Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/89

DEFEAT OF NIDAE, BHIM OF HIND 61 cavaliers. To the centre he appointed Altuntash the chamberlain, together with his personal slaves and attendants, as firm as mountains. Nidar Bhim, the enemy of God and the chief of Hind, alarmed at this sudden invasion, summoned his vassals and generals and took refuge within a pass, which was narrow, precipitous, and inaccessible. They intrenched themselves behind stones and closed the entrance to the pass by their elephants, which looked like so many hills because of their lofty stature. Here he remained in great security, being persuaded that the place was impervious to attack, but he did not know that God is the protector of the faithful and the anni- hilator of infidels! When Mahmud learned that Nidar Bhim intended to prolong the war, he advanced against him with his Dailamite warriors and Afghan spearmen, who pene- trated the pass like gimlets into wood, ascending the hills like mountain goats and descending them like torrents of water. The action lasted for several days without intermission, till at last some of the Hindus were drawn out into the plain to fight, where they were attacked and killed by the cavalry, just as the knight on the chess-board demolishes pawns. When his vassals had joined Nidar Bhim with rein- forcements, he consented to leave his intrenchments and come into the plain, having the hills behind him, and the elephants drawn up on each wing. The battle raged furiously, and when the elephants of the Hindus advanced to destroy their opponents, they were assailed