Page:Ranjit Singh (Griffin).djvu/172

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166
RANJÍT SINGH

with many threats. The same night Mai Sada Kour escaped in a covered litter; but was overtaken by troops, captured, and confined in a fortress, where she died soon afterwards, while the Mahárájá annexed all her great estates without any trouble: the only forts which held out being Atálgarh, which was gallantly defended by one of her women, and Mukeri, which gave Diwán Devichand, who had been sent to reduce it, a great deal of trouble. Batála was granted to Sher Singh in jagír, and the cunning lady who had manufactured this false prince fell into the pit which she had dug for others. At the same time it must not be forgotten that, with all her faults, Mai Sada Kour had acted well by the Mahárájá, who treated her with the blackest ingratitude. Her money and her troops had enabled him to seize Lahore and Amritsar, and had saved him from ruin in the doubtful years which followed his father's death.