The Works of Rudyard Kipling; Plain Tales from the Hills, with a Biographical Sketch by Charles Eliot Norton. REV. Ed Volume 10 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... as when a sand-bar breaks m clotted spume and spray--When rain of later autumn sweeps the Jumna water-head, Before their charge from flank to flank our riven ranks gave way; But of the waters of that flood the Jumna fords ran red. I held by Scindia, my lord, as close as man might hold; A Soobah of the Deccan asks no aid to guard his life; But Holkar's Horse were flying, and our chief est chiefs were cold, And like a flame among us leapt the long lean Northern knife. I held by Scindia--my lance from butt to tuft was dyed, The froth of battle bossed the shield and roped the bridle-chain--What time beneath our horses' feet a maiden rose and cried, And clung to Scindia, and I turned a Ford-cut from the twain. (He set a spell upon the maid in woodlands long ago, A hunter by the Tapti banks she gave him water there: He turned her heart to water, and she followed to her woe. What need had he of Lalun who had twenty maids as fair?) Now in that hour strength left my lord; he wrenched his mare aside;. He bound the girl behind him and we slashed and struggled free. Across the reeling wreck of strife we rode as shadows ride From Paniput to Delhi town, but not alone were we. 'Twas Lutuf-Ullah Populzai laid horse upon our track, A swine-fed reiver of the North that lusted for the maid; I might have barred his path awhile, but Scindia called me back, And I--Oh woe for Scindia --I listened and obeyed. League after league the formless scrub took shape and glided by--League after league the white road swirled behind the white mare's feet--League after league, when leagues were done, we heard the Populzai, Where sure as Time and swift as Death the tireless footfall beat. Noon's eye beheld that shame of flight, the shadows fell, we fled Where steadfast as the...