“’Forthelasttime，dropit，Dan，’saysI，inawhisper；’BillyFishheresaysthattherewillbearow。’
　　“’Arowamongmypeople！’saysDravot’NotmuchPeachey，you’reafoolnottogetawifetooWhere’sthegirl？’sayshe，withavoiceasloudasthebrayingofajackass’CallupalltheChiefsandpriests，andlettheEmperorseeifhiswifesuitshim。’
　　“TherewasnoneedtocallanyoneTheywereallthereleaningontheirgunsandspearsroundtheclearinginthecentreofthepinewoodAlotofpriestswentdowntothelittletempletobringupthegirl，andthehornsblewfittowakethedeadBillyFishsauntersroundandgetsasclosetoDanielashecould，andbehindhimstoodhistwentymenwithmatchlocks——notamanofthemundersixfeetIwasnexttoDravot，andbehindmewastwentymenoftheregularArmyUpcomesthegirl，andastrappingwenchshewas，coveredwithsilverandturquoises，butwhiteasdeath，andlookingbackeveryminuteatthepriests。
　　“’She’lldo，’saidDan，lookingherover’What’stobeafraidof，lass？Comeandkissme。’HeputshisarmroundherSheshutshereyes，givesabitofasqueak，anddowngoesherfaceinthesideofDan’sflaming-redbeard。
　　“’Theslut’sbittenme！’sayshe，clappinghishandtohisneck，and，sureenough，hishandwasredwithbloodBillyFishandtwoofhismatchlockmencatchesholdofDanbytheshouldersanddragshimintotheBashkailot，whilethepriestshowlsintheirlingo，’NeitherGodnorDevil，butaman！’Iwasalltakenaback，forapriestcutatmeinfront，andtheArmybehindbeganfiringintotheBashkaimen。
　　“’GodA’mighty！’saysDan，’whatisthemeaningo’this？’
　　“’Comeback！Comeaway！’saysBillyFish’RuinandMutinyisthematterWe’llbreakforBashkaiifwecan。’
　　“Itriedtogivesomesortoforderstomymen，——themeno’theregularArmy，——butitwasnouse，soIfiredintothebrownof’emwithanEnglishMartinianddrilledthreebeggarsinalineThevalleywasfullofshouting，howlingcreatures，andeverysoulwasshrieking，’NotaGodnoraDevil，butonlyaman！’TheBashkaitroopsstucktoBillyFishalltheywereworth，buttheirmatchlockswasn’thalfasgoodastheKabulbreech-loaders，andfourofthemdroppedDanwasbellowinglikeabull，forhewasverywrathy；
　　andBillyFishhadahardjobtopreventhimrunningoutatthecrowd。
　　“’Wecan’tstand，’saysBillyFish’Makearunforitdownthevalley！Thewholeplaceisagainstus。’Thematchlock-menran，andwewentdownthevalleyinspiteofDravotHewasswearinghorribleandcryingoutthathewasaKingThepriestsrolledgreatstonesonus，andtheregularArmyfiredhard，andtherewasn’tmorethansixmen，notcountingDan，BillyFish，andMe，thatcamedowntothebottomofthevalleyalive。
　　“Thentheystoppedfiring，andthehornsinthetempleblewagain。
　　’Comeaway——forGord’ssakecomeaway！’saysBillyFish’They’llsendrunnersouttoallthevillagesbeforeeverwegettoBashkaiI
　　canprotectyouthere，butIcan’tdoanythingnow。”
　　“MyownnotionisthatDanbegantogomadinhisheadfromthathourHestaredupanddownlikeastuckpigThenhewasallforwalkingbackaloneandkillingthepriestswithhisbarehands；
　　whichhecouldhavedone’AnEmperoramI，’saysDaniel，’andnextyearIshallbeaKnightoftheQueen。’
　　“’Allright，Dan，’saysI；’butcomealongnowwhilethere’stime。’
　　“’It’syourfault，’sayshe，’fornotlookingafteryourArmybetter。
　　Therewasmutinyinthemidst，andyoudidn’tknow——youdamnedengine-driving，plate-laying，missionary’s-pass-huntinghound！’HesatuponarockandcalledmeeveryfoulnamehecouldlaytonguetoIwastooheart-sicktocare，thoughitwasallhisfoolishnessthatbroughtthesmash。
　　“’I’msorry，Dan，’saysI，’butthere’snoaccountingfornativesThisbusinessisourFifty-sevenMaybewe’llmakesomethingoutofityet，whenwe’vegottoBashkai。’
　　“’Let’sgettoBashkai，then，’saysDan，’and，byGod，whenIcomebackhereagainI’llsweepthevalleysothereisn’tabuginablanketleft！’
　　“Wewalkedallthatday，andallthatnightDanwasstumpingupanddownonthesnow，chewinghisbeardandmutteringtohimself。
　　“’There’snohopeo’gettingclear，’saidBillyFish’ThepriestshavesentrunnerstothevillagestosaythatyouareonlymenWhydidn’tyoustickonasGodstillthingswasmoresettled？I’madeadman，’saysBillyFish，andhethrowshimselfdownonthesnowandbeginstopraytohisGods。
