` The sword , ' he said , fumbling it . ` Oh , that was a fancy of mine an old man 's fancy . Truly the police orders are that no man must bear weapons throughout Hind , but ' -- he cheered up and slapped the hilt -- ` all the constabeels hereabout know me . ' ` It is not a good fancy , ' said the lama . ` What profit to kill men ? ' ` Very little -- as I know ; but if evil men were not now and then slain it would not be a good world for weaponless dreamers . I do not speak without knowledge who have seen the land from Delhi south awash with blood . ' ` What madness was that , then ? ' ` The Gods , who sent it for a plague , alone know . A madness ate into all the Army , and they turned against their officers . That was the first evil , but not past remedy if they had then held their hands . But they chose to kill the Sahibs ' wives and children . Then came the Sahibs from over the sea and called them to most strict account . ' ` Some such rumour , I believe , reached me once long ago . They called it the Black Year , as I remember . ' ` What manner of life hast thou led , not to know The Year ? A rumour indeed ! All earth knew , and trembled ! ' ` Our earth never shook but once -- upon the day that the Excellent One received Enlightenment . ' ` Umph !
I saw XXXXX shake at least -- and Delhi is the navel of the world . '
Army Delhi Excellent Sahibs Umph constabeels dreamers first lama rumour