Theywasfairmen——fairerthanyouorme——withyellowhairandremarkablewellbuiltSaysDravot，unpackingtheguns，’ThisisthebeginningofthebusinessWe’llfightforthetenmen，’andwiththathefirestworiflesatthetwentymen，anddropsoneofthemattwohundredyardsfromtherockwherehewassittingTheothermenbegantorun，butCarnehanandDravotsitsontheboxespickingthemoffatallranges，upanddownthevalleyThenwegoesuptothetenmenthathadrunacrossthesnowtoo，andtheyfiresafootylittlearrowatusDravotheshootsabovetheirheads，andtheyallfallsdownflatThenhewalksoverthemandkicksthem，andthenheliftsthemupandshakeshandsallroundtomakethemfriendlylikeHecallsthemandgivesthemtheboxestocarry，andwaveshishandforalltheworldasthoughhewasKingalreadyTheytakestheboxesandhimacrossthevalleyandupthehillintoapinewoodonthetop，wheretherewashalfadozenbigstoneidolsDravothegoestothebiggest——afellowtheycallImbra——andlaysarifleandacartridgeathisfeet，rubbinghisnoserespectfulywithhisownnose，pattinghimonthehead，andnodshishead，andsays，’That’sallrightI’mintheknowtoo，andtheseoldjimjamsaremyfriends。’Thenheopenshismouthandpointsdownit，andwhenthefirstmanbringshimfood，hesays，’No；’andwhenthesecondmanbringshimfood，hesays’no；’butwhenoneoftheoldpriestsandthebossofthevillagebringshimfood，hesays，’Yes；’veryhaughty，andeatsitslowThatwashowhecametoourfirstvillagewithoutanytrouble，justasthoughwehadtumbledfromtheskiesButwetumbledfromoneofthosedamnedrope-bridges，yousee，and——youcouldn’texpectamantolaughmuchafterthat？”
“Takesomemorewhiskyandgoon。”Isaid“ThatwasthefirstvillageyoucameintoHowdidyougettobeKing？”
“Iwasn’tKing。”saidCarnehan“DravothewastheKing，andahandsomemanhelookedwiththegoldcrownonhisheadandall。
Himandtheotherpartystayedinthatvillage，andeverymorningDravotsatbythesideofoldImbra，andthepeoplecameandworshippedThatwasDravot’sorderThenalotofmencameintothevalley，andCarnehanDravotpicksthemoffwiththeriflesbeforetheyknewwheretheywas，andrunsdownintothevalleyandupagaintheotherside，andfindsanothervillage，sameasthefirstone，andthepeopleallfallsdownflatontheirfaces，andDravotsays，’Nowwhatisthetroublebetweenyoutwovillages？’
andthepeoplepointstoawoman，asfairasyouorme，thatwascarriedoff，andDravottakesherbacktothefirstvillageandcountsupthedead——eighttherewasForeachdeadmanDravotpoursalittlemilkonthegroundandwaveshisarmslikeawhirligig，and’That’sallright，’saysheThenheandCarnehantakesthebigbossofeachvillagebythearm，andwalksthemdownthevalley，andshowsthemhowtoscratchalinewithaspearrightdownthevalley，andgiveseachasodofturffrombothsidesofthelineThenallthepeoplecomesdownandshoutslikethedevilandall，andDravotsays，’Goanddigtheland，andbefruitfulandmultiply，’whichtheydid，thoughtheydidn’tunderstandThenweasksthenamesofthingsintheirlingo——breadandwaterandfireandidolsandsuch；andDravotleadsthepriestofeachvillageuptotheidol，andsayshemustsitthereandjudgethepeople，andifanythinggoeswrongheistobeshot。
“Nextweektheywasallturningupthelandinthevalleyasquietasbeesandmuchprettier，andthepriestsheardallthecomplaintsandtoldDravotindumb-showwhatitwasabout’That’sjustthebeginning，’saysDravot’Theythinkwe’reGods。’HeandCarnehanpicksouttwentygoodmenandshowsthemhowtoclickoffarifleandformfoursandadvanceinline；andtheywasverypleasedtodoso，andclevertoseethehangofitThenhetakesouthispipeandhisbaccy-pouch，andleavesoneatonevillageandoneattheother，andoffwetwogoestoseewhatwastobedoneinthenextvalleyThatwasallrock，andtherewasalittlevillagethere，andCarnehansays，’Send’emtotheoldvalleytoplant，’andtakes’emthereandgives’emsomelandthatwasn’ttookbeforeTheywereapoorlot，andweblooded’emwithakidbeforeletting’emintothenewKingdomThatwastoimpressthepeople，andthentheysettleddownquiet，andCarnehanwentbacktoDravot，whohadgotintoanothervalley，allsnowandiceandmostmountaineous。
