ers. That was the
first evil, but not past remedy if they had then held their hands. But
they chose to kill the Sahibs' wives and children. Then came the
Sahibs from over the sea and called them to most strict account.'

'Some such rumour, I believe, reached me once long ago. They called it
the Black Year, as I remember.'

'What manner of life hast thou led, not to know The Year? A rumour
indeed! All earth knew, and trembled!'

'Our earth never shook but once--upon the day that the Excellent One
received Enlightenment.'

'Umph! I saw Delhi shake at least--and Delhi is the navel of the
world.'

'So they turned against women and children? That was a bad deed, for
which the punishment cannot be avoided.'

'Many strove to do so, but with very small profit. I was then in a
regiment of cavalry. It broke. Of six hundred and eighty sabres stood
fast to their salt--how many, think you? Three. Of whom I was one.'

'The greater merit.'

'Merit! We did not consider it merit in those days. My people, my
friends, my brothers fell from me. They said: "The time of the
English is accomplished. Let each strike out a little holding for
himself." But I had talked with the men of Sobraon, of Chilianwallah,
of Moodkee and Ferozeshah. I said: "Abide a little and the wind
turns. There is no blessing in this work." In those days I rode
seventy miles with an English Memsahib and her babe on my saddle-bow.
(Wow! That was a horse fit for a man!) I placed them in safety, and
back came I to my officer--the one that was not killed of our five.
"Give me work," said I, "for I am an outcast among my own kind, and my
cousin's blood is wet on my sabre." "Be content," said he. "There is
great work forward. When this madness is over there is a recompense."'

'Ay, there is a recompense when the madness is over, surely?' the lama
muttered half to himself.

'They did not hang medals in those days on all who by accident had
heard a gun fired. No! In nineteen pitched battles was I; in
six-and-forty skirmishes of horse; and in small affairs without number.
Nine wounds I bear; a medal and four clasps and the medal of an Order,
for my captains, who are now generals, remembered me when the
Kaisar-i-Hind had accomplished fifty years of her reign, and all the
land rejoiced. They said: "Give him the Order of Berittish India." I
carry it upon my neck now. I have also my jaghir [holding] from the
hands of the State--a free g