238 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Basel, [No. 3, 



other, we shall surely meet and live together there in everlasting happi- 

 ness." 



Ald-uddin said, smiling. — " Hear, brave Muhammad Shah, your words 

 have come to pass to the very letter. You have never bowed down your 

 head to me since you left the gates of Dehli. Give up your anger, and let 

 us shake hands with each other and be friends again from this moment. 

 Come and side with me. I give you the woman with whom you kept com- 

 pany, and besides, the province of Gorakhpur." The Shaik, smiled gently, 

 and thus replied : " Remember, Emperor, the words you told me while in 

 Dehli. Keep your promise to yourself. My mother has not borne in me so 

 mean a son as to take what you give. Far from siding with you, I will, 

 if God spare my life, try my best to have Hamir seated on the throne of 

 Dehli, and his rule proclaimed through the length and breadth of India. 

 I will never leave my generous patron and protector, but will worship his 

 feet for evermore." 



When Hamir heard this news he sent a body of troops to the aid 

 of Muhammad Shah with the following message — " Do not care for 

 your life, Shaik. See, for the honour of my words, I have drawn my 

 sword against the emperor of all India. Do not betray weakness now that 

 I have staked so much for you. Do not fear to die ; if you do so, Muham- 

 mad Shah, then women are better than you. They keep their words, al- 

 though they cost them their lives." 



" Let us draw our swords, brother," exclaimed Mir Gabru, " and obey 

 the orders of our masters. Our death is imminent." 



Muhammad Shah felt pleased. Both the brothers, glad and exulting, 

 rushed at each other with drawn swords in their hands. They embraced each 

 other. Mir Gabru falling at the feet of the Shaik asked for orders. 

 " Brother," said the Mir, " we are killing each other for the sake of loyalty 

 we bear to our masters. We shall never be blamed therefore." Fraternal 

 affection yielded to the all-absorbing feelings of fidelity. The brothers 

 rushed at each other, They shouted, their helmets touched the sky. They 

 began to fight as if two monarchs of death encountered each other. They 

 fell a-wrestling, brother with brother dying for their masters, an affecting 

 scene indeed ! There was a clashing of swords, which flashed like the flashes 

 of fire seen, when woods and villages are burning on a summer night. Both 

 fell, fighting bravely. Their hands, legs and heads dropped, and yet their 

 trunks fought rolling against each other like two massive elephants. 

 Celestial nymphs descended to marry both the heroes, and their dead faces 

 wore a shining appearance. 



They went to heaven amidst the cheering shouts of both the Hindus 

 and the Muhammadans. The dying words of Muhammad Shah were as 



