按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
notice。
The wheel of the world swings through the same phases again and
again。 Summer passed and winter thereafter； and came and passed again。
The daily paper continued and I with it； and upon the third summer there
fell a hot night； a night issue； and a strained waiting for something to be
telegraphed from the other side of the world； exactly as had happened
before。 A few great men had died in the past two years； the machines
worked with more clatter； and some of the trees in the office garden were a
few feet taller。 But that was all the difference。
I passed over to the press…room； and went through just such a scene as
I have already described。 The nervous tension was stronger than it had
been two years before； and I felt the heat more acutely。 At three o'clock I
cried； 〃Print off；〃 and turned to go； when there crept to my chair what was
left of a man。 He was bent into a circle； his head was sunk between his
shoulders； and he moved his feet one over the other like a bear。 I could
15
… Page 16…
STORIES
hardly see whether he walked or crawledthis rag…wrapped； whining
cripple who addressed me by name； crying that he was come back。 〃Can
you give me a drink？〃 he whimpered。 〃For the Lord's sake； give me a
drink！〃
I went back to the office； the man following with groans of pain； and I
turned up the lamp。
〃Don't you know me？〃 he gasped； dropping into a chair； and he turned
his drawn face； surmounted by a shock of gray hair； to the light。
I looked at him intently。 Once before had I seen eyebrows that met
over the nose in an inch…broad black band； but for the life of me I could
not tell where。
〃I don't know you；〃 I said； handing him the whisky。 〃What can I do for
you？〃
He took a gulp of the spirit raw； and shivered in spite of the
suffocating heat。
〃I've come back；〃 he repeated； 〃and I was the King of Kafiristanme
and Dravotcrowned Kings we was！ In this office we settled ityou
setting there and giving us the books。 I am Peachey；Peachey Taliaferro
Carnehan；and you've been setting here ever sinceO Lord！〃
I was more than a little astonished； and expressed my feelings
accordingly。
〃It's true；〃 said Carnehan； with a dry cackle； nursing his feet； which
were wrapped in rags〃true as gospel。 Kings we were； with crowns upon
our headsme and Dravotpoor Danoh； poor； poor Dan； that would
never take advice； not though I begged of him！〃
〃Take the whisky；〃 I said； 〃and take your own time。 Tell me all you can
recollect of everything from beginning to end。 You got across the Border
on your camels； Dravot dressed as a mad priest and you his servant。 Do
you remember that？〃
〃I ain't madyet； but I shall be that way soon。 Of course I remember。
Keep looking at me； or maybe my words will go all to pieces。 Keep
looking at me in my eyes and don't say anything。〃
I leaned forward and looked into his face as steadily as I could。 He
dropped one hand upon the table and I grasped it by the wrist。 It was
16
… Page 17…
STORIES
twisted like a bird's claw； and upon the back was a ragged； red； diamond…
shaped scar。
〃No； don't look there。 Look at /me/；〃 said Carnehan。 〃That comes
afterward； but for the Lord's sake don't distrack me。 We left with that
caravan； me and Dravot playing all sorts of antics to amuse the people we
were with。 Dravot used to make us laugh in the evenings when all the
people was cooking their dinnerscooking their dinners； and 。 。 。 what did
they do then？ They lit little fires with sparks that went into Dravot's beard；
and we all laughedfit to die。 Little red fires they was； going into Dravot's
big red beardso funny。〃 His eyes left mine and he smiled foolishly。
〃You went as far as Jagdallak with that caravan；〃 I said； at a venture；
〃after you had lit those fires。 To Jagdallak； where you turned off to try to
get into Kafiristan。〃
〃No； we didn't； neither。 What are you talking about？ We turned off
before Jagdallak； because we heard the roads was good。 But they wasn't
good enough for our two camelsmine and Dravot's。 When we left the
caravan； Dravot took off all his clothes and mine too； and said we would
be heathen； because the Kafirs didn't allow Mohammedans to talk to them。
So we dressed betwixt and between； and such a sight as Daniel Dravot I
never saw yet nor expect to see again。 He burned half his beard； and slung
a sheepskin over his shoulder； and shaved his head into patterns。 He
shaved mine too； and made me wear outrageous things to look like a
heathen。 That was in a most mountaineous country； and our camels
couldn't go along any more because of the mountains。 They were tall and
black； and coming home I saw them fight like wild goats there are lots of
goats in Kafiristan。 And these mountains； they never keep still； no more
than the goats。 Always fighting they are； and don't let you sleep at night。〃
〃Take some more whisky；〃 I said； very slowly。 〃What did you and
Daniel Dravot do when the camels could go no farther because of the
rough roads that led into Kafiristan？〃
〃What did which do？ There was a party called Peachey Taliaferro
Carnehan that was with Dravot。 Shall I tell you about him？ He died out
there in the cold。 Slap from the bridge fell old Peachey； turning and
twisting in the air like a penny whirligig that you can sell to the Amir。 No；
17
… Page 18…
STORIES
they was two for three ha'pence； those whirligigs； or I am much mistaken
and woful sore。 。 。 。 And then these camels were no use； and Peachey said
to Dravot； 'For the Lord's sake let's get out of this before our heads are
chopped off；' and with that they killed the camels all among the mountains；
not having anything in particular to eat； but first they took off the boxes
with the guns and the ammunition； till two men came along driving four
mules。 Dravot up and dances in front of them； singing； 'Sell me four
mules。' Says the first man； 'If you are rich enough to buy； you are rich
enough to rob；' but before ever he could put his hand to his knife； Dravot
breaks his neck over his knee； and the other party runs away。 So Carnehan
loaded the mules with the rifles that was taken off the camels； and together
we starts forward into those bitter…cold mountaineous parts； and never a
road broader than the back of your hand。〃
He paused for a moment； while I asked him if he could remember the
nature of the country through which he had journeyed。
〃I am telling you as straight as I can； but my head isn't as good as it
might be。 They drove nails through it to make me hear better how Dravot
died。 The country was mountaineous and the mules were most contrary；
and the inhabitants was dispersed and solitary。 They went up and up； and
down and down； and that other party； Carnehan； was imploring of Dravot
not to sing and whistle so loud； for fear of bringing down the tremenjus
avalanches。 But Dravot says that if a King couldn't sing it wasn't worth
being King； and whacked the mules over the rump； and never took no
heed for ten cold days。 We came to a big level valley all among the
mountains； and the mules were near dead； so we killed them； not having
anything in special for them or us to eat。 We sat upon the boxes； and
played odd and even with the cartridges that was jolted out。
〃Then ten men with bows and arrows ran down that valley； chasing
twenty men with bows and arrows； and the row was tremenjus。 They was
fair menfairer than you or mewith yellow hair and remarkable well
built。 Says Dravot； unpacking the guns； 'This is the beginning of the
business。 We'll fight for the ten men；' and with that he fires two rifles at
t