wasawarethatthediabolicalBrahminwasaimingaviolentblowatthebackofmyheadwiththegun-barrelsItwastoolatetoturnroundImusthavereceivedtheblowsomewhereonthenapeofmyneckAhundredthousandfierystarsdancedbeforemyeyes，andIfellforwardssenselessattheedgeof，thequicksand。
　　WhenIrecoveredconsciousness，theMoonwasgoingdown，andI
　　wassensibleofintolerablepaininthebackofmyheadGungaDasshaddisappearedandmymouthwasfullofbloodIlaydownagainandprayedthatImightdiewithoutmoreadoThentheunreasoningfurywhichIhadbeforementioned，laidholduponme，andIstaggeredinlandtowardthewallsofthecraterItseemedthatsomeonewascallingtomeinawhisper-“Sahib！
　　Sahib！Sahib！”exactlyasmybearerusedtocallmeinthemorningIfanciedthatIwasdeliriousuntilahandfulofsandfellatmyfeet。
　　ThenIlookedupandsawaheadpeeringdownintotheamphitheatre-theheadofDunnoo，mydog-boy，whoattendedtomycolliesAssoonashehadattractedmyattention，hehelduphishandandshowedaropeImotionedstaggeringtoandfroforthewhile，thatheshouldthrowitdownItwasacoupleofleatherpunkah-ropesknottedtogether，withaloopatoneendIslippedtheloopovermyheadandundermyarms；heardDunnoourgesomethingforward；wasconsciousthatIwasbeingdragged，facedownward，upthesteepsandslope，andthenextinstantfoundmyselfchokedandhalffaintingonthesandhillsoverlookingthecraterDunnoo，withhisfaceashygreyinthemoonlight，imploredmenottostaybuttogetbacktomytentatonce。
　　ItseemsthathehadtrackedPornic’sfootprintsfourteenmilesacrossthesandstothecrater；hadreturnedandtoldmyservants，whoflatlyrefusedtomeddlewithanyone，whiteorblack，oncefallenintothehideousVillageoftheDead；whereuponDunnoohadtakenoneofmyponiesandacoupleofpunkah-ropes，returnedtothecrater，andhauledmeoutasIhavedescribed。
　　Tocutalongstoryshort，Dunnooisnowmypersonalservantonagoldmohuramonth-asumwhichIstillthinkfartoolittlefortheserviceshehasrenderedNothingonearthwillinducemetogonearthatdevilishsnotagain，ortorevealitswhereaboutsmoreclearlythanIhavedoneOfGungaDassIhaveneverfoundatrace，nordoIwishtodoMysolemotiveingivingthistobepublishedisthehopethatsomeonemaypossiblyidentify，fromthedetailsandtheinventorywhichIhavegivenabove，thecorpseofthemanintheolive-greenhunting-suit。
　　THEMANWHOWOULDBEKING
　　BrothertoaPrinceandfellowtoabeggarifhebefoundworthyTheLaw，asquoted，laysdownafairconductoflife，andonenoteasytofollowIhavebeenfellowtoabeggaragainandagainundercircumstanceswhichpreventedeitherofusfindingoutwhethertheotherwasworthyIhavestilltobebrothertoaPrince，thoughIoncecameneartokinshipwithwhatmighthavebeenaveritableKing，andwaspromisedthereversionofaKingdom——
　　army，law-courts，revenue，andpolicyallcompleteBut，to-day，I
　　greatlyfearthatmyKingisdead，andifIwantacrownImustgohuntitformyself。
　　Thebeginningofeverythingwasinarailway-trainupontheroadtoMhowfromAjmirTherehadbeenaDeficitintheBudget，whichnecessitatedtravelling，notSecond-class，whichisonlyhalfasdearasFirst-Class，butbyIntermediate，whichisveryawfulindeedTherearenocushionsintheIntermediateclass，andthepopulationareeitherIntermediate，whichisEurasian，ornative，whichforalongnightjourneyisnasty，orLoafer，whichisamusingthoughintoxicatedIntermediatesdonotbuyfromrefreshment-roomsTheycarrytheirfoodinbundlesandpots，andbuysweetsfromthenativesweetmeat-sellers，anddrinktheroadsidewaterThisiswhyinhotweatherIntermediatesaretakenoutofthecarriagesdead，andinallweathersaremostproperlylookeddownupon。
