THEORIENT
CONTENTS
THEMANWHOWOULDBEKING，RudyardKiplingTAJIMA，MissMitfordACHINESEGIRLGRADUATE，R。K。DouglasTHEREVENGEOFHERRACE，MaryBeaumontKINGBILLYOFBALLARAT，MorleyRobertsTHYHEART’SDESIRE，NettaSyrettTHEMANWHOWOULDBEKING
BrothertoaPrinceandfellowtoabeggarifhebefoundworthyBY
RUDYARDKIPLING
TheLaw，asquoted，laysdownafairconductoflife，andonenoteasytofollow。Ihavebeenfellowtoabeggaragainandagainundercircumstanceswhichpreventedeitherofusfindingoutwhethertheotherwasworthy。IhavestilltobebrothertoaPrince，thoughI
oncecameneartokinshipwithwhatmighthavebeenaveritableKing，andwaspromisedthereversionofaKingdom——army，law-courts，revenue，andpolicyallcomplete。But，to-day，IgreatlyfearthatmyKingisdead，andifIwantacrownImustgohuntitformyself。
Thebeginningofeverythingwasinarailway-trainupontheroadtoMhowfromAjmir。TherehadbeenaDeficitintheBudget，whichnecessitatedtravelling，notSecond-class，whichisonlyhalfasdearasFirst-Class，butbyIntermediate，whichisveryawfulindeed。TherearenocushionsintheIntermediateclass，andthepopulationareeitherIntermediate，whichisEurasian，ornative，whichforalongnightjourneyisnasty，orLoafer，whichisamusingthoughintoxicated。Intermediatesdonotbuyfromrefreshment-rooms。Theycarrytheirfoodinbundlesandpots，andbuysweetsfromthenativesweetmeat-sellers，anddrinktheroadsidewater。ThisiswhyinhotweatherIntermediatesaretakenoutofthecarriagesdead，andinallweathersaremostproperlylookeddownupon。
MyparticularIntermediatehappenedtobeemptytillIreachedNasirabad，whenthebigblack-browedgentlemaninshirt-sleevesentered，and，followingthecustomofIntermediates，passedthetimeofday。Hewasawandererandavagabondlikemyself，butwithaneducatedtasteforwhisky。Hetoldtalesofthingshehadseenanddone，ofout-of-the-waycornersoftheEmpireintowhichhehadpenetrated，andofadventuresinwhichheriskedhislifeforafewdays’food。
"IfIndiawasfilledwithmenlikeyouandme，notknowingmorethanthecrowswherethey’dgettheirnextday’srations，itisn’tseventymillionsofrevenuethelandwouldbepaying——it’ssevenhundredmillions，"saidhe;andasIlookedathismouthandchinIwasdisposedtoagreewithhim。
Wetalkedpolitics，——thepoliticsofLoaferdomthatseesthingsfromtheundersidewherethelathandplasterisnotsmoothedoff，——andwetalkedpostalarrangementsbecausemyfriendwantedtosendatelegrambackfromthenextstationtoAjmir，theturning-offplacefromtheBombaytotheMhowlineasyoutravelwestward。Myfriendhadnomoneybeyondeightannaswhichhewantedfordinner，andIhadnomoneyatall，owingtothehitchintheBudgetbeforementioned。Further，Iwasgoingintoawildernesswhere，thoughIshouldresumetouchwiththeTreasury，therewerenotelegraphoffices。Iwas，therefore，unabletohelphiminanyway。
"WemightthreatenaStation-master，andmakehimsendawireontick，"saidmyfriend，"butthat’dmeaninquiriesforyouandforme，and/I/’vegotmyhandsfullthesedays。Didyousayyouweretravellingbackalongthislinewithinanydays？"
"Withinten，"Isaid。
"Can’tyoumakeiteight？"saidhe。"Mineisratherurgentbusiness。"
"Icansendyourtelegramswithintendaysifthatwillserveyou，"I
said。
"Icouldn’ttrustthewiretofetchhim，nowIthinkofit。It’sthisway。HeleavesDelhionthe23rdforBombay。Thatmeanshe’llberunningthroughAjmiraboutthenightofthe23rd。"
"ButI’mgoingintotheIndianDesert，"Iexplained。
