Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-06-30
NUMBER rs

They were afraid OF me and the
army. but they loved Dan. he was
the best OF friends with the priests
and the chiefs. but any one could come
across the hills with complaint. and
Dravot would hear him ont fair and
call four priests together and say what
was to be done. They sent me
with forty men and twenty rides. and
sixty men carrying tlrQuotsss. into
the Ghorband country to buy those
handmade Martini rifles that come out
Of the ameer's workshops at Kakul.
from one of the ameer's Herau regi-
ments that would have solo the very
teeth out Of their mouths for tur.
quoises We got more than 100 hand
made Martinis 100 good Kohat jezails
that'Il throw to 600 yards. and 40 man.
loads Of very bad ammunition for the
rifles
"Dravot was too busy to attend to
those things. but the old army that
we first made helped me. and we turn.
ed out 500 men that could drill and 200
that knew how to hold arms pretty
straight. Even those corkscrewed. hand
made guns was miracle to them. ORA.
vot talked big about powder shops and
factories. walking up and down in the
pine wood when the winter was COM
ing on.
"T won't make q nation says he.
I'll make an empire! These men aren't
niggers; they're English! Look at their
eyes, look mt their mouths. Look at the
way they stand up. They sit on chairs
In their own houses. There must be
a fair 100000 Of 'em In these bills.
The villages are full O. little children.
Two million people-250.OO0 fighting
men-and all English! When everything
is shipshape I'll hand over the crown
this crown I'm wearing now-to Queen
Victoria on my knees. and she'll say.
Rise up. Sir Daniel Dravot' Oh. It's
big! It's big. tell you! But there's 80
much to be done In every place-Bash'
kai, Khawak. Shu and every where
else. It's big country. and somehow
you can't help me. Peachey. In the way
| want to be helped
eco to your blasted priests thsnr
said, and l was sorry when ] made
that remark. but 1t did hurt me sore to
find Daniel talking 80 superior when
I'd drilled all the men and done all be
told me.
Don't let's quarrel. Peachey.' says
Daniel without cursing. You're king.
too and the half Of this kingdom IL
yours, but can't you see. Peachey. We
want cleyerer men than us nOw-three
or four Of 'em. that We can scatter
about for our deputies. There's anoth'
er thing. too. The winters coming
and these people won't be giving much
trouble and II they do We can't move
about. l want a wife
"'For Cords sake leave the women
aloner ] says. We've both got all the
work we can DO. though ! am u fool.
Remember the cOntruck and keep clear
O women
1.-The contrack only lasted till such
time US We was kings. and kings we
have been these months past. says ORA.
yot. weighing his crown In his hand.
you 60 get wife. too. Peachey.
Don't tempt me! says. i will
not have any dealings with woman.
not till We are dam site more settled
than we are now. Let's lie on u
bit and see II we can get some better
tobacco from Afghan country and run
In some good liquor. but no women
"'For the last time of answering
WILL said Dravot, and he went away
through the pine trees looking like \
big red devil.
"But gettinGa wife was not 30 easy
as Dan thought he put It before the
council and there was no answer till
Billy Fish said that he'd better ask
the girls. Dravot id them all round.
What's wrong with meT he shouts.
standing by the idol lmbra. Am 3
dog or am l not enough OF man for
your wenchesY He walked out Of the
council room. and the others sat still.
looking at the ground.
"sBnly Fish. says to the chief Of
Bashkai. what's the difficulty herer
A straight answer to q true friend
You know says Billy Fish. How
should a man tell you who know ev.
erythIng7 How can daughters Of men
marry gods or devils? It's not proper
IA god can do anything says l. II
the king is fond Of girl he'll not let
her die She'll have to-. said Billy
Fish. There are all sorts Of gods and
devils In these mountains. and now
and again q girl marries one Of them
and isn't seen any more. Besides, you
two know the mark cut IN the stone.
Only the gods know that We thought
you were men till you showed the sign
Of the master.
II wished then that we had explain.
ed about the loss Of the genuine Sc
crets Of q master Mason at the drst
20 of, but I said nothing. All that
night there was blowing Of horns In
little dark temple halfway down the
bill. and heard girl crying nt to die
One Of the priests told w that she was
being prepared to marry the king. The
girls little bit afraid says the priest
She thinks she's going to die. and they
are a-heartsning Of her up down In the
temple
".Hearten her very tender. thea.
says Dra vOt. or I'll hearten you with
the butt Of O gun 80 that you'll never
want to be heartened again
IL got up very early In the morning
while Dravot was asleep, and ] saw
The priests talking together In whis'
pers and the chiefs talking together.
loo. and they looked ut me out OF the
corners of their eyes.
"'What is up. Fishr l says to the
Bashkai man. who was wrapped up In
bis furs and looking splendid to behold
"I can't rightly say. says he. but II
you can induce the king to drop all this
nonsense about marriage you'll be Do
Ing him and me and yourself q great
service
"That I do believe says !. But
sure. you know. Billy. a. well % ma
having fought against and for %. that
Mo Ltro ond mo are nothing moro