Page:Historic Landmarks of the Deccan.djvu/60

48 had been engaged with the Bijapuris without the walls, and the fight had lasted until the latter heard of the fall of Ambarkot, when they broke and fled. On the following day the Khan-i-Khanan transferred his headquarters from the Nizam Shahi palace in Nizanipur to Yaqut Khan's house within the walls of Ambarkot, and henceforth personally directed all tlie operations of the siege, leaving the Khan-i-Zaman and his flying column to deal with the Bijapuris beyond the walls. This was no light task, for Rindula Khan, who was now commanding the army of Bijapur, had arranged to send troops into Berar and Telingana to prevent the despatch of supplies to the besiegers, and the flying column was charged with the duty of acting against such detachments wherever they might be found.

Three days after the fall of Ambarkot, Rindula Khan and Shahji with 3,000 horse and a large force of foot, escorting a convoy, came into sight. Their object was to convey grain as far as the ditch of Ambarkot and to deposit it there for the besieged Deccanis, who were by this time reduced to feeding upon the hides of dead horses and cattle. The Khan-i-Khanan, on receiving information of this design, placed two forces in ambush, one within and one without the gate near which the grain was to be left. When the attempt to deliver the grain was made the troops in ambush attacked simultaneously those who had brought the grain and those who expected to receive it, putting both parties to flight and capturing the supply. The besiegers were now approaching the defences of Mahakot, and Fath Khan sent his family to the citadel, Balakot, above the escarpment. Hitherto he had been assisted in the defence by about two hundred Bijapuris among whom was the uncle of Rindula Khan.

This small force, which had hitherto shared the privations of the garrison and now foresaw that the fall of Daulatabad was inevitable, secretly made terms with the Khan-i-Khanan, who agreed to allow them to depart to Bijapur. Precautions were taken to conceal their defection from Fath Khan and they left the fortress by night, descending a rope made fast to one of the battlements. All were kindly received by the Khan-i-Khanan, who found a use for them. They were made the bearers of a message to Ibrahim Adil Shah II, who was warned to desist from further opposition to the imperial army in its operations against