eet;
So that Turan alone shall rule the world."

Speedily ten thousand experienced horsemen were selected and placed
under the command of Barzu; and Human and Barman were appointed to
accompany him; Afrasiyab himself intending to follow with the reserve.

When the intelligence of this new expedition reached the court of
Kai-khosrau, he was astonished, and could not conceive how, after so
signal a defeat and overthrow, Afrasiyab had the means of collecting
another army, and boldly invading his kingdom. To oppose this invasion,
however, he ordered Tus and Friburz, with twelve thousand horsemen, and
marched after them himself with a large army. As soon as Tus fell in
with the enemy the battle commenced, and lasted, with great carnage, a
whole day and night, and in the end Barzu was victorious. The warriors
of the Persian force fled, and left Tus and Friburz alone on the field,
where they were encountered by the conqueror, taken prisoners, and
bound, and placed in the charge of Human. The tidings of the result of
this conflict were received with as much rejoicing by Afrasiyab, as with
sorrow and consternation by Kai-khosrau. And now the emergency, on the
Persian side, demanded the assistance of Rustem, whose indignation was
roused, and who determined on revenge for the insult that had been
given. He took with him Gustahem, the brother of Tus, and at midnight
thought he had come to the tent of Barzu, but it proved to be the
pavilion of Afrasiyab, who was seen seated on his throne, with Barzu on
his right hand, and Piran-wisah on his left, and Tus and Friburz
standing in chains before them. The king said to the captive warriors:
"To-morrow you shall both be put to death in the manner I slew
Saiawush." He then retired. Meanwhile Rustem returned thanks to Heaven
that his friends were still alive, and requesting Gustahem to follow
cautiously, he waited awhile for a fit opportunity, till the watchman
was off his guard, and then killing him, he and Gustahem took up and
conveyed the two prisoners to a short distance, where they knocked off
their chains, and then conducted them back to Kai-khosrau.

When Afrasiyab arose from sleep, he found his warriors in close and
earnest conversation, and was told that a champion from Persia had come
and killed the watchman, and carried off the prisoners. Piran exclaimed:
"Then assuredly that champion is Rustem, and no other." Afrasiyab
writhed with anger and mortification at this intelligenc