They say that beyond Tanai-el-Hassan
the English troops go forward, and everything that they require will be
brought to them by this line.
the English troops go forward, and everything that they require will be
brought to them by this line.
Kipling - Poems
Madame had said a great deal both to
George and the captain touching the arrangements that were to be made
for Dick's benefit. Very few men who had the honour of her acquaintance
cared to disregard Madame's advice. That sort of contempt might end in
being knifed by a stranger in a gambling hell upon surprisingly short
provocation.
For six days--two of them were wasted in the crowded Canal--the
little steamer worked her way to Suakin, where she was to pick up the
superintendent of the lighthouse; and Dick made it his business to
propitiate George, who was distracted with fears for the safety of his
light-of-love and half inclined to make Dick responsible for his own
discomfort. When they arrived George took him under his wing, and
together they entered the red-hot seaport, encumbered with the material
and wastage of the Suakin-Berger line, from locomotives in disconsolate
fragments to mounds of chairs and pot-sleepers.
"If you keep with me," said George, "nobody will ask for passports or
what you do. They are all very busy. "
"Yes; but I should like to hear some of the Englishmen talk. They might
remember me. I was known here a long time ago--when I was some one
indeed. "
"A long time ago is a very long time ago here. The graveyards are full.
Now listen. This new railway runs out so far as Tanai-el-Hassan--that is
seven miles. Then there is a camp.
They say that beyond Tanai-el-Hassan
the English troops go forward, and everything that they require will be
brought to them by this line. "
"Ah! Base camp. I see. That's a better business than fighting Fuzzies in
the open. "
"For this reason even the mules go up in the iron-train. "
"Iron what? "
"It is all covered with iron, because it is still being shot at. "
"An armoured train. Better and better! Go on, faithful George. "
"And I go up with my mules tonight. Only those who particularly require
to go to the camp go out with the train. They begin to shoot not far
from the city. "
"The dears--they always used to! " Dick snuffed the smell of parched
dust, heated iron, and flaking paint with delight.
George and the captain touching the arrangements that were to be made
for Dick's benefit. Very few men who had the honour of her acquaintance
cared to disregard Madame's advice. That sort of contempt might end in
being knifed by a stranger in a gambling hell upon surprisingly short
provocation.
For six days--two of them were wasted in the crowded Canal--the
little steamer worked her way to Suakin, where she was to pick up the
superintendent of the lighthouse; and Dick made it his business to
propitiate George, who was distracted with fears for the safety of his
light-of-love and half inclined to make Dick responsible for his own
discomfort. When they arrived George took him under his wing, and
together they entered the red-hot seaport, encumbered with the material
and wastage of the Suakin-Berger line, from locomotives in disconsolate
fragments to mounds of chairs and pot-sleepers.
"If you keep with me," said George, "nobody will ask for passports or
what you do. They are all very busy. "
"Yes; but I should like to hear some of the Englishmen talk. They might
remember me. I was known here a long time ago--when I was some one
indeed. "
"A long time ago is a very long time ago here. The graveyards are full.
Now listen. This new railway runs out so far as Tanai-el-Hassan--that is
seven miles. Then there is a camp.
They say that beyond Tanai-el-Hassan
the English troops go forward, and everything that they require will be
brought to them by this line. "
"Ah! Base camp. I see. That's a better business than fighting Fuzzies in
the open. "
"For this reason even the mules go up in the iron-train. "
"Iron what? "
"It is all covered with iron, because it is still being shot at. "
"An armoured train. Better and better! Go on, faithful George. "
"And I go up with my mules tonight. Only those who particularly require
to go to the camp go out with the train. They begin to shoot not far
from the city. "
"The dears--they always used to! " Dick snuffed the smell of parched
dust, heated iron, and flaking paint with delight.
