. The writings in prose and verse of Rudyard Kipling . not now and then slain it would not be a goodworld for weaponless dreamers. I do not speakwithout knowledge who have seen the land fromDelhi south awash with blood. What madness was that, then ? The Gods, who sent It for a plague, aloneknow. A madness ate into all the Army, andthey turned against their officers. That was thefirst evil, but not past remedy if they had thenheld their hands. But they chose to kill theSahibs wives and children. Then came the Sa-hibs from over the sea and called them to moststrict account. Some such rumour, I b
. The writings in prose and verse of Rudyard Kipling . not now and then slain it would not be a goodworld for weaponless dreamers. I do not speakwithout knowledge who have seen the land fromDelhi south awash with blood. What madness was that, then ? The Gods, who sent It for a plague, aloneknow. A madness ate into all the Army, andthey turned against their officers. That was thefirst evil, but not past remedy if they had thenheld their hands. But they chose to kill theSahibs wives and children. Then came the Sa-hibs from over the sea and called them to moststrict account. Some such rumour, I believe, reached me oncelong ago. They called it the Black Year, as Iremember. What manner of life hast thou led, not toknow The Year ? A rumour indeed I All earthknew, and trembled. Our earth never shook but once—upon the daythat the Excellent One received Enlightenment. Umph ! I saw Delhi shake at least; and Delhiis the navel of the world. So they turned against women and children ?That was a bad deed, for which the punishmentcannot be avoided. 86. KIM Many strove to do so, but with very smallprofit. I was then in a regiment of cavalry. Itbroke. Of six hundred and eighty sabres stoodfast to their salt — how many think you ? Three,Of whom I was one. The greater merit. Merit! We did not consider it merit in thosedays. My people, my friends, my brothers fellfrom me. They said: The time of the Englishis accomplished. Let each strike out a little hold-ing for himself. But I had talked with the menof Sobraon, of Chillianwallah, of Moodkee andFerozeshah. I said : Abide a little and the windturns. There is no blessing in this work. Inthose days I rode seventy miles with an Englishmem-sahib and her babe on my saddle-bow.(Wow I That was a horse fit for a man!) Iplaced them in safety, and back came I to myofficer — the one that was not killed of our five. Give me work, said I, for I am an outcastamong my own kin, and my cousins blood is weton my sabre. Be content, said he. There is
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