THE two princes then proceeded to Kunduz, and there collected some troops from the tribe of Boldái.* Thence they marched towards Badakhshán, and when they arrived at Taikhán,* they concluded a peace with the Kings of Badakhshán and effaced every trace of bitterness of feeling. From there again they went to Arhang,* where they crossed the river onto the side of Sáli-Sarái,* and advanced towards Khatlán; then, having traversed the desert, they arrived at a place called Gulak,* where they encamped. In accordance with the words “and we have ordained the night as a time for repose,” they retired to rest. After Amir Timur had taken off his clothes, with the inten­tion of going to bed, and had withdrawn his blessed feet from the fatiguing companionship of his boots, Amir Husain sent a person to beg him to come to him, and when he arrived, he found, among those present in the assembly, Pulád Bughá and Shir Bahrám. Amir Husain began to make complaints of Shir Bahrám to Amir Timur, saying: “We are now close upon the enemy; this is not the time for him to abandon us; it is not acting in an honourable way.” Amir Timur did his best to induce Shir Bahrám not to desert them, but without success, and this latter set out for Biljaván.*

In the meanwhile, the news was confirmed that Tughluk Salduz and Kaikhusru were advancing with the army and many of the Amirs of Jatah, and besides these there were assembled, between Jálá* and the “Bridge of Stone” [Pul i Sangin],* Timur son of Bubakan, Sárik, Shengum, Tughluk Khwája brother of Haji Beg, Kuj Timur son of Begjik, and other com­manders of thousands [tuman] and regiments [kushun] with fifty thousand men, though more than six thousand had deserted the royal camp. But Amir Timur placed firm trust in the assistance of God, and comforted his men with the verse, “How many armies small in number, have overcome infinite hosts, by the permission of God,” which he seemed to hear repeated in his car by a voice from the unseen world.

With two thousand brave men, he marched out to meet the enemy, and the opposing forces met on the Stone Bridge. A battle ensued which lasted from early morning till nightfall; and during all that day these brave and experienced warriors fought, until they had no strength left to continue. Moreover the inequality of the forces was great.

Amir Timur, considering the situation, saw that victory could not be with his side, if the sword of valour were not brightened with the polish of good counsel, and he understood that if the arrow of courage were not let fly from the thumb-stall of deliberation, its whistling would not sound to them as news of triumph. These things he pondered in his mind, until the reed of assurance and conviction, painted a picture of welfare and safety upon the tablet of his enlightened intelligence.