ldren's voices, shrill
and joyous, echoed over the fields.

Domestic servants at the camp were to be seen rolling up their bedding
of sacking, preparatory to beginning the common round, the daily task.
Not far from the temporary kitchen, the mate-boy squabbled with the
village milkman over the supply of milk with its sediment of chalk,
which he declared had all but killed the master's child. Let him
remember that there was a doctor sahib on the spot, and what availed his
protestations?

"A raw infant, too, with a new stomach. Assuredly will the police drag
thee into court."

"Who said there was chalk!" almost wept the indignant _guala_
gesticulating wildly in self-defence. "As God is my witness not a grain
was in the milk. Have I no fear? Straight from the udder was it milked
into the brass _lota_ and brought to the camp. Ask of all the village if
I am not an honest man paying just tribute where it is asked, and giving
full measure and pure, to one and all. Would I jeopardise my freedom for
malpractices? What evil accusation art thou, _badmash_, hurling at me?"

"We'll see who's a _badmash_!" the youth returned loftily. "Wait till
the doctor Sahib gives evidence. Presently the Judge Sahib will say, 'O
Amir, faithful one, speak concerning the sediment in the milk which thou
didst show to the doctor Sahib, that the pestilential _guala_ may
receive just punishment for his wrong-doing.' But I have a tender heart
for the repentant and may consent to destroy the evidence, even refrain
from showing it to the Sahib, if it is made worth my while. Allot for my
own portion one seer of milk, and two for the servants, free of charge,
and, peradventure, my memory concerning the chalk will fail when the
moment of inquiry arrives."

"Why didst not thou tell that it was perquisite thou wast wanting, for I
would have given to thee without argument," sighed the _guala_, in
visible relief. "I am a poor man, and honest, though the ways of my
country-men are crooked, and I give in to thy demand that I might be
spared false accusation and much humiliation. Take, brother, thy illegal
_dusturi_;[7] how can such as I hope to escape _loot_, when from the
_chaukidar_ to the sweeper all are robbing those who provide the
_hakim's_ needs? Only from the _hakim_ himself is there straight
dealing!--_ai Khodar_!"

[Footnote 7: Commission.]

Within the large tent the silence that reigned boded well for the child
who was sleeping peacefully.

It