"Well/and/good，"saidhe。"You’llbechangingatMarwarJunctiontogetintoJodhporeterritory，——youmustdothat，——andhe’llbecomingthroughMarwarJunctionintheearlymorningofthe24thbytheBombayMail。CanyoubeatMarwarJunctiononthattime？’Twon’tbeinconveniencingyou，becauseIknowthatthere’spreciousfewpickingstobegotoutoftheseCentralIndiaStates——eventhoughyoupretendtobecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’"
"Haveyouevertriedthattrick？"Iasked。
"Againandagain，buttheResidentsfindyouout，andthenyougetescortedtotheBorderbeforeyou’vetimetogetyourknifeintothem。
Butaboutmyfriendhere。I/must/givehimawordo’mouthtotellhimwhat’scometome，orelsehewon’tknowwheretogo。IwouldtakeitmorethankindofyouifyouwastocomeoutofCentralIndiaintimetocatchhimatMarwarJunction，andsaytohim，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。’He’llknowwhatthatmeans。He’sabigmanwitharedbeard，andagreatswellheis。You’llfindhimsleepinglikeagentlemanwithallhisluggageroundhiminaSecond-classapartment。
Butdon’tyoubeafraid。Slipdownthewindowandsay，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，’andhe’lltumble。It’sonlycuttingyourtimeofstayinthosepartsbytwodays。Iaskyouasastranger——goingtotheWest，"hesaid，withemphasis。
"Wherehave/you/comefrom？"saidI。
"FromtheEast，"saidhe，"andIamhopingthatyouwillgivehimthemessageontheSquare——forthesakeofmyMotheraswellasyourown。"
Englishmenarenotusuallysoftenedbyappealstothememoryoftheirmothers;butforcertainreasons，whichwillbefullyapparent，Isawfittoagree。
"It’smorethanalittlematter，"saidhe，"andthat’swhyIaskedyoutodoit——andnowIknowthatIcandependonyoudoingit。ASecond-
classcarriageatMarwarJunction，andared-hairedmanasleepinit。
You’llbesuretoremember。Igetoutatthenextstation，andImustholdontheretillhecomesorsendsmewhatIwant。"
"I’llgivethemessageifIcatchhim，"Isaid，"andforthesakeofyourMotheraswellasmineI’llgiveyouawordofadvice。Don’ttrytoruntheCentralIndiaStatesjustnowasthecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’There’sarealoneknockingabouthere，anditmightleadtotrouble。"
"Thankyou，"saidhe，simply;"andwhenwilltheswinebegone？I
can’tstarvebecausehe’sruiningmywork。IwantedtogetholdoftheDegumberRajahdownhereabouthisfather’swidow，andgivehimajump。"
"Whatdidhedotohisfather’swidow，then？"
"Filledherupwithredpepperandslipperedhertodeathasshehungfromabeam。Ifoundthatoutmyself，andI’mtheonlymanthatwoulddaregoingintotheStatetogethush-moneyforit。They’lltrytopoisonme，sameastheydidinChortumnawhenIwentonthelootthere。Butyou’llgivethemanatMarwarJunctionmymessage？"
Hegotoutatalittleroadsidestation，andIreflected。Ihadheard，morethanonce，ofmenpersonatingcorrespondentsofnewspapersandbleedingsmallNativeStateswiththreatsofexposure，butIhadnevermetanyofthecastebefore。Theyleadahardlife，andgenerallydiewithgreatsuddenness。TheNativeStateshaveawholesomehorrorofEnglishnewspapers，whichmaythrowlightontheirpeculiarmethodsofgovernment，anddotheirbesttochokecorrespondentswithchampagne，ordrivethemoutoftheirmindwithfour-in-handbarouches。TheydonotunderstandthatnobodycaresastrawfortheinternaladministrationofNativeStatessolongasoppressionandcrimearekeptwithindecentlimits，andtherulerisnotdrugged，drunk，ordiseasedfromoneendoftheyeartotheother。Theyarethedarkplacesoftheearth，fullofunimaginablecruelty，touchingtheRailwayandtheTelegraphononeside，and，ontheother，thedaysofHarun-al-Raschid。WhenIleftthetrainIdidbusinesswithdiversKings，andineightdayspassedthroughmanychangesoflife。
