mons，firingashespokeTheshotmissed，andtheshooter，blindwithrage，threwhisrifledownandrushedatSlanefromtheprotectionofthewellWithinstrikingdistance，hekickedsavagelyatSlane’sstomach，buttheweedyCorporalknewsomethingofSimmons’sweakness，andknew，too，thedeadlyguardforthatkickBowingforwardanddrawinguphisrightlegtilltheheeloftherightfootwassetsomethreeinchesabovetheinsideoftheleftknee-cap，hemettheblowstandingononeleg~exactlyasGondsstandwhentheymeditate-andreadyforthefallthatwouldfollowTherewasanoath，theCorporalfelloverhisownleftasshinbonemetshinbone，andthePrivatecollapsed，hisrightlegbrokenaninchabovetheankle。
“’Pityyoudon’tknowthatguard，Sim。”saidSlane，spittingoutthedustasheroseThenraisinghisvoic~“Comean’takehimorfI’vebruk’isleg。”Thiswasnotstrictlytrue，forthePrivatehadaccomplishedhisowndownfall，sinceitisthespecialmeritofthatleg-guardthattheharderthekickthegreaterthekicker’sdiscomfiture。
SlanewalkedtoJerryBlazesandhungoverhimwithostentatiousanxiety，whileSimmons，weepingwithpain，wascarriedaway“’Opeyouain’t’urtbadly，Sir。”saidSlaneTheMajorhadfainted，andtherewasanugly，raggedholethroughthetopofhisarmSlanekneltdownandmurmured“S’elpme，Ibelieve’e’sdeadWell，ifthatain’tmybloomingluckallover！”
ButtheMajorwasdestinedtoleadhisBatteryafieldformanyalongdaywithunshakennerveHewasremoved，andnursedandpettedintoconvalescence，whiletheBatterydiscussedthewisdomofcapturingSimmons，andblowinghimfromagunTheyidolizedtheirMajor，andhisreappearanceonparadebroughtaboutascenenowhereprovidedforintheArmyRegulations。
Great，too，wastheglorythatfelltoSlane’sshareTheGunnerswouldhavemadehimdrunkthriceadayforatleastafortnightEventheColonelofhisownregimentcomplimentedhimuponhiscoolness，andthelocalpapercalledhimaheroThesethingsdidnotpuffhimup。
WhentheMajorofferedhimmoneyandthanks，thevirtuousCorporaltooktheoneandputasidetheotherButhehadarequesttomakeandprefaceditwithmanya“Begy’pardon，Sir。”CouldtheMajorseehiswaytolettingtheSlaneM’KennaweddingbeadornedbythepresenceoffourBatteryhorsestopullahiredbarouche？TheMajorcould，andsocouldtheBatteryExcessivelysoItwasagorgeouswedding。
“WotdidIdoitfor？”saidCorporalSlane“Forthe’orses0’
courseJhansiain’tabeautytolookat，butIwasn’tgoin’to’aveahiredturn-outJerryBlazes？IfI
’adn’t’a’wantedsomething，Simmightha’blowedJerryBlazes’blooming’eadintoHirishstewforaughtI’d’a’cared。”
AndtheyhangedPrivateSimmons-hangedhimashighasHamaninhollowsquareoftheregiment；andtheColonelsaiditwasDrink；andtheChaplain248
WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
wassureitwastheDevil；andSimmonsfancieditwasboth，buthedidn’tknow，andonlyhopedhisfatewouldbeawarningtohiscompanions；andhalfadozen“intelligentpublicists“wrotesixbeautifulleadingarticleson“’ThePrevalenc~ofCrimeintheArmy。”
Butnotasoulthoughtofcomparingthe“bloody-mindedSimmons“tothesquawking，gapingschoolgirlwithwhichthisstoryopens。
TheEnlighte~me~tsofPagett，M。R
“Becausehalfadozengrasshoppersonderafernmakethefieldringwiththeirimportunatechinkwhilethousandsofgreatcattle，reposedbeneaththeshadowoftheBritishoak，chewthecudandaresilent，praydonotimaginethatthosewhomakethenoisearetheonlyinhabitantsofthefield-that，ofcourse，theyaremanyinnumber~rthat，afterall，theyareotherthanthelittle，shrivelled，meagre，hopping，thoughloudandtroublesomeinsectsofthehour。”-Burke：
“ReflectionsontheRevolutioninFrance。”
THEYweresittingintheverandaof“thesplendidpalaceofanIndianPro-Consul“；surroundedbyallthegloryandmysteryoftheimmemorialEastInplainEnglishitwasaone-storied，ten-roomed，whitewashed，mud-roofedbungalow，setinadrygardenofdustytamarisktreesanddividedfromtheroadbyalowmudwallThegre...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：