15
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire
and fresh-cut sod,
On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and the
wondrous Names of God.

The Colonel's son he rides the mare and Kamal's boy the 20
dun,
And two have come back to Fort Bukloh where there went
forth but one.
And when they drew to the Quarter Guard, full twenty
swords flew clear-- 25
There was not a man but carried his feud with the blood of
the mountaineer.
"Ha' done! ha' done!" said the Colonel's son. "Put up
the steel at your sides!
Last night ye had struck at a Border thief--to-night 'tis a 30
man of the Guides!"

Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain
shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment
Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor 5
Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come
from the ends of the earth!

--_Departmental Ditties._

1. What do you think Kipling means by "East is
East, and West is West"? Who in the poem
represented the East? Who the West? Where is the
scene of the poem laid?

2. What incident gave rise to the ride? Interpret
the advice given by Mahommed Khan. What did he mean
in lines 14-15, page 168, and lines 12-13, page
169?

3. What happened in the first lap of the ride? In
the second? How was Mahommed Khan's advice shown to
be true? What was the climax of the chase?

4. What happened when the two chief characters met
face to face? What kind of man was Kamal? Prove
your comments from the poem.

5. How did the whole affair turn out?

6. You doubtless have read Kipling's _Jungle
Books_, and you will wish to read _Captains
Courageous_, and some of his short stories like
"Wee Willie Winkie."

Kipling married an American woman and lived for a
time at Brattleboro, Vt. He now resides in England.

_UNDER THE OPEN SKY_

_Love had he found in huts where poor men lie;
His daily teachers had been wood