DELHI. 
31 
effected his escape. Trusting to the speed of his 
faithful charger, Hummaione made for the bridge, 
but found it destroyed ; and, his pursuers being upon 
his heels, no hope appeared to be left, but to commit 
himself to the waters. He dashed down the preci- 
pitous bank into the torrent, was dismounted in the 
fall, and carried headlong down the rapid stream ; 
so that his enemies thought that he had perished. 
His better destiny, however, interposed between him 
and the abyss of destruction, and he was saved, when 
almost insensible, by the brave efforts of a Bihisti , 
or water-carrier, who happened to be filling his 
water-skins at the river-side. Finding himself thus 
unexpectedly rescued from a watery grave, Hum- 
maione bestowed the rich gift of his royal necklace 
upon his poor preserver, and promised him, upon his 
princely faith, that if it should ever please Providence 
again to restore him to his kingdom, he would, when 
so requested by the Bihisti , place him upon the im - 
perial musnud , clothed in the royal robes, and with 
full liberty to exercise despotic powers as emperor of 
Hind’ostan, for the space of six hours. 
Not long afterwards Hummaione’s good genius 
was again in the ascendant, and while he was one 
day employed in transacting the affairs of the state 
in the royal hall of audience, the Bihisti presented 
himself before the presence, and claimed fulfilment of 
the emperor’s promise. Faithful to his engagement, 
the generous monarch no sooner recognised his 
