Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/297

 SHER KHAN DEFEATS HUMAYUN 237 break of dawn, the Afghans fell upon the unsuspecting Moghuls from all sides. The surprise was complete. Many were slain asleep. Few had time to mount. Humayun himself was only saved by a water-carrier who supported him on his water-skin across the Ganges, into which he had recklessly plunged. Most of his army was drowned or captured, and the unlucky emperor arrived at Agra almost alone in May, 1539. For nearly a year both sides gathered their forces for the final struggle, Sher Shah consolidating his power in Bengal, Huma- yun vacillating and wasting time, yet striving to unite his brothers in the com- mon cause. On May SILVER COIN OF SHER SHAH STRUCK AT DELHI, -, rj -ZAf -1/U n A. H. 947 (A.I>. 1540-1). U > - tU > ' met again opposite Kanauj, and the battle of the Ganges for a time put an end to the Moghul empire. Humayun 's army, though at first one hundred thousand strong, was half-hearted, badly officered, weakened by constant desertions, and hampered with crowds of panic-stricken camp-follow- ers; and the fight was over almost as soon as begun. " Before the enemy had discharged an arrow," says the historian Mirza Haidar, who was present, " the whole army was scattered and defeated " by mere panic and crowding; " not a gun was fired." All fled in utter confusion to the Ganges, where the bridge broke down and many were drowned in their heavy armour. Hu-