When the fugitives arrived in the camp of the Sultan, he sent _Kazil Sarúk_, with a strong army to reduce the rebels _in Khorasan_. Hassáín Fáni, _one of Hassan’s chiefs_, having taken refuge with his rafíks in _Múmin-ábád_, the general of the Sultan made the necessary preparations for a siege. When he was upon the point of seizing the splendid conquest, the intelligence suddenly spread of the murder of Khájah Nizam al mulk by the hand of _Abu Táher Adáni_, who was one of the fedáyis of our Sâid; and closely to this followed the report of the death of Maliksháh; on which account this army dispersed, and as the dissension between Barkíarok and the Sultan Muhammed _sons of Malikshah_, occasioned their weakness,[650] the strength of the Ismâílíah was increased, and the forts _Girdkoh_ and _Lámíser_ fell into the possession of our Sáid.[651] At that time the fedáyis, in order to destroy the learned men and theologians, who entertained a hatred towards the chosen Ismâílíah, and reviled their creed, were dispersed on all sides, and brought a great number of this class beneath the blows of their swords and poniards: on which account the learned men and the theologians of the adversaries were frightened. When Sultan Barkíárok, the son of Malik shah, died, Sultan Muhammed Doulet[652] succeeded to his sovereignty. The latter sent Ahmed, the son of Nizam ul Mulk, with an army to the country of Rúdbár. In the beginning of the year of the Hejira 511[653] (A. D. 1117) he despatched Alabet Tóshacín shërgír[654] to the assistance of the Vizir; nearly a year had elapsed when they were about to take the fort Buldet ul ikbál; at that time the intelligence of the death of Sultan Muhammed was spread in Atabec’s camp: on which account that army took to flight in the night time. When Sultan Sinjar[655] had placed the crown of sovereignty upon his head, he sent forces several times to combat the sect of the Ismâílíah. At that time our Sáid Hassan enjoined to one of the Sultan’s servants, who had adopted the creed of the Ismâílíah: “Fix a dagger in the ground near the Sultan’s head; but do him no harm, because thou art nourished by his salt, and it is not right to lay the hand on the master.” The servant did so. When Sinjar awoke from sleep, he saw the dagger, and was very much frightened, but kept this occurrence concealed. Some days after, the ambassador of our Sáid came to visit him, and said: “If we did not entertain friendship for the Sultan, that dagger, which in such a night was fixed in the hard ground, would have been buried in the soft bosom of the Sultan.” After having heard this, the Sultan’s apprehension increased, and he made peace;[656] wherefore the state of Hassan’s affairs gained strength.