CHAMPANEKE TAKEN. 
71 
The moon shone brightly ; and in order to divert 
the attention of the garrison from the party headed by 
the Emperor, several false attacks were made on parts 
of the fortification which were the best guarded. As 
access on that side of the fort which looked out upon 
the forest, containing the secret path, was extremely 
difficult, no idea of danger from this quarter was 
entertained; the troops were therefore withdrawn to 
man the ramparts where the more immediate peril 
seemed to threaten : the defence was consequently 
so weak that there was not left a sufficient force on 
the side facing the forest to man the walls. 
The hopes of Humayoon were raised to the highest 
pitch of confidence when he reached the base of the 
battlement, which was lofty and constructed with 
extraordinary strength. With great difficulty the iron 
spikes, with which he had come provided, were fixed 
without interruption in the scarp of the rock. This 
process was necessarily one of much difficulty and peril ; 
it was, however, at length accomplished, and thirty- 
nine officers ascended. The last of these was Beiram 
Khan Turkoman, who subsequently became the tutor 
of the renowned Akbar, and was afterwards much 
distinguished both as a valiant warrior and able 
legislator. 
The Emperor, seeing that the whole band whom 
he had selected for this arduous enterprise had gained 
the rampart, boldly followed, and passed over the 
parapet after his brave troops. They encountered 
not the slightest opposition; and having surmounted 
every difficulty, opened the gates to their companions 
who were waiting without the walls. The whole 