　　MyparticularIntermediatehappenedtobeemptytillIreachedNasirabad，whenthebigblack-browedgentlemaninshirt-sleevesentered，and，followingthecustomofIntermediates，passedthetimeofdayHewasawandererandavagabondlikemyself，butwithaneducatedtasteforwhiskyHetoldtalesofthingshehadseenanddone，ofout-of-the-waycornersoftheEmpireintowhichhehadpenetrated，andofadventuresinwhichheriskedhislifeforafewdays’food。
　　“IfIndiawasfilledwithmenlikeyouandme，notknowingmorethanthecrowswherethey’dgettheirnextday’srations，itisn’tseventymillionsofrevenuethelandwouldbepaying——it’ssevenhundredmillions。”saidhe；andasIlookedathismouthandchinI
　　wasdisposedtoagreewithhim。
　　Wetalkedpolitics，——thepoliticsofLoaferdomthatseesthingsfromtheundersidewherethelathandplasterisnotsmoothedoff，——andwetalkedpostalarrangementsbecausemyfriendwantedtosendatelegrambackfromthenextstationtoAjmir，theturning-
　　offplacefromtheBombaytotheMhowlineasyoutravelwestwardMyfriendhadnomoneybeyondeightannaswhichhewantedfordinner，andIhadnomoneyatall，owingtothehitchintheBudgetbeforementionedFurther，Iwasgoingintoawildernesswhere，thoughIshouldresumetouchwiththeTreasury，therewerenotelegraphofficesIwas，therefore，unabletohelphiminanyway。
　　“WemightthreatenaStation-master，andmakehimsendawireontick。”saidmyfriend，“butthat’dmeaninquiriesforyouandforme，andI’vegotmyhandsfullthesedaysDidyousayyouweretravellingbackalongthislinewithinanydays？”
　　“Withinten。”Isaid。
　　“Can’tyoumakeiteight？”saidhe“Mineisratherurgentbusiness。”
　　“Icansendyourtelegramswithintendaysifthatwillserveyou。”I
　　said。
　　“Icouldn’ttrustthewiretofetchhim，nowIthinkofitIt’sthiswayHeleavesDelhionthe23rdforBombayThatmeanshe’llberunningthroughAjmiraboutthenightofthe23rd。”
　　“ButI’mgoingintotheIndianDesert。”Iexplained。
　　“Wellandgood。”saidhe“You’llbechangingatMarwarJunctiontogetintoJodhporeterritory，——youmustdothat，——andhe’llbecomingthroughMarwarJunctionintheearlymorningofthe24thbytheBombayMailCanyoubeatMarwarJunctiononthattime？
　　’Twon’tbeinconveniencingyou，becauseIknowthatthere’spreciousfewpickingstobegotoutoftheseCentralIndiaStates——
　　eventhoughyoupretendtobecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’“
　　“Haveyouevertriedthattrick？”Iasked。
　　“Againandagain，buttheResidentsfindyouout，andthenyougetescortedtotheBorderbeforeyou’vetimetogetyourknifeintothemButaboutmyfriendhereImustgivehimawordo’mouthtotellhimwhat’scometome，orelsehewon’tknowwheretogoI
　　wouldtakeitmorethankindofyouifyouwastocomeoutofCentralIndiaintimetocatchhimatMarwarJunction，andsaytohim，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。’He’llknowwhatthatmeansHe’sabigmanwitharedbeard，andagreatswellheis。
　　You’llfindhimsleepinglikeagentlemanwithallhisluggageroundhiminaSecond-classapartmentButdon’tyoubeafraid。
