"’Don’ttemptme！’Isays。’Iwillnothaveanydealingswithawoman，nottillweareadam’sidemoresettledthanwearenow。I’vebeendoingtheworko’twomen，andyou’vebeendoingtheworkofthree。Let’slieoffabit，andseeifwecangetsomebettertobaccofromAfghancountryandruninsomegoodliquor;andnowomen。’
　　"’Who’stalkingo’/women/？’saysDravot。’Isaid/wife/——aQueentobreedaKing’ssonfortheKing。AQueenoutofthestrongesttribe，that’llmakethemyourblood-brothers，andthat’llliebyyoursideandtellyouallthepeoplethinksaboutyouandtheirownaffairs。
　　That’swhatIwant。’
　　"’DoyourememberthatBengaliwomanIkeptatMogulSeraiwhenIwasaplate-layer？’saysI。’Afatloto’goodshewastome。Shetaughtmethelingoandoneortwootherthings;butwhathappened？SheranawaywiththeStation-master’sservantandhalfmymonth’spay。ThensheturnedupatDadurJunctionintowofahalf-caste，andhadtheimpidencetosayIwasherhusband——allamongthedriversintherunning-shedtoo！’
　　"’We’vedonewiththat，’saysDravot;’thesewomenarewhiterthanyouorme，andaQueenIwillhaveforthewintermonths。’
　　"’Forthelasttimeo’asking，Dan，do/not/，’Isays。’It’llonlybringusharm。TheBiblesaysthatKingsain’ttowastetheirstrengthonwomen，’speciallywhenthey’vegotanewrawKingdomtoworkover。’
　　"’Forthelasttimeofanswering，Iwill，’saidDravot，andhewentawaythroughthepine-treeslookinglikeabigreddevil，thesunbeingonhiscrownandbeardandall。
　　"ButgettingawifewasnotaseasyasDanthought。HeputitbeforetheCouncil，andtherewasnoanswertillBillyFishsaidthathe’dbetteraskthegirls。Dravotdamnedthemallround。’What’swrongwithme？’heshouts，standingbytheidolImbra。’AmIadog，oramInotenoughofamanforyourwenches？Haven’tIputtheshadowofmyhandoverthiscountry？WhostoppedthelastAfghanraid？’Itwasmereally，butDravotwastooangrytoremember。’Whoboughtyourguns？
　　Whorepairedthebridges？Who’stheGrandMasterofthesigncutinthestone？’sayshe，andhethumpedhishandontheblockthatheusedtositoninLodge，andatCouncil，whichopenedlikeLodgealways。
　　BillyFishsaidnothing，andnomoredidtheothers。’Keepyourhairon，Dan，’saidI，’andaskthegirls。That’showit’sdoneatHome，andthesepeoplearequiteEnglish。’
　　"’ThemarriageoftheKingisamatterofState，’saysDan，inawhite-hotrage，forhecouldfeel，Ihope，thathewasgoingagainsthisbettermind。HewalkedoutoftheCouncil-room，andtheotherssatstill，lookingattheground。
　　"’BillyFish，’saysItotheChiefofBashkai，’what’sthedifficultyhere？Astraightanswertoatruefriend。’
　　"’Youknow，’saysBillyFish。’Howshouldamantellyouwhoknowseverything？HowcandaughtersofmenmarryGodsorDevils？It’snotproper。’
　　"IrememberedsomethinglikethatintheBible;but，ifafterseeingusaslongastheyhad，theystillbelievedwewereGods，itwasn’tformetoundeceivethem。
　　"’AGodcandoanything，’saysI。’IftheKingisfondofagirlhe’llnotletherdie。’’She’llhaveto，’saidBillyFish。’ThereareallsortsofGodsandDevilsinthesemountains，andnowandagainagirlmarriesoneofthemandisn’tseenanymore。Besides，youtwoknowtheMarkcutinthestone。OnlytheGodsknowthat。WethoughtyouwerementillyoushowedthesignoftheMaster。’
　　"IwishedthenthatwehadexplainedaboutthelossofthegenuinesecretsofaMasterMasonatthefirstgo-off;butIsaidnothing。Allthatnighttherewasablowingofhornsinalittledarktemplehalf-
