Oh，EastisEast，andWestisWest，andneverthetwainshallmeet，TillEarthandSkystandpresentlyatGod’sgreatJudgmentSeat；
ButthereisneitherEastnorWest，Border，norBreed，norBirth，Whentwostrongmenstandfacetoface，tho’theycomefromtheendsoftheearth！
KamalisoutwithtwentymentoraisetheBorder-side，AndhehasliftedtheColonel’smarethatistheColonel’spride：
Hehasliftedheroutofthestable-doorbetweenthedawnandtheday，Andturnedthecalkinsuponherfeet，andriddenherfaraway。
ThenupandspoketheColonel’ssonthatledatroopoftheGuides：
“IsthereneveramanofallmymencansaywhereKamalhides？”
ThenupandspokeMahommedKhan，thesonoftheRessaldar：
“Ifyeknowthetrackofthemorning-mist，yeknowwherehispicketsare。
AtduskheharriestheAbazai——atdawnheisintoBonair，ButhemustgobyFortBuklohtohisownplacetofare，SoifyegalloptoFortBuklohasfastasabirdcanfly，BythefavourofGodyemaycuthimofferehewintotheTongueofJagai。
ButifhebepasttheTongueofJagai，rightswiftlyturnyethen，ForthelengthandthebreadthofthatgrislyplainissownwithKamal’smen。
Thereisrocktotheleft，androcktotheright，andlowleanthornbetween，Andyemayhearabreech-boltsnickwhereneveramanisseen。”
TheColonel’ssonhastakenahorse，andarawroughdunwashe，WiththemouthofabellandtheheartofHellandtheheadofthegallows-tree。
TheColonel’ssontotheForthaswon，theybidhimstaytoeat——
WhoridesatthetailofaBorderthief，hesitsnotlongathismeat。
He’supandawayfromFortBuklohasfastashecanfly，Tillhewasawareofhisfather’smareinthegutoftheTongueofJagai，Tillhewasawareofhisfather’smarewithKamaluponherback，Andwhenhecouldspythewhiteofhereye，hemadethepistolcrack。
Hehasfiredonce，hehasfiredtwice，butthewhistlingballwentwide。
“Yeshootlikeasoldier。”Kamalsaid“Shownowifyecanride。”
It’supandovertheTongueofJagai，asblowndustdevilsgo，Thedunhefledlikeastagoften，butthemarelikeabarrendoe。
Thedunheleanedagainstthebitandsluggedhisheadabove，Buttheredmareplayedwiththesnaffle-bars，asamaidenplayswithaglove。
Therewasrocktotheleftandrocktotheright，andlowleanthornbetween，Andthriceheheardabreech-boltsnicktho’neveramanwasseen。
Theyhaveriddenthelowmoonoutofthesky，theirhoofsdrumupthedawn，Thedunhewentlikeawoundedbull，butthemarelikeanew-rousedfawn。
Thedunhefellatawater-course——inawofulheapfellhe，AndKamalhasturnedtheredmareback，andpulledtheriderfree。
Hehasknockedthepistoloutofhishand——smallroomwastheretostrive，“’Twasonlybyfavourofmine。”quothhe，“yerodesolongalive：
Therewasnotarockfortwentymile，therewasnotaclumpoftree，Butcoveredamanofmyownmenwithhisriflecockedonhisknee。
IfIhadraisedmybridle-hand，asIhavehelditlow，Thelittlejackalsthatfleesofastwerefeastingallinarow：
IfIhadbowedmyheadonmybreast，asIhaveheldithigh，Thekitethatwhistlesaboveusnowweregorgedtillshecouldnotfly。”
LightlyansweredtheColonel’sson：“Dogoodtobirdandbeast，Butcountwhocomeforthebrokenmeatsbeforethoumakestafeast。
Ifthereshouldfollowathousandswordstocarrymybonesaway，Belikethepriceofajackal’smealweremorethanathiefcouldpay。
Theywillfeedtheirhorseonthestandingcrop，theirmenonthegarneredgrain，Thethatchofthebyreswillservetheirfireswhenallthecattleareslain。
Butifthouthinkestthepricebefair，——thybrethrenwaittosup，Thehoundiskintothejackal-spawn，——howl，dog，andcallthemup！
