1 148 A Short History of the Sikhs.
2 which he begged permission to exhibit to the Maha-
3 raja. Sher Singh at once held out his hand for the
4 weapon, and as he did so Ajit pointed it at his breast
5 and shot him dead. The unfortunate Partab, a high-
6 spirited and handsome lad of fourteen, shared his
7 father's fate. As he returned from the foundry, he
8 was met by Lehna Singh, who, with one stroke of
9 his sword, severed the lad's head from his body. But
10 their bloody work was not yet finished. Hastening
11 to the city, the murderers invited Dhian Singh to a
12 private conference to decide on the measures next to
13 be taken. Not without misgivings, the minister
14 made his way to the meeting-place. As he ap-
15 proached, the Sindhanwalias contrived to separate
16 him from his escort, and the moment he was in their
17 midst they fell upon him and did him to death. " A
18 Muhammadan, one of the few attendants with the
19 minister, was the only one who made any resistance,
20 and he was immediately cut down, and his body,
21 with that of his master, was thrown into the rubbish-
22 pit of the gun-foundry in the fort." Such was the
23 end of Raja Dhian Singh, a man endowed with
24 almost every quality that makes for greatness —
25 courage, energy, temperance almost amounting to
26 austerity, determination, discernment, tact, and
27 patience ; but his virtues, as well as his pre-eminent
28 abilities, were dedicated to the service of his all-
29 consuming passion for power and self-aggrandizement.
30 In addition to his virtues and talents, he had at his
31 disposal every vice which goes to make up ambition's
32 outfit, and expediency alone determined the class of
33 instrument to be employed.