1 HISTORY OF THE SiKHS. 15
2 unconscious murderers of each other. Dhyan Singh
3 signed the fatal paper, and Ajeet Singh promised
4 him that it should be executed on the morrow, which
5 happened to be a Friday. On the evening of the
6 day preceding the murder of Shere Singh, Ajeet
7 Singh requested that he would be pleased to look
8 at his troops in’ the morning. To this he readily
9 agreed, and left the city early for that purpose.
10 He passed out on horseback through the Roshnaee
11 gate of Lahore, and taking the road towards the
12 parade ground alighted near the garden of Tej
13 Singh, where the tents of his son Prince Pertaub
14 Singh were pitched. He had no attendant ex-
15 cept the Dewan Deenanath and his armour-bearer,
16 Boodh Singh, who always accompanied him. Ajeet
17 Singh speedily joined him, and reported that his
18 soldiers wére all present, and ready for the in-
19 spection of the Maharajah. The latter called: for
20 Deenanath and ordered him to enrol their names
21 as soldiers. While thus employed, Ajeet Singh
22 produced a handsome tase containing a new English
23 rifle, which he shewed to Shere Singh. The Maha-
24 rajah inspected the box and its contents, and raising
25 the barrel and stock adjusted the one to the other,
26 and then tried the sight. Ajeet Singh remarked
27 that it was loaded, on which, Shere Singh gave
28 the rifle to one of Ajeet Singh’s attendants and
29 desired him to take an aim and fire it off. His
30 master gave the signal, and the contents of the
31 rifle were lodged in the Maharajah’s chest: Shere
32 Singh exclaimed “ What have you done, villain!”
33 and immediately expired. The sword of Aject
34 Dhyan Singh
35 signs the death
36 warrant of
37 Shere Singh.
38 Shere Singh is
39 killed.