1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Ranthambor. 213 
“Did I not tell you, that Hamir will never come to you and return you 
the exile, Muhammad Shah. When he has drawn his sword against you, 
he will stand by his resolution ; you can never get the body of the refugee. 
The promise of that greatest of all heroes is true, and true to the letter.” 
Ala-uddin became greatly displeased with the Vazir. He said “ Cursed 
coward, do you not know my might? Do you not know that in the 
twinkling of an eye, I can destroy the fort of your valiant Rado, burn him, 
his sons and wives, and bring the exile Muhammad Shah trembling to my 
feet ?”’ Taking a copy of the Koran in his hand, he bowed down to the 
great Alla. He cast his eyes from one flank to the other of the numerous 
host arranged on his side. Then with asecret pride he gave vent to his 
thoughts—“ The lines of my forces are as thick and dense as dark clouds on 
the autumnal sky. Hamir, foolish Hamir, can expect to live only a day or 
two more.” 
The Vazir’s reply —* O Emperor, who on earth can have even a slight 
glimpse of futurity ? A stubborn insect persistently flitters about the 
strongest fire, although it falls singed on the flame.” 
In the camp of Hamir, Randhir said,—“The emperor has come to 
Ranthambor, having conquered the four sides of the earth. It behoves us, 
therefore, to fight both day and night.” 
Hamir.—“ Mighty uncle, at night how shall I be able to distinguish 
heroes from cowards ? Besides, the principal virtue of the Kshatriyas lies 
in fighting in the presence of Strya (the sun), Bhairav, Mahadeva, and 
Ka4lika ; and the vultures do not come to the field but in day-light. I will 
never fight the Muhammadan forces at night, because I consider it a decep- 
tion.” 
Two thousand large cannons were kept steadily engaged in pour- 
ing out volleys of fire towards the fort. The fearless Hamir sallied forth 
from his hills and committed dreadful massacre by day, while by night 
descended the troops of Randhir all of a sudden from the defiles and 
declivities of the mountains of Chhan, and brought certain destruction 
on the Muhammadan ranks. Thus did the two heroes cut off the heads of 
many Mirs and Amirs and those of many horses and elephants. The blood 
of the slain flowed as rivers, Ah! whata terrible sight it was to look 
upon. 
Ala-uddin, seeing the hopeless state of things, is said to have invoked 
the saint Khwaja of Ajmir and the saint Miran of Taragarh in the following 
words : “TI will go barefooted to your shrines, mighty Pirs, if you deliver 
the fort of Ranthambor into my hands.”’ The latter sent nine Sayyads to his 
assistance. They cut off their own heads and holding them by their hands 
made a desperate rush at Hamir, when lo! four gods descended from 
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