　　waydownthehill，andIheardthegirlcryingfittodie。OneoftheprieststoldusthatshewasbeingpreparedtomarrytheKing。
　　"’I’llhavenononsenseofthatkind，’saysDan。’Idon’twanttointerferewithyourcustoms，butI’lltakemyownwife。’’Thegirl’salittlebitafraid，’saysthepriest。’Shethinksshe’sgoingtodie，andtheyarea-hearteningofherupdowninthetemple。’
　　"’Heartenherverytender，then，’saysDravot，’orI’llheartenyouwiththebuttofagunsoyou’llneverwanttobeheartenedagain。’Helickedhislips，didDan，andstayedupwalkingaboutmorethanhalfthenight，thinkingofthewifethathewasgoingtogetinthemorning。Iwasn’tanymeanscomfortable，forIknewthatdealingswithawomaninforeignparts，thoughyouwasacrownedKingtwentytimesover，couldnotbutberisky。IgotupveryearlyinthemorningwhileDravotwasasleep，andIsawtheprieststalkingtogetherinwhispers，andtheChiefstalkingtogethertoo，andtheylookedatmeoutofthecornersoftheireyes。
　　"’Whatisup，Fish？’IsaytotheBashkaiman，whowaswrappedupinhisfursandlookingsplendidtobehold。
　　"’Ican’trightlysay，’sayshe;’butifyoucanmaketheKingdropallthisnonsenseaboutmarriage，you’llbedoinghimandmeandyourselfagreatservice。’
　　"’ThatIdobelieve，’saysI。’Butsure，youknow，Billy，aswellasme，havingfoughtagainstandforus，thattheKingandmearenothingmorethantwoofthefinestmenthatGodAlmightyevermade。Nothingmore，Idoassureyou。’
　　"’Thatmaybe，’saysBillyFish，’andyetIshouldbesorryifitwas。’Hesinkshisheaduponhisgreatfurcloakforaminuteandthinks。’King，’sayshe，’beyoumanorGodorDevil，I’llstickbyyouto-day。Ihavetwentyofmymenwithme，andtheywillfollowme。
　　We’llgotoBashkaiuntilthestormblowsover。’
　　"Alittlesnowhadfalleninthenight，andeverythingwaswhiteexceptthegreasyfatcloudsthatblewdownanddownfromthenorth。
　　Dravotcameoutwithhiscrownonhishead，swinginghisarmsandstampinghisfeet，andlookingmorepleasedthanPunch。
　　"’Forthelasttime，dropit，Dan，’saysI，inawhisper;’BillyFishheresaysthattherewillbearow。’
　　"’Arowamongmypeople！’saysDravot。’Notmuch。Peachey，you’reafoolnottogetawifetoo。Where’sthegirl？’sayshe，withavoiceasloudasthebrayingofajackass。’CallupalltheChiefsandpriests，andlettheEmperorseeifhiswifesuitshim。’
　　"Therewasnoneedtocallanyone。Theywereallthereleaningontheirgunsandspearsroundtheclearinginthecentreofthepinewood。Alotofpriestswentdowntothelittletempletobringupthegirl，andthehornsblewfittowakethedead。BillyFishsauntersroundandgetsasclosetoDanielashecould，andbehindhimstoodhistwentymenwithmatchlocks——notamanofthemundersixfeet。I
　　wasnexttoDravot，andbehindmewastwentymenoftheregularArmy。
　　Upcomesthegirl，andastrappingwenchshewas，coveredwithsilverandturquoises，butwhiteasdeath，andlookingbackeveryminuteatthepriests。
　　"’She’lldo，’saidDan，lookingherover。’What’stobeafraidof，lass？Comeandkissme。’Heputshisarmroundher。Sheshutshereyes，givesabitofasqueak，anddowngoesherfaceinthesideofDan’sflaming-redbeard。
　　"’Theslut’sbittenme！’sayshe，clappinghishandtohisneck，and，sureenough，hishandwasredwithblood。BillyFishandtwoofhismatchlockmencatchesholdofDanbytheshouldersanddragshimintotheBashkailot，whilethepriestshowlsintheirlingo，’NeitherGodnorDevil，butaman！’Iwasalltakenaback，forapriestcutatmeinfront，andtheArmybehindbeganfiringintotheBashkaimen。