Therewasnopeoplethere，andtheArmygotafraid；soDravotshootsoneofthem，andgoesontillhefindssomepeopleinavillage，andtheArmyexplainsthatunlessthepeoplewantstobekilledtheyhadbetternotshoottheirlittlematchlocks，fortheyhadmatchlocksWemakesfriendswiththepriest，andIstaystherealonewithtwooftheArmy，teachingthemenhowtodrill；andathunderingbigChiefcomesacrossthesnowwithkettledrumsandhornstwanging，becauseheheardtherewasanewGodkickingaboutCarnehansightsforthebrownofthemenhalfamileacrossthesnowandwingsoneofthemThenhesendsamessagetotheChiefthat，unlesshewishedtobekilled，hemustcomeandshakehandswithmeandleavehisarmsbehindTheChiefcomesalonefirst，andCarnehanshakeshandswithhimandwhirlshisarmsabout，sameasDravotused，andverymuchsurprisedthatChiefwas，andstrokesmyeyebrowsThenCarnehangoesalonetotheChief，andaskshimindumb-showifhehadanenemyhehated’I
have，’saysthechiefSoCarnehanweedsoutthepickofhismen，andsetsthetwooftheArmytoshowthemdrill，andattheendoftwoweeksthemencanmanoeuvreaboutaswellasVolunteersSohemarcheswiththeChieftoagreatbigplainonthetopofamountain，andtheChief’smenrushesintoavillageandtakesit；
wethreeMartinisfiringintothebrownoftheenemySowetookthatvillagetoo，andIgivestheChiefaragfrommycoat，andsays，’OccupytillIcome；’whichwasscripturalBywayofareminder，whenmeandtheArmywaseighteenhundredyardsaway，Idropsabulletnearhimstandingonthesnow，andallthepeoplefallsflatontheirfacesThenIsendsalettertoDravotwhereverhebebylandorbysea。”
AttheriskofthrowingthecreatureoutoftrainIinterrupted：“Howcouldyouwritealetterupyonder？”
“Theletter？——oh！——theletter！Keeplookingatmebetweentheeyes，pleaseItwasastring-talkletter，thatwe’dlearnedthewayofitfromablindbeggarinthePunjab。”
Irememberthattherehadoncecometotheofficeablindmanwithaknottedtwig，andapieceofstringwhichhewoundroundthetwigaccordingtosomecipherofhisownHecould，afterthelapseofdaysorhours，repeatthesentencewhichhehadreeledup。
Hehadreducedthealphabettoelevenprimitivesounds，andtriedtoteachmehismethod，butIcouldnotunderstand。
“IsentthatlettertoDravot。”saidCarnehan，“andtoldhimtocomebackbecausethisKingdomwasgrowingtoobigformetohandle；
andthenIstruckforthefirstvalley，toseehowthepriestswereworkingTheycalledthevillagewetookalongwiththeChief，Bashkai，andthefirstvillagewetook，Er-HebThepriestsatEr-
Hebwasdoingallright，buttheyhadalotofpendingcasesaboutlandtoshowme，andsomemenfromanothervillagehadbeenfiringarrowsatnightIwentoutandlookedforthatvillage，andfiredfourroundsatitfromathousandyardsThatusedallthecartridgesIcaredtospend，andIwaitedforDravot，whohadbeenawaytwoorthreemonths，andIkeptmypeoplequiet。
“OnemorningIheardthedevil’sownnoiseofdrumsandhorns，andDanDravotmarchesdownthehillwithhisArmyandatailofhundredsofmen，and，whichwasthemostamazing，agreatgoldcrownonhishead’MyGord，Carnehan，’saysDaniel，’thisisatremenjusbusiness，andwe’vegotthewholecountryasfarasit’sworthhavingIamthesonofAlexanderbyQueenSemiramis，andyou’remyyoungerbrotherandaGodtoo！It’sthebiggestthingwe’veeverseenI’vebeenmarchingandfightingforsixweekswiththeArmy，andeveryfootylittlevillageforfiftymileshascomeinrejoiceful；andmorethanthat，I’vegotthekeyofthewholeshow，asyou’llsee，andI’vegotacrownforyou！Itold’emtomaketwoof’emataplacecalledShu，wherethegoldliesintherocklikesuetinmuttonGoldI’veseen，andturquoiseI’vekickedoutofthecliffs，andthere’sgarnetsinthesandsoftheriver，andhere’sachunkofamberthatamanbroughtmeCallupallthepriestsand，here，takeyourcrown。’
“Oneofthemenopensablackhairbag，andIslipsthecrownon。
Itwastoosmallandtooheavy，butIworeitfortheglory。
Hammeredgolditwas——fivepoundsweight，likeahoopofabarrel。
