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STORIES
STORIES
by English Authors； Orient
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STORIES
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE
KING
BY RUDYARD KIPLING
The Law； as quoted； lays down a fair conduct of life； and one not easy
to follow。 I have been fellow to a beggar again and again under
circumstances which prevented either of us finding out whether the other
was worthy。 I have still to be brother to a Prince； though I once came near
to kinship with what might have been a veritable King； and was promised
the reversion of a Kingdomarmy； law…courts； revenue； and policy all
complete。 But； to…day； I greatly fear that my King is dead； and if I want a
crown I must go hunt it for myself。
The beginning of everything was in a railway…train upon the road to
Mhow from Ajmir。 There had been a Deficit in the Budget； which
necessitated travelling； not Second…class； which is only half as dear as
First…Class； but by Intermediate； which is very awful indeed。 There are no
cushions in the Intermediate class； and the population are either
Intermediate； which is Eurasian； or native； which for a long night journey
is nasty； or Loafer； which is amusing though intoxicated。 Intermediates do
not buy from refreshment…rooms。 They carry their food in bundles and
pots； and buy sweets from the native sweetmeat…sellers； and drink the
roadside water。 This is why in hot weather Intermediates are taken out of
the carriages dead； and in all weathers are most properly looked down
upon。
My particular Intermediate happened to be empty till I reached
Nasirabad； when the big black…browed gentleman in shirt…sleeves entered；
and； following the custom of Intermediates； passed the time of day。 He
was a wanderer and a vagabond like myself； but with an educated taste for
whisky。 He told tales of things he had seen and done； of out…of…the…way
corners of the Empire into which he had penetrated； and of adventures in
which he risked his life for a few days' food。
〃If India was filled with men like you and me； not knowing more than
the crows where they'd get their next day's rations； it isn't seventy millions
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STORIES
of revenue the land would be payingit's seven hundred millions；〃 said he；
and as I looked at his mouth and chin I was disposed to agree with him。
We talked politics；the politics of Loaferdom that sees things from the
under side where the lath and plaster is not smoothed off；and we talked
postal arrangements because my friend wanted to send a telegram back
from the next station to Ajmir； the turning…off place from the Bombay to
the Mhow line as you travel westward。 My friend had no money beyond
eight annas which he wanted for dinner； and I had no money at all； owing
to the hitch in the Budget before mentioned。 Further； I was going into a
wilderness where； though I should resume touch with the Treasury； there
were no telegraph offices。 I was； therefore； unable to help him in any way。
〃We might threaten a Station…master； and make him send a wire on
tick；〃 said my friend； 〃but that'd mean inquiries for you and for me； and
/I/'ve got my hands full these days。 Did you say you were travelling back
along this line within any days？〃
〃Within ten；〃 I said。
〃Can't you make it eight？〃 said he。 〃Mine is rather urgent business。〃
〃I can send your telegrams within ten days if that will serve you；〃 I
said。
〃I couldn't trust the wire to fetch him； now I think of it。 It's this way。
He leaves Delhi on the 23rd for Bombay。 That means he'll be running
through Ajmir about the night of the 23rd。〃
〃But I'm going into the Indian Desert；〃 I explained。
〃Well /and/ good；〃 said he。 〃You'll be changing at Marwar Junction to
get into Jodhpore territory；you must do that；and he'll be coming
through Marwar Junction in the early morning of the 24th by the Bombay
Mail。 Can you be at Marwar Junction on that time？ 'T won't be
inconveniencing you； because I know that there's precious few pickings to
be got out of these Central India Stateseven though you pretend to be
correspondent of the 'Backwoodsman。' 〃
〃Have you ever tried that trick？〃 I asked。
〃Again and again； but the Residents find you out； and then you get
escorted to the Border before you've time to get your knife into them。 But
about my friend here。 I /must/ give him a word o' mouth to tell him what's
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come to me； or else he won't know where to go。 I would take it more than
kind of you if you was to come out of Central India in time to catch him at
Marwar Junction； and say to him； 'He has gone South for the week。' He'll
know what that means。 He's a big man with a red beard； and a great swell
he is。 You'll find him sleeping like a gentleman with all his luggage round
him in a Second…class apartment。 But don't you be afraid。 Slip down the
window and say； 'He has gone South for the week；' and he'll tumble。 It's
only cutting your time of stay in those parts by two days。 I ask you as a
strangergoing to the West；〃 he said； with emphasis。
〃Where have /you/ come from？〃 said I。
〃From the East；〃 said he； 〃and I am hoping that you will give him the
message on the Squarefor the sake of my Mother as well as your own。〃
Englishmen are not usually softened by appeals to the memory of their
mothers； but for certain reasons； which will be fully apparent； I saw fit to
agree。
〃It's more than a little matter；〃 said he； 〃and that's why I asked you to
do itand now I know that I can depend on you doing it。 A Second… class
carriage at Marwar Junction； and a red…haired man asleep in it。 You'll be
sure to remember。 I get out at the next station； and I must hold on there till
he comes or sends me what I want。〃
〃I'll give the message if I catch him；〃 I said； 〃and for the sake of your
Mother as well as mine I'll give you a word of advice。 Don't try to run the
Central India States just now as the correspondent of the 'Backwoodsman。'
There's a real one knocking about here； and it might lead to trouble。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said he； simply； 〃and when will the swine be gone？ I
can't starve because he's ruining my work。 I wanted to get hold of the
Degumber Rajah down here about his father's widow； and give him a
jump。〃
〃What did he do to his father's widow； then？〃
〃Filled her up with red pepper and slippered her to death as she hung
from a beam。 I found that out myself； and I'm the only man that would
dare going into the State to get hush…money for it。 They'll try to poison me；
same as they did in Chortumna when I went on the loot there。 But you'll
give the man at Marwar Junction my message？〃
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He got out at a little roadside station； and I reflected。 I had heard； more
than once； of men personating correspondents of newspapers and bleeding
small Native States with threats of exposure； but I had never met any of
the caste before。 They lead a hard life； and generally die with great
suddenness。 The Native States have a wholesome horror of English
newspapers； which may throw light on their peculiar methods of
government； and do their best to choke correspondents with champagne；
or drive them out of their mind with four…in…hand barouches。 They do not
understand that nobody cares a straw for the internal administration of
Native States so long as oppression and crime are kept within decent limits；
and the ruler is not drugged； drunk； or diseased from one end of the year to
the other。 They are the dark places of the earth； full of unimaginable
cruelty； touching the Railway and the Telegraph on one side； and； on the
other； the days of Harun…al…Raschid。 When I left the train I did business
with divers Kings； and in eight days passed through many changes of life。
Sometimes I