Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/116

 84 KISE OF THE HOUSE OF GHOK strength in his life. The Sultan collected his scattered forces and retreated to the territories of Islam, leaving Tolak in the fort of Sirhind. Raja Pithaura advanced and invested the fort, which he besieged for thirteen months. Next year the Sultan assembled another army and advanced to Hindu- stan to avenge his defeat. A trustworthy person named Mu'in-ad-din, one of the principal men in the hills of Tolak, in- formed me that he was in this army, and that tys force amounted to 120,000 horsemen bearing armour. Before the Sul- tan could arrive, the fort of Sirhind had capitulated, and the enemy were encamped in the vicinity of Narain. The Sultan drew up his battle-array, leaving his main body in the rear with the banners, canopies, and ele- phants, to the number of several divisions. His plan of attack being formed, he advanced quietly. The light unarmoured horsemen were made into four divisions of ten thousand each, and were directed to advance and harass the enemy with their arrows on all sides, on the right and on the left, in the front and in the rear. When the enemy collected his forces to attack, they A KHALJI CHIEFTAIN AND HIS WIFE.