wasawarethatthediabolicalBrahminwasaimingaviolentblowatthebackofmyheadwiththegun-barrelsItwastoolatetoturnroundImusthavereceivedtheblowsomewhereonthenapeofmyneckAhundredthousandfierystarsdancedbeforemyeyes，andIfellforwardssenselessattheedgeof，thequicksand。
WhenIrecoveredconsciousness，theMoonwasgoingdown，andI
wassensibleofintolerablepaininthebackofmyheadGungaDasshaddisappearedandmymouthwasfullofbloodIlaydownagainandprayedthatImightdiewithoutmoreadoThentheunreasoningfurywhichIhadbeforementioned，laidholduponme，andIstaggeredinlandtowardthewallsofthecraterItseemedthatsomeonewascallingtomeinawhisper-“Sahib！
Sahib！Sahib！”exactlyasmybearerusedtocallmeinthemorningIfanciedthatIwasdeliriousuntilahandfulofsandfellatmyfeet。
ThenIlookedupandsawaheadpeeringdownintotheamphitheatre-theheadofDunnoo，mydog-boy，whoattendedtomycolliesAssoonashehadattractedmyattention，hehelduphishandandshowedaropeImotionedstaggeringtoandfroforthewhile，thatheshouldthrowitdownItwasacoupleofleatherpunkah-ropesknottedtogether，withaloopatoneendIslippedtheloopovermyheadandundermyarms；heardDunnoourgesomethingforward；wasconsciousthatIwasbeingdragged，facedownward，upthesteepsandslope，andthenextinstantfoundmyselfchokedandhalffaintingonthesandhillsoverlookingthecraterDunnoo，withhisfaceashygreyinthemoonlight，imploredmenottostaybuttogetbacktomytentatonce。
ItseemsthathehadtrackedPornic’sfootprintsfourteenmilesacrossthesandstothecrater；hadreturnedandtoldmyservants，whoflatlyrefusedtomeddlewithanyone，whiteorblack，oncefallenintothehideousVillageoftheDead；whereuponDunnoohadtakenoneofmyponiesandacoupleofpunkah-ropes，returnedtothecrater，andhauledmeoutasIhavedescribed。
Tocutalongstoryshort，Dunnooisnowmypersonalservantonagoldmohuramonth-asumwhichIstillthinkfartoolittlefortheserviceshehasrenderedNothingonearthwillinducemetogonearthatdevilishsnotagain，ortorevealitswhereaboutsmoreclearlythanIhavedoneOfGungaDassIhaveneverfoundatrace，nordoIwishtodoMysolemotiveingivingthistobepublishedisthehopethatsomeonemaypossiblyidentify，fromthedetailsandtheinventorywhichIhavegivenabove，thecorpseofthemanintheolive-greenhunting-suit。
THEMANWHOWOULDBEKING
BrothertoaPrinceandfellowtoabeggarifhebefoundworthyTheLaw，asquoted，laysdownafairconductoflife，andonenoteasytofollowIhavebeenfellowtoabeggaragainandagainundercircumstanceswhichpreventedeitherofusfindingoutwhethertheotherwasworthyIhavestilltobebrothertoaPrince，thoughIoncecameneartokinshipwithwhatmighthavebeenaveritableKing，andwaspromisedthereversionofaKingdom——
army，law-courts，revenue，andpolicyallcompleteBut，to-day，I
greatlyfearthatmyKingisdead，andifIwantacrownImustgohuntitformyself。
Thebeginningofeverythingwasinarailway-trainupontheroadtoMhowfromAjmirTherehadbeenaDeficitintheBudget，whichnecessitatedtravelling，notSecond-class，whichisonlyhalfasdearasFirst-Class，butbyIntermediate，whichisveryawfulindeedTherearenocushionsintheIntermediateclass，andthepopulationareeitherIntermediate，whichisEurasian，ornative，whichforalongnightjourneyisnasty，orLoafer，whichisamusingthoughintoxicatedIntermediatesdonotbuyfromrefreshment-roomsTheycarrytheirfoodinbundlesandpots，andbuysweetsfromthenativesweetmeat-sellers，anddrinktheroadsidewaterThisiswhyinhotweatherIntermediatesaretakenoutofthecarriagesdead，andinallweathersaremostproperlylookeddownupon。
MyparticularIntermediatehappenedtobeemptytillIreachedNasirabad，whenthebigblack-browedgentlemaninshirt-sleevesentered，and，followingthecustomofIntermediates，passedthetimeofdayHewasawandererandavagabondlikemyself，butwithaneducatedtasteforwhiskyHetoldtalesofthingshehadseenanddone，ofout-of-the-waycornersoftheEmpireintowhichhehadpenetrated，andofadventuresinwhichheriskedhislifeforafewdays’food。
“IfIndiawasfilledwithmenlikeyouandme，notknowingmorethanthecrowswherethey’dgettheirnextday’srations，itisn’tseventymillionsofrevenuethelandwouldbepaying——it’ssevenhundredmillions。”saidhe；andasIlookedathismouthandchinI
wasdisposedtoagreewithhim。
