Swords From the East (65 page)

I said: "These people are few in number. Come-let us charge them."

When we turned and put our horses to speed, they stood still. And we discovered that they were Moghuls!

The affair had come about in this manner: Some Moghuls of Ayub Begchik's division had been unable to keep quiet and had gone prowling around Andijan on a pillaging party. On hearing the horses of my detachment, they came secretly on us. The watchword that night was Tashkent, and the countersign Sairam-or if Sairam were given as the word, the answer was to be Tashkent.

When they fell in with us, Kwajah Muhammad Ali was on my advance; and when the Moghuls came on calling out "Tashkent! Tashkent!" Kwajah Muhammad Ali, who was not too keen-witted, blundered out, "Tashkent! Tashkent!" The Moghuls, taking him for an enemy, set up the warshout and let fly their arrows.

So, by a false alarm, we were scattered. My plan failed and I rode back from a fruitless journey.

But after a few days Tambal and his adherents became disheartened on learning that the people of Ferghana and the forts were siding with me. His men began to take themselves off to the hills and dry valleys. Immediately I mounted and marched against Andijan.

My inexperience made me guilty of a great oversight. Instead of occupying the bank of the river, which was naturally strong, we passed the river in the evening and camped beside the village of Rabat-i-Zourek in a level plain where we went to sleep without advance guard or videttes.

Just before the dawn, while our men were still enjoying their sleep, Kamber Ali galloped up, exclaiming-"The enemy are upon us-rouse up!"

Having cried out thus, he passed on. I had gone to sleep, as was my custom even in time of peace, without taking off my cloak, and instantly girt on my saber and quiver, and mounted my horse. My standard-bearer seized the standard, without having time to tie on the ox-tail or colors. So, taking the staff in his hand just as it was, he leaped on his horse and we advanced toward the point where the enemy were coming on. By the time I had moved forward a bowshot we fell in with skirmishers.

At this moment there might have been about ten men with me. Riding quickly up to them and loosing our arrows, we drove them back and followed. Pressing on, we pursued them for another bowshot when we fell in with the main body of the enemy.

Tambal was standing there, in front of his riders, with about a hundred men. He was speaking with another man in front of the line, saying, "Smite them-smite them!"

But his men were sidling in a hesitating way, as if saying: "Shall we flee? Let us flee!" Still, they were standing. There were now only three men with me. One arrow was on my notch and I shot it point-blank at Tambal's helmet. Again I felt in the quiver and brought out a green-tipped barbed arrow that my uncle the Khan had given me. Unwilling to throw it away, I returned it to the quiver and thus lost time enough for loosing two shafts. Then I put another arrow on the string and went forward, the other three lagging a little behind.

Two men came on to meet me, and the foremost was Tambal. There was a causeway between us. He mounted on one side of it just as I mounted on the other, and we met so that my right hand was toward my enemy and Tambal's right toward me. Except for the mail of his horse Tambal had all his accouterments. I had on my cuirass, and held my saber and bow. I drew up to my ear and sent my arrow at his head, when at the same instant an arrow struck me in the thigh and pierced through.

Tambal, rushing on, smote me such a blow on my steel cap with the heavy Samarkand sword I had given him that it stunned me. Though not a link of the cap was penetrated, my head was severely bruised.

I had neglected to clean my sword, so that it was rusty and I lost time drawing it. I was alone, solitary, in the midst of foes. It was no time for standing still, so I turned my bridle, receiving another saber stroke on my quiver. I had gone back seven or eight paces when the three retainers came up and joined me. Tambal attacked one of them.

They followed us about a bowshot toward the river. It was a large and deep stream, not fordable everywhere; but God directed us aright so that we came to a ford. As soon as we had crossed the river Dost Nasir's horse fell and we halted to remount him; then passed from hillock to hillock, through byways to our main camp. Tambal's forces slew many of my best men.

After two days I waited on the elder Khan. And on this visit he made over to the Little Khan all the towns that had rallied to me. As excuse, he gave the reason that since an enemy as formidable as Shaibani Khan had taken Samarkand and was daily increasing in power, it had been necessary to summon the Little Khan to our aid from a great distance. Since the younger Khan had no possessions in Ferghana, my uncle said it would be expedient to give him some.

