Akbar was not to be deceived by this flimsy artifice. He had too acute a perception of human motives to be persuaded that a man would thus gratuitously hazard his life for the interests of one to whom he was nationally an enemy, but he disguised his suspicions, and ordered the soldier to take his bow, in the use of which he was reported to be singularly expert, and accompany him before the enemy’s walls. The Emperor was attended by only a few followers; a syce[30] led a horse behind his royal master. When they were within bow-shot of the ramparts seeing a group of the foe so near, the besieged crowded to the battlements, expecting that it was the preliminary of an assault. The governor was visible above the rest by his elevated stature. “Now,” said Akbar to the Rajpoot, “prove to me the truth of what you have lately represented by sending an arrow into the brain of yonder chief.” The Rajpoot affected to comply, and advanced gradually towards the syce, who was leading the Emperor’s charger, and now stood nearly on a line with the royal group, a few yards to the left. The Rajpoot having placed himself beside this man, fixed an arrow in the string of his bow, and directed it towards the rampart. While the eyes of Akbar and his attendants were gazing upon the object towards which they expected every moment to see the arrow winged, the soldier, suddenly turning, discharged his shaft direct at the Sovereign. It pierced his shoulder and fixed in the bone. The Hindoo instantly flung down his bow, drew his dagger, and stabbing to the heart the attendant who was holding his royal master’s horse, vaulted upon its back, plunged his heels in its sides, and darted towards the city with the velocity of a thunderbolt. The nobles stood amazed. Akbar’s eye glanced fire, but he was silent, and walked back to the camp, where the arrow was with some difficulty extracted. He was unable to quit his tent for some days; but within a fortnight the wound was healed. Meanwhile, the Rajpoot, after he had discharged the arrow, rode to the city gate, and was immediately admitted. What he had done was reported to the governor, who immediately granted him an interview. “I now come to claim my bride--my arrow has pierced the Moslem king.” “Is he slain?” “It is impossible he should survive.” “It will be time to fulfil the conditions of a promise when it is proved that the contract has been completed according to the terms stipulated.” It was soon known in the besieged city that Akbar was recovering from his wound. The Rajpoot was again summoned before the governor.