首页 >出版文学> The Works of Rudyard Kipling One>第18章
  Seethenewdraf’spourin’infortheoldcampaign;
  Ho,youpoorrecruities,butyou’vegottoearnyourpay——
  What’sthelastfromLunnon,lads?We’regoin’thereto-day。
  Troopin’,troopin’,giveanothercheer——
  ’Ere’stoEnglishwomenan’aquartofEnglishbeer。
  TheColonelan’theregimentan’allwho’vegottostay,Gawd’smercystrike’emgentle——Whoop!we’regoin’’ometo-day。
  We’regoin’’ome,we’regoin’’ome,Ourshipisattheshore,An’youmustpackyour’aversack,Forwewon’tcomebacknomore。
  Ho,don’tyougrieveforme,MylovelyMary-Ann,ForI’llmarryyouyitonafourp’nybitAsatime-expiredman。
  FORDO’KABULRIVER
  Kabultown’sbyKabulriver——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  ThereIlef’mymateforever,Wetan’drippin’bytheford。
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  There’stheriverupandbrimmin’,an’there’s’arfasquadronswimmin’
  ’Crossthefordo’Kabulriverinthedark。
  Kabultown’sablastedplace——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  ’StrewthIsha’n’tforget’isfaceWetan’drippin’bytheford!
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  Keepthecrossing-stakesbesideyou,an’theywillsurelyguideyou’Crossthefordo’Kabulriverinthedark。
  Kabultownissunanddust——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  I’dha’soonerdrowndedfust’Steadof’imbesidetheford。
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  Youcan’earthe’orsesthreshin’,youcan’earthemena-splashin’,’Crossthefordo’Kabulriverinthedark。
  Kabultownwasourstotake——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  I’dha’leftitfor’issake——
  ’Imthatleftmebytheford。
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  It’snonesobloomin’drythere;ain’tyounevercomin’nighthere,’Crossthefordo’Kabulriverinthedark?
  Kabultown’llgotohell——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  ’ForeIseehim’livean’well——
  ’Imthebestbesidetheford。
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  Gawd’elp’emiftheyblunder,fortheirboots’llpull’emunder,Bythefordo’Kabulriverinthedark。
  Turnyour’orsefromKabultown——
  Blowthebugle,drawthesword——
  ’Iman’’arfmytroopisdown,Downan’drowndedbytheford。
  Ford,ford,fordo’Kabulriver,Fordo’Kabulriverinthedark!
  There’stheriverlowan’fallin’,butitain’tnouseo’callin’
  ’Crossthefordo’Kabulriverinthedark。
  ROUTEMARCHIN’
  We’remarchin’onreliefoverInjia’ssunnyplains,Alittlefronto’Christmas-timean’justbe’indtheRains;
  Ho!getawayyoubullock-man,you’ve’eardthebugleblowed,There’saregimenta-comin’downtheGrandTrunkRoad;
  WithitsbestfootfirstAndtheroada-slidingpast,An’everybloomin’campin’-groundexactlylikethelast;
  WhiletheBigDrumsays,With’is“rowdy-dowdy-dow!”——
  “Kikokissywarstidon’tyouhamsherargyjow?”
  Oh,there’sthemInjiantemplestoadmirewhenyousee,There’sthepeacockroundthecorneran’themonkeyupthetree,An’there’sthatrummysilvergrassa-wavin’inthewind,An’theoldGrandTrunka-trailin’likearifle-slingbe’ind。
  Whileit’sbestfootfirst,。
  Athalf-pastfive’sRevelly,an’ourtentstheydownmustcome,Likealotofbuttonmushroomswhenyoupick’emupat’ome。
  Butit’soverinaminute,an’atsixthecolumnstarts,Whilethewomenandthekiddiessitan’shiverinthecarts。
  An’it’sbestfootfirst,。
  Oh,thenit’sopenorder,an’welightsourpipesan’sings,An’wetalksaboutourrationsan’alotofotherthings,An’wethinkso’friendsinEngland,an’wewonderswhatthey’reat,An’’owtheywouldadmirefortohearusslingthebat。1
  An’it’sbestfootfirst,。
  It’snonesobado’Sunday,whenyou’relyin’atyourease,Towatchthekitesa-wheelin’roundthemfeather-’eadedtrees,Foralthoughthereain’tnowomen,yetthereain’tnobarrick-yards,Sotheorficersgoesshootin’an’thementheyplaysatcards。
  Tillit’sbestfootfirst,。