Afterward, both Khans would proceed against Samarkand, which was to be conferred on me.

Probably all this talk was merely to beguile me, and in case of success against Shaibani Khan they would forget their promise. However, there was no help for it. Willing or not, I was obliged to appear content with the agreement.

On leaving, I mounted and went to visit the Little Khan. On the road Kamber Ali came up beside me and said: "Don't you understand? They are taking from you the country you have in hand. Depend upon it, you will not gain anything from them! Now you have some of the hill towns, and the wandering tribes are with you. Fortify your castles-send somebody to make peace with Tambal, who holds your brother. Drive out the Moghuls and then divide the country with your brother, if you will."

"It suits me better," I answered, "to be a vassal of the Khans who are kinsmen, than a king with Tambal at my elbow."

Seeing that I did not like his suggestion, he seemed to regret having made it, and drew off. Three or four days afterward, fearing evil consequences from his advice to me, he fled to Andijan.

I went on and met the Little Khan. He came out quickly beyond his tent ropes, and as I limped on a staff, being in considerable pain from the arrow wound in my thigh, he ran up and embraced me, saying-"Brother, you have borne yourself like a hero!"

Taking me by the arm, he led me into his tent, which was small and far from neat-much like a marauder's. Melons, grapes, and stable-trappings were lying scattered where he sat. He sent for his own surgeon to look at my wound. This Moghul was wonderfully skilled in surgery. If a man's brain had come out, I believe he could cure him; even when arteries were cut, he healed them. To the wound in my thigh he applied the skin of some dried fruits and did not insert a drain.

Chapter IV

The Trap

All this time the Khans were besieging Andijan with Tambal inside. But presently Tambal's brother, Sheikh Bayezid, who was in Akhsi, sent a confidential messenger inviting me to go over to that city. Akhsi was my father's city, and it is the stronghold of Ferghana. The river Sihun flows under its castle walls. The castle itself is on a high precipice, with steep ravines around. There is good hunting and hawking in the regions about, and the melons of Akhsi are the best in the world. From Andijan to Akhsi is a waste, abounding with stag.

The idea behind this invitation was to draw me away from the two Khans. Tambal and his brother knew that without me the Khans would have to withdraw from the country.

But to leave my uncles and join the renegades was a thing impossible to me. So I told the Khans of the message. They advised me to go by all means and try to seize Sheikh Bayezid one way or another.

Such trickery was not to my liking, especially as there would certainly be a treaty agreed on, and I could never bring myself to break my word. Nevertheless, I was anxious, somehow, to get into Akhsi-to have word with my brother and to see if I could win over Sheikh Bayezid to me.

I therefore sent a man to Akhsi to say that I was willing to come. When he again urged me I went.

Sheikh Bayezid seemed to be keeping faith. He came out of the gate to meet me, and led me to the citadel. Chambers had been prepared for me in the stone fort near the outskirts of the town which had been my father's palace. My few retainers were quartered throughout the streets in the town.

But during this time Tambal had sent hurriedly to Shaibani Khan, offering him allegiance. The Uzbeks, a messenger reported, were marching to join Tambal and Sheikh Bayezid.

As soon as my uncles heard this they were disturbed, and began to think of retiring hastily from Andijan to the north. The Little Khan was both just and pious, but the Moghul officers had oppressed my people of the countryside. I was not with them, and the townspeople began to drive the Moghul garrisons out of my forts.

I was now greatly worried. Although I had not the utmost confidence in the Khans, I did not like to abandon them. One morning Jahangir, who had fled from Tambal, came and joined me. I was in the bath when the Mirza, Iny brother, arrived at the stone fort, but went out as I was and embraced him.

Jahangir and Ibrahim Beg, one of my officers who had accompanied him, insisted that we must seize Sheikh Bayezid and take possession of the citadel. Sheikh Bayezid was uncertain what to do, being moved by his promise to me and his loyalty to Tambal. My brother's suggestion was wise and timely.

"I have made an agreement," I answered. "How call I violate it?""