　　Slipdownthewindowandsay，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，’
　　andhe’lltumbleIt’sonlycuttingyourtimeofstayinthosepartsbytwodaysIaskyouasastranger——goingtotheWest。”hesaid，withemphasis。
　　“Wherehaveyoucomefrom？”saidI。
　　“FromtheEast。”saidhe，“andIamhopingthatyouwillgivehimthemessageontheSquare——forthesakeofmyMotheraswellasyourown。”
　　Englishmenarenotusuallysoftenedbyappealstothememoryoftheirmothers；butforcertainreasons，whichwillbefullyapparent，Isawfittoagree。
　　“It’smorethanalittlematter。”saidhe，“andthat’swhyIaskedyoutodoit——andnowIknowthatIcandependonyoudoingitA
　　Second-classcarriageatMarwarJunction，andared-hairedmanasleepinitYou’llbesuretorememberIgetoutatthenextstation，andImustholdontheretillhecomesorsendsmewhatI
　　want。”
　　“I’llgivethemessageifIcatchhim。”Isaid，“andforthesakeofyourMotheraswellasmineI’llgiveyouawordofadviceDon’ttrytoruntheCentralIndiaStatesjustnowasthecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’There’sarealoneknockingabouthere，anditmightleadtotrouble。”
　　“Thankyou。”saidhe，simply；“andwhenwilltheswinebegone？I
　　can’tstarvebecausehe’sruiningmyworkIwantedtogetholdoftheDegumberRajahdownhereabouthisfather’swidow，andgivehimajump。”
　　“Whatdidhedotohisfather’swidow，then？”
　　“FilledherupwithredpepperandslipperedhertodeathasshehungfromabeamIfoundthatoutmyself，andI’mtheonlymanthatwoulddaregoingintotheStatetogethush-moneyforit。
　　They’lltrytopoisonme，sameastheydidinChortumnawhenI
　　wentonthelootthereButyou’llgivethemanatMarwarJunctionmymessage？”
　　Hegotoutatalittleroadsidestation，andIreflectedIhadheard，morethanonce，ofmenpersonatingcorrespondentsofnewspapersandbleedingsmallNativeStateswiththreatsofexposure，butI
　　hadnevermetanyofthecastebeforeTheyleadahardlife，andgenerallydiewithgreatsuddennessTheNativeStateshaveawholesomehorrorofEnglishnewspapers，whichmaythrowlightontheirpeculiarmethodsofgovernment，anddotheirbesttochokecorrespondentswithchampagne，ordrivethemoutoftheirmindwithfour-in-handbarouchesTheydonotunderstandthatnobodycaresastrawfortheinternaladministrationofNativeStatessolongasoppressionandcrimearekeptwithindecentlimits，andtherulerisnotdrugged，drunk，ordiseasedfromoneendoftheyeartotheotherTheyarethedarkplacesoftheearth，fullofunimaginablecruelty，touchingtheRailwayandtheTelegraphononeside，and，ontheother，thedaysofHarun-al-
　　RaschidWhenIleftthetrainIdidbusinesswithdiversKings，andineightdayspassedthroughmanychangesoflifeSometimesI
　　woredress-clothesandconsortedwithPrincesandPoliticals，drinkingfromcrystalandeatingfromsilverSometimesIlayoutuponthegroundanddevouredwhatIcouldget，fromaplatemadeofleaves，anddranktherunningwater，andsleptunderthesamerugasmyservantItwasallintheday’swork。
　　ThenIheadedfortheGreatIndianDesertupontheproperdate，asIhadpromised，andthenightMailsetmedownatMarwarJunction，whereafunnylittle，happy-go-lucky，native-managedrailwayrunstoJodhporeTheBombayMailfromDelhimakesashorthaltatMarwarShearrivedjustasIgotin，andIhadjusttimetohurrytoherplatformandgodownthecarriagesTherewasonlyoneSecond-classonthetrainIslippedthewindowandlookeddownuponaflaming-redbeard，halfcoveredbyarailway-
