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 70 IIISTOI'.V OF TNT)TA [Book I

A I) 1270 to liJive taken, could not obtain a inum (jf liini for several days. At last Mullik Mookudur, the governor of Kolc, l;eing out with a small ieconnoiti'ing party, saw some bullocks with pack -saddles. The drivere were seized, but in aiLswer to all inquiries, obstinately pretended ignorance, till the head of one of them was struck off, when the rest fell on their faces and confessed that they had jast left Toghrul Khan's camp, which was four miles farther on. Mullik going forward climbed a rising ground, from which he saw the whole encampment spread over a plain, with the ele[)hants and cavalry picketted, and everything in apparent security. Having fixed his eye on Toghrul s tents, situated near

exploit, the centre of the camp, he determined on a very daring enterprise. Advancing with the forty men he had with him at full speed, he was allowed to enter the camp, because it was never doubted that he belonged to it. He made directly for head-quarters, and ordering his men to draw their swords, rushed into the tent of audience, shouting " Victory to Sultan Bulljun!"

Toghrul Toghrul thought he had been surprised by the royal army, and leaped from

his throne to make way to the rear. Finding a horse without a saddle, he mounted it, and fled in the direction of the river. Mullik, having cauglit sight of him, pursued, and shot him with an arrow while he was in the act of swimming the stream. Toglnail fell from his horee, and was seized by Mullik. who di-agged him out by the hair, and cut off his head, leaving the body to be carried down the stream. He had just time to hide the head in the .sand when some of Toghrul's people came up. They found Mullik bathing, and nevei- suspecting how matters stood, left him after asking a few questions. The confusion produced by the supposed surprise spread into a general panic, and the whole camp dispersed, every one thinking only of his own safety. Mullik ever after bore the surname of Toghrul Koosh, or the Slayer of Toghnil.

Bulbun arrived next day, and finding that no enemy remained, returned to execute vengeance on the rebel's family, every member of which he put to death. Before returning from this expedition, on which he is said to have spent three years, he appointed his son, Khurra Khan, King of Bengal, and gave him all the spoils of Toghrul, except the elephants and treasure, which he removed to Delhi. As soon as Prince Mahmood heard of his father's ariival, he hastened from Mooltan to visit him, and was received with the greatest affection. The two were almost inseparable; but they had not been three months together

iiLvasion of when an event occui'red which was to part them for ever. The Moguls had

Mooltau by. i ii i i-r-.ii

tiieMogiuJ invaded Mooltan. The prince made all haste to oppose them, and Bulbun, now on the borders of eighty, bitterly felt the pang of sejiaration. His presentiment probably was that he himself was about to be gathered to his fathers, and that the prince would survive him. Accordingly he spent much of the last interxdew in counselling him as to the conduct he should pui-sue when on the throne. The counsels were wise, and the prince, who had given great promise, would doubtless have acted upon them if the succession had opened to him. It was