The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-06
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BY RUDYARD KIPLING.

zuws and eat crows, and you will
hank your European God that you
hsye crows to catch and eat. -
could have cheerfully strangled him
fur this, but judged it best under the
circumstances to smother my resent
ment. An hour later I was eating one
m the crows and, as Gunga Dass had
raid, thanking my God that I had
crow to eat. Never as long as live
shall I forget that evening meal The
whole population were squatting on the
hard sand platform opposite their dens,
Shuddled over tiny fires Of refuse and
dried rushes Death, having once laid
his hand upon these men and forborne
10 strike, seemed to stand aloof from
them now, for most Of our company
were old men, bent and worn and
twisted with years, and women aged to
all appearance as the fates themselves.
They sat together in knots and talked
God only knows what they found to
discuss Sin low, equable tones, curious
ly in contrast to the strident babble
with which natives are accustomed to
make Gay hideous.
Now and then an access Of that sud-
den fury which had possessed me In the
morning would lay hold on a man or
woman, and with yells and imprecations
The sufferer would attack the steep slope
until, bafled and bleeding, he fell back
m the platform Incapable of moving
limb. The others would never even
raise their eyes when this happened, as
men too well aware Of the futility Of
fheir fellows attempts and wearied
with their useless repetition. I saw four
such outbursts in the course of that
evening.
Gunga Dass took an eminently busi-
nesslike view of my situation, and
while we were dining-I can afford to
langh at the recollection now, but it
was painful enough at the time-pro-
pounded the terms on which he would
consent to3ssdo" for me. Ny 8 rupees
s annas, he argued, at the rate of 8
annas day, would provide me with
food for 81 days, or about seven weeks
that is to say, he would be willing to
cater for me for shat length of time.
AT the end Of it was to look after my
self. For further consideration-vi-
de1icet my boots-he would be willing.
10 allow me to occupy the den next to
his own and would supply me with as
much dried grass for bedding as he
could spare.
very well, Gunga Dass,' I replied.
ssTo the first terms I cheerfully agree,
but as there is nothing on earth to pre-
vent my killing you as you sit here ana
taking everything that you have
thought Of the two invaluable crows at
the time-s.I fatty refuse to give you
my boots and shall take whichever den
I please .
The stroke was bold one, and was
glad when I saw that it had succeeded.
Eunga Dass changed his tone immedi-
ately, and disayowed all intention of
asking for nay boots At the time it did
not strike me as at all strange that I, a
civil engineer, man of Is years stand
ing IN the service, and, I trust, an aver
age Englishman, should thus calmly
threaten murder and violence against
The man who hao, for consideration, it
is true, taken me under his wing. /
had left the world, it seemed. for CEN
turies. I was as certain then as am
now of my own existence that in the
accursed settlement there was no law
save that of the strongest, that the Ev-
ing dead men had thrown behind them
every canon of the world which had
cast them out, and that l had to depend
for my own life on my strength and
vigilance alone The crew of the Ill
fated Mignonette are the only men who
would understand my frame of mind.
"At present. argued to myself, 81
nm strong and match for six Of these
wretches. It is imperatively necessary
that I should, for my own sake. keep
both health and strength until the hour
of my release co,nes-if it ever does ;,
Fortified with these resolutions, I ate
and drank as much as I could, and
made Gunga Dass understand that in
tended to be his master, and that the
least sign of insubordination on his part
would be visited with the only punish
ment had it in my power to infict-
sudden and violent death. Shortly after
this I went to bed. That is to say.
Gunga Dass gave me double armful
of dried bents, which I th-ast down the
mouth Of the lair to the right Of his,
and followed myself. feet foremost. the
hole running about nine feet into the
sand with slight downward inclina-
ton, and being neatly shored with tim
bers. From my den. which faced the
river front, I was able to watch the
waters of the Sutlej flowing past under
the light of young moon and compose
myself to sleep as best / might
The horrors of that night 1 shall
never forget. My den was nearly as
narrow as coffin. and the sides had
been worn smooth and greasy by the
contact Of innumerable naked bodies.