Page:History of India Vol 4.djvu/150

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114
SHAH JAHAN

archers behind. Dara's advance-guard, under his son, Sipihr Shukoh, then charged and drove in Prince Mohammad's squadrons, and this advantage was immediately followed up by bringing the left wing to bear upon Aurangzib's right, which wavered and seemed on the point of breaking, when reinforcements came up opportunely from the centre. After this the engagement became general. Dara, towering high above his horsemen on a beautiful Ceylon elephant, led his centre against Aurangzib, carried the enemy's guns, after severe loss, and routed the camel corps and infantry. With the shock of horsemen against horsemen the real struggle began. No Moghul prince, as yet, knew the colour of the "white feather," and Dara displayed all the splendid valour of his famous blood. Emptying their quivers upon the Deccan horse, he and his men drew their swords, and fought hand to hand till the enemy began to break and fly.

It was the critical moment of the fight. The day was going against Aurangzib. The flower of his cavalry was driven back, and he was now standing, with scarcely a thousand men about him, awaiting Dara's onslaught. Never was cool courage put to a severer test; but Aurangzib 's nerve was steel. "Dili, Yarana, Take heart, my friends," he cried. "Khuda-he! There is a God! What hope have we in flight? Know ye not where is our Deccan? Khuda-he! Khuda-he!" Thereupon, with a splendid self-control that comes only of bravery, he ordered the legs of his elephant to be chained together, to make retreat impossible. The mere