No More Learning

"What occupation would be to me between
crop and crop? It is better than scaring bears. But these people do not
understand. "

He picked the masks off the floor and looked in my face as simply as a
child.

"By what road didst thou attain knowledge to make those deviltries? " I
said, pointing.

"I cannot tell. I am but a Lepcha of Darjiling, and yet the stuff"--

"Which thou hast stolen," said I.

"Nay, surely. Did I steal? I desired it so. The stuff--the stuff. What
else should I have done with the stuff? " He twisted the velvet between
his fingers.

"But the sin of maiming the cow--consider that.
"

"Oh, sahib, the man betrayed me; the heifer's tail waved in the
moonlight, and I had my knife. What else should I have done? The tail
came off ere I was aware. Sahib, thou knowest more than I. "

"That is true," said I. "Stay within the door. I go to speak to the
king. " The population of the state were ranged on the hillside. I went
forth and spoke.

"O king," said I, "touching this man, there be two courses open to thy
wisdom. Thou canst either hang him from a tree--him and his brood--till
there remains no hair that is red within thy land. "

"Nay," said the king. "Why should I hurt the little children? "

They had poured out of the hut and were making plump obeisances to
everybody. Namgay Doola waited at the door with his gun across his arm.

"Or thou canst, discarding their impiety of the cow-maiming, raise him
to honor in thy army.