170 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
ranks. Baber was not ignorant of this, and failed not 
to take advantage of it. He continually harassed 
Ibrahim's camp by sallies ; and having kept the enemy 
for several days in a state of constant alarm, he se- 
lected five thousand of his choicest soldiers to make a 
sudden attack upon them in the night. There was, 
however, some irregularity in the arrangement of the 
march of this detachment, so that the day had dawned 
before they reached the imperial camp. Ibrahim im- 
mediately drew out his forces and stood prepared to 
meet the foe, who, seeing the overwhelming superiority 
of the hostile army, retreated towards their tents ; but, 
though pursued by the troops of Delhi, they did not 
lose a single man. One of the officers was so severely 
wounded as to be unable to assist at the battle which 
took place on the following day. 
When Baber received intelligence that his squa- 
drons had not been able to accomplish their pur- 
pose, but were returning to his camp, he des- 
patched Humaioon with a division to cover their 
retreat, whilst he drew out his line in readiness for 
action. That prince joined the battalions to the aid 
of which he was sent, and returned with them to the 
main army. As the enemy did not seem disposed to 
make an attack, towards evening Baber led his troops 
back to their tents. In the night there was a call 
to arms, in consequence of a false alarm being raised 
of the enemy’s approach ; but it quickly subsided, and 
the eventful day of Baber’s greatness dawned with 
auspicious brightness. 
As soon as early prayer had been performed accord- 
ing to the regulations of the Koran, it was announced 
