The Great Mogul

o the ground and I would have g

el xvi

Sher Afghán should not escape him no

are not! Every man shal

. Perhaps the fate of India would have been settled then and there for many a year had not the mob of horsemen, unable to stay their disorderly pursuit, swept between the rivals. Many of the so

gainst the straight English blade, wielded as it was by one versed in the art of European swordsmanship. Jahangir was disarmed, his wrist nearly broken when he would have drawn a dagger, and Mowbray, closi

If Sher Afghán finds thee he

it with both hands as a quarter staff. He leaped back into the mêlée and made onslaught with this fearsome weapon on men and horses alike. In the press, the Prince's retainers could not use their arrows, and their cumbrous matchlocks, once discharged, could not be reloaded readily. As for their swords and short lances, of what avail were

A crowd of guests and armed vassals, attracted by the noise of the conflict, had run from the house, and the obedience rendered to

ad touched naught that it did not break. The fallen elephant blocked the gate and the big Yorkshireman held the road. None co

yer of Lions," by bragging, glanced at the tum

from beyond the seas. I did well to help thee, and nobly hast thou repai

e Jahangir in the art of fence," said Roger,

lesson in his stead! Search for him, I pray y

in a somewhat subdued mood. There was

ok for the stranger. My heart

learing his eyes in wonderment. Before

risoner. For my sake, if for none oth

rmoil had subsided, now advanced. But the spirit of the combat had not wholly left him. When Sher Afghán s

not see why two such gallant gentlemen should fight over a worthless woman. Whilst you

had been stabbed indeed. He ben

brokenly, "that you wou

rank f

you," she protested.

from his belt he

d to end your woes by my death, here is my unprotected breast. Kill me! It is m

assion of tears an

s ears. If, indeed, his wife regretted her attitude he could afford to be

of this brawl will reach the Emperor as fast as men can ride. Let

soul, but Jahangir was too enraged by his defeat, too embitte

ve been misled by none save Nur Mahal herself. My followers have fled, though I am glad to see some of the hare

pearance of the Diwán, agitated and faltering in his steps, put an end to a scene which at any moment might have assumed a new phase of violence. The aged statesman, when his first alarm was sped, thought more of the

es and endearments of the mahout. He rose ponderously,

the caravansary. He may have feared for their safety, or perhaps he found

the chamber allotted to them. He threw around Roger's

f steel which rivets ou

so encrusted with diamonds that it blazed in

my enemy," he cried, nor would he harken to their protes

s night's doings?" asked Roger,

othing new in history for a

ute she was for striking her husband dead

that a brave man like Sher Afghán

nce would have reaved her she was willing enough, and tempted to aid him withal. But when the fight started, she hung back, like a doe watching two conte

ct. Now, let us rest. Jahangir was no mean antagonist. He st

ybreak. But their doubts were quickly resolved. A mounted messenger from the Diwán bade them bring their packs with all speed to the fort. The Emp

train thither, showed that the festival was not misnamed. Not only the ladies of the court, but the wives and daughters of the chief nobles, occupied the stal

th a beautiful Kashmiri, and

he cried. "You may be a good king, b

your pretty face, just as a fine rin

face," said she, "I fear you must

accept my price and let me ta

when I render short ac

hought you ill-looking, s

ge of women's nature. Then, indeed, t

vain as a peacock. H

lady promptly covered them with a fold of her sari, and Akbar strolled away to another stall. A

the Diwán's house last night," said Akbar, sto

it was a whole menagerie, your

hant, the Hathi-sahib, m

found him occupa

Meanwhile, you shall not lose trade because young

a half, yo

have told you that 'Akbar' me

's name is known far beyond

ib! And what is my re

ty with great respect, which is saying much,

in Christendom," broke

d and Akbar c

yeth the

lter rendered accurately,

hrase to describe me when my ba

lakh and a half demanded by my partner

at will

oyal bird could ca

ow hither every knave in India, for they will read

, for, strange to say, this far-seeing and intelligent monarch was quite illiterate. He could scarcely read, and his signature was a mere scrawl. Nevertheless, his hieroglyphics covered, in this instance, a considerable sum, its

poorest of his subjects. Turning to a corpulent n

lk. Think of the joy it will cause in thy household. Is it not cheap at two hundred gold mohurs, or sha

wo hundred and fifty was the true price, at which figure he would certainly purchase

ected an interest in another stall. "Here be spices of Gondar that shall m

f Kings," was th

n doth season a meal!

or he was a reputed skinflint, that Akbar smiled grimly, and there was discreet

"I begin to catch the drift of the

arter for nothing. They, all aglow with pleasure at this successful close of their v

g fixedly at Walter. "Visit the Treasury to-morrow, come hither at the hour fixed

the Emperor that he would obey his commands to the letter. Then, A

's mouth. This was clear from the respect paid to them as they rode forth from the palace. Each menial salaame

two richly clad nobles, mounted on fine Turkoman Arabs

a question anent the previous night's escapade revealed a hidden mo

fligate and a drunkard, hath grieved him by his excesses. Had the edge of thy sword fallen on J

h from one wh

by one whom we know not ha

outspoken declaration, Mowbray wheeled

I are traders. We have no concern with the court

not have enemies

ave n

hath this same preacher spread the rumor in the bazaar that you are spies, emissaries of a ki

bray must have looked his annoyance,

ir. Were he dead, and his brother Khusrow recognized as heir, all wo

m do I

am Raja Man Singh, and this o

aid Walter, sorely troubled, for the

hangir comes in front of thy s

f not the exact significance of

gir's blood, Walter, bid them

ation as hostile to the Prince

Hathi hath

iven him by Akbar. He stretched out a

be done now, when, perchance, we may win not only

, but they showed no fear.

pass before you feel that my word

r followed him in a sharp canter.

being probably augmented by their presence in the Mogul capital and the notable success they had attained. When they recalled the Emperor's advice as to their departure t

ere surrounded by strangers who might be in anyone's pay. In the Garden of Heart's Delight they were, at least, under the protection of an influe

into a storm with malignant caprice. That night, the Diwán died suddenly, poisoned said som

new Diwán was appointed, and, when they kept the appointment fixed by Akbar, they were told that the Emperor, overwhelmed with grief at the dea

ed with them, and the place itself was an earthly Paradise wherein they would be well content if other matters had progressed to their liking. The warning given by Raja

ummoned all his Omerahs to his bedside. Wistfully regarding them, he asked forgiveness of any offense he might have been guilty towards any of them. Then he gave them a sign to invest his son, Jahangir, with his turban and robes, and to gird him with his favorite simitar. He entreated Jahangir to be kind to the

many that Akbar had a decided leaning towards Christianity. However that may be, the tidings of his death sounded the knell o

Nellie Roe was shattered. In his despair he debated with Roger the advisa

ace and shame him before all his nobles if he did not fulfil Akbar's behest

kle fate had in store they admitted the ma

he illustrious strangers wait on him to-morrow after he appears a

ade Jahangir a King? Would he rise superior to petty considerat

ast, buckle on our swords