Andifthouthinkestthepricebehigh，insteerandgearandstack，Givememyfather’smareagain，andI’llfightmyownwayback！”
Kamalhasgrippedhimbythehandandsethimuponhisfeet。
“Notalkshallbeofdogs。”saidhe，“whenwolfandgraywolfmeet。
MayIeatdirtifthouhasthurtofmeindeedorbreath；
WhatdamoflancesbroughttheeforthtojestatthedawnwithDeath？”
LightlyansweredtheColonel’sson：“Iholdbythebloodofmyclan：
Takeupthemareformyfather’sgift——byGod，shehascarriedaman！”
TheredmarerantotheColonel’sson，andnuzzledagainsthisbreast；
“Webetwostrongmen。”saidKamalthen，“butsheloveththeyoungerbest。
Sosheshallgowithalifter’sdower，myturquoise-studdedrein，Mybroideredsaddleandsaddle-cloth，andsilverstirrupstwain。”
TheColonel’ssonapistoldrewandhelditmuzzle-end，“Yehavetakentheonefromafoe。”saidhe；
“willyetakethematefromafriend？”
“Agiftforagift。”saidKamalstraight；“alimbfortheriskofalimb。
Thyfatherhassenthissontome，I’llsendmysontohim！”
Withthathewhistledhisonlyson，thatdroppedfromamountain-crest——
Hetrodthelinglikeabuckinspring，andhelookedlikealanceinrest。
“Nowhereisthymaster。”Kamalsaid，“wholeadsatroopoftheGuides，Andthoumustrideathisleftsideasshieldonshoulderrides。
TillDeathorIcutloosethetie，atcampandboardandbed，Thylifeishis——thyfateitistoguardhimwiththyhead。
So，thoumusteattheWhiteQueen’smeat，andallherfoesarethine，Andthoumustharrythyfather’sholdforthepeaceoftheBorder-line，Andthoumustmakeatroopertoughandhackthywaytopower——
BeliketheywillraisetheetoRessaldarwhenIamhangedinPeshawur。”
Theyhavelookedeachotherbetweentheeyes，andtheretheyfoundnofault，TheyhavetakentheOathoftheBrother-in-Bloodonleavenedbreadandsalt：
TheyhavetakentheOathoftheBrother-in-Bloodonfireandfresh-cutsod，OnthehiltandthehaftoftheKhyberknife，andtheWondrousNamesofGod。
TheColonel’ssonheridesthemareandKamal’sboythedun，AndtwohavecomebacktoFortBuklohwheretherewentforthbutone。
AndwhentheydrewtotheQuarter-Guard，fulltwentyswordsflewclear——
Therewasnotamanbutcarriedhisfeudwiththebloodofthemountaineer。
“Ha’done！ha’done！”saidtheColonel’sson。
“Putupthesteelatyoursides！
LastnightyehadstruckataBorderthief——
to-night’tisamanoftheGuides！”
Oh，EastisEast，andWestisWest，andneverthetwainshallmeet，TillEarthandSkystandpresentlyatGod’sgreatJudgmentSeat；
ButthereisneitherEastnorWest，Border，norBreed，norBirth，Whentwostrongmenstandfacetoface，tho’theycomefromtheendsoftheearth！
THELASTSHUTTEE
NotmanyyearsagoaKingdiedinoneoftheRajpootStates。
Hiswives，disregardingtheordersoftheEnglishagainstSuttee，wouldhavebrokenoutofthepalacehadnotthegatesbeenbarred。
Butoneofthem，disguisedastheKing’sfavouritedancing-girl，passedthroughthelineofguardsandreachedthepyreThere，hercouragefailing，sheprayedhercousin，abaronofthecourt，tokillherThishedid，notknowingwhoshewas。
UdaiChandlaysicktodeathInhisholdbyGungrahill。
Allnightweheardthedeath-gongsringForthesoulofthedyingRajpootKing，Allnightbeatupfromthewomen’swingAcrythatwecouldnotstill。
Allnightthebaronscameandwent，Thelordsoftheouterguard：
AllnightthecressetsglimmeredpaleOnUlwarsabreandTonkjezail，MewarheadstallandMarwarmail，Thatclinkedinthepalaceyard。
IntheGoldenroomonthepalaceroofAllnighthefoughtforair：
Andtherewassobbingbehindthescreen，Rustleandwhisperofwomenunseen，AndthehungryeyesoftheBoondiQueenOnthedeathshemightnotshare。
