poured down fire, now they hurled each his enemy into the air. Now 

 the earth shook with their fury. Gananath wielded his pindh with great 

 skill, and Bhairav his mudgar. The Pirs fell. Their bodies remained on 

 the earth while their souls were put into prison. Here are their names : 

 Abdal, Hassein, Rahim, Sultan Mekki, Abul Hakani, Rassul, Jakhki Ali, 

 Hayar and Himmat. Ala-uddin drew a heavy sigh at the sight of their 

 bodies strangled and scattered in a forest. In a desponding tone he remarked : 

 '•' Victory belongs to Hamir, alas ! not to the great follower of the 

 crescent." 



Then the emperor called a council of war. The Vazir Mihram Khan 

 thus addressed his Imperial Majesty : " Nothing now can be of any avail 

 but one thing. Let us besiege Chhan. If the fort of Randhir fall, we 

 shall succeed in creating a panic in that of Ranthambor. Rao Randhir 

 will come to you with the Sheik, and thus will the pride of Hamir fall to 

 the ground." 



Emperor.- — " Then let us carry the fort Chhan at once." A purwanna 

 was instantly written to Rao Randhir. 



Firman. — " Rao, the emperor, being angry with you at your haughty 

 conduct, has determined to besiege your fort. Take care and be humble, 

 for his 5000 Arabic cannons are so strong that they, when fired, can split up 

 huge mountains to pieces. Once fire flowed from their mouths as rain 

 from clouds, at whose fearful report the lions fled from their dens in dismay. 

 Ala-uddin the Great, with his 250,000 horse, comes in full parade to justly 

 punish you for your pride." 



Reply of Randhir. — " Do not delay, Emperor, in besieging my fort, now 

 that your repeated efforts to take that of Ranthambor, which you boasted 

 to capture within the shortest possible period, have gone for nothing. Be 

 patient, Ala-uddin, I will fight with you bravely in an open field. Has India 

 no heroes ? Are her brave sons all gone that you are so over-bearing and 

 vaunting ? I have made every preparation for war. My soldiers are 

 singing in sweet notes the marching song. Of my 31,000 troops, 10,000 

 heroes, gay like flowers, are promenading in the battle-field. They can 

 defeat and scatter the forces of their enemy, being safe themselves." 



The imperial troops were encamped on the plains of Chhan. 



Then sallied forth the Chohan troops from the hill-tops of Chhan, 

 headed by the warlike Randhir. On the Muhammadan side Abdul Khan 



