In passing near the fort of Rantambhur, of which Rai Sarjan was the governor, he did not think of taking it, but continued his advance. Rai Sarjan, when he heard of the approach of the victorious cavalcade, sent suitable presents by able officers, and paid the homage of submission. When he halted near the fort of Gagraun, which is one of the strong forts of Malwa, it transpired that Baz Bahadur had made it over to one of his confidants and that it had not yet been captured. It was also reported to his Majesty that Adham Khan intended to take it in person. One day while His Majesty was encamped there, the conquering heroes had been ordered to invest the fort. When the governor became aware that the Shahinshah was casting the shadow of conquest over the fort he, inasmuch as he was able and far-seeing, made the keys of the fort the device of his safety and became exalted by kissing the ground. He was honoured by royal favours. His Majesty left Khaldun in charge of that strong fort and went on in the end of the same day. He travelled rapidly all night and in the morning, which is the time of expanding hearts and augmenting life, he arrived in the neighborhood of Sarangpur. He made the long march (from Agra), in which there were so many ascents and descents, in sixteen days....

        [[219]] One of the wonderful things was that on the same day Adham Khan had marched out from Sarangpur with the intention of taking the fort of Gagraun, and had advanced two or three kos. He had no knowledge of the Shahinshah's expedition. Though [his mother, Akbar's former wet-nurse] Maham Anaga had sent off swift couriers to inform him of the expedition and to enable him to make proper preparations for service, yet the rapidity of His Majesty was such as dream-messengers could not keep pace with-- what then could be done by hard-riding couriers? Adham Khan had arranged his forces and was tranquilly proceeding towards Gagraun when the world-lighting gilded balls [kaukaba] were seen in the distance. Although but few of the victorious troops were on that night in attendance on His Majesty's stirrup, yet throughout the whole of those plains and deserts there were, by reason of the armies of the Divine favour, such a press and aggregation of soldiers of the invisible world, and horsemen of the heavenly land, that they appeared to the eyes of the companions to be beyond count.

Some of Adham Khan's soldiers, who had gone ahead of him, suddenly came upon the royal escort. When their glance fell upon His Majesty, they involuntarily threw themselves from their horses and did homage. Adham Khan was amazed when he saw his men so confused and flinging themselves off their horses. "Good God, to whom are they paying such reverence?" In this astonishment he urged on his horse, and came nearer. When his eyes fell on the world-illuminating beauty of His Majesty the Shahinshah he became confounded, and like a bewildered moth dismounted and did homage. He placed the face of servitude in the dust of supplication and was exalted by kissing the stirrup. As the rule of kindness to servants and of ignoring their faults is innate in His Majesty, he received Adham Khan with favour and dismounted there for a while, in order that the latter might be reassured and also that the other followers who had come with Adham might obtain the bliss of doing homage....

        [[221]] Next day Maham Anaga brought the zanana, which had remained behind, and arranged a great entertainment. [A few days later the royal party set out on the journey back to Agra.] As folly and blindness of heart were the confirmed qualities of Adham Khan he intrigued with his mother's servants who waited in the royal harem, and spirited away from the Shahinshah's enclosures two special beauties from among Baz Bahadur's women, who had been recently exhibited to His Majesty. He indulged in the vain thought that as everyone was at this time engrossed with preparations for departure, no one would follow up this trail. From this foolish idea he elected to place such a blot on his fortune's forehead. He became marked with an eternal curse and was disgraced for ever. When this scandalous proceeding came to the royal hearing, an order was given to stop the march for this day and to send off swift messengers to search for the lost ones. Able men undertook the service, and by making proper search they caught both of them and brought them back. Maham perceived that if these two women were introduced to His Majesty the veil over her acts would be raised, and her son's treachery be revealed. She therefore caused these two innocent ones to be put to death, for "a severed head makes no sound." The Khedive of the age overlooked this gross outrage, as the veil was not yet removed from his world-illuminating countenance, and regarded the done as [[222]] not done. I laud the ocean-drinking capacity which in its abundant affection and plenitude of wisdom can regard such shocking crimes as uncommitted!

.... His Majesty went on, stage by stage, hunting and shooting, but also going on rapidly. When his crescent standards cast their shade on the territory appertaining to the fort of Narwar, a tiger such as might terrify the leopard of heaven came out of the forest with five cubs and on to the track by which the cavalcade was proceeding. His Majesty the Shahinshah, who had the strength of the lion of God in his arms and the coat of mail of the Divine protection on his breast, went alone and without hesitation in front of that iron-clawed, fiery-natured wild animal. When the spectators beheld this the hair on their bodies stood erect and sweat distilled from their pores. His Majesty with swift foot and alert arm attacked the brute and killed it by one stroke of his sword....

    [[223]] The wild beast, so great and terrible, fell bleeding to the dust before the strength of his arm and the might of his courage, and a shout arose on all sides. This was the first beast of prey which His Majesty personally attacked. Its cubs were killed by the swords and arrows of a number of brave men who were in attendance on the sublime stirrup.

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