SometimesIworedress-clothesandconsortedwithPrincesandPoliticals，drinkingfromcrystalandeatingfromsilver。SometimesI
layoutuponthegroundanddevouredwhatIcouldget，fromaplatemadeofleaves，anddranktherunningwater，andsleptunderthesamerugasmyservant。Itwasallintheday’swork。
ThenIheadedfortheGreatIndianDesertupontheproperdate，asI
hadpromised，andthenightMailsetmedownatMarwarJunction，whereafunnylittle，happy-go-lucky，native-managedrailwayrunstoJodhpore。TheBombayMailfromDelhimakesashorthaltatMarwar。ShearrivedjustasIgotin，andIhadjusttimetohurrytoherplatformandgodownthecarriages。TherewasonlyoneSecond-classonthetrain。Islippedthewindowandlookeddownuponaflaming-redbeard，halfcoveredbyarailway-rug。Thatwasmyman，fastasleep，andIdughimgentlyintheribs。Hewokewithagrunt，andIsawhisfaceinthelightofthelamps。Itwasagreatandshiningface。
"Ticketsagain？"saidhe。
"No，"saidI。"IamtotellyouthatheisgoneSouthfortheweek。HehasgoneSouthfortheweek！"
Thetrainhadbeguntomoveout。Theredmanrubbedhiseyes。"HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，"herepeated。"Nowthat’sjustlikehisimpidence。DidhesaythatIwastogiveyouanything？’CauseI
won’t。"
"Hedidn’t，"Isaid，anddroppedaway，andwatchedtheredlightsdieoutinthedark。Itwashorriblycoldbecausethewindwasblowingoffthesands。Iclimbedintomyowntrain——notanIntermediatecarriagethistime——andwenttosleep。
IfthemanwiththebeardhadgivenmearupeeIshouldhavekeptitasamementoofarathercuriousaffair。Buttheconsciousnessofhavingdonemydutywasmyonlyreward。
LateronIreflectedthattwogentlemenlikemyfriendscouldnotdoanygoodiftheyforegatheredandpersonatedcorrespondentsofnewspapers，andmight，iftheyblackmailedoneofthelittlerat-trapStatesofCentralIndiaorSouthernRajputana，getthemselvesintoseriousdifficulties。IthereforetooksometroubletodescribethemasaccuratelyasIcouldremembertopeoplewhowouldbeinterestedindeportingthem;andsucceeded，soIwaslaterinformed，inhavingthemheadedbackfromtheDegumberborders。
ThenIbecamerespectable，andreturnedtoanofficewheretherewerenoKingsandnoincidentsoutsidethedailymanufactureofanewspaper。Anewspaperofficeseemstoattracteveryconceivablesortofperson，totheprejudiceofdiscipline。Zenana-missionladiesarrive，andbegthattheEditorwillinstantlyabandonallhisdutiestodescribeaChristianprize-givinginabackslumofaperfectlyinaccessiblevillage;Colonelswhohavebeenoverpassedforcommandsitdownandsketchtheoutlineofaseriesoften，twelve，ortwenty-
fourleadingarticlesonSeniority/versus/Selection;missionarieswishtoknowwhytheyhavenotbeenpermittedtoescapefromtheirregularvehiclesofabuse，andswearatabrothermissionaryunderspecialpatronageoftheeditorialWe;strandedtheatricalcompaniestroopuptoexplainthattheycannotpayfortheiradvertisements，butontheirreturnfromNewZealandorTahitiwilldosowithinterest;
inventorsofpatentpunka-pullingmachines，carriagecouplings，andunbreakableswordsandaxletreescallwithspecificationsintheirpocketsandhoursattheirdisposal;teacompaniesenterandelaboratetheirprospectuseswiththeofficepens;secretariesofballcommitteesclamourtohavethegloriesoftheirlastdancemorefullydescribed;strangeladiesrustleinandsay，"Iwantahundredlady’scardsprinted/atonce/，please，"whichismanifestlypartofanEditor’sduty;andeverydissoluteruffianthatevertrampedtheGrandTrunkRoadmakesithisbusinesstoaskforemploymentasaproof-
