I am but a Lepcha of Darjiling, and yet the stuff"--
"Which thou hast stolen," said I.
"Nay, surely. Did I steal? I desired it so. The stuff--the stuff. What else
should I have done with the stuff?" He twisted the velvet between his fingers.
"But the sin of maiming the cow--consider that."
"Oh, sahib, the man betrayed me; the heifer's tail waved in the moonlight, and
I had my knife. What else should I have done? The tail came off ere I was
aware. Sahib, thou knowest more than I."
"That is true," said I. "Stay within the door. I go to speak to the king." The
population of the state were ranged on the hillside. I went forth and spoke.
"O king," said I, "touching this man, there be two courses open to thy wisdom.
Thou canst either hang him from a tree--him and his brood--till there remains
no hair that is red within thy land."
"Nay," said the king. "Why should I hurt the little children?"
They had poured out of the hut and were making plump obeisances to everybody.
Namgay Doola waited at the door with his gun across his arm.
"Or thou canst, discarding their impiety of the cow-maiming, raise him to honor
in thy army. He comes of a race that will not pay revenue. A red flame is in
his blood which comes out at the top of his head in that glowing hair.
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