un he leaned against the bit and slugged his head
above,
But the red mare played with the snaffle bars, as a maiden
plays with a glove. 10
There was rock to the left and rock to the right, and low,
lean thorn between,
And thrice he heard a breech bolt snick tho' never a man
was seen.

They have ridden the low moon out of the sky, their hoofs 15
drum up the dawn,
The dun he went like a wounded bull, but the mare like a
new-roused fawn.
The dun he fell at a watercourse--in a woeful heap fell he,
And Kamal has turned the red mare back, and pulled the 20
rider free.

He has knocked the pistol out of his hand--small room
was there to strive,
"'Twas only by favor of mine," quoth he, "ye rode so long
alive: 25
There was not a rock for twenty mile, there was not a clump
of tree,
But covered a man of my own men with his rifle cocked on
his knee.

"If I had raised my bridle hand, as I have held it low,
The little jackals that flee so fast were feasting all in a row:
If I had bowed my head on my breast, as I have held it high,
The kite that whistles above us now were gorged till she
could not fly." 5

Lightly answered the Colonel's son: "Do good to bird and
beast,
But count who come for the broken meats before thou
makest a feast.
If there should follow a thousand swords to carry my 10
bones away,
Belike the price of a jackal's meal were more than a thief
could pay.

"They will feed their horse on the standing crop, their men
on the garnered grain, 15
The thatch of the byres will serve their fires when all the
cattle are slain.
But if thou thinkest the price be fair,--thy brethren wait
to sup.
The hound is kin to the jackal spawn,--howl, dog, and 20
call them up!
And if thou thinkest the price be high, in steer and gear and
stack,
Give me my father's mare again, and I'll fight my own way
back!"