reader。And，allthetime，thetelephone-bellisringingmadly，andKingsarebeingkilledontheContinent，andEmpiresaresaying，"You’reanother，"andMisterGladstoneiscallingdownbrimstoneupontheBritishDominions，andthelittleblackcopyboysarewhining，"/kaa-pichay-ha-yeh/"（"Copywanted"），liketiredbees，andmostofthepaperisasblankasModred’sshield。
Butthatistheamusingpartoftheyear。Therearesixothermonthswhennoneevercometocall，andthethermometerwalksinchbyinchuptothetopoftheglass，andtheofficeisdarkenedtojustabovereading-light，andthepress-machinesarered-hottotouch，andnobodywritesanythingbutaccountsofamusementsintheHill-stationsorobituarynotices。Thenthetelephonebecomesatinklingterror，becauseittellsyouofthesuddendeathsofmenandwomenthatyouknewintimately，andthepricklyheatcoversyouwithagarment，andyousitdownandwrite："AslightincreaseofsicknessisreportedfromtheKhudaJantaKhanDistrict。Theoutbreakispurelysporadicinitsnature，and，thankstotheenergeticeffortsoftheDistrictauthorities，isnowalmostatanend。Itis，however，withdeepregretwerecordthedeath，"etc。
Thenthesicknessreallybreaksout，andthelessrecordingandreportingthebetterforthepeaceofthesubscribers。ButtheEmpiresandtheKingscontinuetodivertthemselvesasselfishlyasbefore，andtheForemanthinksthatadailypaperreallyoughttocomeoutonceintwenty-fourhours，andallthepeopleattheHill-stationsinthemiddleoftheiramusementssay，"Goodgracious！whycan’tthepaperbesparkling？I’msurethere’splentygoingonuphere。"
Thatisthedarkhalfofthemoon，and，astheadvertisementssay，"mustbeexperiencedtobeappreciated。"
Itwasinthatseason，andaremarkablyevilseason，thatthepaperbeganrunningthelastissueoftheweekonSaturdaynight，whichistosaySundaymorning，afterthecustomofaLondonpaper。Thiswasagreatconvenience，forimmediatelyafterthepaperwasputtobedthedawnwouldlowerthethermometerfrom96degreestoalmost84degreesforhalfanhour，andinthatchill——youhavenoideahowcoldis84
degreesonthegrassuntilyoubegintoprayforit——averytiredmancouldgetofftosleeperetheheatrousedhim。
OneSaturdaynightitwasmypleasantdutytoputthepapertobedalone。AKingorcourtieroracourtesanoraCommunitywasgoingtodieorgetanewConstitution，ordosomethingthatwasimportantontheothersideoftheworld，andthepaperwastobeheldopentillthelatestpossibleminuteinordertocatchthetelegram。
Itwasapitchy-blacknight，asstiflingasaJunenightcanbe，andthe/loo/，thered-hotwindfromthewestward，wasboomingamongthetinder-drytreesandpretendingthattherainwasonitsheels。Nowandagainaspotofalmostboilingwaterwouldfallonthedustwiththeflopofafrog，butallourwearyworldknewthatwasonlypretence。Itwasashadecoolerinthepress-roomthantheoffice，soIsatthere，whilethetypetickedandclicked，andthenight-jarshootedatthewindows，andtheallbutnakedcompositorswipedthesweatfromtheirforeheadsandcalledforwater。Thethingthatwaskeepingusback，whateveritwas，wouldnotcomeoff，thoughtheloodroppedandthelasttypewasset，andthewholeroundearthstoodstillinthechokingheat，withitsfingeronitslip，towaittheevent。Idrowsed，andwonderedwhetherthetelegraphwasablessing，andwhetherthisdyingman，orstrugglingpeople，mightbeawareoftheinconveniencethedelaywascausing。Therewasnospecialreasonbeyondtheheatandworrytomaketension，but，astheclock-handscreptuptothreeo-clockandthemachinesspuntheirfly-wheelstwoandthreetimestoseethatallwasinorder，beforeIsaidthewordthatwouldsetthemoff，Icouldhaveshriekedaloud。