　　“Nextmorningwewasinacruelbadcountry——allupanddown，nolevelgroundatall，andnofood，eitherThesixBashkaimenlookedatBillyFishhungry-wayasiftheywantedtoasksomething，buttheyneversaidawordAtnoonwecametothetopofaflatmountainallcoveredwithsnow，andwhenweclimbedupintoit，behold，therewasanArmyinpositionwaitinginthemiddle！
　　“’Therunnershavebeenveryquick，’saysBillyFish，withalittlebitofalaugh’Theyarewaitingforus。’
　　“Threeorfourmenbegantofirefromtheenemy’sside，andachanceshottookDanielinthecalfofthelegThatbroughthimtohissensesHelooksacrossthesnowattheArmy，andseestheriflesthatwehadbroughtintothecountry。
　　“’We’redonefor，’sayshe’TheyareEnglishmen，thesepeople，——
　　andit’smyblastednonsensethathasbroughtyoutothisGetback，BillyFish，andtakeyourmenaway；you’vedonewhatyoucould，andnowcutforitCarnehan，’sayshe，’shakehandswithmeandgoalongwithBilly，Maybetheywon’tkillyouI’llgoandmeet’emaloneIt’smethatdidit！Me，theKing！’
　　“’Go！’saysI’GotoHell，Dan！I’mwithyouhereBillyFish，youclearout，andwetwowillmeetthosefolk。’
　　“’I’maChief，’saysBillyFish，quitequiet’IstaywithyouMymencango。’
　　“TheBashkaifellowsdidn’twaitforasecondword，butranoff，andDanandMeandBillyFishwalkedacrosstowherethedrumsweredrummingandthehornswerehorningItwascold——awfulcoldI’vegotthatcoldinthebackofmyheadnowThere’salumpofitthere。”
　　Thepunka-coolieshadgonetosleepTwokerosenelampswereblazingintheoffice，andtheperspirationpoureddownmyfaceandsplashedontheblotterasIleanedforwardCarnehanwasshivering，andIfearedthathismindmightgoIwipedmyface，tookafreshgripofthepiteouslymangledhands，andsaid，“Whathappenedafterthat？”
　　Themomentaryshiftofmyeyeshadbrokentheclearcurrent。
　　“Whatwasyoupleasedtosay？”whinedCarnehan“TheytookthemwithoutanysoundNotalittlewhisperallalongthesnow，notthoughtheKingknockeddownthefirstmanthatsethandonhim——notthougholdPeacheyfiredhislastcartridgeintothebrownof’emNotasinglesolitarysounddidthoseswinesmakeTheyjustcloseduptight，andItellyoutheirfursstunkTherewasamancalledBillyFish，agoodfriendofusall，andtheycuthisthroat，Sir，thenandthere，likeapig；andtheKingkicksupthebloodysnowandsays，’We’vehadadashedfinerunforourmoney。
　　What’scomingnext？’ButPeachey，PeacheyTaliaferro，Itellyou，Sir，inconfidenceasbetwixttwofriends，helosthishead，SirNo，hedidn’t，neitherTheKinglosthishead，sohedid，allalongo’oneofthosecunningropebridgesKindlyletmehavethepaper-cutter，SirIttiltedthiswayTheymarchedhimamileacrossthatsnowtoaropebridgeoveraravinewithariveratthebottomYoumayhaveseensuchTheyproddedhimbehindlikeanox’Damnyoureyes！’saystheKing’D’yousupposeIcan’tdielikeagentleman？’
　　HeturnstoPeachey——Peacheythatwascryinglikeachild’I’vebroughtyoutothis，Peachey，’sayshe’BroughtyououtofyourhappylifetobekilledinKafiristan，whereyouwaslateCommander-in-ChiefoftheEmperor’sforcesSayyouforgiveme，Peachey。’’Ido，’saysPeachey’FullyandfreelydoIforgiveyou，Dan。’’Shakehands，Peachey，’sayshe’I’mgoingnow。’Outhegoes，lookingneitherrightnorleft，andwhenhewasplumbinthemiddleofthosedizzydancingropes，’Cutyoubeggars，’heshouts；
　　andtheycut，andoldDanfell，turningroundandroundandround，twentythousandmiles，forhetookhalfanhourtofalltillhestruckthewater，andIcouldseehisbodycaughtonarockwiththegoldcrownclosebeside。
　　“ButdoyouknowwhattheydidtoPeacheybetweentwopine-
　　trees？Theycrucifiedhim，Sir，asPeachey’shandwillshowTheyusedwoodenpegsforhishandsandfeet；buthedidn’tdieHehungthereandscreamed，andtheytookhimdownnextday，andsaiditwasamiraclethathewasn’tdeadTheytookhimdown——
　　pooroldPeacheythathadn’tdonethemanyharm——thathadn’tdonethemany——“
　　Herockedtoandfroandweptbitterly，wipinghiseyeswiththebackofhisscarredhandsandmoaninglikeachildforsometenminutes。
