Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/74

 48 THE HOLY WARS OF ISLAM depth and breadth. The city was as wealthy as imag- ination can conceive in property, armies, and weapons of war. There were elephants as headstrong as Satan. The ruler at that time was Biji Rai, and the pride which he felt in the state of his preparations induced him to leave the walls of his fort and come forth to oppose the Mussulmans, that he might frighten them with his warriors and elephants and great prowess. The Sultan fought against him for three days and nights, and the lightnings of his swords and the meteors of his spears fell on the enemy. On the fourth morn- ing a most furious onslaught was made with swords and arrows which lasted till noon, when Mahmud or- dered a general charge to be made upon the infidels. The Mussulmans, advancing against the masters of lies and idolatry with cries of " God is exceeding great! " broke their ranks, and rubbed their noses upon the ground of disgrace. The Sultan himself, like a stallion, dealt hard blows around him on the right hand and on the left, and cut in twain those who were clothed in mail, making the thirsty infidels drink the cup of death. In this single charge he took several elephants, which Biji Eai regarded as the chief support of his centre. At last God granted vic- tory to the standards of Islam, and the infidels retreated behind the walls of their city for protection. The Mus- sulmans obtained possession of the gates of the city, and employed themselves in filling up the ditch and destroying the scarp and counterscarp, widening the narrow roads and opening the closed entrances.