　　"’GodA’mighty！’saysDan，’whatisthemeaningo’this？’
　　"’Comeback！Comeaway！’saysBillyFish。’RuinandMutinyisthematter。We’llbreakforBashkaiifwecan。’
　　"Itriedtogivesomesortoforderstomymen，——themeno’theregularArmy，——butitwasnouse，soIfiredintothebrownof’emwithanEnglishMartinianddrilledthreebeggarsinaline。Thevalleywasfullofshouting，howlingcreatures，andeverysoulwasshrieking，’NotaGodnoraDevil，butonlyaman！’TheBashkaitroopsstucktoBillyFishalltheywereworth，buttheirmatchlockswasn’thalfasgoodastheKabulbreech-loaders，andfourofthemdropped。
　　Danwasbellowinglikeabull，forhewasverywrathy;andBillyFishhadahardjobtopreventhimrunningoutatthecrowd。
　　"’Wecan’tstand，’saysBillyFish。’Makearunforitdownthevalley！Thewholeplaceisagainstus。’Thematchlock-menran，andwewentdownthevalleyinspiteofDravot。HewasswearinghorribleandcryingoutthathewasaKing。Thepriestsrolledgreatstonesonus，andtheregularArmyfiredhard，andtherewasn’tmorethansixmen，notcountingDan，BillyFish，andMe，thatcamedowntothebottomofthevalleyalive。
　　"Thentheystoppedfiring，andthehornsinthetempleblewagain。
　　’Comeaway——forGord’ssakecomeaway！’saysBillyFish。’They’llsendrunnersouttoallthevillagesbeforeeverwegettoBashkai。Icanprotectyouthere，butIcan’tdoanythingnow。"
　　"MyownnotionisthatDanbegantogomadinhisheadfromthathour。
　　Hestaredupanddownlikeastuckpig。Thenhewasallforwalkingbackaloneandkillingthepriestswithhisbarehands;whichhecouldhavedone。’AnEmperoramI，’saysDaniel，’andnextyearIshallbeaKnightoftheQueen。’
　　"’Allright，Dan，’saysI;’butcomealongnowwhilethere’stime。’
　　"’It’syourfault，’sayshe，’fornotlookingafteryourArmybetter。
　　Therewasmutinyinthemidst，andyoudidn’tknow——youdamnedengine-
　　driving，plate-laying，missionary’s-pass-huntinghound！’Hesatuponarockandcalledmeeveryfoulnamehecouldlaytongueto。Iwastooheart-sicktocare，thoughitwasallhisfoolishnessthatbroughtthesmash。
　　"’I’msorry，Dan，’saysI，’butthere’snoaccountingfornatives。
　　ThisbusinessisourFifty-seven。Maybewe’llmakesomethingoutofityet，whenwe’vegottoBashkai。’
　　"’Let’sgettoBashkai，then，’saysDan，’and，byGod，whenIcomebackhereagainI’llsweepthevalleysothereisn’tabuginablanketleft！’
　　"Wewalkedallthatday，andallthatnightDanwasstumpingupanddownonthesnow，chewinghisbeardandmutteringtohimself。
　　"’There’snohopeo’gettingclear，’saidBillyFish。’Thepriestshavesentrunnerstothevillagestosaythatyouareonlymen。Whydidn’tyoustickonasGodstillthingswasmoresettled？I’madeadman，’saysBillyFish，andhethrowshimselfdownonthesnowandbeginstopraytohisGods。
　　"Nextmorningwewasinacruelbadcountry——allupanddown，nolevelgroundatall，andnofood，either。ThesixBashkaimenlookedatBillyFishhungry-wayasiftheywantedtoasksomething，buttheyneversaidaword。Atnoonwecametothetopofaflatmountainallcoveredwithsnow，andwhenweclimbedupintoit，behold，therewasanArmyinpositionwaitinginthemiddle！
　　"’Therunnershavebeenveryquick，’saysBillyFish，withalittlebitofalaugh。’Theyarewaitingforus。’
　　"Threeorfourmenbegantofirefromtheenemy’sside，andachanceshottookDanielinthecalfoftheleg。Thatbroughthimtohissenses。HelooksacrossthesnowattheArmy，andseestheriflesthatwehadbroughtintothecountry。