  So’arkan’’eed,yourookies,whichisalwaysgrumblin’sore,There’sworserthingsthanmarchin’fromUmballatoCawnpore;
  An’ifyour’eelsareblisteredan’theyfeelsto’urtlike’ell,Youdropsometallowinyoursocksan’thatwillmake’emwell。
  Forit’sbestfootfirst,。
  We’remarchin’onreliefoverInjia’scoralstrand,Eight’undredfightin’Englishmen,theColonel,andtheBand;
  Ho!getawayyoubullock-man,you’ve’eardthebugleblowed,There’saregimenta-comin’downtheGrandTrunkRoad;
  WithitsbestfootfirstAndtheroada-slidingpast,An’everybloomin’campin’-groundexactlylikethelast;
  WhiletheBigDrumsays,With’is“rowdy-dowdy-dow!”——
  “Kikokissywarstidon’tyouhamsherargyjow?”2
  1Thomas’sfirstandfirmestconvictionisthatheisaprofoundOrientalistandafluentspeakerofHindustaniAsamatteroffact,hedependslargelyonthesign-language。
  2Whydon’tyougetonTheendVOLUMEIIITHEPHANTOM’RICKSHAWANDOTHER
  GHOSTSTORIES
  THEPHANTOM’RICKSHAW
  Maynoilldreamsdisturbmyrest,NorPowersofDarknessmemolest-
  EveningHymn。
  ONEofthefewadvantagesthatIndiahasoverEnglandisagreatKnowabilityAfterfiveyears’serviceamanisdirectlyorindirectlyacquaintedwiththetwoorthreehundredCiviliansinhisProvince,alltheMessesoftenortwelveRegimentsandBatteries,andsomefifteenhundredotherpeopleofthenon-officialcasteIntenyearshisknowledgeshouldbedoubled,andattheendoftwentyheknows,orknowssomethingabout,everyEnglishmanintheEmpire,andmaytravelanywhereandeverywherewithoutpayinghotel-bills。
  Globe-trotterswhoexpectentertainmentasaright,have,evenwithinmymemory,bluntedthisopen-heartedness,butnonethelessto-day,ifyoubelongtotheInnerCircleandareneitheraBearnoraBlackSheep,allhousesareopentoyou,andoursmallworldisvery,verykindandhelpful。
  RickettofKamarthastayedwithPolderofKumaonsomefifteenyearsagoHemeanttostaytwonights,butwasknockeddownbyrheumaticfever,andforsixweeksdisorganizedPolder’sestablishment,stoppedPolder’swork,andnearlydiedinPolder’sbedroomPolderbehavesasthoughhehadbeenplacedundereternalobligationbyRickett,andyearlysendsthelittleRickettsaboxofpresentsandtoysItisthesameeverywhereThemenwhodonottakethetroubletoconcealfromyoutheiropinionthatyouareanincompetentass,andthewomenwhoblackenyourcharacterandmisunderstandyourwife’samusements,willworkthemselvestotheboneinyourbehalfifyoufallsickorintoserioustrouble。
  Heatherlegh,theDoctor,kept,inadditiontohisregularpractice,ahospitalonhisprivateaccount-anarrangementoflooseboxesforIncurables,hisfriendcalledit-butitwasreallyasortoffitting-upshedforcraftthathadbeendamagedbystressofweatherTheweatherinIndiaisoftensultry,andsincethetaleofbricksisalwaysafixedquantity,andtheonlylibertyallowedispermissiontoworkovertimeandgetnothanks,menoccasionallybreakdownandbecomeasmixedasthemetaphorsinthissentence。
  Heatherleghisthedearestdoctorthateverwas,andhisinvariableprescriptiontoallhispatientsis,“lielow,goslow,andkeepcool。”
  HesaysthatmoremenarekilledbyoverworkthantheimportanceofthisworldjustifiesHemaintainsthatoverworkslewPansay,whodiedunderhishandsaboutthreeyearsagoHehas,ofcourse,therighttospeakauthoritatively,andhelaughsatmytheorythattherewasacrackinPansay’sheadandalittlebitoftheDarkWorldcamethroughandpressedhimtodeath“Pansaywentoffthehandle。”saysHeatherlegh,“afterthestimulusoflongleaveatHomeHemayorhemaynothavebehavedlikeablackguardtoMrsKeith-WessingtonMynotionisthattheworkoftheKatabundiSettlementranhimoffhislegs,andthathetooktobroodingandmakingmuchofanordinaryP&0flirtationHecertainlywasengagedtoMissMannering,andshecertainlybrokeofftheengagementThenhetookafeverishchillandallthatnonsenseaboutghostsdevelopedOverworkstartedhisillness,keptitalight,andkilledhimpoordevilWritehimofftotheSystem-onemantotaketheworkoftwoandahalfmen。”
