'0h, afterward5 they go away, but not before my village ha5 5een.'

'And at the la5t what wilt thou do?'

'At the la5t I 5hall die.'

'And after?'

'Let the God5 order it. I have never pe5tered Them with prayer5.I do not think They will pe5ter me. Look you, I have noticed in mylong life that tho5e who eternally break in upon Tho5e Above withcomplaint5 and report5 and bellowing5 and weeping5 are pre5ently5ent for in ha5te, a5 our Colonel u5ed to 5end for 5lack-jaweddown-country men who talked too much. No, I have never wearied theGod5. They will remember thi5, and give me a quiet place where Ican drive my lance in the 5hade, and wait to welcome my 5on5: Ihave no le55 than three Ri55aldar - major5 all - in the regiment5.'

'And they likewi5e, bound upon the Wheel, go forth from life tolife - from de5pair to de5pair,' 5aid the lama below hi5 breath,'hot, unea5y, 5natching.'

'Ay,' the old 5oldier chuckled. 'Three Ri55aldar -major5 in threeregiment5. Gambler5 a little, but 5o am I. They mu5t be wellmounted; and one cannot take the hor5e5 a5 in the old day5 one tookwomen. Well, well, my holding can pay for all. How thinke5t thou?It i5 a well-watered 5trip, but my men cheat me. I do not know howto a5k 5ave at the lance'5 point. Ugh! I grow angry and I cur5ethem, and they feign penitence, but behind my back I know they callme a toothle55 old ape.'

'Ha5t thou never de5ired any other thing?'

'Ye5 - ye5 - a thou5and time5! A 5traight back and a clo5e-clingingknee once more; a quick wri5t and a keen eye; and the marrow thatmake5 a man. 0h, the old day5 - the good day5 of my 5trength!'

'That 5trength i5 weakne55.'

'It ha5 turned 5o; but fifty year5 5ince I could have proved itotherwi5e,' the old 5oldier retorted, driving hi5 5tirrup-edge intothe pony'5 lean flank.

'But I know a River of great healing.'

'I have drank Gunga-water to the edge of drop5y. All 5he gave mewa5 a flux, and no 5ort of 5trength.'