The Nāṣirī Generations 59.2

59.2

At the period in question the son of Saljuk had attained to man’s estate, and, on account of his prowess and valour, his arrow and his sword, all the Maliks of Turkistan and the Afrasiyabi rulers were continually in fear. Not a bird in the air nor a deer of the plain escaped his arrow; and, like a whirlwind and a thunder-cloud, he was wont to enter the chase or the conflict, and used to vanquish every man who entered into a personal contest with him. Upon this occasion when Kadr Khan joined and accompanied Sultan Mahmud, and all were in attendance at his stirrup, and proceeding towards the Sultan’s own tents, the son of Saljuk continued to ride on before them all, a Turkman cap placed jauntily on one side of his head, and bestriding a horse like the spur of a mountain, galloping about like a roaring lion, or the flickering lightning, in such wise that the forces of Turan and Iran were amazed at his agility and horsemanship. As Kadr Khan had requested of the Sultan, so it was carried out; and, at the very time that Kadr Khan set out on his return [to his own territory], they brought a mandate [from the Sultan] to the son of Saljuk to remain in his tent, and gave orders that his followers, with his and their effects, should cross the river Jihun into the confines of Khurasan in company with the Mahmudi forces. Agents were directed to take care of them, and look after them; and, when they reached the bank of the Jihun, they crossed the river along with servants of the Sultan.