Page:Historyofpersiaf00watsrich.djvu/366

 346 A HISTORY OF PERSIA. We have ruled and you have obeyed. What new thing is this, that the servant should rise against his master and the slave against his lord?" The mention of the word " slave" stung to the quick the proud Salar, who, replied to the prince's communication by a defiance to mortal combat ; adding a Persian verse to this effect:* " What use my life to me, Since though I be Salar I still a slave must be ? " On receiving this reply the prince advanced towards the camp of the rebels ; but as he did so, the forces opposed to him began to disperse, and their leader found himself compelled to consult his safety by retreating to Boojnoord. Thither he was followed by Hamza Meerza, and the Salar and the chief of Boojnoord were forced to fall back upon the Turkomans. It was the intention of Prince Hamza to pursue them, but he was recalled to Meshed by the news of a rising at that place. The governor whom he had left at Boojnoord contrived to make himself so disagreeable to the people that they opened communication with their former chief, Jafer Kuli Khan, who, with the Salar, returned from the Turkoman desert, and once more took possession of Boojnoord. Twelve thousand men flocked to their standards, and the prince had to hasten frpm Meshed to oppose them. They retired on his approach and fell back on their Turkoman allies ; but this time they were pursued to the deserts bordering the Attrek river. The chief of Boojnoord, after a number of adventures, succeeded in making his way to Herat, where he was
 * " Maraii ar ayed az zendagee, ke salar basham kunam bendagee."