TIMUR BEG. 
47 
escape to the enemy’s camp, the bold prince pro- 
ceeded, accompanied by a single warrior, to recon- 
noitre the fortress. On reaching the ditch he found 
it full of water ; but in his progress round the walls 
he discovered a plank which had been thrown across 
the fosse, probably for the purpose of repairing the 
fortress, and incautiously left there. This he fear- 
lessly crossed, commanding his companion to await 
his return on the hither bank. 
Timur walked boldly up to the gate and knocked ; 
but finding no one appeared, he concluded the guards 
were asleep. He now carefully examined the external 
walls, and discovering a small breach favourable for 
the planting of ladders and the application of ropes, 
returned to his troops, whom he instantly prepared for 
this desperate enterprise. Leaving forty persons in 
charge of the horses, with three hundred dismounted 
men he proceeded to that part of the ditch over which 
the plank lay ; and his followers having all crossed 
singly, he led them to the shattered wall, against 
which they applied their ropes and ladders. The 
whole immediately mounted without waking the sen- 
tinels, who, not expecting an enemy, were sleeping in 
perfect security. Before morning Timur was master 
of Karshy. 
When the news of this unlooked-for event reached 
the governor, he invested the fortress with twelve thou- 
sand horse ; but these were so harassed by desperate sal- 
lies from the city, headed by Timur, with only a hun- 
dred troopers, that Musa quitted the place and retired 
to his camp, leaving Melk Behader with five thousand 
militia to continue the siege. Upon seeing the prince 
