INSURRECTIONS AGAINST THE KING 105 tan good advice. He counselled him to leave religion- making to the prophets, and instead of dreaming of universal conquest to set about reducing the many cities and districts of Hindustan, such as Rantambhor, Chit or, Chanderi, Malwa, Dhar, and Ujjain, which were still in Hindu hands; to " close the road to Multan " against the Mongols; and to give up wine and junketing. In- stead of resenting this frank advice, the Sultan prom- ised to adopt it, and handsomely rewarded the honest counsellor. The very first step toward mastering the still unsubdued parts of Hindustan showed Ala-ad-din that he had been living in a fool's paradise. Instead of conquering the world like Alexander, he found that the mere siege of Rantambhor taxed all his energies; and while it was dragging on for many months, other events happened which caused reflection. He was very nearly assassinated in a conspiracy headed by a nephew, who, leaving the Sultan for dead, sat himself upon the throne, received the homage of the nobles, and was even about to enter his uncle 's harem, when the eunuch Malik Dinar faced him at the door and swore he should not go in until he produced Ala-ad-din's head. The head all too soon appeared, but set alertly as ever on its own shoulders, as the living Sultan showed himself to the army on a neighbouring knoll. The rebel Akat Khan was beheaded instead of his uncle; the conspirators were scourged to death with wire thongs, and their wives and children were sent into captivity. Nor was this the only sign of the times. Two other nephews raised the flag of insurrection, and though