Wetalkedpolitics，——thepoliticsofLoaferdomthatseesthingsfromtheundersidewherethelathandplasterisnotsmoothedoff，——andwetalkedpostalarrangementsbecausemyfriendwantedtosendatelegrambackfromthenextstationtoAjmir，theturning-
offplacefromtheBombaytotheMhowlineasyoutravelwestwardMyfriendhadnomoneybeyondeightannaswhichhewantedfordinner，andIhadnomoneyatall，owingtothehitchintheBudgetbeforementionedFurther，Iwasgoingintoawildernesswhere，thoughIshouldresumetouchwiththeTreasury，therewerenotelegraphofficesIwas，therefore，unabletohelphiminanyway。
“WemightthreatenaStation-master，andmakehimsendawireontick。”saidmyfriend，“butthat’dmeaninquiriesforyouandforme，andI’vegotmyhandsfullthesedaysDidyousayyouweretravellingbackalongthislinewithinanydays？”
“Withinten。”Isaid。
“Can’tyoumakeiteight？”saidhe“Mineisratherurgentbusiness。”
“Icansendyourtelegramswithintendaysifthatwillserveyou。”I
said。
“Icouldn’ttrustthewiretofetchhim，nowIthinkofitIt’sthiswayHeleavesDelhionthe23rdforBombayThatmeanshe’llberunningthroughAjmiraboutthenightofthe23rd。”
“ButI’mgoingintotheIndianDesert。”Iexplained。
“Wellandgood。”saidhe“You’llbechangingatMarwarJunctiontogetintoJodhporeterritory，——youmustdothat，——andhe’llbecomingthroughMarwarJunctionintheearlymorningofthe24thbytheBombayMailCanyoubeatMarwarJunctiononthattime？
’Twon’tbeinconveniencingyou，becauseIknowthatthere’spreciousfewpickingstobegotoutoftheseCentralIndiaStates——
eventhoughyoupretendtobecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’“
“Haveyouevertriedthattrick？”Iasked。
“Againandagain，buttheResidentsfindyouout，andthenyougetescortedtotheBorderbeforeyou’vetimetogetyourknifeintothemButaboutmyfriendhereImustgivehimawordo’mouthtotellhimwhat’scometome，orelsehewon’tknowwheretogoI
wouldtakeitmorethankindofyouifyouwastocomeoutofCentralIndiaintimetocatchhimatMarwarJunction，andsaytohim，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。’He’llknowwhatthatmeansHe’sabigmanwitharedbeard，andagreatswellheis。
You’llfindhimsleepinglikeagentlemanwithallhisluggageroundhiminaSecond-classapartmentButdon’tyoubeafraid。
Slipdownthewindowandsay，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，’
andhe’lltumbleIt’sonlycuttingyourtimeofstayinthosepartsbytwodaysIaskyouasastranger——goingtotheWest。”hesaid，withemphasis。
“Wherehaveyoucomefrom？”saidI。
“FromtheEast。”saidhe，“andIamhopingthatyouwillgivehimthemessageontheSquare——forthesakeofmyMotheraswellasyourown。”
Englishmenarenotusuallysoftenedbyappealstothememoryoftheirmothers；butforcertainreasons，whichwillbefullyapparent，Isawfittoagree。
“It’smorethanalittlematter。”saidhe，“andthat’swhyIaskedyoutodoit——andnowIknowthatIcandependonyoudoingitA
Second-classcarriageatMarwarJunction，andared-hairedmanasleepinitYou’llbesuretorememberIgetoutatthenextstation，andImustholdontheretillhecomesorsendsmewhatI
want。”
“I’llgivethemessageifIcatchhim。”Isaid，“andforthesakeofyourMotheraswellasmineI’llgiveyouawordofadviceDon’ttrytoruntheCentralIndiaStatesjustnowasthecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’There’sarealoneknockingabouthere，anditmightleadtotrouble。”
“Thankyou。”saidhe，simply；“andwhenwilltheswinebegone？I
can’tstarvebecausehe’sruiningmyworkIwantedtogetholdoftheDegumberRajahdownhereabouthisfather’swidow，andgivehimajump。”
“Whatdidhedotohisfather’swidow，then？”
“FilledherupwithredpepperandslipperedhertodeathasshehungfromabeamIfoundthatoutmyself，andI’mtheonlymanthatwoulddaregoingintotheStatetogethush-moneyforit。
They’lltrytopoisonme，sameastheydidinChortumnawhenI
wentonthelootthereButyou’llgivethemanatMarwarJunctionmymessage？”
Hegotoutatalittleroadsidestation，andIreflectedIhadheard，morethanonce，ofmenpersonatingcorrespondentsofnewspapersandbleedingsmallNativeStateswiththreatsofexposure，butI
