Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/120

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90 and shouting for Tughril, they rode straight for his tent. He heard the clamour, and leaping on a bare- backed steed galloped for the river, while his followers fled madly in all directions, persuaded that Balban and all his army were upon them. Tughril was struck down by a dexterous shaft, and in an instant he was beheaded. Then followed the punishment, conceived in Balban 's comprehensive way. Gibbets were ranged along both sides of the long bazar of Lakhnauti, and on them were strung rows of rebels; the sons and kinsmen and follow- ers of Tughril were killed and hung up to the horror of all beholders. Two days and more the work of ret- ribution went on; even a beggar to whom the usurper had been kind was not spared, and old men told Barani half a century later " that such punishment as was inflicted on Lakhnauti had never been heard of in Delhi, nor could any one remember such a thing in all Hin- dustan." When it was over, the Sultan sent for his son, Bughra Khan Mahmud, and made him take an oath to recover and hold the rest of Bengal, of which he was at the same time appointed governor. Then he solemnly asked the prince, " Mahmud, dost thou see? ' The son did not understand. Again he said, " Dost thou see? >: and the prince was still silent and amazed. A third time the question was asked, and then the old Sultan ex- plained: " You saw my punishments in the bazar? If ever designing and evil-minded men should incite you to waver in your allegiance to Delhi and to throw off its authority, then remember the vengeance you have seen wrought in the bazar. Understand me, and forget not,