1 SIEGE OF LAHORE.
2 43
3 with tins force immediately occupied the whole fort, stating as
4 his reason for the measure that the whole Khalsa army had
5 declared in favour of Shere Sing-, and that it would be madness
6 to proceed with so small a force against that prince, supported
7 as he was by at least sixty thousand men.
8 Although Goolaub Sing up to the moment when the struggle
9 actually commenced, believed that Shere Sing was too much
10 under the influence of Rajah Dehan to venture on any thing like
11 open hostility during his absence and without his concur-
12 rence, he was aware that the prince, strongly supported by the
13 whole Khalsa, might be induced to make a vigorous effort to
14 gain his point by private negotiations, and without the aid of
15 his principal but still absent supporter Dehan Sing. Goolaub
16 was too old a pupil in Runjeet's school not to be able to see-
17 through the schemes of Jewalla Sing and the duplicity of
18 Shere Sing. He was likewise well aware that his brother in
19 his letters to the prince merely advised him to proceed towards
20 Lahore and to encamp at Shalimar, where the whole or most
21 of the troops would go out to him, and where he mi°-ht
22 strengthen himself and act according to circumstances, but on
23 no account to commence open hostilities until his, Dehan Sino-'s,
24 arrival from Jummoo. He promised on these conditions to
25 endeavour by means of his influence with his brother Goolaub
26 Sing to obtain for Shere Sing by negotiation the object of his
27 wishes, and to give him possession of the throne and the capital
28 without a shot being fired. However, contrary to the wish and
29 expectations of Rajah Goolaub Sing, Shere Sing early on the
30 following morning took up a position at Bhoodhoo ka Ava, and
31 thereby convinced the Dogra chief of his determination at
32 once to attack the city and fort in the absence and without the
33 concurrence of Dehan Sing. Goolaub saw clearly that his suc-
34 cess in this enterprise, independent of the aid of his party, would
35 be a deathblow to the hopes of himself, his family, and friends.
36 He therefore determined to oppose to the last any attack made