48 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
wonderful warrior prevailed, and though horribly 
bruised and lacerated, he at last laid the monster 
dead at his feet. So miraculous did the victory 
appear, that historians have said that the eye-wit- 
nesses of the action were almost afraid to vouch for 
its truth, although the facts could be proved by the 
concurrent testimony of thousands. The fame of 
Shere Afghan increased, and was spread abroad 
through all Asia. The evil designs of the emperor 
had hitherto failed, but they stopped not here ; his 
determined cruelty, and the impatience of his passion, 
suggested and urged him to the employment of other 
treacherous expedients against the life of the perse- 
cuted hero. 
Shere Afghan had scarcely recovered from his 
wounds when he came to pay his respects at court. 
He was caressed by the emperor, and in the candour 
of his own heart he suspected not the treachery of 
his master. Meanwhile a new snare, and one more 
likely to prove fatal, was prepared for him. Jehan- 
ghir basely gave orders to one of his elephant drivers 
to waylay the chief, in one of the narrow streets 
leading to the palace ; and, when he should next 
pass that way, to make a feint, as though his ele- 
phant were ungovernable, and cause him to tread 
the invincible warrior to death ; hoping that he 
might escape suspicion, as accidents of that nature 
are not unfrequent, owing to the indomitable rage 
of those animals at certain seasons. It happened 
