It was not long before the Sultan heard that the magician Happuck was encouraging the provinces who had followed Ulin to revolt again from their Sultan; but the fear of Misnar's troops overawed them; so that whatever might be their real inclinations, they refused the offers and entreaties of Happuck.
The Sultan, more effectually to secure their obedience, increased the number of his forces in the provinces, and preserved the chain of communication from them quite through his extensive dominions.
The magician, finding the Sultan's forces so well disposed, and that no encouragement could prevail on the southern provinces to revolt, abandoned his design of succeeding by the force of arms, and flew to the weapons of craft and dissimulation.
Though Happuck had now been employed nearly a year in raising commotions among the subjects of India, two provinces only owned the government of Ahubal: the rest continued firm in their loyalty to the Sultan Misnar.
These provinces had raised a light army of about forty thousand men, who, by forced marches, harassed the neighbouring provinces around them.
Of these, three thousand horsemen parted suddenly from the rest, and, by following unfrequented tracks over the mountains and through the forests, arrived at length within two days' march of Delhi.
Here, pitching their tents, they sent several of their chief officers to Delhi, to assure the Sultan that they were greatly afflicted at their crimes, and were desirous of laying down their rebellious arms at his feet.
Horam the Vizier received these suppliants, and representing their contrition to the Sultan, he commanded them to join the main army; at the same time sending dispatches to his general to dismount them from their horses, and to encamp them in such a situation that they might not be able either to escape or to annoy his army if they should be disposed to revolt again.
The magician Happuck, who was among the officers that appeared at Delhi, and who had contrived the revolt in order to get into the presence of the Sultan, was greatly chagrined to find that the Vizier Horam received him, and that he was not to be admitted into Misnar's presence; but, concealing his disappointment, he, with the rest, joined the three thousand horsemen, and marched to the grand army of Misnar.
Once a year the whole army was reviewed by the Sultan in person, and it happened that the disguised magician and his troops of horsemen arrived at the army three days before this general review. The magician rejoiced at this fortunate event.