Thentheroarandrattleofthewheelsshiveredthequietintolittlebits。Irosetogoaway，buttwomeninwhiteclothesstoodinfrontofme。Thefirstonesaid，"It’shim！"Thesecondsaid，"Soitis！"
Andtheybothlaughedalmostasloudlyasthemachineryroared，andmoppedtheirforeheads。"Weseedtherewasalightburningacrosstheroad，andweweresleepinginthatditchthereforcoolness，andI
saidtomyfriendhere，’Theofficeisopen。Let’scomealongandspeaktohimasturnedusbackfromDegumberState，’"saidthesmallerofthetwo。HewasthemanIhadmetintheMhowtrain，andhisfellowwasthered-beardedmanofMarwarJunction。Therewasnomistakingtheeyebrowsoftheoneorthebeardoftheother。
Iwasnotpleased，becauseIwishedtogotosleep，nottosquabblewithloafers。"Whatdoyouwant？"Iasked。
"Halfanhour’stalkwithyou，coolandcomfortable，intheoffice，"
saidthered-beardedman。"We’d/like/somedrink，——theContrackdoesn’tbeginyet，Peachey，soyouneedn’tlook，——butwhatwereallywantisadvice。Wedon’twantmoney。Weaskyouasafavour，becausewefoundoutyoudidusabadturnaboutDegumberState。"
Iledfromthepress-roomtothestiflingofficewiththemapsonthewalls，andthered-hairedmanrubbedhishands。"That’ssomethinglike，"saidhe。"Thiswasthepropershoptocometo。Now，Sir，letmeintroduceyoutoBrotherPeacheyCarnehan，that’shim，andBrotherDanielDravot，thatis/me/，andthelesssaidaboutourprofessionsthebetter，forwehavebeenmostthingsinourtime——soldier，sailor，compositor，photographer，proof-reader，street-preacher，andcorrespondentsofthe’Backwoodsman’whenwethoughtthepaperwantedone。Carnehanissober，andsoamI。Lookatusfirst，andseethat’ssure。Itwillsaveyoucuttingintomytalk。We’lltakeoneofyourcigarsapiece，andyoushallseeuslightup。"
Iwatchedthetest。Themenwereabsolutelysober，soIgavethemeachatepidwhisky-and-soda。
"Well/and/good，"saidCarnehanoftheeyebrows，wipingthefrothfromhismoustache。"Letmetalknow，Dan。WehavebeenalloverIndia，mostlyonfoot。Wehavebeenboiler-fitters，engine-drivers，pettycontractors，andallthat，andwehavedecidedthatIndiaisn’tbigenoughforsuchasus。"
Theycertainlyweretoobigfortheoffice。Dravot’sbeardseemedtofillhalftheroomandCarnehan’sshoulderstheotherhalf，astheysatonthebigtable。Carnehancontinued："Thecountryisn’thalfworkedoutbecausetheythatgovernsitwon’tletyoutouchit。Theyspendalltheirblessedtimeingoverningit，andyoucan’tliftaspade，norchiparock，norlookforoil，noranythinglikethat，withoutalltheGovernmentsaying，’Leaveitalone，andletusgovern。’Therefore，such/as/itis，wewillletitalone，andgoawaytosomeotherplacewhereamanisn’tcrowdedandcancometohisown。
Wearenotlittlemen，andthereisnothingthatweareafraidofexceptDrink，andwehavesignedaContrackonthat。/Therefore/wearegoingawaytobeKings。"
"Kingsinourownright，"mutteredDravot。
"Yes，ofcourse，"Isaid。"You’vebeentrampinginthesun，andit’saverywarmnight，andhadn’tyoubettersleepoverthenotion？Cometo-morrow。"
"Neitherdrunknorsunstruck，"saidDravot。"Wehavesleptoverthenotionhalfayear，andrequiretoseeBooksandAtlases，andwehavedecidedthatthereisonlyoneplacenowintheworldthattwostrongmencanSar-a-/whack/。TheycallitKafiristan。Bymyreckoningit’sthetopright-handcornerofAfghanistan，notmorethanthreehundredmilesfromPeshawar。Theyhavetwoandthirtyheathenidolsthere，andwe’llbethethirty-thirdandfourth。It’samountaineouscountry，thewomenofthosepartsareverybeautiful。"
"ButthatisprovidedagainstintheContrack，"saidCa...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：
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