1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Ranthambor. 225 
hopelessness, he gasped: “ How many such skilful saints are there in the 
ranks of Al4-uddin ?” “Do not be alarmed, mighty Rao,’’ said Muhammad 
Shah. “I know the archer, heis my younger brother: none amongst the 
troops of Ald-uddin can equal him in archery. Devotion can never be made 
but by a devotee, neither can heroism be displayed but by a hero, May it 
please you to order me, and this very moment the head of the emperor 
shall I pierce, sitting as I am in this place. All your troubles will be over 
and his troops dispersed.” Hamir replied, smiling, “Never be guilty of 
regicide, great hero, for an emperor, whatever his merits may be, is next to 
God. Shoot away the state umbrella which is put up above his head.” 
The swift-winged arrow of Muhammad Shah shot the umbrella with such 
a force that it fell on the ground. An Analpank’s (eagle’s) keen eyes mis- 
took it (umbrella) for an elephant. The bird swooped down upon it and was 
disappointed. 
The Vazir Mihram Khan having joined his hands, said to the emperor, 
“Praise be to God that your life has been saved owing to the consideration 
of eating your salt in former years. Be sure that if the skilful archer shoot 
a second arrow, it will be aimed at your life. How can that fort be captured 
wherein lives such an expert hero? Asa serpent that has caught amole is 
on the two horns of a dilemma: ifit swallows it, it dies, and if it vomits the 
part eaten, it becomes blind. Such, exactly such has been your case, impe- 
rial Majesty. I hear that the heroic Muhammad Shah asks for orders 
daily to shoot you dead, but the kind Hamir does not consent to do so. If 
he be ever given orders, he will put you in fetters, set his protector on the 
throne of Dehli and proclaim his rule there. It behoves you, therefore, to 
leave your determination and go back to the capital safe and sound, with 
your headon your shoulders. On the other hand, if Hamir be victorious 
and you fly away from here, your honour will be greatly hurt.” 
The disappointed emperor, although very angry, had to withdraw his 
eamp backwards to Mullarna. 
CHaptTer IX. 
Sarjan Shah, a banid (merchant) of the Sharaoji sect of Buddhists, 
made up his mind to avenge the death of his father. ‘The blood of my 
father cries out ‘ Vengeance,’ ” said he, “and so I must forthwith go to the 
imperial camp and by any means possible give Ald-uddin the possession of 
the fort.” He presented five mohurs to the emperor and bowed down at 
his feet. He then joined his hands and thus addressed his Majesty: “I will 
enable you, mighty monarch, to capture the fort. Only promise to give me 
in return the territory of Randhir.” 
