-highpriestsandChiefsoffar-offvillagesBillyFishwasthefirst，andIcantellyouwescaredthesouloutofhimItwasnotinanywayaccordingtoRitual，butitservedourturnWedidn’traisemorethantenofthebiggestmen，becausewedidn’twanttomaketheDegreecommonAndtheywasclamouringtoberaised。
“’Inanothersixmonths，’saysDravot，’we’llholdanotherCommunicationandseehowyouareworking。’Thenheasksthemabouttheirvillages，andlearnsthattheywasfightingoneagainsttheother，andweresickandtiredofitAndwhentheywasn’tdoingthattheywasfightingwiththeMohammedans’Youcanfightthosewhentheycomeintoourcountry，’saysDravot’TelloffeverytenthmanofyourtribesforaFrontierguard，andsendtwohundredatatimetothisvalleytobedrilledNobodyisgoingtobeshotorspearedanymoresolongashedoeswell，andIknowthatyouwon’tcheatme，becauseyou’rewhitepeople——sonsofAlexander——andnotlikecommonblackMohammedansYouaremypeople，and，byGod，’sayshe，runningoffintoEnglishattheend，’I’llmakeadamnedfineNationofyou，orI’lldieinthemaking！’
“Ican’ttellallwedidforthenextsixmonths，becauseDravotdidalotIcouldn’tseethehangof，andhelearnedtheirlingoinawayInevercouldMyworkwastohelpthepeopleplough，andnowandagaingooutwithsomeoftheArmyandseewhattheothervillagesweredoing，andmake’emthrowropebridgesacrosstheravineswhichcutupthecountryhorridDravotwasverykindtome，butwhenhewalkedupanddowninthepinewoodpullingthatbloodyredbeardofhiswithbothfistsIknewhewasthinkingplansIcouldnotadviseabout，andIjustwaitedfororders。
“ButDravotnevershowedmedisrespectbeforethepeopleTheywereafraidofmeandtheArmy，buttheylovedDanHewasthebestoffriendswiththepriestsandtheChiefs；butanyonecouldcomeacrossthehillswithacomplaint，andDravotwouldhearhimoutfair，andcallfourprieststogetherandsaywhatwastobedone。
HeusedtocallinBillyFishfromBashkai，andPikkyKerganfromShu，andanoldChiefwecalledKafuzelum，——itwaslikeenoughtohisrealname，——andholdcouncilswith’emwhentherewasanyfightingtobedoneinsmallvillagesThatwashisCouncilofWar，andthefourpriestsofBashkai，Shu，Khawak，andMadorawashisPrivyCouncilBetweenthelotof’emtheysentme，withfortymenandtwentyrifles，andsixtymencarryingturquoises，intotheGhorbandcountrytobuythosehand-madeMartinirifles，thatcomeoutoftheAmir’sworkshopsatKabul，fromoneoftheAmir’sHeratiregimentsthatwouldhavesoldtheveryteethoutoftheirmouthsforturquoises。
“IstayedinGhorbandamonth，andgavetheGovernortherethepickofmybasketsforhush-money，andbribedtheColoneloftheregimentsomemore，and，betweenthetwoandthetribes-people，wegotmorethanahundredhand-madeMartinis，ahundredgoodKohatJezailsthat’llthrowtosixhundredyards，andfortyman-
loadsofverybadammunitionfortheriflesIcamebackwithwhatIhad，anddistributed’emamongthementhattheChiefssentintometodrillDravotwastoobusytoattendtothosethings，buttheoldArmythatwefirstmadehelpedme，andweturnedoutfivehundredmenthatcoulddrill，andtwohundredthatknewhowtoholdarmsprettystraightEventhosecork-screwed，hand-madegunswasamiracletothemDravottalkedbigaboutpowder-
shopsandfactories，walkingupanddowninthepinewoodwhenthewinterwascomingon。
“’Iwon’tmakeaNation，’sayshe’I’llmakeanEmpire！Thesemenaren’tniggers；they’reEnglish！Lookattheireyes——lookattheirmouthsLookatthewaytheystandupTheysitonchairsintheirownhousesThey’retheLostTribes，orsomethinglikeit，andthey’vegrowntobeEnglishI’lltakeacensusinthespringifthepriestsdon’tgetfrightenedTheremustbeafairtwomillionof’eminthesehillsThevillagesarefullo’littlechildrenTwomillionpeople——twohundredandfiftythousandfightingmen——andallEnglish！TheyonlywanttheriflesandalittledrillingTwohundredandfiftythousandmen，readytocutinonRussia’srightflankwhenshetriesforIndia！Peachey，man，’hesays，chewinghisbeardingreathunks，’weshallbeEmperors——EmperorsoftheEarth！