` For the Russians . The thing was an open jest among the coolies . Then I was called down to tell what I knew by speech of tongue . Mahbub came South too . See the end ! Over the Passes this year after snow-melting ' -- he shivered afresh -- ` come two strangers under cover of shooting wild goats . They bear guns , but they bear also chains and levels and compasses . ' ` Oho ! The thing gets clearer . ' ` They are well received by Hilas and Bunar . They make great promises ; they speak as the mouthpiece of a Kaisar with gifts . Up the valleys , down the valleys go they , saying , `` Here is a place to build a breastwork ; here can ye pitch a fort . Here can ye hold the road against an army '' -- the very roads for which I paid out the rupees monthly . The Government knows , but does nothing . The three other Kings , who were not paid for guarding the Passes , tell them by runner of the bad faith of Bunar and Hilas . When all the evil is done , look you -- when these two strangers with the levels and the compasses make the Five Kings to believe that a great army will sweep the Passes tomorrow or the next day -- Hill-people are all fools -- comes the order to me , Hurree Babu , `` Go North and see what those strangers do . '' I say to Creighton Sahib , `` This is not a lawsuit , that we go about to collect evidence . '' ' Hurree returned to his English with a jerk : '' ` By Jove , '' I said , `` why the dooce do you not issue demi-offeecial orders to some brave man to poison them , for an example ? It is , if you permit the observation , most reprehensible laxity on your part . '' And Colonel Creighton , he laughed at me !
It is all your beastly XXXXX pride .
Bunar English Hilas Hill-people Hurree compasses dooce goats laxity monthly