Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c40.s9.19

v3.c40.s9.19

After long prayers and *pujā* at midnight, Mahadji took two hours' sleep, then rose up at 4 o'clock in the morning, issued the orders of the day to his generals, ate the holy communion (*prasād*), and at break of day mounted his horse named *Desh-pujya* and rode forth to Rana Khan's camp, some two miles ahead of his own halting-place. The command for the impending battle had been assigned to Rānā Khān Bhāi, with whom Sindhia kept constant touch by a chain of swift couriers mounted on camels. Rana Khan marched about two miles ahead of his master with all his troops and sent his light division a mile further on. At each step that this army took to the front, Sindhia too advanced the same distance behind it, ascending successive hillocks and observing his troops through a field-glass and sending forth despatch-riders with his fresh instructions. In this methodical way, giving not the least chance for a surprise by the enemy or disorder in his own ranks, the veteran went forth to seek the long-looked-for decision at last.