hadnevermetanyofthecastebeforeTheyleadahardlife，andgenerallydiewithgreatsuddennessTheNativeStateshaveawholesomehorrorofEnglishnewspapers，whichmaythrowlightontheirpeculiarmethodsofgovernment，anddotheirbesttochokecorrespondentswithchampagne，ordrivethemoutoftheirmindwithfour-in-handbarouchesTheydonotunderstandthatnobodycaresastrawfortheinternaladministrationofNativeStatessolongasoppressionandcrimearekeptwithindecentlimits，andtherulerisnotdrugged，drunk，ordiseasedfromoneendoftheyeartotheotherTheyarethedarkplacesoftheearth，fullofunimaginablecruelty，touchingtheRailwayandtheTelegraphononeside，and，ontheother，thedaysofHarun-al-
RaschidWhenIleftthetrainIdidbusinesswithdiversKings，andineightdayspassedthroughmanychangesoflifeSometimesI
woredress-clothesandconsortedwithPrincesandPoliticals，drinkingfromcrystalandeatingfromsilverSometimesIlayoutuponthegroundanddevouredwhatIcouldget，fromaplatemadeofleaves，anddranktherunningwater，andsleptunderthesamerugasmyservantItwasallintheday’swork。
ThenIheadedfortheGreatIndianDesertupontheproperdate，asIhadpromised，andthenightMailsetmedownatMarwarJunction，whereafunnylittle，happy-go-lucky，native-managedrailwayrunstoJodhporeTheBombayMailfromDelhimakesashorthaltatMarwarShearrivedjustasIgotin，andIhadjusttimetohurrytoherplatformandgodownthecarriagesTherewasonlyoneSecond-classonthetrainIslippedthewindowandlookeddownuponaflaming-redbeard，halfcoveredbyarailway-
rugThatwasmyman，fastasleep，andIdughimgentlyintheribs。
Hewokewithagrunt，andIsawhisfaceinthelightofthelamps。
Itwasagreatandshiningface。
“Ticketsagain？”saidhe。
“No。”saidI“IamtotellyouthatheisgoneSouthfortheweek。
HehasgoneSouthfortheweek！”
ThetrainhadbeguntomoveoutTheredmanrubbedhiseyes。
“HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。”herepeated“Nowthat’sjustlikehisimpidenceDidhesaythatIwastogiveyouanything？
’CauseIwon’t。”
“Hedidn’t。”Isaid，anddroppedaway，andwatchedtheredlightsdieoutinthedarkItwashorriblycoldbecausethewindwasblowingoffthesandsIclimbedintomyowntrain——notanIntermediatecarriagethistime——andwenttosleep。
IfthemanwiththebeardhadgivenmearupeeIshouldhavekeptitasamementoofarathercuriousaffairButtheconsciousnessofhavingdonemydutywasmyonlyreward。
LateronIreflectedthattwogentlemenlikemyfriendscouldnotdoanygoodiftheyforegatheredandpersonatedcorrespondentsofnewspapers，andmight，iftheyblackmailedoneofthelittlerat-
trapStatesofCentralIndiaorSouthernRajputana，getthemselvesintoseriousdifficultiesIthereforetooksometroubletodescribethemasaccuratelyasIcouldremembertopeoplewhowouldbeinterestedindeportingthem；andsucceeded，soIwaslaterinformed，inhavingthemheadedbackfromtheDegumberborders。
ThenIbecamerespectable，andreturnedtoanofficewheretherewerenoKingsandnoincidentsoutsidethedailymanufactureofanewspaperAnewspaperofficeseemstoattracteveryconceivablesortofperson，totheprejudiceofdisciplineZenana-missionladiesarrive，andbegthattheEditorwillinstantlyabandonallhisdutiestodescribeaChristianprize-givinginabackslumofaperfectlyinaccessiblevillage；Colonelswhohavebeenoverpassedforcommandsitdownandsketchtheoutlineofaseriesoften，twelve，ortwenty-fourleadingarticlesonSeniorityversusSelection；missionarieswishtoknowwhytheyhavenotbeenpermittedtoescapefromtheirregularvehiclesofabuse，andswearatabrothermissionaryunderspecialpatronageoftheeditorialWe；strandedtheatricalcompaniestroopuptoexplainthattheycannotpayfortheiradvertisements，butontheirreturnfromNewZealandorTahitiwilldosowithinterest；inventorsofpatentpunka-pullingmachines，carriagecouplings，andunbreakableswordsandaxletreescallwithspecificationsintheirpocketsandhoursattheirdisposal；teacompaniesenterandelaboratetheirprospectuseswiththeofficepens；secretariesofballcommitteesclamourtohavethegloriesoftheirlastdancemorefullydescribed；strangeladiesrustleinandsay，“Iwantahundredlady’scardsprintedatonce，please。”whichismanifestlypartofanEditor’sduty；andeverydissoluteruffianthatevertrampedtheGrandTrunkRoadmakesithisbusinesstoaskforemploymentasaproof-readerAnd，allthetime，thetelephone-bellisringingmadly，andKingsarebeingkilledontheContinent，andEmpiresaresaying，“You’reanother。”andMisterGladstoneiscallingdownbrimstoneupontheBritishDominions，andthelittleblackcopyboysarewhining，“kaa-pichay-ha-yeh““Copywanted“，liketiredbees，andmostofthepaperisasblankasModred’sshield。