And thou ? ' He dived into a clump of stunted firs . ` Unhurt . Come away . We go with these folk to Shamlegh-under-the-Snow . ' ` But not before we have done justice , ' a voice cried . ' I have got the Sahibs ' guns -- all four . Let us go down . ' ` He struck the Holy One -- we saw it ! Our cattle will be barren -- our wives will cease to bear ! The snows will slide upon us as we go home ... Atop of all other oppression too ! ' The little fir-clump filled with clamouring coolies -- panic-stricken , and in their terror capable of anything . The man from Ao-chung clicked the breech-bolt of his gun impatiently , and made as to go downhill . ` Wait a little , Holy One ; they can not go far . Wait till I return , ' said he . ` It is this person who has suffered wrong , ' said the lama , his hand over his brow . ` For that very reason , ' was the reply . ` If this person overlooks it , your hands are clean . Moreover , ye acquire merit by obedience . ' ` Wait , and we will all go to Shamlegh together , ' the man insisted .
For a moment , for just so long as it needs to stuff a cartridge into a breech-loader , the XXXXX hesitated .
Ao-chung Sahibs Shamlegh Shamlegh-under-the-Snow Unhurt breech-bolt brow coolies firs lama