A History of the Mahrattas v1.c13.18

v1.c13.18

When all was quiet, Sivajee and his companions, familiar with every avenue and every accessible part of the Khan's residence, proceeded with a few pick-axes to the cook-room, above which there was a window slightly built up. Through this place they soon made themselves a passage, but not without alarming some of the women of the Khan's family, who immediately ran and awoke their master. Shaisteh Khan was hurrying out, and in the act of lowering himself from a window, when he received a blow on the hand which cut off one of his fingers.¹ He was fortunate in escaping without further injury, as his son Abool Futih Khan and most of the guard at his house were killed.