Part 11 (2/2)

We spake of them all, but the last the most, For I sought a word of a Russian post, Of a s.h.i.+fty promise, an unsheathed sword And a gray-coat guard on the Helmund ford.

Then Mahbub Ali lowered his eyes In the fas.h.i.+on of one who is weaving lies.

Quoth he: ”Of the Russians who can say?

When the night is gathering all is gray.

But we look that the gloom of the night shall die In the morning flush of a blood-red sky.

”Friend of my heart, is it meet or wise To warn a King of his enemies?

We know what Heaven or h.e.l.l may bring, But no man knoweth the mind of the King.

”That unsought counsel is cursed of G.o.d Attesteth the story of Wali Dad.

”His sire was leaky of tongue and pen, His dam was a clucking Khuttuck hen; And the colt bred close to the vice of each, For he carried the curse of an unstanched speech.

”Therewith madness--so that he sought The favour of kings at the Kabul court; And travelled, in hope of honour, far To the line where the gray-coat squadrons are.

”There have I journeyed too--but I Saw naught, said naught, and--did not die!

He harked to rumour, and s.n.a.t.c.hed at a breath Of 'this one knoweth' and 'that one saith',-- Legends that ran from mouth to mouth Of a gray-coat coming, and sack of the South.

”These have I also heard--they pa.s.s With each new spring and the winter gra.s.s.

”Hot-foot southward, forgotten of G.o.d, Back to the city ran Wali Dad, Even to Kabul--in full durbar The King held talk with his Chief in War.

”Into the press of the crowd he broke, And what he had heard of the coming spoke.

”Then Gholam Hyder, the Red Chief, smiled, As a mother might on a babbling child; But those who would laugh restrained their breath, When the face of the King showed dark as death.

”Evil it is in full durbar To cry to a ruler of gathering war!

Slowly he led to a peach-tree small, That grew by a cleft of the city wall.

”And he said to the boy: 'They shall praise thy zeal So long as the red spurt follows the steel.

”'And the Russ is upon us even now?

Great is thy prudence--await them, thou.

Watch from the tree. Thou art young and strong, Surely thy vigil is not for long.

”'The Russ is upon us, thy clamour ran?

Surely an hour shall bring their van.

Wait and watch. When the host is near, Shout aloud that my men may hear.'

”Friend of my heart, is it meet or wise To warn a King of his enemies?

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