218 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Rasa, [No. 3, 



eats, bodies like monsters, and ears like a winnowing fan. Their ancestors 

 captured Prithviraj and took him to Ghazni. They can easily seize the 

 young princes and bring them to your feet." 



The emperor thanked the Vazir for his valuable advice. Instantly 

 he sent for Mir Zamal Khan. 



Emperor. — " Brave Mir, I leave the present work entirely with you. 

 Your ancestors imprisoned the great Prithviraj Chohan. So go you to the 

 Rajput ranks and capture the two princes of Chaturang, newly come to 

 the assistance of Hamir ; but see you do not kill them." 



Mir Zamal Khan twisted his whiskers, touched the feet of the em- 

 peror and said, " Gracious Majesty, the work you have been pleased to give 

 me is beneath my dignity as a warrior. What a trifle is to me the cap- 

 ture of two young boys. I can bring all the Hindus jnnioned to your feet, 

 cut all in pieces if they venture to make head against me, and level their 

 bodies in the dust." He bowed before Ala-uddin. 



The Rajputs and the Muhammadans marched in great excitement. 

 They came face to face. Then all of a sudden, like a flash of lightning, out 

 rushed the Mir of Arabia. On both sides the warlike peal of martial music 

 stirred up all to action. The blue and the white colours were unfurled. 

 There was a clashing of swords for hours. The battle raged very furiously. 

 A steady fire of matchlocks was kept up. There was also a brisk play of 

 lances. The bold, warlike spearsmen managed their spears with so great skill 

 that every one of them stabbed two soldiers with one stroke of his weapon. 

 Never did a sword fail in cutting the head, upon which it had been struck, 

 clean out of the shoulders. A wild laughter separated the lips of the 

 goddess Kalika. There was a continuous raining of heads. Here fell a 

 hand, there an arm, here some fingers, there some palms, here dropped 

 the head, there with vehemence rose the body of many a warrior. Then 

 with a shout, which thrilled every heart, outrushed Zamal the Mir of 

 Arabia, while from the Rajput side rode forth the prince Kanh to meet 

 him. The Muhammadan shot an arrow which pierced the horse of the 

 Rajput. The horse dropped dead, and instantly a second horse was moun- 

 ted. The fighting continued with unabated fury. Kanh drove a lance 

 into the body of his adversary, who for a moment fell senseless on the 

 ground. With redoubled energy and violence the Muhammadan was on 

 his legs again. The brave feats of arms of both the warriors were seen with 

 admiration by the troops of both sides. At last the wise Hamir, thinking 

 that the old Muhammadan was more than a match for the young Hindus, 

 called Saukhdhar. " Go you, Saukhdhar, the bravest of all heroes, skilful 

 in the art of war, go at once to the field to aid the Chitor princes. 

 They are very heroic, but very young, and their antagonist is a monster in 