　　"’We’redonefor，’sayshe。’TheyareEnglishmen，thesepeople，——andit’smyblastednonsensethathasbroughtyoutothis。Getback，BillyFish，andtakeyourmenaway;you’vedonewhatyoucould，andnowcutforit。Carnehan，’sayshe，’shakehandswithmeandgoalongwithBilly，Maybetheywon’tkillyou。I’llgoandmeet’emalone。It’smethatdidit！Me，theKing！’
　　"’Go！’saysI。’GotoHell，Dan！I’mwithyouhere。BillyFish，youclearout，andwetwowillmeetthosefolk。’
　　"’I’maChief，’saysBillyFish，quitequiet。’Istaywithyou。Mymencango。’
　　"TheBashkaifellowsdidn’twaitforasecondword，butranoff，andDanandMeandBillyFishwalkedacrosstowherethedrumsweredrummingandthehornswerehorning。Itwascold——awfulcold。I’vegotthatcoldinthebackofmyheadnow。There’salumpofitthere。"
　　Thepunka-coolieshadgonetosleep。Twokerosenelampswereblazingintheoffice，andtheperspirationpoureddownmyfaceandsplashedontheblotterasIleanedforward。Carnehanwasshivering，andI
　　fearedthathismindmightgo。Iwipedmyface，tookafreshgripofthepiteouslymangledhands，andsaid，"Whathappenedafterthat？"
　　Themomentaryshiftofmyeyeshadbrokentheclearcurrent。
　　"Whatwasyoupleasedtosay？"whinedCarnehan。"Theytookthemwithoutanysound。Notalittlewhisperallalongthesnow，notthoughtheKingknockeddownthefirstmanthatsethandonhim——notthougholdPeacheyfiredhislastcartridgeintothebrownof’em。Notasinglesolitarysounddidthoseswinesmake。Theyjustcloseduptight，andItellyoutheirfursstunk。TherewasamancalledBillyFish，agoodfriendofusall，andtheycuthisthroat，Sir，thenandthere，likeapig;andtheKingkicksupthebloodysnowandsays，’We’vehadadashedfinerunforourmoney。What’scomingnext？’ButPeachey，PeacheyTaliaferro，Itellyou，Sir，inconfidenceasbetwixttwofriends，helosthishead，Sir。No，hedidn’t，neither。TheKinglosthishead，sohedid，allalongo’oneofthosecunningropebridges。Kindlyletmehavethepaper-cutter，Sir。Ittiltedthisway。
　　Theymarchedhimamileacrossthatsnowtoaropebridgeoveraravinewithariveratthebottom。Youmayhaveseensuch。Theyproddedhimbehindlikeanox。’Damnyoureyes！’saystheKing。’D’
　　yousupposeIcan’tdielikeagentleman？’HeturnstoPeachey——
　　Peacheythatwascryinglikeachild。’I’vebroughtyoutothis，Peachey，’sayshe。’BroughtyououtofyourhappylifetobekilledinKafiristan，whereyouwaslateCommander-in-ChiefoftheEmperor’sforces。Sayyouforgiveme，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’shandwillshow。Theyusedwoodenpegsforhishandsandfeet;buthedidn’tdie。Hehungthereandscreamed，andtheytookhimdownnextday，andsaiditwasamiraclethathewasn’tdead。Theytookhimdown——pooroldPeacheythathadn’tdonethemanyharm——thathadn’tdonethemany——"
　　Herockedtoandfroandweptbitterly，wipinghiseyeswiththebackofhisscarredhandsandmoaninglikeachildforsometenminutes。
　　"Theywascruelenoughtofeedhimupinthetemple，becausetheysaidhewasmoreofaGodthanoldDanielthatwasaman。Thentheyturnedhimoutonthesnow，andtoldhimtogohome，andPeacheycamehomeinaboutayear，beggingalongtheroadsquitesafe;forDanielDravothewalkedbeforeandsaid，’Comealong，Peachey。It’sabigthingwe’redoing。’Themountainstheydancedatnight，andthemountainstheytriedtofallonPeachey’shead，butDanhehelduphishand，andPeacheycamealongbentdouble。HeneverletgoofDan’shand，andheneverletgoofDan’shead。Theygaveittohimasapresentinthetemple，toremindhimnottocomeagain;andthoughthecrownwaspuregoldandPeacheywasstarving，neverwouldPeacheysellthesame。YouknowDravot，Sir！YouknewRightWorshipfulBrotherDravot！Lookathimnow！"