　　“Theywascruelenoughtofeedhimupinthetemple，becausetheysaidhewasmoreofaGodthanoldDanielthatwasamanThentheyturnedhimoutonthesnow，andtoldhimtogohome，andPeacheycamehomeinaboutayear，beggingalongtheroadsquitesafe；forDanielDravothewalkedbeforeandsaid，’Comealong，PeacheyIt’sabigthingwe’redoing。’Themountainstheydancedatnight，andthemountainstheytriedtofallonPeachey’shead，butDanhehelduphishand，andPeacheycamealongbentdoubleHeneverletgoofDan’shand，andheneverletgoofDan’sheadTheygaveittohimasapresentinthetemple，toremindhimnottocomeagain；andthoughthecrownwaspuregoldandPeacheywasstarving，neverwouldPeacheysellthesameYouknowDravot，Sir！YouknewRightWorshipfulBrotherDravot！Lookathimnow！”
　　Hefumbledinthemassofragsroundhisbentwaist；broughtoutablackhorsehairbagembroideredwithsilverthread；andshooktherefromontomytable——thedried，witheredheadofDanielDravot！Themorningsun，thathadlongbeenpalingthelamps，strucktheredbeardandblindsunkeneyes；struck，too，aheavycircletofgoldstuddedwithrawturquoises，thatCarnehanplacedtenderlyonthebatteredtemples。
　　“Yoube’oldnow。”saidCarnehan，“theEmperorinhis’abitashelived——theKingofKafiristanwithhiscrownuponhisheadPooroldDanielthatwasamonarchonce！”
　　Ishuddered，for，inspiteofdefacementsmanifold，IrecognisedtheheadofthemanofMarwarJunctionCarnehanrosetogoI
　　attemptedtostophimHewasnotfittowalkabroad“Letmetakeawaythewhisky，andgivemealittlemoney。”hegasped“IwasaKingonceI’llgototheDeputyCommissionerandasktosetinthePoorhousetillIgetmyhealthNo，thankyou，Ican’twaittillyougetacarriageformeI’veurgentprivateaffairs——inthesouth——atMarwar。”
　　HeshambledoutoftheofficeanddepartedinthedirectionoftheDeputyCommissioner’shouseThatdayatnoonIhadoccasiontogodowntheblinding-hotMall，andIsawacrookedmancrawlingalongthewhitedustoftheroadside，hishatinhishand，quaveringdolorouslyafterthefashionofstreet-singersatHomeTherewasnotasoulinsight，andhewasoutofallpossibleearshotofthehousesAndhesangthroughhisnose，turninghisheadfromrighttoleft：
　　“TheSonofMangoesforthtowar，Agoldencrowntogain；
　　Hisblood-redbannerstreamsafar——
　　WhofollowsinHistrain？”
　　Iwaitedtohearnomore，butputthepoorwretchintomycarriageanddrovehimofftothenearestmissionaryforeventualtransfertotheAsylumHerepeatedthehymntwicewhilehewaswithme，whomhedidnotintheleastrecognise，andIlefthimsingingittothemissionary。
　　TwodayslaterIinquiredafterhiswelfareoftheSuperintendentoftheAsylum。
　　“HewasadmittedsufferingfromsunstrokeHediedearlyyesterdaymorning。”saidtheSuperintendent“Isittruethathewashalfanhourbareheadedinthesunatmidday？”
　　“Yes。”saidI；“butdoyouhappentoknowifhehadanythinguponhimbyanychancewhenhedied？”
　　“Nottomyknowledge。”saidtheSuperintendent。
　　Andtherethematterrests。
　　“THEFINESTSTORYINTHEWORLD“
　　“O’evertheknightlyyearsweregoneWiththeoldworldtothegrave，IwasakinginBabylonAndyouwereaChristianslave。”-
　　WEHenley。
　　HisnamewasCharlieMears；hewastheonlysonofhismotherwhowasawidow，andhelivedinthenorthofLondon，comingintotheCityeverydaytoworkinabankHewastwentyyearsoldandsufferedfromaspirationsImethiminapublicbilliard-saloonwherethemarkercalledhimbyhisgivenname，andhecalledthemarker“Bulls-eyes。”Charleyexplained，alittlenervously，thathehadonlycometotheplacetolookon，andsincelookingonatgamesofskillisnotacheapamusementfortheyoung，IsuggestedthatCharlieshouldgobacktohismother。
　　ThatwasourfirststeptowardbetteracquaintanceHewouldcallonmesometimesintheeveningsinsteadofrunningaboutLondonwithhisfellow-clerks；andbeforelong，speakingofhimselfasayoungmanmust，hetoldmeofhisaspirations，whichwereallliteraryHedesiredtomakehimselfanundyingnamechieflythroughverse，thoughhewasnotabovesendingstoriesofloveanddeathtothedrop-a-penny-in-the-slotjournalsItwasmyfatetositstillwhileCharliereadmepoemsofmanyhundredlines，andbulkyfragmentsofplaysthatwouldsurelyshaketheworldMyrewardwashisunreservedconfidence，andtheself-revelationsandtroublesofayoungmanarealmostasholyasthoseofamaiden。