"What's the one thing in the Nilghai Saga that I've never drawn in
the Nungapunga Book?
the Nungapunga Book?
Kipling - Poems
"
"All for your good," said Torpenhow, not in the least with reference to
past clowning. "It would let you focus things at their proper worth and
prevent your becoming slack in this hothouse of a town. Indeed it would,
old man. I shouldn't have spoken if I hadn't thought so. Only, you make
a joke of everything. "
"Before God I do no such thing," said Dick, quickly and earnestly. "You
don't know me if you think that. "
"I don't think it," said the Nilghai.
"How can fellows like ourselves, who know what life and death really
mean, dare to make a joke of anything? I know we pretend it, to save
ourselves from breaking down or going to the other extreme. Can't I see,
old man, how you're always anxious about me, and try to advise me to
make my work better? Do you suppose I don't think about that myself? But
you can't help me--you can't help me--not even you. I must play my own
hand alone in my own way. "
"Hear, hear," from the Nilghai.
"What's the one thing in the Nilghai Saga that I've never drawn in
the Nungapunga Book? " Dick continued to Torpenhow, who was a little
astonished at the outburst.
Now there was one blank page in the book given over to the sketch that
Dick had not drawn of the crowning exploit in the Nilghai's life; when
that man, being young and forgetting that his body and bones belonged to
the paper that employed him, had ridden over sunburned slippery grass
in the rear of Bredow's brigade on the day that the troopers flung
themselves at Caurobert's artillery, and for aught they knew twenty
battalions in front, to save the battered 24th German Infantry, to give
time to decide the fate of Vionville, and to learn ere their remnant
came back to Flavigay that cavalry can attack and crumple and break
unshaken infantry. Whenever he was inclined to think over a life that
might have been better, an income that might have been larger, and
a soul that might have been considerably cleaner, the Nilghai would
comfort himself with the thought, "I rode with Bredow's brigade at
Vionville," and take heart for any lesser battle the next day might
bring.
"I know," he said very gravely. "I was always glad that you left it
out. "
"I left it out because Nilghai taught me what the Germany army learned
then, and what Schmidt taught their cavalry. I don't know German.
What is it? 'Take care of the time and the dressing will take care of
itself. ' I must ride my own line to my own beat, old man. "
"Tempe ist richtung. You've learned your lesson well," said the Nilghai.
"He must go alone. He speaks truth, Torp. "
"Maybe I'm as wrong as I can be--hideously wrong.
"All for your good," said Torpenhow, not in the least with reference to
past clowning. "It would let you focus things at their proper worth and
prevent your becoming slack in this hothouse of a town. Indeed it would,
old man. I shouldn't have spoken if I hadn't thought so. Only, you make
a joke of everything. "
"Before God I do no such thing," said Dick, quickly and earnestly. "You
don't know me if you think that. "
"I don't think it," said the Nilghai.
"How can fellows like ourselves, who know what life and death really
mean, dare to make a joke of anything? I know we pretend it, to save
ourselves from breaking down or going to the other extreme. Can't I see,
old man, how you're always anxious about me, and try to advise me to
make my work better? Do you suppose I don't think about that myself? But
you can't help me--you can't help me--not even you. I must play my own
hand alone in my own way. "
"Hear, hear," from the Nilghai.
"What's the one thing in the Nilghai Saga that I've never drawn in
the Nungapunga Book? " Dick continued to Torpenhow, who was a little
astonished at the outburst.
Now there was one blank page in the book given over to the sketch that
Dick had not drawn of the crowning exploit in the Nilghai's life; when
that man, being young and forgetting that his body and bones belonged to
the paper that employed him, had ridden over sunburned slippery grass
in the rear of Bredow's brigade on the day that the troopers flung
themselves at Caurobert's artillery, and for aught they knew twenty
battalions in front, to save the battered 24th German Infantry, to give
time to decide the fate of Vionville, and to learn ere their remnant
came back to Flavigay that cavalry can attack and crumple and break
unshaken infantry. Whenever he was inclined to think over a life that
might have been better, an income that might have been larger, and
a soul that might have been considerably cleaner, the Nilghai would
comfort himself with the thought, "I rode with Bredow's brigade at
Vionville," and take heart for any lesser battle the next day might
bring.
"I know," he said very gravely. "I was always glad that you left it
out. "
"I left it out because Nilghai taught me what the Germany army learned
then, and what Schmidt taught their cavalry. I don't know German.
What is it? 'Take care of the time and the dressing will take care of
itself. ' I must ride my own line to my own beat, old man. "
"Tempe ist richtung. You've learned your lesson well," said the Nilghai.
"He must go alone. He speaks truth, Torp. "
"Maybe I'm as wrong as I can be--hideously wrong.
