man replied, "It is very proper,--let us
go." Saying this, he brought a Turkish horse for me, which could travel
a hundred _kos_ a-day, and a swift quiet mare of unclipped wings [379]
for the princess, and made us both mount; then putting on his cuirass
and arming himself completely, he mounted on his horse and said,
"I will go before, do you follow me with full confidence."

When we came to the city gate, he gave a loud cry, and with his mace
broke the bolt, and frightened the guards; he vociferated to them, "Ye
rascals, go and tell your master that _Bihzad Khan_ is carrying off the
princess _Mihrnigar_, and the prince _Kamgar,_ who is his son-in-law;
if he has any spark of manhood, then let him come out and rescue her;
do not you be saying that I carried her off in silence and by stealth,
otherwise let him stay in the fort and enjoy his repose." This news
soon reached the king; he ordered the _wazir_ and general to seize the
three rebellious ones, and bring them tied neck and heels to the royal
presence, and cut off their heads and lay them before the throne. After
a short time, a numerous body of troops appeared, and the heavens and
earth were darkened by a whirlwind of dust. _Bihzad Khan_ placed the
princess and me on the abutment of an arch of the bridge which, like
the bridge of _Jaunpur_, consisted of twelve arches, and he himself
turned about, and pushed his horse towards the troops; he rushed in
among them like a growling lion; the whole body was dispersed like a
flock of sheep, [380] and he penetrated to the two chiefs and cut off
both their heads. When the chiefs were killed, the troops dispersed,
as the saying is, that "All depends on the head; when it is gone,
all is lost." The king came immediately to their assistance, with a
body of armed troops; _Bihzad Khan_ completely defeated them also.

The king fled; so true it is that "God alone gives victory;"
but _Bihzad Khan_ behaved so bravely, that perhaps even _Rustam_
himself could not have equalled his valour. When he saw that the
field of battle was cleared, and that no one remained to pursue him,
and that there was nothing to apprehend, he came confidentially to
the place where we were, and taking the princess and me along with
him, he pushed forward. The duration of the journey is rendered
short; we reached the boundaries of my country in a short time. I
despatched a letter to the king, (who was my father), mentioning my
safe arrival; he was quite rejoi