HUMAYUN IN PEEIL 235 the Afghan in their own behoof. They did not know the man they had to deal with. Sher Khan had seized every road leading from Bengal, he was laying siege to Chunar and Jaunpur, held all the country as far west as Kanauj, and had proclaimed himself king at Rohtas with the title of Sultan Sher Shah. These disastrous tidings, filtering through the bazar gossip, gradually roused Humayun from his torpor. DELHI GATE, AGRA FORT. With mutiny open or concealed at Agra, with a rival king cutting off his communications and besieging his cities, with no hope of succour from any side, it was certainly time to act. Six months he had trifled in Bengal, and now the question was how to get out. His troops were demoralized by dissipation, disheartened by inaction, and reduced by sickness. They had to be bribed to advance. When at last they did march, they met with no opposition. Sher Shah was known to be on the watch, but he did not attempt to stop them. His
