Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/167

 AN ENGINE OF WAR. QUELLING THE REVOLT 131 Ulugh Khan. If a promise of immunity and fair treat- ment were given them, and a grant made for the sup- port of the bearer of these overtures, he would win over all the chiefs and nobles who were with Balban, and would arrange matters as far as other officers were con- cerned. Perceiving the fellow's in- tentions, Ulugh Khan gave or-' ders that the whole of the army should be shown to him; and all the troops, munitions, and implements of war, as well as the elephants and horses, were accordingly dis- played before his eyes. The Khan then dictated a letter to the chiefs and nobles in the following terms: " Your letter has reached me, and its import has been understood. I have no doubt that, if you submit, grants will be made to you all, and your maintenance will be most amply provided for; but if you take a different course, then, on this very day, the world shall learn how your pretensions will be settled by the wounds of the trenchant sword and the flaming spear, and how you will be carried fettered with the bonds of fate to the foot of the royal standard." This letter was deliv- ered to the spy, and he returned. When the letter was delivered to the officers of Malik Balban, those of them who were wise perceived its drift, and knew that the dissensions between the nobles and generals would be settled elsewhere. Fresh letters now arrived from Delhi, and Malik Balban and