RajahBrookewillbeasucklingtousI’lltreatwiththeViceroyonequaltermsI’llaskhimtosendmetwelvepickedEnglish——twelvethatIknowof——tohelpusgovernabitThere’sMackray，SerjeantPensioneratSegowli——many’sthegooddinnerhe’sgivenme，andhiswifeapairoftrousersThere’sDonkin，theWarderofTounghooJail；there’shundredsthatIcouldlaymyhandonifIwasinIndiaTheViceroyshalldoitforme；I’llsendamanthroughinthespringforthosemen，andI’llwriteforadispensationfromtheGrandLodgeforwhatI’vedoneasGrandMasterThat——andalltheSnidersthat’llbethrownoutwhenthenativetroopsinIndiatakeuptheMartiniThey’llbewornsmooth，butthey’lldoforfightinginthesehillsTwelveEnglish，ahundredthousandSnidersrunthroughtheAmir’scountryindriblets，——I’dbecontentwithtwentythousandinoneyear，——andwe’dbeanEmpire。
WheneverythingwasshipshapeI’dhandoverthecrown——thiscrownI’mwearingnow——toQueenVictoriaonmyknees，andshe’dsay，“Riseup，SirDanielDravot。”Oh，it’sbig！It’sbig，Itellyou！
Butthere’ssomuchtobedoneineveryplace——Bashkai，Khawak，Shu，andeverywhereelse。’
“’Whatisit？’Isays’TherearenomoremencomingintobedrilledthisautumnLookatthosefatblackcloudsThey’rebringingthesnow。’
“’Itisn’tthat，’saysDaniel，puttinghishandveryhardonmyshoulder；’andIdon’twishtosayanythingthat’sagainstyou，fornootherlivingmanwouldhavefollowedmeandmademewhatIamasyouhavedoneYou’reafirst-classCommander-in-Chief，andthepeopleknowyou；but——it’sabigcountry，andsomehowyoucan’thelpme，Peachey，inthewayIwanttobehelped。’
“’Gotoyourblastedpriests，then！’Isaid，andIwassorrywhenI
madethatremark，butitdidhurtmesoretofindDanieltalkingsosuperior，whenI’ddrilledallthemenanddoneallhetoldme。
“’Don’tlet’squarrel，Peachey，’saysDaniel，withoutcursing’You’reaKingtoo，andthehalfofthisKingdomisyours；butcan’tyousee，Peachey，wewantcleverermenthanusnow——threeorfourof’em，thatwecanscatteraboutforourDeputiesIt’sahugeousgreatState，andIcan’talwaystelltherightthingtodo，andIhaven’ttimeforallIwanttodo，andhere’sthewintercomingonandall。’
Heputhalfhisbeardintohismouth，allredlikethegoldofhiscrown。
“’I’msorry，Daniel，’saysI’I’vedoneallIcouldI’vedrilledthemenandshownthepeoplehowtostacktheiroatsbetter；andI’vebroughtinthosetinwareriflesfromGhorband——butIknowwhatyou’redrivingatItakeitKingsalwaysfeeloppressedthatway。’
“’There’sanotherthingtoo，’saysDravot，walkingupanddown。
’Thewinter’scoming，andthesepeoplewon’tbegivingmuchtrouble，andiftheydowecan’tmoveaboutIwantawife。’
“’ForGord’ssakeleavethewomenalone！’Isays’We’vebothgotalltheworkwecan，thoughIamafoolRemembertheContrack，andkeepclearo’women。’“
“’TheContrackonlylastedtillsuchtimeaswewasKings；andKingswehavebeenthesemonthspast，’saysDravot，weighinghiscrowninhishand’Yougogetawifetoo，Peachey——anice，strappin’，plumpgirlthat’llkeepyouwarminthewinterThey’reprettierthanEnglishgirls，andwecantakethepickof’emBoil’emonceortwiceinhotwater，andthey’llcomeoutlikechickenandham。’
“’Don’ttemptme！’Isays’Iwillnothaveanydealingswithawoman，nottillweareadam’sidemoresettledthanwearenow。
I’vebeendoingtheworko’twomen，andyou’vebeendoingtheworkofthreeLet’slieoffabit，andseeifwecangetsomebettertobaccofromAfghancountryandruninsomegoodliquor；andnowomen。’“
“’Who’stalkingo’women？’saysDravot’Isaidwife——aQueentobreedaKing’ssonfortheKingAQueenoutofthestrongesttribe，that’llmakethemyourblood-brothers，andthat’llliebyyoursideandtellyouallthepeoplethinksaboutyouandtheirownaffairs。
That’swhatIwant。’
“’DoyourememberthatBengaliwomanIkeptatMogulSeraiwhenIwasaplate-layer？’saysI’Afatloto’goodshewastome。
Shetaughtmethelingoandoneortwootherthings；butwhathappened？SheranawaywiththeStation-master’sservantandhalfmymonth’spayThensheturnedupatDadurJunctionintowofahalf-caste，andhadtheimpidencetosayIwasherhusband——allamongthedriversintherunning-shedtoo！’
“’We’vedonewiththat，’saysDravot；’thesewomenarewhiterthanyouorme，andaQueenIwillhaveforthewintermonths。’