Meanwhile we heard that Sheikh Bayezid had entered the citadel on the height. We ought to have placed a guard at the moat bridge of the citadel, yet we did not post a single man to defend it. I had but very few men with me from the first, and after I came to Akhsi I had dispatched many of them on different missions about the countryside. When the crisis came I had not more than a hundred men with me in the town.'

Before the next dawn Tambal arrived with two or three followers. He passed by the unguarded bridge and entered the citadel.

I had mounted my men, and was busy posting them at the entrances to the streets of the quarter around the stone fort, and making ready weapons-when Sheikh Bayezid with Kamber All, my old comrade, and another warrior, came galloping from Tambal to offer a truce.

Such of my men as had been assigned to stations I ordered to remain steadfast at their posts. This done, I rode to my father's tomb in the heart of the city and alighted, sending word that I was ready to talk to the three emissaries. I brought to the meeting my brother, Jahangir.

The third warrior who had come from Tambal turned back at the tomb. Sheikh Bayezid and Kamber All dismounted and sat down by me, in the corner of the mausoleum. We had talked for a little while, when Jahangir, who had been whispering with one of my officers, Ibrahim Beg, came to a resolution to seize the two envoys.

Jahangir whispered in my ear-"We must seize them! "

"Do nothing hastily," I answered. "The time for taking them has passed. We will try to gain something by bargaining. They outnumber us greatly, besides holding the citadel while we have only the stone fort."

At this, Jahangir made a sign to Ibrahim to desist. I do not know whether the latter misunderstood, or whether he acted otherwise on his own account. At any rate, he threw his arms around Sheikh Bayezid. My men, who had been standing behind us, closed in, grasping and disarming the two nobles.

All truce was now at an end. We placed a guard over the sheikh and Kamber Ali and mounted for battle.

The part of the town next to the stone fort I entrusted to Jahangir, giving him some of my men, as he had only a few. I went and put his quarter in order, visiting all the posts and assigning stations to the men.

In the center of the town was an open level green in which I placed a detachment and passed on. These men were soon attacked by a much greater number of horse and foot, who drove them from their ground and forced them into a narrow lane. Seeing this, I turned back and urged my horse to the charge. Our foes were driven back, and fled. We had forced them out of the lane and were pursuing them over the green, sword in hand, when my horse was wounded in the leg by an arrow. He bolted and swerved, throwing me to the ground in the midst of Tambal's men.

Gaining my feet, I let fly an arrow. Kahil, one of my attendants, who was on a sorry sort of steed, dismounted and led it to me. I got on it, and-when we had cleared the green-formed my men there again.

Sultan Mohammed Weiss, observing what a bad horse I was on, dismounted and gave me his own. At this instant the young son of Kasim Beg came to me, wounded, from Jahangir.

"Your brother, the Mirza," he said, "has been set upon by great numbers and overwhelmed. He leaves the town and flees."

Almost at the same time up rode Said Kasim, whom I had left in the fort nearest Akhsi. This was unfortunate, because that stronghold would have been some kind of refuge for us. I turned to Ibrahim, the officer who had seized Sheikh Bayezid.

"What is to be done now?"

He was a little wounded, and whether from the pain of his wound, or his heart failing him, he only mumbled gloomily. An idea struck me-to fall back on the ravine bridge. We could break it down behind us and retire toward Andijan. Baba Shirzad, one of my other officers, behaved really well in this emergency.

"Let us attack, and turn aside to force a passage through the nearest gateway."

So we gathered our men and made toward this gate. Passing through the intervening street, with Said Kasim and Dost Nasir covering the rear, I took the lead with Ibrahim Beg. We had no sooner emerged at the gateway than we saw Sheikh Bayezid with a quilted corselet over his vest and three or four warriors at his back, just riding into the town.

When he had been seized that morning, contrary to my wish, he-and these followers-had been left in charge of Jahangir's men, who had carried him off when they had been forced to retreat. They had once thought of putting him to death, but fortunately did not, setting him at liberty instead. He had just been released and was coming back to the town when I met him. Immediately I drew to the head the arrow on my notch and let him have it full.*
It only grazed his neck, but it was a fine shot. He spurred through the gate, turning short to the right, and fled in a panic down a narrow lane. I pursued.