generalofpubliceducation。
Thenwesatdownoncleanwhitecushions，andIwasattheking’srighthandThreeminuteslaterhewastellingmethattheconditionofthemaizecropwassomethingdisgraceful，andthattherailwaycompanieswouldnotpayhimenoughforhistimber。
ThetalkshiftedtoandfrowiththebottlesWediscussedverymanyquaintthings，andthekingbecameconfidentialonthesubjectofgovernmentgenerallyMostofallhedweltontheshortcomingsofoneofhissubjects，who，fromwhatIcouldgather，hadbeenparalyzingtheexecutive。
“Intheolddays。”saidtheking，’~IcouldhaveorderedtheelephantyondertotramplehimtodeathNowImuste’ensendhimseventymilesacrossthehillstobetried，andhiskeepforthattimewouldbeuponthestateAndtheelephanteatseverything。”
“Whatbetheman’scrimes，RajahSahib？”saidI。
“Firstly，heisan’outlander，’andnomanofmineownpeople。
Secondly，sinceofmyfavorIgavehimlanduponhiscoming，herefusestopayrevenueAmInotthelordoftheearth，aboveandbelow-entitledbyrightandcustomtoone-eighthofthecrop？Yetthisdevil，establishinghimself，refusestopayasingletaxandhebringsapoisonousspawnofbabes。”
“Casthimintojail。”Isaid。
“Sahib。”thekinganswered，shiftingalittleonthecushions，“onceandonlyonceinthesefortyyearssicknesscameuponmesothatI
wasnotabletogoabroadInthathourImadeavowtomyGodthatIwouldneveragaincutmanorwomanfromthelightofthesunandtheairofGod，forIperceivedthenatureofthepunishmentHowcanIbreakmyvow？Wereitonlytheloppingoffofahandorafoot，IshouldnotdelayButeventhatisimpossiblenowthattheEnglishhaveruleOneoranotherofmypeople“-helookedobliquelyatthedirector-generalofpubliceducation-“wouldatoncewritealettertotheviceroy，andperhapsIshouldbedeprivedofthatruffleofdrums。”
Heunscrewedthemouthpieceofhissilverwater-pipe，fittedaplainamberone，andpassedthepipetome“Notcontentwithrefusingrevenue。”hecontinued，“thisoutlanderrefusesalsotobeegar“thisisthecorveeorforcedlaborontheroads，“andstirsmypeopleuptotheliketreasonYetheis，ifsohewills，anexpertlog-snatcherThereisnonebetterorbolderamongmypeopletoclearablockoftheriverwhenthelogsstickfast。”
“Butheworshipsstrangegods。”saidtheprimeminister，deferentially。
“ForthatIhavenoconcern。”saidtheking，whowasastolerantasAkbarinmattersofbelief“Toeachmanhisowngod，andthefireorMotherEarthforusallatthelastItistherebellionthatoffendsme。”
“Thekinghasanarmy。”Isuggested“Hasnotthekingburnedtheman’shouse，andlefthimnakedtothenightdews？”
“NayAhutisahut，anditholdsthelifeofamanButonceIsentmyarmyagainsthimwhenhisexcusesbecamewearisomeOftheirheadshebrakethreeacrossthetopwithastickTheothertwomenranawayAlsothegunswouldnotshoot。”
IhadseentheequipmentoftheinfantryOne-thirdofitwasanoldmuzzle-loadingfowling-piecewithraggedrustholeswherethenipplesshouldhavebeen；one-thirdawireboundmatchlockwithaworm-eatenstock，andone-thirdafour-boreflintduck-gun，withoutaflint。
“Butitistoberemembered。”saidtheking，reachingoutforthebottle，“thatheisaveryexpertlog-snatcherandamanofamerryfaceWhatshallIdotohim，sahib？”
ThiswasinterestingThetimidhill-folkwouldassoonhaverefusedtaxestotheirkingasofferingstotheirgodsTherebelmustbeamanofcharacter。
“Ifitbetheking’spermission。”Isaid，“Iwillnotstrikemytentstillthethirdday，andIwillseethismanThemercyofthekingisgodlike，andrebellionislikeuntothesinofwitchcraftMoreover，boththebottles，andanother，beempty。”
“Youhavemyleavetogo。”saidtheking。
Nextmorningthecrierwentthroughthestareproclaimingthattherewasalog-jamontheriverandthatitbehoovedallloyalsubjectstoclearitThepeoplepoureddownfromtheirvillagestothemoist，warmvalleyofpoppyfields，andthekingandIwentwiththem。
