25

Kamal has gripped him by the hand and set him upon his
feet.
"No talk shall be of dogs," said he, "when wolf and gray
wolf meet.
May I eat dirt if thou hast hurt of me in deed or breath;
What dam of lances brought thee forth to jest at the dawn
with Death?"

Lightly answered the Colonel's son: "I hold by the blood
of my clan: 5
Take up the mare of my father's gift--by God, she has
carried a man!"
The red mare ran to the Colonel's son and nuzzled against
his breast,
"We be two strong men," said Kamal then, "but she loveth 10
the younger best.
So she shall go with the lifter's dower, my turquoise-studded
rein,
My broidered saddle and saddlecloth, and silver stirrups
twain." 15

The Colonel's son a pistol drew and held it muzzle end,
"Ye have taken the one from a foe," said he; "will ye take
the mate from a friend?"

"A gift for a gift," said Kamal straight; "a limb for the
risk of a limb. 20
Thy father has sent his son to me, I'll send my son to him!"
With that he whistled his only son, that dropped from a
mountain crest--
He trod the ling like a buck in spring, and he looked like
a lance in rest. 25
"Now here is thy master," Kamal said, "who leads a troop
of the Guides,
And thou must ride at his left side as shield on shoulder
rides.

"Till Death or I cut loose the tie, at camp and board and
bed.
Thy life is his--thy fate it is to guard him with thy head.
So thou must eat the White Queen's meat, and all her foes
are thine, 5
And thou must harry thy father's hold for the peace of the
Border line,
And thou must make a trooper tough and hack thy way to
power--
Belike they will raise thee to Ressaldar when I am hanged 10
in Peshawar."

They have looked each other between the eyes and there
they found no fault,
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on
leavened bread and salt;