Maize without juice. Ho! Ho! [Footnote:
I grieve to say that the Warden of Barhwi Ford is responsible here for
two very bad puns in the vernacular.--R. K.]
I told Her the story of the breaking of the Barhwi Bridge, and She
said that I was greater than mortal man, for none may cross the Barhwi
in full flood, and I had seen what never man had seen before. Hand in
hand we went to the knoll where the dead lay, and I showed Her by what
help I had made the ford. She looked also upon the body under the
stars, for the latter end of the night was clear, and hid Her face in
Her hands, crying: 'It is the body of Hirnam Singh!' I said: 'The swine
is of more use dead than living, my Beloved,' and She said: 'Surely,
for he has saved the dearest life in the world to my love. None the
less, he cannot stay here, for that would bring shame upon me.' The
body was not a gunshot from Her door.
Then said I, rolling the body with my hands: 'God hath judged between
us, Hirnam Singh, that thy blood might not be upon my head. Now, whether
I have done thee a wrong in keeping thee from the burning-ghat, do
thou and the crows settle together.
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