Hundredsofdresseddeodarlogshadcaughtonasnagofrock，andtheriverwasbringingdownmorelogseveryminutetocompletetheblockadeThewatersnarledandwrenchedandworriedatthetimber，whilethepopulationofthestateproddedatthenearestlogswithpoles，inthehopeofeasingthepressureThentherewentupashoutof“NamgayDoola！NamgayDoola！”andalarge，red-hairedvillagerhurriedup，strippingoffhisclothesasheran。
“ThatheisThatistherebel！”saidtheking“Nowwillthedambecleared。”
“Butwhyhasheredhair？”Iasked，sinceredhairamonghill-folkisasUn-commonasblueorgreen。
“Heisanoutlander。”saidtheking“Welldone！Oh，welldone！”
NamgayDoolahadscrambledonthejamandwasclawingoutthebuttofalogwitharudesortofaboat-hookItslidforwardslowly，asanalligatormoves，andthreeorfourothersfolloweditThegreenwaterspoutedthroughthegapsThenthevillagershowledandshoutedandleapedamongthelogs，pullingandpushingtheobstinatetimber，andtheredheadofNamgayDoolawaschiefamongthemallThelogsswayedandchafedandgroanedasfreshconsignmentsfromup-streambatteredthenowweakeningdamItgavewayatlastinasmotheroffoam，racingbutts，bobbingblackheads，andaconfusionindescribable，astherivertossedeverythingbeforeitIsawtheredheadgodownwiththelastremnantsofthejamanddisappearbetweenthegreatgrindingtreetrunksItroseclosetothehank，andblowinglikeagrampus，NamgayDoolawipedthewateroutofhiseyesandmadeobeisancetotheking。
IhadtimetoobservethemancloselyThevirulentrednessofhisshockheadandbeardwasmoststartling，andinthethicketofhairtwinkledabovehighcheek-bonestwoverymerryblueeyesHewasindeedanoutlander，butyetaThibetaninlanguage，habitandattireHespoketheLepchadialectwithanindescribablesofteningofthegutturalsItwasnotsomuchalispasanaccent。
“Whencecomestthou？”Iasked，wondering。
“FromThibet。”HepointedacrossthehillsandgrinnedThatgrinwentstraighttomyheartMechanicallyIheldoutmyhandandNamgayDoolatookitNopureThibetanwouldhaveunderstoodthemeaningofthegestureHewentawaytolookforhisclothes，andasheclimbedbacktohisvillage，IheardajoyousyellthatseemedunaccountablyfamiliarItwasthewhoopingofNamgayDoola。
“Youseenow。”saidtheking，“whyIwouldnotkillhimHeisaboldmanamongmylogs，but。”andheshookhisheadlikeaschoolmaster，“IknowthatbeforelongtherewillbecomplaintsofhiminthecourtLetusreturntothepalaceanddojustice。”
Itwasthatking’scustomtojudgehissubjectseverydaybetweenelevenandthreeo’clockIheardhimdojusticeequitablyonweightymattersoftrespass，slander，andalittlewife-stealing。
Thenhisbrowcloudedandhesummonedme。
“AgainitisNamgayDoola。”hesaid，despairingly“Notcontentwithrefusingrevenueonhisownpart，hehasboundhalfhisvillagebyanoathtotheliketreasonNeverbeforehassuchathingbefallenme！Noraremytaxesheavy。”
Arabbit-facedvillager，withablush-rosestuckbehindhisear，advancedtremblingHehadbeeninNamgayDoola’sconspiracy，buthadtoldeverythingandhopedfortheking’sfavor。
“Oh，king！”saidI，“ifitbetheking’swill，letthismatterstandovertillthemorningOnlythegodscandorightinahurry，anditmaybethatyondervillagerhaslied。”
“Nay，forIknowthenatureofNamgayDoola；butsinceaguestasks，letthematterremainWiltthou，formysake，speakharshlytothisred-headedoutlander？Hemaylistentothee。”
Imadeanattemptthatveryevening，butforthelifeofmeIcouldnotkeepmycountenanceNamgayDoolagrinnedsopersuasivelyandbegantotellmeaboutabigbrownbearinapoppyfieldbytheriverWouldIcaretoshootthatbear？IspokeausterelyonthesinofdetectedconspiracyandthecertaintyofpunishmentNamgayDoola’sfacecloudedforamomentShortlyafterwardhewithdrewfrommytent，andIheardhimsingingsoftlyamongthepinesThewordswereunintelligibletome，butthetune，likehisliquid，insinuatingspeech，seemedtheghostofsomethingstrangelyfamiliar。