  IdonotbelievethisIusedtositupwithPansaysometimeswhenHeatherleghwascalledouttopatients,andIhappenedtobewithinclaimThemanwouldmakememostunhappybydescribinginalow,evenvoice,theprocessionthatwasalwayspassingatthebottomofhisbedHehadasickman’scommandoflanguage。
  WhenherecoveredIsuggestedthatheshouldwriteoutthewholeaffairfrombeginningtoend,knowingthatinkmightassisthimtoeasehismindWhenlittleboyshavelearnedanewbadwordtheyareneverhappytilltheyhavechalkedituponadoorAndthisalsoisLiterature。
  Hewasinahighfeverwhilehewaswriting,andtheblood-and-
  thunderMagazinedictionheadopteddidnotcalmhimTwomonthsafterwardhewasreportedfitforduty,but,inspiteofthefactthathewasurgentlyneededtohelpanundermannedCommissionstaggerthroughadeficit,hepreferredtodie;vowingatthelastthathewashag-riddenIgothismanuscriptbeforehedied,andthisishisversionoftheaffair,dated1885:
  MydoctortellsmethatIneedrestandchangeofairItisnotimprobablethatIshallgetbotherelong-restthatneitherthered-coatedmessengernorthemiddayguncanbreak,andchangeofairfarbeyondthatwhichanyhomeward-boundsteamercangivemeInthemeantimeIamresolvedtostaywhereIam;and,inflatdefianceofmydoctor’sorders,totakealltheworldintomyconfidenceYoushalllearnforyourselvestheprecisenatureofmymalady;andshall,too,judgeforyourselveswhetheranymanbornofwomanonthiswearyearthwaseversotormentedasI。
  Speakingnowasacondemnedcriminalmightspeakerethedrop-boltsaredrawn,mystory,wildandhideouslyimprobableasitmayappear,demandsatleastattentionThatitwilleverreceivecredenceIutterlydisbelieveTwomonthsagoIshouldhavescoutedasmadordrunkthemanwhohaddaredtellmethelike。
  TwomonthsagoIwasthehappiestmaninIndiaToday,fromPeshawurtothesea,thereisnoonemorewretchedMydoctorandIaretheonlytwowhoknowthisHisexplanationis,thatmybrain,digestion,andeyesightareallslightlyaffected;givingrisetomyfrequentandpersistent“delusions。”Delusions,indeed!I
  callhimafool;butheattendsmestillwiththesameunweariedsmile,thesameblandprofessionalmanner,thesameneatlytrimmedredwhiskers,tillIbegintosuspectthatIamanungrateful,evil-temperedinvalidButyoushalljudgeforyour-selves。
  ThreeyearsagoitwasmyfortunemygreatmisfortunetosailfromGravesendtoBombay,onreturnfromlongleave,withoneAgnesKeith-Wessington,wifeofanofficerontheBombaysideItdoesnotintheleastconcernyoutoknowwhatmannerofwomanshewasBecontentwiththeknowledgethat,erethevoyagehadended,bothsheandIweredesperatelyandunreasoninglyinlovewithoneanotherHeavenknowsthatIcanmaketheadmissionnowwithoutoneparticleofvanityInmattersofthissortthereisalwaysonewhogivesandanotherwhoacceptsFromthefirstdayofourill-omenedattachment,IwasconsciousthatAgnes’spassionwasastronger,amoredominant,and-ifImayusetheexpression-apurersentimentthanmineWhethersherecognizedthefactthen,IdonotknowAfterwarditwasbitterlyplaintobothofus。
  ArrivedatBombayinthespringoftheyear,wewentourrespectiveways,tomeetnomoreforthenextthreeorfourmonths,whenmyleaveandherlovetookusbothtoSimlaTherewespenttheseasontogether;andtheremyfireofstrawburneditselfouttoapitifulendwiththeclosingyearIattemptnoexcuseImakenoapologyMrsWessingtonhadgivenupmuchformysake,andwaspreparedtogiveupallFrommyownlips,inAugust,1882,shelearnedthatIwassickofherpresence,tiredofhercompany,andwearyofthesoundofhervoiceNinety-ninewomenoutofahundredwouldhaveweariedofmeasIweariedofthem;seventy-fiveofthatnumberwouldhavepromptlyavengedthemselvesbyactiveandobtrusiveflirtation’withothermenMrs。
  WessingtonwasthehundredthOnherneithermyopenlyexpressedaversionnorthecuttingbrutalitieswithwhichI
  garnishedourinterviewshadtheleasteffect。
  “Jack,darling!”washeroneeternalcuckoocry:“I’msureit’sallamistake-ahideousmistake;andwe’llbegoodfriendsagainsomedayPleaseforgiveme,Jack,dear。”