ELICHPOOR AND MUNGROOL. 
67 
back a pace or two, again to scan the figure of his 
antagonist. The reeking blade of each was purple to 
the hilt, his bare limbs painted high with gore, his 
armour dyed in the ruddy life-stream of a thousand 
victims. But soon the curled lip and bitter glance of 
scorn chased from their minds all thoughts but those 
of kindling enmity and strife ; and as the thunder 
clouds of defiance gathered upon their darkling 
brows, the adverse warriors, in sullen silence, raised 
on high their shields ; and each, grasping again with 
impassioned grip his thirsty sword, hurled a venomed 
curse through his clenched teeth, and rushed with 
deadly fury to the encounter. Shock followed shock, 
and each repelled attack was answered by another, 
till their clashing arms and loud-resounding blows 
were heard loud above the din of the surrounding 
battle. Then the warring multitudes ceased their 
strife, and stood around in mixed array to gaze upon 
the contest of their leaders. 
Three times they breathed, and three times did they drink, 
Upon agreement ; 
for their struggle lasted from the rising till the setting 
of the sun. That burning luminary had just dipped 
upon the horizon when the godlike Raiman Shah 
Doola cast a furtive glance of regret at its departing 
glory ; and, being for a moment blinded by its slant- 
ing rays, his devoted head was instantly struck from 
his shoulders by his more wary adversary. It 
