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clear out； and we two will meet those folk。'
〃 'I'm a Chief；' says Billy Fish； quite quiet。 'I stay with you。 My men
can go。'
〃The Bashkai fellows didn't wait for a second word； but ran off； and
Dan and Me and Billy Fish walked across to where the drums were
drumming and the horns were horning。 It was coldawful cold。 I've got
that cold in the back of my head now。 There's a lump of it there。〃
The punka…coolies had gone to sleep。 Two kerosene lamps were
blazing in the office； and the perspiration poured down my face and
splashed on the blotter as I leaned forward。 Carnehan was shivering； and I
feared that his mind might go。 I wiped my face； took a fresh grip of the
piteously mangled hands； and said； 〃What happened after that？〃
The momentary shift of my eyes had broken the clear current。
〃What was you pleased to say？〃 whined Carnehan。 〃They took them
without any sound。 Not a little whisper all along the snow； not though the
King knocked down the first man that set hand on himnot though old
Peachey fired his last cartridge into the brown of 'em。 Not a single solitary
sound did those swines make。 They just closed up tight； and I tell you their
furs stunk。 There was a man called Billy Fish； a good friend of us all； and
they cut his throat； Sir； then and there； like a pig； and the King kicks up the
bloody snow and says； 'We've had a dashed fine run for our money。 What's
coming next？' But Peachey； Peachey Taliaferro； I tell you； Sir； in
confidence as betwixt two friends； he lost his head； Sir。 No； he didn't；
neither。 The King lost his head； so he did； all along o' one of those cunning
rope bridges。 Kindly let me have the paper…cutter； Sir。 It tilted this way。
They marched him a mile across that snow to a rope bridge over a ravine
with a river at the bottom。 You may have seen such。 They prodded him
behind like an ox。 'Damn your eyes！' says the King。 'D' you suppose I can't
die like a gentleman？' He turns to Peachey Peachey that was crying like
a child。 'I've brought you to this； Peachey；' says he。 'Brought you out of
your happy life to be killed in Kafiristan； where you was late Commander…
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in…Chief of the Emperor's forces。 Say you forgive me； Peachey。' 'I do；' says
Peachey。 'Fully and freely do I forgive you； Dan。' 'Shake hands； Peachey；'
says he。 'I'm going now。' Out he goes； looking neither right nor left； and
when he was plumb in the middle of those dizzy dancing ropes； 'Cut you
beggars；' he shouts； and they cut； and old Dan fell； turning round and
round and round； twenty thousand miles； for he took half an hour to fall
till he struck the water； and I could see his body caught on a rock with the
gold crown close beside。
〃But do you know what they did to Peachey between two pine…trees？
They crucified him； Sir； as Peachey's hand will show。 They used wooden
pegs for his hands and feet； but he didn't die。 He hung there and screamed；
and they took him down next day； and said it was a miracle that he wasn't
dead。 They took him downpoor old Peachey that hadn't done them any
harmthat hadn't done them any〃
He rocked to and fro and wept bitterly； wiping his eyes with the back
of his scarred hands and moaning like a child for some ten minutes。
〃They was cruel enough to feed him up in the temple； because they
said he was more of a God than old Daniel that was a man。 Then they
turned him out on the snow； and told him to go home； and Peachey came
home in about a year； begging along the roads quite safe； for Daniel
Dravot he walked before and said； 'Come along； Peachey。 It's a big thing
we're doing。' The mountains they danced at night； and the mountains they
tried to fall on Peachey's head； but Dan he held up his hand； and Peachey
came along bent double。 He never let go of Dan's hand； and he never let
go of Dan's head。 They gave it to him as a present in the temple； to remind
him not to come again； and though the crown was pure gold and Peachey
was starving； never would Peachey sell the same。 You know Dravot； Sir！
You knew Right Worshipful Brother Dravot！ Look at him now！〃
He fumbled in the mass of rags round his bent waist； brought out a
black horsehair bag embroidered with silver thread； and shook therefrom
on to my tablethe dried； withered head of Daniel Dravot！ The morning
sun； that had long been paling the lamps； struck the red beard and blind
sunken eyes； struck； too； a heavy circlet of gold studded with raw
turquoises； that Carnehan placed tenderly on the battered temples。
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〃You be'old now；〃 said Carnehan； 〃the Emperor in his 'abit as he lived
the King of Kafiristan with his crown upon his head。 Poor old Daniel
that was a monarch once！〃
I shuddered； for； in spite of defacements manifold； I recognised the
head of the man of Marwar Junction。 Carnehan rose to go。 I attempted to
stop him。 He was not fit to walk abroad。 〃Let me take away the whisky；
and give me a little money；〃 he gasped。 〃I was a King once。 I'll go to the
Deputy Commissioner and ask to set in the Poorhouse till I get my health。
No； thank you； I can't wait till you get a carriage for me。 I've urgent private
affairsin the southat Marwar。〃
He shambled out of the office and departed in the direction of the
Deputy Commissioner's house。 That day at noon I had occasion to go
down the blinding…hot Mall； and I saw a crooked man crawling along the
white dust of the roadside； his hat in his hand； quavering dolorously after
the fashion of street…singers at Home。 There was not a soul in sight； and he
was out of all possible earshot of the houses。 And he sang through his nose；
turning his head from right to left：
〃The Son of Man goes forth to war； A golden
crown to gain； His blood…red banner streams afar
Who follows in His train？〃
I waited to hear no more； but put the poor wretch into my carriage and
drove him off to the nearest missionary for eventual transfer to the Asylum。
He repeated the hymn twice while he was with me； whom he did not in the
least recognise； and I left him singing it to the missionary。
Two days later I inquired after his welfare of the Superintendent of the
Asylum。