1 514 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 who surrounded Shér Singh. Then, entering the room itself, they com-
3 menced their work of destruction, and such of the Mahardjd’s servants as
4 made the faintest show of resistance were at once either shot or cut down
5 remorselessly. |
6 The assassins then repaired to the garden close by, in search of the heir-
7 apparent, Partdb Singh, alad twelve years of age. The prince was engaged
8 in his prayers and in giving alms* to the Brahmins in the garden, when
9 the ferocious Lahnd Singh advanced towards him, with a drawn sword
10 in his hand. The boy was terrified, and trembling threw himself at the
11 ruffian’s feet and implored. forgiveness, saying: “Spare my life, for God’s
12 Lahna Singh at the sake; oh! uncle, I will serve as a menial for removing the dung of your
13 heit-apparent. ~—-shorses.” “An uncle at such a time?” was the reply of the bloodthirsty
14 Lahnd Singh, who, as he uttered these words, severed the boy’s head from
15 his body. The villainous soldiers then cut the boy’s body to pieces with
16 their sabres. ;
17 Having imbrued their hands in the blood of their common master and
18 his eldest son, the conspirators took steps to extend their scheme of aggran-
19 dizement and bloodshed. A body of about 300 cavalry and 250 infantry
20 were waiting outside the garden where this bloody affair was transacted.
21 At the head of these troops, Ajit Singh hurriedly repaired to the city,
22 which was now in a state of commotion. The inhabitants, fearing the
23 Alam causedinthe Savage soldiery, had shut themselves up in their houses, The shops were
24 attr closed and business was suspended. While Ajit Singh went off quickly to-
25 wards the city, Lahnd Singh slowly followed him. with about 200 horsemen.
26 About half way to Lahore, Ajit Singh was met by the minister, who was just
27 coming out of the fort after his usual prayers, and was proceeding ab his
28 ease towards Shah Bildwal, with a few followers, not anticipating so speedy
29 an execution of the plan laid down by him in conjunction with the Sind-
30 hianwalé sardars. Ajit Singh saluted the Raja and informed him that the
31 job was done. The Réja expressed his surprise and showed a disposition
32 to doubt the correctness of the intelligence, upon which the heads of the
33 murdered father and son were exhibited. Dhidén Singh blamed the Sind-
34 hianwdélé kinsmen for taking the life of the young prince; but Ajit
35 Singh observed that what was done could not be helped. Ajit Singh now
36 desired the Raj& to return to the fort with him, to make final arrange-
37 ments regarding the administration of the country, The Raja was dis-
38 mayed, when, glancing at his escort, he saw that they were greatly out-num-
39 bered by the Sindhianwdala soldiers, and he had no alternative but to make
40 his way to the fort in the company of Ajit Singh. The minister and the
41 sardar, with all their followers, entered the ‘outer gate of the fort; but, as
42 the party arrived at the second gate, admittance was refused to the minister’s
43 attendants by the gate-keepers, while those of Ajit Singh, 500 or 600 strong,
44 entered. Dhidn Singh’s suspicions were now confirmed, and he again looked
45 around to see how many men were coming with him. He was, however,
46 quite helpless, and though he felt, from the tone of Ajit Singh’s conversation
47 and the surrounding circumstances, that there was something wrong, yet he
48 maintained an apparently calm attitude and continued to converse with Ajit.
49 Singh in as frank a manner as he could assume, manifesting nothing like
50 fear or apprehension, conscious, of course, that any show of suspicion on his
51 part would be of no avail. Yet he could not help asking the Sindhianwalé
52 sardar who the men were who stood on the battlements of the fort. The
53 sardar replied that “they were all friends.” Ajit Singh then, bringing his
54 * It was an eclipse day, and the prince was being weighed against silver and gold, which
55 Sri SatQarti payee Sin GhthrebipPaniys 28 aims. NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com