Remember no
blessing
of God comes on
those who try to cheat the blind.
those who try to cheat the blind.
Kipling - Poems
"
"And though I cannot see"--Dick lifted his voice a little--"yet I carry
that which has six eyes, and the driver will sit before me. If we do not
reach the English troops in the dawn he will be dead. "
"But where, in God's name, are the troops? "
"Unless thou knowest let another man ride. Dost thou know? Remember it
will be life or death to thee. "
"I know," said the driver, sullenly. "Stand back from my beast. I am
going to slip him. "
"Not so swiftly. George, hold the camel's head a moment. I want to feel
his cheek. " The hands wandered over the hide till they found the
branded half-circle that is the mark of the Biharin, the light-built
riding-camel.
"That is well. Cut this one loose.
Remember no blessing of God comes on
those who try to cheat the blind. "
The men chuckled by the fires at the camel-driver's discomfiture. He had
intended to substitute a slow, saddle-galled baggage-colt.
"Stand back! " one shouted, lashing the Biharin under the belly with a
quirt. Dick obeyed as soon as he felt the nose-string tighten in his
hand,--and a cry went up, "Illaha! Aho! He is loose. "
With a roar and a grunt the Biharin rose to his feet and plunged forward
toward the desert, his driver following with shouts and lamentation.
George caught Dick's arm and hurried him stumbling and tripping past a
disgusted sentry who was used to stampeding camels.
"What's the row now? " he cried.
"Every stitch of my kit on that blasted dromedary," Dick answered, after
the manner of a common soldier.
"Go on, and take care your throat's not cut outside--you and your
dromedary's. "
The outcries ceased when the camel had disappeared behind a hillock, and
his driver had called him back and made him kneel down.
"Mount first," said Dick.
"And though I cannot see"--Dick lifted his voice a little--"yet I carry
that which has six eyes, and the driver will sit before me. If we do not
reach the English troops in the dawn he will be dead. "
"But where, in God's name, are the troops? "
"Unless thou knowest let another man ride. Dost thou know? Remember it
will be life or death to thee. "
"I know," said the driver, sullenly. "Stand back from my beast. I am
going to slip him. "
"Not so swiftly. George, hold the camel's head a moment. I want to feel
his cheek. " The hands wandered over the hide till they found the
branded half-circle that is the mark of the Biharin, the light-built
riding-camel.
"That is well. Cut this one loose.
Remember no blessing of God comes on
those who try to cheat the blind. "
The men chuckled by the fires at the camel-driver's discomfiture. He had
intended to substitute a slow, saddle-galled baggage-colt.
"Stand back! " one shouted, lashing the Biharin under the belly with a
quirt. Dick obeyed as soon as he felt the nose-string tighten in his
hand,--and a cry went up, "Illaha! Aho! He is loose. "
With a roar and a grunt the Biharin rose to his feet and plunged forward
toward the desert, his driver following with shouts and lamentation.
George caught Dick's arm and hurried him stumbling and tripping past a
disgusted sentry who was used to stampeding camels.
"What's the row now? " he cried.
"Every stitch of my kit on that blasted dromedary," Dick answered, after
the manner of a common soldier.
"Go on, and take care your throat's not cut outside--you and your
dromedary's. "
The outcries ceased when the camel had disappeared behind a hillock, and
his driver had called him back and made him kneel down.
"Mount first," said Dick.