“Dirhanemard-i-yemendirToweereealagee。”
croonedNamgayDoolaagainandagain，andIrackedmybrainforthatlosttuneItwasnottillafterdinnerthatIdiscoveredsomeonehadcutasquarefootofvelvetfromthecentreofmybestcamera-clothThismademesoangrythatIwandereddownthevalleyinthehopeofmeetingthebigbrownbearIcouldhearhimgruntinglikeadiscontentedpiginthepoppyfieldasIwaitedshoulderdeepinthedew-drippingIndiancorntocatchhimafterhismealThemoonwasatfullanddrewoutthescentofthetasseledcropThenI
heardtheanguishedbellowofaHimalayancow-oneofthelittleblackcrummiesnobiggerthanNewfoundlanddogsTwoshadowsthatlookedlikeabearandhercubhurriedpastmeIwasintheactoffiringwhenIsawthateachboreabrilliantredheadThelesseranimalwastrailingsomethingrope-likethatleftadarktrackonthepathTheywerewithinsixfeetofme，andtheshadowofthemoonlightlayvelvet-blackontheirfacesVelvet-blackwasexactlytheword，forbyallthepowersofmoonlighttheyweremaskedinthevelvetofmycamera-clothImarveled，andwenttobed。
NextmorningthekingdomwasinanuproarNamgayDoola，mensaid，hadgoneforthinthenightandwithasharpknifehadcutoffthetailofacowbelongingtotherabbit-facedvillagerwhohadbetrayedhimItwassacrilegeunspeakableagainsttheholycowThestatedesiredhisblood，buthehadretreatedintohishut，barricadedthedoorsandwindowswithbigstones，anddefiedtheworld。
ThekingandIandthepopulaceapproachedthehutcautiously。
Therewasnohopeofcapturingourmanwithoutlossoflife，forfromaholeinthewallprojectedthemuzzleofanextremelywell-cared-forgun-theonlyguninthestatethatcouldshoot。
NamgayDoolahadnarrowlymissedavillagerjustbeforewecameup。
Thestandingarmystood。
Itcoulddonomore，forwhenitadvancedpiecesofsharpshaleflewfromthewindowsTothesewereaddedfromtimetotimeshowersofscaldingwaterWesawredbeadsbobbingupanddownwithinThefamilyofNamgayDoolawereaidingtheirsireBlood-curdlingyellsofdefianceweretheonlyanswertoourprayers。
“Never。”saidtheking，puffing，“hassuchathingbefallenmystate。
NextyearIwillcertainlybuyalittlecannon。”Helookedatmeimploringly。
“Isthereanypriestinthekingdomtowhomhewilllisten？”saidI，foralightwasbeginningtobreakuponme。
“Heworshipshisowngod。”saidtheprimeminister“Wecanbutstarvehimout。”
“Letthewhitemanapproach。”saidNamgayDoolafromwithin。
“AllothersIwillkillSendmethewhiteman。”
ThedoorwasthrownopenandIenteredthesmokyinteriorofaThibetanhutcrammedwithchildrenAndeverychildhadflamingredhairAfreshgatheredcow’staillayonthefloor，andbyitssidetwopiecesofblackvelvet-myblackvelvet-rudelyhackedintothesemblanceofmasks。
“Andwhatisthisshame，NamgayDoola？”Iasked。
Hegrinnedmorecharminglythanever“Thereisnoshame。”saidhe“Ididbutcutoffthetailofthatman’scowHebetrayedmeI
wasmindedtoshoothim，sahib，butnottodeathIndeed，nottodeath；onlyinthelegs。”
“Andwhyatall，sinceitisthecustomtopayrevenuetotheking？
Whyatall？”
“Bythegodofmyfather，Icannottell。”saidNamgayDoola。
“Andwhowasthyfather？”
“Thesamethathadthisgun。”Heshowedmehisweapon，aTowermusket，bearingdate1832andthestampoftheHonorableEastIndiaCompany。
“Andthyfather’sname？”saidI。
“TimlayDoola。”saidhe“Atthefirst，Ibeingthenalittlechild，itisinmymindthatheworearedcoat。”
“OfthatIhavenodoubt；butrepeatthenameofthyfathertwiceorthrice。”
Heobeyed，andIunderstoodwhencethepuzzlingaccentinhisspeechcame“TimlayDoola！”saidhe，excitedly“TothishourI
worshiphisgod。”
“MayIseethatgod？”
“Inalittlewhile-attwilighttime。”
“Rememberestthouaughtofthyfather’sspeech？”
“ItislongagoButtherewasonewordwhichhesaidoftenThus，’’Shun！’ThenIandmybrethrenstooduponourfeet，ourhandstooursides，thus。”
“EvensoAndwhatwasthymother？”