'Aláu-d dín now first resolved upon the capture of Rantambhor, which was near Dehlí. This fort had been taken, and was held by Hamír Deo, grandson of Ráí Pithaurá of Dehlí.* Ulugh Khán, who held Bayána, was ordered to Rantambhor, and Nusrat Khán, who held Karra that year, was ordered to collect all the forces of Karra, and that part of Hindustán, and to march to the assistance of Ulugh Khán. They captured Jháín,* and invested Rantambhor. One day Nusrat Khán approached the fort to direct the construction of a mound (páshîb), and a redoubt (gar-gaj ). A stone discharged from a Maghribí in the fort struck him, and so wounded him that he died two or three days after. When this intelligence was brought to the Sultán, he departed from Dehlí in great state for Rantambhor.

The Sultán proceeded from Dehlí towards Rantambhor, and halted for some days at Til-pat.* He went out daily to hunt and a nargah* was drawn. One day he was benighted, and alighted with only ten horsemen at the village of Bádih, where he remained for the night. Next day before sunrise he gave orders to close up the circle. The huntsmen and horsemen went forth to draw it together, and the Sultán remained sitting on a stool with only a few attendants, waiting until the beasts were driven up. At this time Akat Khán, the Sultán's brother's son, who held the office of Wakíldar, rose up against the Sultán. Conceiving that if he killed the monarch he might, as his nephew, aspire to the throne, he plotted with sundry new Musul-mán horsemen, who had been long in his service. These men now approached the Sultán, shouting tiger! tiger! and began to discharge arrows at him. It was winter, and the Sultán was wearing a large over-coat. He jumped up just as he was, and seizing the stool on which he had been sitting, he made a shield of it. He warded off several arrows; two pierced his arm, but none reached his body. A slave of the Sultán, by name Mánik, threw himself before his master, and made his own body a shield. He was struck by three or four arrows, The páíks (foootmen) who stood behind the Sultán now covered him with their bucklers. Akat Khán galloped up with his confede­rates, intending to cut off the Sultán's head; but finding the páíks standing firm with their swords drawn, they dared not alight to lay hands on him. The páíks cried out that the Sultán was dead. Akat Khán was young, rash, and foolish. He had made a violent attack on his sovereign, but he lacked the decision and resolution to carry it through, and cut off the Sultán's head. In his folly and rashness he took another course. Believing what the páíks said, he went with all speed to the plain of Til-pat, and seated himself on the throne of 'Aláu-d dín, proclaiming to the people of the court with a loud voice that he had slain the Sultán. The people could not believe that the horsemen would have come to the royal residence, or that Akat Khán would have dared to seat himself on the throne and hold a court if the Sultán had not been killed. A tumult broke out in the army, and everything was getting into confusion. The elephants were accoutred and brought before the royal tent. The attendants of the court assembled and took up their respective positions, * * * and the chief men of the army came to pay their respects to the new sovereign. They kissed the hand of that evil doer and did homage. Akat Khán, in his egregious folly, attempted to go into the harem, but Malik Dínár armed himself and his fol­lowers, and, taking his stand at the door, told Akat Khán that he should not enter until he produced the head of 'Aláu-d dín.

When 'Aláu-d dín was wounded his Turk horsemen dispersed, raising a clamour. About sixty or seventy men, horse and foot, remained with him. After Akat Khán had left, the Sultán recovered his senses; he was found to have received two wounds in the arm, and to have lost much blood. They bathed the wounds and placed his arm in a sling. When he reflected on what had happened, he came to the conclusion that Akat Khán must have had many supporters among the maliks, amírs, and soldiers, for he would never have ventured on such a step without strong support. He therefore determined to leave his army, and to proceed with all speed to his brother, Ulugh Khán, at Jháín, in order to concert with him measures for securing his position. Malik Hamídu-d dín, náíb-wakíl-dar, son of Umdatu-l Mulk, opposed this plan, and advised the Sultán to proceed at once to his army. * * * The Malik's reasoning convinced the Sultán, and he started at once for the army. As he went along every trooper whom he fell in with joined him, so that on reaching the army he had an escort of five or six hundred men. He immediately showed himself on a rising ground, and being recognized, the assembly at the royal tent broke up, and his at­tendants came forth with elephants to receive him. Akat Khán rushed out of the tents and fled on horseback to Afghánpúr. The Sultán then came down, entered his tents, and, seating him­self upon the throne, held a public court. He sent two officers in pursuit of Akat Khán, who came up with him at Afghánpúr, and beheaded him. His head was carried to the Sultán, who ordered it to be exhibited to the army on a spear, and then to be sent to Dehlí for exhibition, after which it was to be sent to Ulugh Khán at Jháín, with an account of the Sultán's escape. Katlagh Khwája, younger brother of Akat Khán, was also killed. * * * The Sultán remained some days with the army, diligently seeking out all who had connived at or had been aware of Akat Khán's attempt. Those who were discovered were scourged to death with thongs of wire, their property was confiscated, and their wives and children sent prisoners to various forts. The Sultán then proceeded to Rantambhor, and after punishing the rest of those who were concerned in Akat Khán's conspiracy, he devoted himself to the business of the siege. Bags were made and distributed to the soldiers, who filled them with sand and threw them into the holes (ghár). The traverses of the páshíb were formed, the redoubts (gargaj) raised, and stones were discharged from the maghribís. The besieged* battered the páshíb with stones from their maghribís, and scattered fire from the summit of the fort. Many men were killed on both sides. The territories of Jháín were attacked and subdued as far as Dhár.

After the conspiracy of Akat Khán was suppressed, news was brought to the army that 'Umar Khán and Mangú Khán, taking advantage of the Sultán's absence and the difficulties of the siege of Rantambhor, had broken out in revolt and had obtained a fol­lowing among the people of Hindustán. The Sultán sent some officers against them, who made them prisoners before they had effected anything, and carried them to Rantambhor. The Sultán's cruel implacable temper had no compassion for his sister's children, so he had them punished in his presence. They were blinded by having their eyes cut out with knives like slices of a melon. Their families and dependants were overthrown. Of the horse and foot who had supported them, some fled, and others fell into the hands of the amírs of Hin-dustán and were imprisoned.