Page:Historic Landmarks of the Deccan.djvu/63

51 pursuit of the flying Bijapuris was then continued for two miles with great slaughter, until Nasiri Khan, who had been with the Khan-i-Jahan, arrived on the scene and reported the enemy had been every where vanquished, thus relieving the Khan-i-Khanan of his anxiety for the Khan-i-Jahan and Luhrasp.

On the following day (June 4) the Khan-i-Zaman was ordered to withdraw from Kaghazipura, where his presence was no longer neces- sary since Morari Pant had retreated to Khirki, and to occupy Nizampur, in order that the imperial troops might not again be attacked in detail. Rindula Khan and Shahji, finding the plateau deserted, returned and encamped there and threw rockets among the besiegers at night. A force was despatched to hold them in check for the night, and on the morning of June 5 they were attacked and defeated with much slaughter and the loss of many prisoners and horses. On this day the Khan-i- Khanan ordered that a mine which had been run under the enceinte of Mahakot should be fired. Fath Khan, hearing of this, sent a message to the Khan-i-Khanan saying that he could not surrender without consuiting the Bijapuris, and begging that the firing of the mine might be tielayed one day in order that he might inform them that his supplies had failed and that he could hold out no longer. The Khan-i-Khanan refused to countermand his original order unless Fath Khan sent his son as a hostage, and as this condition was not accepted the mine was fired. On this occasion the storming party was ready, and as soon as the charge exploded, destroying a bastion and fifteen yards of the curtain, rushed forward, undeterred by the deadly fire poured upon them by the defenders. The imperial troops made good their position in Mahakot and opened trenches against Balakot, to which the defenders were now confined. Morari Pant, hearing of the fall of Mahakot, made a demonstration against the besiegers, but the Khan-i-Zaman and Nasiri Khan attacked him and put him to flight.

At this time a Nizam Shahi noble, Mahaldar Khan, sent a message to the Khan-i-Khanan offering to submit to the emperor and to surrender his fort of Trimbak to any officer who might be appointed to command it. He was informed that he could better serve the imperial cause and earn the imperial favour by making a descent on Baizapur, where, the treasure of Rindula Khan and Shahji was stored, and where