Sher Khán, being relieved from all apprehension as regarded Muhammad Khán, went to Sultán Junaid Birlás, at Ágra, and thence accompanied him to the presence of the Emperor Bábar; was admitted to his Court, was present during the affair of Chánderí, and remained for some time amongst the Mughals, and acquainted himself with their military arrangements, their modes of governing, and the character of their nobles. He often said among the Afgháns, “If luck aided me, and fortune stood my friend, I could easily oust the Mughals from Hindustán.” When people heard him speak thus, they ridiculed him, and used to say behind his back, “What vain boasting is this of Sher Khán's; he talks about a thing far beyond his power.”

I, 'Abbás, the writer of the adventures of Sher Khán, have heard from the mouth of Shaikh Muhammad my own uncle, whose age was nearly eighty years, the following story: “I was at the battle of Chánderí, with the force of the victorious Emperor Bábar, the second Farídún, and in attendance on the Khán Khánán Yúsuf-khail, who brought the Emperor Bábar from Kábul, and Shaikh Ibráhím Sarwání said to me, ‘Come to Sher Khán's quarters, and hear his impossible boastings, which all men are laughing at.’ And accordingly we rode over to Sher Khán's quarters. In the course of conversation, Shaikh Ibráhím said: ‘It is impossible that the empire should again fall into the hands of the Afgháns, and the Mughals be expelled from the country.’ Sher Khán replied: ‘Shaikh Muhammad, be you witness now between Shaikh Ibráhím and myself, that if luck and fortune favour me, I will very shortly expel the Mughals from Hind, for the Mughals are not superior to the Afgháns in battle or single combat; but the Afgháns have let the empire of Hind slip from their hands, on account of their internal dissensions. Since I have been amongst the Mughals, and know their conduct in action, I see that they have no order or discipline, and that their kings, from pride of birth and station, do not personally superintend the government, but leave all the affairs and business of the State to their nobles and ministers, in whose sayings and doings they put perfect con­fidence. These grandees act on corrupt motives in every case, whether it be that of a soldier's, or a cultivator's, or a rebellious zámíndár's. Whoever has money, whether loyal or disloyal, can get his business settled as he likes by paying for it; but if a man has no money, although he may have displayed his loyalty on a hundred occasions, or be a veteran soldier, he will never gain his end. From this lust of gold they make no distinction between friend and foe, and if fortune extends a hand to me, the Shaikh shall soon see and hear how I will bring the Afgháns under my control, and never permit them again to become divided.’”

After some time, Sher Khán waited upon the Emperor one day at an entertainment, when it happened that they placed before him a solid dish, which he did not know the customary mode of eating. So he cut it into small pieces with his dagger, and putting them into his spoon easily disposed of them. The Emperor Bábar remarked this, and wondered at Sher Khán's ingenuity, and said to Khalífa, his minister, who was at his elbow, “Keep an eye on Sher Khán; he is a clever man, and the marks of royalty are visible on his forehead. I have seen many Afghán nobles, greater men than he, but they never made any impression on me; but as soon as I saw this man, it entered into my mind that he ought to be arrested, for I find in him the qualities of greatness and the marks of mightiness.” When Sultán Junaid took his leave, he had recommended Sher Khán strongly to the minister.* Sher Khán had also made him a very handsome present. So he replied to the Emperor: “Sher Khán is without blame, and does not command a sufficient force to become a cause of uneasiness to Your Majesty. If you arrest him, the Afgháns who are present with you will all become suspicious, nor will any other Afghán trust your faith and promises, and hence will arise disunion.” The Emperor was silenced; but Sher Khán sagaciously perceived that the Emperor had spoken something concerning him.

When Sher Khán got to his own quarters, he said to his men: “The Emperor to-day looked much at me, and said something to the minister; and cast evil glances towards me. This is not a fit place for me to remain—I shall go away.” Mounting at once, he left the army. Shortly afterwards the king missed Sher Khán from among the courtiers, and sent for him. The man who was despatched in search of him came to his quarters, but Sher Khán was gone. The Emperor said to the wazír, “If you had not hindered me, I would have arrested him at once; he is about to do something, God only knows what!”

When Sher Khán reached his jágír after leaving the army, he sent a handsome present to Sultán Junaid, and wrote to say, “I was necessitated to quit the king without taking leave. If I had asked for leave, he would not have given it to me. I was compelled to come to my jágír, for my brother Nizám wrote to say that Muhammad Khán and Sulaimán had re­presented to Sultán Muhammad that I had allied myself with the Mughals, by whose aid I had seized their parganas, and they offered, if ordered, to retake these districts. Sultán Mu­hammad, however, gave them no answer. When I heard this news, it was impossible for me to remain where I was. I am His Majesty's grateful servant; I will do whatever he desires.”

After this, Sher Khán took counsel with his brother Nizám and others, saying, “I have no longer any confidence in the Mughals, or they in me; I must go to Sultán Muhammad Khán.” He decided on this plan, and when he came to Sultán Muhammad, in Bihár, the latter was much delighted, for he had had experience of his great talent. He entrusted his son Jalál Khán to him, and said: “I make you my son's lieutenant. Do you instruct him with all your care, for he is of tender age.” Sher Khán was much pleased, and took great pains in the dis­charge of his office. When Sultán Muhammad died, his son Jalál Khán succeeded him, whose mother's name was Dúdú, a concubine; and being himself very young, his mother Dúdú ruled the kingdom, and she made Sher Khán her deputy in the Government of Bihár and its dependencies. After the death of Dúdú, Sher Khán also discharged the duties of the State as deputy for Jalál Khán.

An intimate friendship sprang up between Sher Khán and Makhdúm 'Álam, ruler of Hájípúr, a noble in the service of the King of Gaur and Bengal. The King of Bengal became displeased with Makhdúm 'Álam; for he (the king), having conceived a design of conquering Bihár from the Afgháns, despatched Kutb Khán with a large force for that purpose. Sher Khán earnestly and repeatedly remonstrated. ^{* * *} Nevertheless, Kutb Khán gave no heed to his remonstrances. Sher Khán therefore said to his Afgháns, “With the Mughals on one side and the army of Bengal on the other, we have no resource save in our own bravery.” The Afgháns replied, “Be of good cheer, for we will fight to the utmost; we will never yield the field until we either conquer or die, nor will we be ungrateful to those we have served so long.” Sher Khán having prepared for a sturdy resistance, met the enemy. A severe action ensued, in which the Bengal army was defeated. In that engagement Shaikh Isma'íl much distin­guished himself, and Kutb Khán and Habíb Khán Kákar were with him. Kutb Khán, leader of the Bengal army, was struck by an arrow, and falling off his horse, expired. Shaikh Isma'íl gained the victory, and Sher Khán bestowed on him the title of Shujá'at Khán.* Of the treasure, horses, elephants, etc. which fell into his hands, Sher Khán did not give any part to the Lohánís, and so he became a man of wealth.