“’Peachey，’saysDravot，’wedon’twanttofightnomoreTheCraft’sthetrick，sohelpme！’andhebringsforwardthatsameChiefthatIleftatBashkai——BillyFishwecalledhimafterward，becausehewassolikeBillyFishthatdrovethebigtank-engineatMachontheBolanintheolddays’Shakehandswithhim，’saysDravot；andIshookhandsandnearlydropped，forBillyFishgavemetheGripIsaidnothing，buttriedhimwiththeFellow-craftGripHeanswersallright，andItriedtheMaster’sGrip，butthatwasaslip’AFellow-craftheis！’IsaystoDan’Doesheknowtheword？’’Hedoes，’saysDan，’andallthepriestsknowIt’samiracle！
TheChiefsandthepriestscanworkaFellow-craftLodgeinawaythat’sverylikeours，andthey’vecutthemarksontherocks，buttheydon’tknowtheThirdDegree，andthey’vecometofindoutIt’sGord’sTruthI’veknowntheselongyearsthattheAfghansknewuptotheFellow-craftDegree，butthisisamiracleAGodandaGrandMasteroftheCraftamI，andaLodgeintheThirdDegreeI
willopen，andwe’llraisetheheadpriestsandtheChiefsofthevillages。’
“’It’sagainstallthelaw，’Isays，’holdingaLodgewithoutwarrantfromanyone；andyouknowweneverheldofficeinanyLodge。’
“’It’samasterstrokeo’policy，’saysDravot’Itmeansrunningthecountryaseasyasafour-wheeledbogieonadowngradeWecan’tstoptoinquirenow，orthey’llturnagainstusI’vefortyChiefsatmyheel，andpassedandraisedaccordingtotheirmerittheyshallbeBilletthesemenonthevillages，andseethatwerunupaLodgeofsomekindThetempleofImbrawilldoforaLodge-
roomThewomenmustmakeapronsasyoushowthemI’llholdaleveeofChiefsto-nightandLodgeto-morrow。’
“Iwasfairrunoffmylegs，butIwasn’tsuchafoolasnottoseewhatapullthisCraftbusinessgaveusIshowedthepriests’
familieshowtomakeapronsofthedegrees，butforDravot’saprontheblueborderandmarkswasmadeofturquoiselumpsonwhitehide，notclothWetookagreatsquarestoneinthetemplefortheMaster’schair，andlittlestonesfortheofficer’schairs，andpaintedtheblackpavementwithwhitesquares，anddidwhatwecouldtomakethingsregular。
“Attheleveewhichwasheldthatnightonthehillsidewithbigbonfires，DravotgivesoutthathimandmewereGodsandsonsofAlexander，andPassedGrandMastersintheCraft，andwascometomakeKafiristanacountrywhereeverymanshouldeatinpeaceanddrinkinquiet，andspeciallyobeyusThentheChiefscomeroundtoshakehands，andtheyweresohairyandwhiteandfairitwasjustshakinghandswitholdfriendsWegavethemnamesaccordingastheywaslikemenwehadknowninIndia——BillyFish，HollyDilworth，PikkyKergan，thatwasBazaar-masterwhenIwasatMhow，andsoon，andsoon。
“ThemostamazingmiracleswasatLodgenextnightOneoftheoldpriestswaswatchinguscontinuous，andIfeltuneasy，forI
knewwe’dhavetofudgetheRitual，andIdidn’tknowwhatthemenknewTheoldpriestwasastrangercomeinfrombeyondthevillageofBashkaiTheminuteDravotputsontheMaster’sapronthatthegirlshadmadeforhim，thepriestfetchesawhoopandahowl，andtriestooverturnthestonethatDravotwassittingon’It’sallupnow，’Isays’ThatcomesofmeddlingwiththeCraftwithoutwarrant！’Dravotneverwinkedaneye，notwhentenprieststookandtiltedovertheGrandMaster’schair——whichwastosay，thestoneofImbraThepriestbeginsrubbingthebottomendofittoclearawaytheblackdirt，andpresentlyheshowsalltheotherprieststheMaster’sMark，sameaswasonDravot’sapron，cutintothestoneNoteventhepriestsofthetempleofImbraknewitwasthereTheoldchapfallsflatonhisfaceatDravot’sfeetandkisses’em’Luckagain，’saysDravot，acrosstheLodge，tome；’theysayit’sthemissingMarkthatnoonecouldunderstandthewhyof。
We’remorethansafenow。’Thenhebangsthebuttofhisgunforagavelandsays，’ByvirtueoftheauthorityvestedinmebymyownrighthandandthehelpofPeachey，IdeclaremyselfGrandMasterofallFreemasonryinKafiristaninthistheMotherLodgeo’thecountry，andKingofKafiristanequallywithPeachey！’AtthatheputsonhiscrownandIputsonmine，——IwasdoingSeniorWarden，——andweopenstheLodgeinmostampleformItwasanamazingmiracle！ThepriestsmovedinLodgethroughthefirsttwodegreesalmostwithouttelling，asifthememorywascomingbacktothemAfterthatPeacheyandDravotraisedsuchaswasworthy-