　　Hefumbledinthemassofragsroundhisbentwaist;broughtoutablackhorsehairbagembroideredwithsilverthread;andshooktherefromontomytable——thedried，witheredheadofDanielDravot！
　　Themorningsun，thathadlongbeenpalingthelamps，strucktheredbeardandblindsunkeneyes;struck，too，aheavycircletofgoldstuddedwithrawturquoises，thatCarnehanplacedtenderlyonthebatteredtemples。
　　"Yoube’oldnow，"saidCarnehan，"theEmperorinhis’abitashelived——theKingofKafiristanwithhiscrownuponhishead。PooroldDanielthatwasamonarchonce！"
　　Ishuddered，for，inspiteofdefacementsmanifold，IrecognisedtheheadofthemanofMarwarJunction。Carnehanrosetogo。Iattemptedtostophim。Hewasnotfittowalkabroad。"Letmetakeawaythewhisky，andgivemealittlemoney，"hegasped。"IwasaKingonce。
　　I’llgototheDeputyCommissionerandasktosetinthePoorhousetillIgetmyhealth。No，thankyou，Ican’twaittillyougetacarriageforme。I’veurgentprivateaffairs——inthesouth——atMarwar。"
　　HeshambledoutoftheofficeanddepartedinthedirectionoftheDeputyCommissioner’shouse。ThatdayatnoonIhadoccasiontogodowntheblinding-hotMall，andIsawacrookedmancrawlingalongthewhitedustoftheroadside，hishatinhishand，quaveringdolorouslyafterthefashionofstreet-singersatHome。Therewasnotasoulinsight，andhewasoutofallpossibleearshotofthehouses。Andhesangthroughhisnose，turninghisheadfromrighttoleft：
　　"TheSonofMangoesforthtowar，Agoldencrowntogain;
　　Hisblood-redbannerstreamsafar——
　　WhofollowsinHistrain？"
　　Iwaitedtohearnomore，butputthepoorwretchintomycarriageanddrovehimofftothenearestmissionaryforeventualtransfertotheAsylum。Herepeatedthehymntwicewhilehewaswithme，whomhedidnotintheleastrecognise，andIlefthimsingingittothemissionary。
　　TwodayslaterIinquiredafterhiswelfareoftheSuperintendentoftheAsylum。
　　"Hewasadmittedsufferingfromsunstroke。Hediedearlyyesterdaymorning，"saidtheSuperintendent。"Isittruethathewashalfanhourbareheadedinthesunatmidday？"
　　"Yes，"saidI;"butdoyouhappentoknowifhehadanythinguponhimbyanychancewhenhedied？"
　　"Nottomyknowledge，"saidtheSuperintendent。
　　Andtherethematterrests。
　　TAJIMA
　　BY
　　MISSMITFORD
　　Onceuponatime，acertainronin，TajimaShumebyname，anableandwell-readman，beingonhistravelstoseetheworld，wentuptoKiyotobytheTokaido。[TheroadoftheEasternSea，thefamoushighroadleadingfromKiyototoYedo。Thenameisalsousedtoindicatetheprovincesthroughwhichitruns。]Oneday，intheneighbourhoodofNagoya，intheprovinceofOwari，hefellinwithawanderingpriest，withwhomheenteredintoconversation。Findingthattheywereboundforthesameplace，theyagreedtotraveltogether，beguilingtheirwearywaybypleasanttalkondiversmatters;andsobydegrees，astheybecamemoreintimate，theybegantospeakwithoutrestraintabouttheirprivateaffairs;andthepriest，trustingthoroughlyinthehonourofhiscompanion，toldhimtheobjectofhisjourney。
　　"Forsometimepast，"saidhe，"Ihavenourishedawishthathasengrossedallmythoughts;forIambentonsettingupamoltenimageinhonourofBuddha;wit...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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