DELHI. 
49 
that the next time Shere Afghan passed that way 
he rode in his palanquin ; and, seeing the infuriated 
elephant in his way, he gave orders to his hearers to 
turn back, fearing that some of them might suffer. 
The elephant, however, charged upon them before 
they could make their escape, and the chiefs cow- 
ardly crew of slaves dropped his palanquin under the 
animal’s feet, and fled. Shere Afghan saw his 
imminent peril just in time to rise. Springing 
boldly to his feet, he drew a short sword, which 
he always carried at his side ; and, making a furious 
attack upon the elephant, he struck across the root 
of the trunk, and with one blow, severed it from the 
head. The poor animal roared with anguish, and, 
turning from his opponent, fled, until, from the 
copious loss of blood which ensued, he fell and 
expired. 
The emperor, who had been watching the success 
of his plan, from a window on the east side of the 
palace, retired from the scene in amazement and 
shame ; yet was his duplicity so great that he 
received the chief without emotion, and listened to 
his relation of the adventure with well-feigned asto- 
nishment. He loudly applauded his bravery and 
prowess, so that Shere Afghan departed from the pre- 
sence, well-pleased and unsuspicious. But although 
the crafty monarch covered the villany of his heart 
with a smooth face, the fire of his vengeance was not 
extinguished, but rather burned the more fiercely; and 
F 
