1 EARLY HISTORY OF RUNJEET SING. 23
2 Mahomed Khan with great respect, so that the suspicions of
3 the chief being- lulled to sleep, he was induced by specious
4 promises, and on Misser Dewan Chund becoming security for his
5 safety and for the fulfilment of the promises made, to accompany
6 the Maharajh to Lahore. Scarcely, however, had they reached
7 Lahore J)efore Runjeet, forgetting all his oaths and promises,
8 threw Mahomed Khan into prison and otherwise so ill treated
9 him that his life was despaired of. Misser Dewan Chund,
10 ashamed and indignant at such conduct to a man for whose
11 safety and well-being he had become security, daily remonstrated
12 with his master on the subject. But the only effect of his
13 upbraidings was to induce Runjeet to remove his victim to
14 another and more distant prison — the fort of Kangra — and
15 this was done so secretly that the Misser did not know of the
16 removal. One day he went before Runjeet in open dur-
17 bar, resolved on making a grand effort to obtain the release of
18 a chief whose reliance on his word and on the promises he had
19 made had alone brought him into the power of his enemy. On this
20 occasion he spoke so boldly and expressed his opinion so freely that
21 Runjeet became enraged, and even went so far as to threaten the
22 Dewan himself, telling him that instead of concerning himself
23 so much about the safety of Mahomed Khan, he would soon
24 have occasion to look to his own. On receiving this reply
25 Dewan Chund quietly left the durbar, and returned to his
26 house greatly distressed. That same night he took poison, and
27 within twenty-four hours thereafter was a corpse. Runjeet on
28 hearing of the death of his faithful servant professed to be
29 much afflicted, and immediately sent orders for the release of
30 Mahomed Khan ; but it was too late, the unfortunate chief
31 was dead, having sunk under the treatment inflicted on him
32 by order of the treacherous Seik. On learning this the
33 Maharajh felt or seemed to feel so much remorse that for two
34 days he would taste no food, and for several days after was
35 not in a mood to be spoken to.