Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/451

 410 HtSTORT OF ARMENIA.

with such celerity, that he found there was no hope of escape by avoiding them. He then boldly determined to oppose them, and drawing his sword, rushed in amongst them like a wild boar at bay. His valour and strength astonished the Saracens, who seeing him kill all before him, took to flight. Vasak succeeded in overtaking their general, whom he brought to the ground by a blow with his sword, and trampled to death beneath his horse's feet. He then made off eastward, to the country of the Gardmans, whose chief, Carich, gave him apparently a most kind reception.

The traitor, however, only made a shew of hospitality, for in a short time he seized the ill* feted Vasak by surprise, and sent him in chains to Bulah. The tyrant was overjoyed at the capture of the chief, and doubled his chains. Im- mediately after this, the Saracen troops having perceived the position where Vasak's brother Ashot smd his mother had taken refnge, sur- rounded the place and took them prisoneri3, with several other chiefs, who were residing with them. They were then sent to Bulah, who shackled them and kept them in strict confine- ment. Bulah, shortly after this, marched with his troops to Arzakh in the province of Gachen in (Kharabagh), and captured Atimerseh the chief, with his family, and many other distingubbed

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