“’Forthelasttime，dropit，Dan，’saysI，inawhisper；’BillyFishheresaysthattherewillbearow。’
“’Arowamongmypeople！’saysDravot’NotmuchPeachey，you’reafoolnottogetawifetooWhere’sthegirl？’sayshe，withavoiceasloudasthebrayingofajackass’CallupalltheChiefsandpriests，andlettheEmperorseeifhiswifesuitshim。’
“TherewasnoneedtocallanyoneTheywereallthereleaningontheirgunsandspearsroundtheclearinginthecentreofthepinewoodAlotofpriestswentdowntothelittletempletobringupthegirl，andthehornsblewfittowakethedeadBillyFishsauntersroundandgetsasclosetoDanielashecould，andbehindhimstoodhistwentymenwithmatchlocks——notamanofthemundersixfeetIwasnexttoDravot，andbehindmewastwentymenoftheregularArmyUpcomesthegirl，andastrappingwenchshewas，coveredwithsilverandturquoises，butwhiteasdeath，andlookingbackeveryminuteatthepriests。
“’She’lldo，’saidDan，lookingherover’What’stobeafraidof，lass？Comeandkissme。’HeputshisarmroundherSheshutshereyes，givesabitofasqueak，anddowngoesherfaceinthesideofDan’sflaming-redbeard。
“’Theslut’sbittenme！’sayshe，clappinghishandtohisneck，and，sureenough，hishandwasredwithbloodBillyFishandtwoofhismatchlockmencatchesholdofDanbytheshouldersanddragshimintotheBashkailot，whilethepriestshowlsintheirlingo，’NeitherGodnorDevil，butaman！’Iwasalltakenaback，forapriestcutatmeinfront，andtheArmybehindbeganfiringintotheBashkaimen。
“’GodA’mighty！’saysDan，’whatisthemeaningo’this？’
“’Comeback！Comeaway！’saysBillyFish’RuinandMutinyisthematterWe’llbreakforBashkaiifwecan。’
“Itriedtogivesomesortoforderstomymen，——themeno’theregularArmy，——butitwasnouse，soIfiredintothebrownof’emwithanEnglishMartinianddrilledthreebeggarsinalineThevalleywasfullofshouting，howlingcreatures，andeverysoulwasshrieking，’NotaGodnoraDevil，butonlyaman！’TheBashkaitroopsstucktoBillyFishalltheywereworth，buttheirmatchlockswasn’thalfasgoodastheKabulbreech-loaders，andfourofthemdroppedDanwasbellowinglikeabull，forhewasverywrathy；
andBillyFishhadahardjobtopreventhimrunningoutatthecrowd。
“’Wecan’tstand，’saysBillyFish’Makearunforitdownthevalley！Thewholeplaceisagainstus。’Thematchlock-menran，andwewentdownthevalleyinspiteofDravotHewasswearinghorribleandcryingoutthathewasaKingThepriestsrolledgreatstonesonus，andtheregularArmyfiredhard，andtherewasn’tmorethansixmen，notcountingDan，BillyFish，andMe，thatcamedowntothebottomofthevalleyalive。
“Thentheystoppedfiring，andthehornsinthetempleblewagain。
’Comeaway——forGord’ssakecomeaway！’saysBillyFish’They’llsendrunnersouttoallthevillagesbeforeeverwegettoBashkaiI
canprotectyouthere，butIcan’tdoanythingnow。”
“MyownnotionisthatDanbegantogomadinhisheadfromthathourHestaredupanddownlikeastuckpigThenhewasallforwalkingbackaloneandkillingthepriestswithhisbarehands；
whichhecouldhavedone’AnEmperoramI，’saysDaniel，’andnextyearIshallbeaKnightoftheQueen。’
“’Allright，Dan，’saysI；’butcomealongnowwhilethere’stime。’
“’It’syourfault，’sayshe，’fornotlookingafteryourArmybetter。
Therewasmutinyinthemidst，andyoudidn’tknow——youdamnedengine-driving，plate-laying，missionary’s-pass-huntinghound！’HesatuponarockandcalledmeeveryfoulnamehecouldlaytonguetoIwastooheart-sicktocare，thoughitwasallhisfoolishnessthatbroughtthesmash。
“’I’msorry，Dan，’saysI，’butthere’snoaccountingfornativesThisbusinessisourFifty-sevenMaybewe’llmakesomethingoutofityet，whenwe’vegottoBashkai。’
“’Let’sgettoBashkai，then，’saysDan，’and，byGod，whenIcomebackhereagainI’llsweepthevalleysothereisn’tabuginablanketleft！’
“Wewalkedallthatday，andallthatnightDanwasstumpingupanddownonthesnow，chewinghisbeardandmutteringtohimself。
“’There’snohopeo’gettingclear，’saidBillyFish’ThepriestshavesentrunnerstothevillagestosaythatyouareonlymenWhydidn’tyoustickonasGodstillthingswasmoresettled？I’madeadman，’saysBillyFish，andhethrowshimselfdownonthesnowa...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：