Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/23

 conquered Bengal, and, like the feudal barons of Medieval Europe, they defied the royal authority. But Akbar was not a man to be trifled with. With that wisdom and magnanimity which helped him more than his prowess to build and cement an Empire, he made no distinction between his Mohammedan and Hindu subjects. Todar Mull, his Hindu General, had twice conquered Bengal from the Afghans, and Todar Mull was sent with an ample force in 1580 to quiet the rebellious Mogul barons.

The Raja came this time, not as a General, but appointed to the high post of Governor of Bengal. He proceeded as far as Monghyr, while the rebellious Moguls were encamped at Bhagalpur with thirty thousand cavalry. Both places were within easy reach from Debipur; and Nobo Kumar pondered whether he would not join the barons against the Raja who had cruelly deprived him of his ancestral estate.

"No," said Gokul Das, "Raja Todar Mull has few equals in India in skill and prowess, and to oppose him again would be to complete your ruin. We will help the Raja, and will seek his pardon after he has quelled this rebellion."

"And dost thou believe the Raja will pardon a man who joined Dayud Khan only four years ago?"

"The Raja is too high to be vindictive. He will easily forgive a faithful follower of the last Afghan King if he now learns to be faithful to the new Mogul Emperor."

"And deemest thou, Gokul Das, I can bend my knee to the minion of Akbar who has deprived me of my father's estate?"

"Your fathers, Nobo Kumar, served a long line of