Hepassedatdawn——thedeath-fireleapedFromridgetoriver-head，FromtheMalwaplainstotheAbuscars：
AndwailuponwailwentuptothestarsBehindthegrimzenana-bars，WhentheyknewthattheKingwasdead。
ThedumbpriestknelttotiehismouthAndrobehimforthepyre。
TheBoondiQueenbeneathuscried：
“See，now，thatwedieasourmothersdiedInthebridal-bedbyourmaster’sside！
Out，women！——tothefire！”
Wedrovethegreatgateshomeapace：
Whitehandswereonthesill：
ButeretherushoftheunseenfeetHadreachedtheturntotheopenstreet，Thebarsshotdown，theguard-drumbeat——
Weheldthedovecotstill。
Afacelookeddowninthegatheringday，Andlaughingspokefromthewall：
“Oh]/e，theymournhere：letmeby——
Azizun，theLucknownautch-girl，I！
Whenthehouseisrotten，theratsmustfly，AndIseekanotherthrall。
“ForIruledtheKingasne’erdidQueen，——
To-nighttheQueensruleme！
Guardthemsafely，butletmego，OrevertheypaythedebttheyoweInscourgeandtorture！”Sheleapedbelow，Andthegrimguardwatchedherflee。
TheyknewthattheKinghadspenthissoulOnaNorth-breddancing-girl：
Thatheprayedtoaflat-nosedLucknowgod，Andkissedthegroundwhereherfeethadtrod，Anddoomedtodeathatherdrunkennod，Andsworebyherlightestcurl。
WeboretheKingtohisfathers’place，WherethetombsoftheSun-bornstand：
Wherethegrayapesswing，andthepeacockspreenOnfrettedpillarandjewelledscreen，AndthewildboarcouchinthehouseoftheQueenOnthedriftofthedesertsand。
Theheraldreadhistitlesforth，Wesetthelogsaglow：
“FriendoftheEnglish，freefromfear，BaronofLunitoJeysulmeer，LordoftheDesertofBikaneer，KingoftheJungle，——go！”
AllnighttheredflamestabbedtheskyWithwaveringwind-tossedspears：
AndoutofashatteredtemplecreptAwomanwhoveiledherheadandwept，AndcalledontheKing——butthegreatKingslept，Andturnednotforhertears。
Smallthoughthadhetomarkthestrife——
Coldfearwithhotdesire——
Whenthricesheleapedfromtheleapingflame，Andthriceshebeatherbreastforshame，AndthricelikeawoundeddoveshecameAndmoanedaboutthefire。
Onewatched，abow-shotfromtheblaze，Thesilentstreetsbetween，WhohadstoodbytheKinginsportandfray，Tobladeinambushorboaratbay，Andhewasabaronoldandgray，AndkintotheBoondiQueen。
Hesaid：“Oshameless，putasideTheveiluponthybrow！
WhoheldtheKingandallhislandTothewantonwillofaharlot’shand！
Willthewhiteashrisefromtheblisteredbrand？
Stoopdown，andcallhimnow！”
Thenshe：“Bythefaithofmytarnishedsoul，AllthingsIdidnotwell，Ihadhopedtoclearerethefiredied，Andlaymedownbymymaster’ssideToruleinHeavenhisonlybride，WhiletheothershowlinHell。
“ButIhavefeltthefire’sbreath，Andharditistodie！
YetifImayprayaRajpootlordTosullythesteelofaThakur’sswordWithbase-bornbloodofatradeabhorred。”——
AndtheThakuranswered，“Ay。”
Hedrewandstruck：thestraightbladedrankThelifebeneaththebreast。
“IhadlookedfortheQueentofacetheflame，ButtheharlotdiesfortheRajpootdame——
Sisterofmine，pass，freefromshame，PasswiththyKingtorest！”
Theblacklogcrashedabovethewhite：
Thelittleflamesandlean，Redasslaughterandblueassteel，Thatwhistledandflutteredfromheadtoheel，Leapedupanew，fortheyfoundtheirmealOntheheartof——theBoondiQueen！
THEBALLADOFTHEKING’SMERCY
AbdhurRahman，theDuraniChief，ofhimisthestorytold。
HismercyfillstheKhyberhills——hisgraceismanifold；
HehastakentolloftheNorthandtheSouth——
hisgloryreachethfar，AndtheytellthetaleofhischarityfromBalkhtoKandahar。