“’Forthelasttimeo’asking，Dan，donot，’Isays’It’llonlybringusharmTheBiblesaysthatKingsain’ttowastetheirstrengthonwomen，’speciallywhenthey’vegotanewrawKingdomtoworkover。’
“’Forthelasttimeofanswering，Iwill，’saidDravot，andhewentawaythroughthepine-treeslookinglikeabigreddevil，thesunbeingonhiscrownandbeardandall。
“ButgettingawifewasnotaseasyasDanthoughtHeputitbeforetheCouncil，andtherewasnoanswertillBillyFishsaidthathe’dbetteraskthegirlsDravotdamnedthemallround。
’What’swrongwithme？’heshouts，standingbytheidolImbra’AmIadog，oramInotenoughofamanforyourwenches？Haven’tI
puttheshadowofmyhandoverthiscountry？WhostoppedthelastAfghanraid？’Itwasmereally，butDravotwastooangrytoremember’Whoboughtyourguns？Whorepairedthebridges？
Who’stheGrandMasterofthesigncutinthestone？’sayshe，andhethumpedhishandontheblockthatheusedtositoninLodge，andatCouncil，whichopenedlikeLodgealwaysBillyFishsaidnothing，andnomoredidtheothers’Keepyourhairon，Dan，’saidI，’andaskthegirlsThat’showit’sdoneatHome，andthesepeoplearequiteEnglish。’
“’ThemarriageoftheKingisamatterofState，’saysDan，inawhite-hotrage，forhecouldfeel，Ihope，thathewasgoingagainsthisbettermindHewalkedoutoftheCouncil-room，andtheotherssatstill，lookingattheground。
“’BillyFish，’saysItotheChiefofBashkai，’what’sthedifficultyhere？Astraightanswertoatruefriend。’
“’Youknow，’saysBillyFish’Howshouldamantellyouwhoknowseverything？HowcandaughtersofmenmarryGodsorDevils？It’snotproper。’
“IrememberedsomethinglikethatintheBible；but，ifafterseeingusaslongastheyhad，theystillbelievedwewereGods，itwasn’tformetoundeceivethem。
“’AGodcandoanything，’saysI’IftheKingisfondofagirlhe’llnotletherdie。’’She’llhaveto，’saidBillyFish’ThereareallsortsofGodsandDevilsinthesemountains，andnowandagainagirlmarriesoneofthemandisn’tseenanymoreBesides，youtwoknowtheMarkcutinthestoneOnlytheGodsknowthatWethoughtyouwerementillyoushowedthesignoftheMaster。’
“IwishedthenthatwehadexplainedaboutthelossofthegenuinesecretsofaMasterMasonatthefirstgo-off；butIsaidnothingAllthatnighttherewasablowingofhornsinalittledarktemplehalf-
waydownthehill，andIheardthegirlcryingfittodieOneoftheprieststoldusthatshewasbeingpreparedtomarrytheKing。
“’I’llhavenononsenseofthatkind，’saysDan’Idon’twanttointerferewithyourcustoms，butI’lltakemyownwife。’’Thegirl’salittlebitafraid，’saysthepriest’Shethinksshe’sgoingtodie，andtheyarea-hearteningofherupdowninthetemple。’
“’Heartenherverytender，then，’saysDravot，’orI’llheartenyouwiththebuttofagunsoyou’llneverwanttobeheartenedagain。’
Helickedhislips，didDan，andstayedupwalkingaboutmorethanhalfthenight，thinkingofthewifethathewasgoingtogetinthemorningIwasn’tanymeanscomfortable，forIknewthatdealingswithawomaninforeignparts，thoughyouwasacrownedKingtwentytimesover，couldnotbutberiskyIgotupveryearlyinthemorningwhileDravotwasasleep，andIsawtheprieststalkingtogetherinwhispers，andtheChiefstalkingtogethertoo，andtheylookedatmeoutofthecornersoftheireyes。
“’Whatisup，Fish？’IsaytotheBashkaiman，whowaswrappedupinhisfursandlookingsplendidtobehold。
“’Ican’trightlysay，’sayshe；’butifyoucanmaketheKingdropallthisnonsenseaboutmarriage，you’llbedoinghimandmeandyourselfagreatservice。’
“’ThatIdobelieve，’saysI’Butsure，youknow，Billy，aswellasme，havingfoughtagainstandforus，thattheKingandmearenothingmorethantwoofthefinestmenthatGodAlmightyevermadeNothingmore，Idoassureyou。’
“’Thatmaybe，’saysBillyFish，’andyetIshouldbesorryifitwas。’
Hesinkshisheaduponhisgreatfurcloakforaminuteandthinks。
’King，’sayshe，’beyoumanorGodorDevil，I’llstickbyyouto-
dayIhavetwentyofmymenwithme，andtheywillfollowme。
We’llgotoBashkaiuntilthestormblowsover。’
“Alittlesnowhadfalleninthenight，andeverythingwaswhiteexceptthegreasyfatcloudsthatblewdownanddownfromthenorthDravotcameoutwithhiscrownonhishead，swinginghisarmsandstampinghisfeet，andlookingmorepleasedthanPunch。