Ileftthemstillporingoverthemapsandmakingnotesonthebackofthe“Contrack。”“BesuretocomedowntotheSeraito-morrow。”
weretheirpartingwords。
TheKumharsenSeraiisthegreatfoursquaresinkofhumanitywherethestringsofcamelsandhorsesfromtheNorthloadandunloadAllthenationalitiesofCentralAsiamaybefoundthere，andmostofthefolkofIndiaproperBalkhandBokharatheremeetBengalandBombay，andtrytodraweye-teethYoucanbuyponies，turquoises，Persianpussy-cats，saddle-bags，fat-tailedsheep，andmuskintheKumharsenSerai，andgetmanystrangethingsfornothingIntheafternoonIwentdowntoseewhethermyfriendsintendedtokeeptheirwordorwerelyingtheredrunk。
Apriestattiredinfragmentsofribbonsandragsstalkeduptome，gravelytwistingachild’spaperwhirligigBehindhimwashisservantbendingundertheloadofacrateofmudtoysThetwowereloadinguptwocamels，andtheinhabitantsoftheSeraiwatchedthemwithshrieksoflaughter。
“Thepriestismad。”saidahorse-dealertome“HeisgoinguptoKabultoselltoystotheAmirHewilleitherberaisedtohonourorhavehisheadcutoffHecameinherethismorningandhasbeenbehavingmadlyeversince。”
“ThewitlessareundertheprotectionofGod。”stammeredaflat-
cheekedUsbeginbrokenHindi“Theyforetellfutureevents。”
“WouldtheycouldhaveforetoldthatmycaravanwouldhavebeencutupbytheShinwarisalmostwithinshadowofthePass！”
gruntedtheEusufzaiagentofaRajputanatrading-housewhosegoodshadbeendivertedintothehandsofotherrobbersjustacrosstheBorder，andwhosemisfortuneswerethelaughing-stockofthebazaar“Ohe，priest，whencecomeyouandwhitherdoyougo？”
“FromRoumhaveIcome。”shoutedthepriest，wavinghiswhirligig；“fromRoum，blownbythebreathofahundreddevilsacrossthesea！Othieves，robbers，liars，theblessingofPirKhanonpigs，dogs，andperjurers！WhowilltaketheProtectedofGodtotheNorthtosellcharmsthatareneverstilltotheAmir？Thecamelsshallnotgall，thesonsshallnotfallsick，andthewivesshallremainfaithfulwhiletheyareaway，ofthemenwhogivemeplaceintheircaravanWhowillassistmetoslippertheKingoftheRooswithagoldenslipperwithasilverheel？TheprotectionofPirKhanbeuponhislabours！”Hespreadouttheskirtsofhisgabardineandpirouettedbetweenthelinesoftetheredhorses。
“TherestartsacaravanfromPeshawartoKabulintwentydays，Huzrut。”saidtheEusufzaitrader“MycamelsgotherewithDothoualsogoandbringusgoodluck。”
“Iwillgoevennow！”shoutedthepriest“Iwilldepartuponmywingedcamels，andbeatPeshawarinaday！Ho！HazarMirKhan。”heyelledtohisservant，“driveoutthecamels，butletmefirstmountmyown。”
Heleapedonthebackofhisbeastasitknelt，and，turningroundtome，cried，“Comethoualso，Sahib，alittlealongtheroad，andI
willselltheeacharm——anamuletthatshallmaketheeKingofKafiristan。”
Thenthelightbrokeuponme，andIfollowedthetwocamelsoutoftheSeraitillwereachedopenroadandthepriesthalted。
“Whatd’youthinko’that？”saidheinEnglish“Carnehancan’ttalktheirpatter，soI’vemadehimmyservantHemakesahandsomeservant’Tisn’tfornothingthatI’vebeenknockingaboutthecountryforfourteenyearsDidn’tIdothattalkneat？We’llhitchontoacaravanatPeshawartillwegettoJagdallak，andthenwe’llseeifwecangetdonkeysforourcamels，andstrikeintoKafiristan。
WhirligigsfortheAmir，OLor’！Putyourhandunderthecamelbagsandtellmewhatyoufeel。”
IfeltthebuttofaMartini，andanotherandanother。
“Twentyof’em。”saidDravot，placidly“Twentyof’emandammunitiontocorrespond，underthewhirligigsandthemuddolls。”
“Heavenhelpyouifyouarecaughtwiththosethings！”Isaid“A
MartiniisworthherweightinsilveramongthePathans。”
“Fifteenhundredrupeesofcapital——everyrupeewecouldbeg，borrow，orsteal——areinvestedonthesetwocamels。”saidDravot。
“Wewon’tgetcaughtWe’regoingthroughtheKhaiberwitharegularcaravanWho’dtouchapoormadpriest？”
“Haveyougoteverythingyouwant？”Iasked，overcomewithastonishment。
“Notyet，butweshalls...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：