　　rugThatwasmyman，fastasleep，andIdughimgentlyintheribs。
　　Hewokewithagrunt，andIsawhisfaceinthelightofthelamps。
　　Itwasagreatandshiningface。
　　“Ticketsagain？”saidhe。
　　“No。”saidI“IamtotellyouthatheisgoneSouthfortheweek。
　　HehasgoneSouthfortheweek！”
　　ThetrainhadbeguntomoveoutTheredmanrubbedhiseyes。
　　“HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。”herepeated“Nowthat’sjustlikehisimpidenceDidhesaythatIwastogiveyouanything？
　　’CauseIwon’t。”
　　“Hedidn’t。”Isaid，anddroppedaway，andwatchedtheredlightsdieoutinthedarkItwashorriblycoldbecausethewindwasblowingoffthesandsIclimbedintomyowntrain——notanIntermediatecarriagethistime——andwenttosleep。
　　IfthemanwiththebeardhadgivenmearupeeIshouldhavekeptitasamementoofarathercuriousaffairButtheconsciousnessofhavingdonemydutywasmyonlyreward。
　　LateronIreflectedthattwogentlemenlikemyfriendscouldnotdoanygoodiftheyforegatheredandpersonatedcorrespondentsofnewspapers，andmight，iftheyblackmailedoneofthelittlerat-
　　trapStatesofCentralIndiaorSouthernRajputana，getthemselvesintoseriousdifficultiesIthereforetooksometroubletodescribethemasaccuratelyasIcouldremembertopeoplewhowouldbeinterestedindeportingthem；andsucceeded，soIwaslaterinformed，inhavingthemheadedbackfromtheDegumberborders。
　　ThenIbecamerespectable，andreturnedtoanofficewheretherewerenoKingsandnoincidentsoutsidethedailymanufactureofanewspaperAnewspaperofficeseemstoattracteveryconceivablesortofperson，totheprejudiceofdisciplineZenana-missionladiesarrive，andbegthattheEditorwillinstantlyabandonallhisdutiestodescribeaChristianprize-givinginabackslumofaperfectlyinaccessiblevillage；Colonelswhohavebeenoverpassedforcommandsitdownandsketchtheoutlineofaseriesoften，twelve，ortwenty-fourleadingarticlesonSeniorityversusSelection；missionarieswishtoknowwhytheyhavenotbeenpermittedtoescapefromtheirregularvehiclesofabuse，andswearatabrothermissionaryunderspecialpatronageoftheeditorialWe；strandedtheatricalcompaniestroopuptoexplainthattheycannotpayfortheiradvertisements，butontheirreturnfromNewZealandorTahitiwilldosowithinterest；inventorsofpatentpunka-pullingmachines，carriagecouplings，andunbreakableswordsandaxletreescallwithspecificationsintheirpocketsandhoursattheirdisposal；teacompaniesenterandelaboratetheirprospectuseswiththeofficepens；secretariesofballcommitteesclamourtohavethegloriesoftheirlastdancemorefullydescribed；strangeladiesrustleinandsay，“Iwantahundredlady’scardsprintedatonce，please。”whichismanifestlypartofanEditor’sduty；andeverydissoluteruffianthatevertrampedtheGrandTrunkRoadmakesithisbusinesstoaskforemploymentasaproof-readerAnd，allthetime，thetelephone-bellisringingmadly，andKingsarebeingkilledontheContinent，andEmpiresaresaying，“You’reanother。”andMisterGladstoneiscallingdownbrimstoneupontheBritishDominions，andthelittleblackcopyboysarewhining，“kaa-pichay-ha-yeh““Copywanted“，liketiredbees，andmostofthepaperisasblankasModred’sshield。