Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 16.8.11

16.8.11

but having in their flight mixed with the few that were with Mehdy-nessar-qhan, they bore down their ranks, and communicated their own fears ; so that these also commenced skulking about and dispersing. As the street was narrow, and it could not hold more than six horses in front, the five or six runaways, by running full speed amongst them, made them give away ; and some of these availed themselves of the shelter afforded by houses and shops. Mehdy-nessar-qhan being then close to the Cotval's Chabotra or tribunal, got in a shop ; and as soon as the runaways were gone, he came out again, with his sabre in his hand, and continued advancing ; but by this time one half of his followers had disappeared ; and the rest disheartened by the flight of Medar-beg's sons, and by the desertion it had occasioned, were hardly to be kept together, and they often turned about to look behind. At the heels of the runaways, arrived Mehta-djesvent-nagur, armed and quilted ; and as he knew Mehdy-nessar-qhan personally, he called out to him : " My Lord Qhan, you have got over the wall at the spot where I commanded, and have of course occasioned a stain upon my character; but still you are my acquaintance and friend. Why do you expose yourself in such a manner ? It is not too late yet to be gone. For God's sake, begone directly, and live." These words seemed to excite both a smile and some peevishness in Mehdy-nessar-qhan. He answered with warmth : Pray, what do you mean, Mr.