stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第8节
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！
'em throw rope bridges across the ravines which cut up the country horrid。
Dravot was very kind to me； but when he walked up and down in the pine
wood pulling that bloody red beard of his with both fists I knew he was
thinking plans I could not advise about； and I just waited for orders。
〃But Dravot never showed me disrespect before the people。 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 a complaint； and Dravot would hear him out fair； and call four priests
together and say what was to be done。 He used to call in Billy Fish from
Bashkai； and Pikky Kergan from Shu； and an old Chief we called
Kafuzelum；it was like enough to his real name；and hold councils with
'em when there was any fighting to be done in small villages。 That was his
Council of War； and the four priests of Bashkai； Shu； Khawak； and
Madora was his Privy Council。 Between the lot of 'em they sent me； with
forty men and twenty rifles； and sixty men carrying turquoises； into the
Ghorband country to buy those hand… made Martini rifles； that come out of
the Amir's workshops at Kabul； from one of the Amir's Herati regiments
that would have sold the very teeth out of their mouths for turquoises。
〃I stayed in Ghorband a month； and gave the Governor there the pick
of my baskets for hush…money； and bribed the Colonel of the regiment
some more； and； between the two and the tribes…people； we got more than
a hundred hand…made Martinis； a hundred good Kohat Jezails that'll throw
to six hundred yards； and forty man…loads of very bad ammunition for the
rifles。 I came back with what I had； and distributed 'em among the men
that the Chiefs sent in to me to drill。 Dravot was too busy to attend to
those things； but the old Army that we first made helped me； and we
turned out five hundred men that could drill； and two hundred that knew
how to hold arms pretty straight。 Even those cork…screwed； hand…made
guns was a miracle to them。 Dravot talked big about powder… shops and
factories； walking up and down in the pine wood when the winter was
25
… Page 26…
STORIES
coming on。
〃 'I won't make a Nation；' says he。 'I'll make an Empire！ These men
aren't niggers； they're English！ Look at their eyeslook at their mouths。
Look at the way they stand up。 They sit on chairs in their own houses。
They're the Lost Tribes； or something like it； and they've grown to be
English。 I'll take a census in the spring if the priests don't get frightened。
There must be a fair two million of 'em in these hills。 The villages are full
o' little children。 Two million people two hundred and fifty thousand
fighting menand all English！ They only want the rifles and a little
drilling。 Two hundred and fifty thousand men； ready to cut in on Russia's
right flank when she tries for India！ Peachey； man；' he says； chewing his
beard in great hunks； 'we shall be EmperorsEmperors of the Earth！ Rajah
Brooke will be a suckling to us。 I'll treat with the Viceroy on equal terms。
I'll ask him to send me twelve picked Englishtwelve that I know ofto
help us govern a bit。 There's Mackray； Serjeant Pensioner at Segowli
many's the good dinner he's given me； and his wife a pair of trousers。
There's Donkin； the Warder of Tounghoo Jail； there's hundreds that I could
lay my hand on if I was in India。 The Viceroy shall do it for me； I'll send a
man through in the spring for those men； and I'll write for a dispensation
from the Grand Lodge for what I've done as Grand Master。 Thatand all
the Sniders that'll be thrown out when the native troops in India take up
the Martini。 They'll be worn smooth； but they'll do for fighting in these
hills。 Twelve English； a hundred thousand Sniders run through the Amir's
country in driblets；I'd be content with twenty thousand in one year；and
we'd be an Empire。 When everything was shipshape I'd hand over the
crownthis crown I'm wearing nowto Queen Victoria on my knees； and
she'd say； 〃Rise up； Sir Daniel Dravot。〃 Oh； it's big！ It's big； I tell you！ But
there's so much to be done in every placeBashkai； Khawak； Shu； and
everywhere else。'
〃 'What is it？' I says。 'There are no more men coming in to be drilled
this autumn。 Look at those fat black clouds。 They're bringing the snow。'
〃 'It isn't that；' says Daniel； putting his hand very hard on my shoulder；
'and I don't wish to say anything that's against you； for no other living man
would have followed me and made me what I am as you have done。 You're
26
… Page 27…
STORIES
a first…class Commander…in…Chief； and the people know you； butit's a big
country； and somehow you can't help me； Peachey； in the way I want to be
helped。'
〃 'Go to your blasted priests； then！' I said； and I was sorry when I made
that remark； but it did hurt me sore to find Daniel talking so superior；
when I'd drilled all the men and done all he told me。
〃 'Don't let's quarrel； Peachey；' says Daniel； without cursing。 'You're a
King too； and the half of this Kingdom is yours； but can't you see； Peachey；
we want cleverer men than us nowthree or four of 'em； that we can
scatter about for our Deputies。 It's a hugeous great State； and I can't always
tell the right thing to do； and I haven't time for all I want to do； and here's
the winter coming on and all。' He put half his beard into his mouth； all red
like the gold of his crown。
〃 'I'm sorry； Daniel；' says I。 'I've done all I could。 I've drilled the men
and shown the people how to stack their oats better； and I've brought in
those tinware rifles from Ghorbandbut I know what you're driving at。 I
take it Kings always feel oppressed that way。'
〃 'There's another thing too；' says Dravot； walking up and down。 'The
winter's coming； and these people won't be giving much trouble； and if
they do we can't move about。 I want a wife。'
〃 'For Gord's sake leave the women alone！' I says。 'We've both got all
the work we can； though I /am/ a fool。 Remember the Contrack； and keep
clear o' women。'
〃 'The Contrack only lasted till such time as we was Kings； and Kings
we have been these months past；' says Dravot； weighing his crown in his
hand。 'You go get a wife too； Peacheya nice； strappin'； plump girl that'll
keep you warm in the winter。 They're prettier than English girls； and we
can take the pick of 'em。 Boil 'em once or twice in hot water； and they'll
come out like chicken and ham。'
〃 'Don't tempt me！' I says。 'I will not have any dealings with a woman；
not till we are a dam' side more settled than we are now。 I've been doing
the work o' two men； and you've been doing the work of three。 Let's lie off
a bit； and see if we can get some better tobacco from Afghan country and
run in some good liquor； and no women。'
27
… Page 28…
STORIES
〃 'Who's talking o' /women/？' says Dravot。 'I said /wife/a Queen to
breed a King's son for the King。 A Queen out of the strongest tribe； that'll
make them your blood…brothers； and that'll lie by your side and tell you all
the people thinks about you and their own affairs。 That's what I want。'
〃 'Do you remember that Bengali woman I kept at Mogul Serai when I
was a plate…layer？' says I。 'A fat lot o' good she was to me。 She taught me
the lingo and one or two other things； but what happened？ She ran away
with the Station…master's servant and half my month's pay。 Then she turned
up at Dadur Junction in tow of a half…caste； and had the impidence to say I
was her husbandall among the drivers in the running…shed too！'
〃 'We've done with that；' says Dravot； 'these women are whiter than
you or me； and a Queen I will have for the winter months。'
〃 'For the last time o' asking； Dan； do /not/；' I says。 'It'll only bring us
harm。 The Bible says that Kings ain't to waste their strength on women；
'specially when they've got a new raw Kingdom to work over。'
〃 'For the last time of answering； I will；' said Dravot； and he went away
through the pine…trees loo
