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rough roads that led into Kafiristan？〃
〃What did which do？ There was a party called Peachey Taliaferro
Carnehan that was with Dravot。 Shall I tell you about him？ He died out
there in the cold。 Slap from the bridge fell old Peachey； turning and
twisting in the air like a penny whirligig that you can sell to the Amir。 No；
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they was two for three ha'pence； those whirligigs； or I am much mistaken
and woful sore。 。 。 。 And then these camels were no use； and Peachey said
to Dravot； 'For the Lord's sake let's get out of this before our heads are
chopped off；' and with that they killed the camels all among the mountains；
not having anything in particular to eat； but first they took off the boxes
with the guns and the ammunition； till two men came along driving four
mules。 Dravot up and dances in front of them； singing； 'Sell me four
mules。' Says the first man； 'If you are rich enough to buy； you are rich
enough to rob；' but before ever he could put his hand to his knife； Dravot
breaks his neck over his knee； and the other party runs away。 So Carnehan
loaded the mules with the rifles that was taken off the camels； and together
we starts forward into those bitter…cold mountaineous parts； and never a
road broader than the back of your hand。〃
He paused for a moment； while I asked him if he could remember the
nature of the country through which he had journeyed。
〃I am telling you as straight as I can； but my head isn't as good as it
might be。 They drove nails through it to make me hear better how Dravot
died。 The country was mountaineous and the mules were most contrary；
and the inhabitants was dispersed and solitary。 They went up and up； and
down and down； and that other party； Carnehan； was imploring of Dravot
not to sing and whistle so loud； for fear of bringing down the tremenjus
avalanches。 But Dravot says that if a King couldn't sing it wasn't worth
being King； and whacked the mules over the rump； and never took no
heed for ten cold days。 We came to a big level valley all among the
mountains； and the mules were near dead； so we killed them； not having
anything in special for them or us to eat。 We sat upon the boxes； and
played odd and even with the cartridges that was jolted out。
〃Then ten men with bows and arrows ran down that valley； chasing
twenty men with bows and arrows； and the row was tremenjus。 They was
fair menfairer than you or mewith yellow hair and remarkable well
built。 Says Dravot； unpacking the guns； 'This is the beginning of the
business。 We'll fight for the ten men；' and with that he fires two rifles at
the twenty men； and drops one of them at two hundred yards from the rock
where he was sitting。 The other men began to run； but Carnehan and
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Dravot sits on the boxes picking them off at all ranges； up and down the
valley。 Then we goes up to the ten men that had run across the snow too；
and they fires a footy little arrow at us。 Dravot he shoots above their heads；
and they all falls down flat。 Then he walks over them and kicks them； and
then he lifts them up and shakes hands all round to make them friendly
like。 He calls them and gives them the boxes to carry； and waves his hand
for all the world as though he was King already。 They takes the boxes and
him across the valley and up the hill into a pine wood on the top； where
there was half a dozen big stone idols。 Dravot he goes to the biggesta
fellow they call Imbraand lays a rifle and a cartridge at his feet； rubbing
his nose respectfuly with his own nose； patting him on the head； and nods
his head； and says； 'That's all right。 I'm in the know too； and these old
jimjams are my friends。' Then he opens his mouth and points down it； and
when the first man brings him food； he says； 'No；' and when the second
man brings him food； he says 'no；' but when one of the old priests and the
boss of the village brings him food； he says； 'Yes；' very haughty； and eats it
slow。 That was how he came to our first village without any trouble； just
as though we had tumbled from the skies。 But we tumbled from one of
those damned rope…bridges； you see； andyou couldn't expect a man to
laugh much after that？〃
〃Take some more whisky and go on；〃 I said。 〃That was the first village
you came into。 How did you get to be King？〃
〃I wasn't King；〃 said Carnehan。 〃Dravot he was the King； and a
handsome man he looked with the gold crown on his head and all。 Him
and the other party stayed in that village； and every morning Dravot sat by
the side of old Imbra； and the people came and worshipped。 That was
Dravot's order。 Then a lot of men came into the valley； and Carnehan
Dravot picks them off with the rifles before they knew where they was；
and runs down into the valley and up again the other side； and finds
another village； same as the first one； and the people all falls down flat on
their faces； and Dravot says； 'Now what is the trouble between you two
villages？' and the people points to a woman； as fair as you or me； that was
carried off； and Dravot takes her back to the first village and counts up the
deadeight there was。 For each dead man Dravot pours a little milk on the
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ground and waves his arms like a whirligig； and 'That's all right；' says he。
Then he and Carnehan takes the big boss of each village by the arm； and
walks them down the valley； and shows them how to scratch a line with a
spear right down the valley； and gives each a sod of turf from both sides of
the line。 Then all the people comes down and shouts like the devil and all；
and Dravot says； 'Go and dig the land； and be fruitful and multiply；' which
they did； though they didn't understand。 Then we asks the names of things
in their lingobread and water and fire and idols and such； and Dravot
leads the priest of each village up to the idol； and says he must sit there
and judge the people； and if anything goes wrong he is to be shot。
〃Next week they was all turning up the land in the valley as quiet as