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we have been these months past；' says Dravot； weighing his crown in his
hand。 'You go get a wife too； Peacheya nice； strappin'； plump girl that'll
keep you warm in the winter。 They're prettier than English girls； and we
can take the pick of 'em。 Boil 'em once or twice in hot water； and they'll
come out like chicken and ham。'
〃 'Don't tempt me！' I says。 'I will not have any dealings with a woman；
not till we are a dam' side more settled than we are now。 I've been doing
the work o' two men； and you've been doing the work of three。 Let's lie off
a bit； and see if we can get some better tobacco from Afghan country and
run in some good liquor； and no women。'
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〃 'Who's talking o' /women/？' says Dravot。 'I said /wife/a Queen to
breed a King's son for the King。 A Queen out of the strongest tribe； that'll
make them your blood…brothers； and that'll lie by your side and tell you all
the people thinks about you and their own affairs。 That's what I want。'
〃 'Do you remember that Bengali woman I kept at Mogul Serai when I
was a plate…layer？' says I。 'A fat lot o' good she was to me。 She taught me
the lingo and one or two other things； but what happened？ She ran away
with the Station…master's servant and half my month's pay。 Then she turned
up at Dadur Junction in tow of a half…caste； and had the impidence to say I
was her husbandall among the drivers in the running…shed too！'
〃 'We've done with that；' says Dravot； 'these women are whiter than
you or me； and a Queen I will have for the winter months。'
〃 'For the last time o' asking； Dan； do /not/；' I says。 'It'll only bring us
harm。 The Bible says that Kings ain't to waste their strength on women；
'specially when they've got a new raw Kingdom to work over。'
〃 'For the last time of answering； I will；' said Dravot； and he went away
through the pine…trees looking like a big red devil； the sun being on his
crown and beard and all。
〃But getting a wife was not as easy as Dan thought。 He put it before
the Council； and there was no answer till Billy Fish said that he'd better
ask the girls。 Dravot damned them all round。 'What's wrong with me？' he
shouts； standing by the idol Imbra。 'Am I a dog； or am I not enough of a
man for your wenches？ Haven't I put the shadow of my hand over this
country？ Who stopped the last Afghan raid？' It was me really； but Dravot
was too angry to remember。 'Who bought your guns？ Who repaired the
bridges？ Who's the Grand Master of the sign cut in the stone？' says he； and
he thumped his hand on the block that he used to sit on in Lodge； and at
Council； which opened like Lodge always。 Billy Fish said nothing； and no
more did the others。 'Keep your hair on； Dan；' said I； 'and ask the girls。
That's how it's done at Home； and these people are quite English。'
〃 'The marriage of the King is a matter of State；' says Dan； in a white…
hot rage； for he could feel； I hope； that he was going against his better
mind。 He walked out of the Council…room； and the others sat still； looking
at the ground。
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〃 'Billy Fish；' says I to the Chief of Bashkai； 'what's the difficulty here？
A straight answer to a true friend。'
〃 'You know；' says Billy Fish。 'How should a man tell you who knows
everything？ How can daughters of men marry Gods or Devils？ It's not
proper。'
〃I remembered something like that in the Bible； but； if after seeing us
as long as they had； they still believed we were Gods； it wasn't for me to
undeceive them。
〃 'A God can do anything；' says I。 'If the King is fond of a girl he'll not
let her die。' 'She'll have to；' said Billy Fish。 'There are all sorts of Gods and
Devils in these mountains； and now and again a girl marries one of them
and isn't seen any more。 Besides； you two know the Mark cut in the stone。
Only the Gods know that。 We thought you were men till you showed the
sign of the Master。'
〃I wished then that we had explained about the loss of the genuine
secrets of a Master Mason at the first go…off； but I said nothing。 All that
night there was a blowing of horns in a little dark temple half… way down
the hill； and I heard the girl crying fit to die。 One of the priests told us that
she was being prepared to marry the King。
〃 'I'll have no nonsense of that kind；' says Dan。 'I don't want to interfere
with your customs； but I'll take my own wife。' 'The girl's a little bit afraid；'
says the priest。 'She thinks she's going to die； and they are a…heartening of
her up down in the temple。'
〃 'Hearten her very tender； then；' says Dravot； 'or I'll hearten you with
the butt of a gun so you'll never want to be heartened again。' He licked his
lips； did Dan； and stayed up walking about more than half the night；
thinking of the wife that he was going to get in the morning。 I wasn't any
means comfortable； for I knew that dealings with a woman in foreign parts；
though you was a crowned King twenty times over； could not but be risky。
I got up very early in the morning while Dravot was asleep； and I saw the
priests talking together in whispers； and the Chiefs talking together too；
and they looked at me out of the corners of their eyes。
〃 'What is up； Fish？' I say to the Bashkai man； who was wrapped up in
his furs and looking splendid to behold。
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〃 'I can't rightly say；' says he； 'but if you can make the King drop all
this nonsense about marriage； you'll be doing him and me and yourself a
great service。'
〃 'That I do believe；' says I。 'But sure； you know； Billy； as well as me；
having fought against and for us； that the King and me are nothing more
than two of the finest men that God Almighty ever made。 Nothing more； I
do assure you。'
〃 'That may be；' says Billy Fish； 'and yet I should be sorry if it was。' He
sinks his head upon his great fur cloak for a minute and thinks。 'King；' says
he； 'be you man or God or Devil； I'll stick by you to…day。 I have twenty of
my men with me； and they will follow me。 We'll go to Bashkai until the
storm blows over。'
〃 A little snow had fallen in the night； and everything was white except
the greasy fat clouds that blew down and down from the north。 Dravot
came out with his crown on his head； swinging his arms and stamping his
feet； and looking more pleased than Punch。
〃 'F