` They did not hang medals in those days on all who by accident had heard a gun fired . No ! In nineteen pitched battles was I ; in six-and-forty skirmishes of horse ; and in small affairs without number . Nine wounds I bear ; a medal and four clasps and the medal of an Order , for my captains , who are now generals , remembered me when the Kaisar-i-Hind had accomplished fifty years of her reign , and all the land rejoiced . They said : `` Give him the Order of Berittish India . '' I carry it upon my neck now . I have also my jaghir -LSB- holding -RSB- from the hands of the State -- a free gift to me and mine . The men of the old days -- they are now Commissioners -- come riding to me through the crops -- high upon horses so that all the village sees -- and we talk out the old skirmishes , one dead man 's name leading to another . ' ` And after ? ' said the lama . ` Oh , afterwards they go away , but not before my village has seen . ' ` And at the last what wilt thou do ? ' ` At the last I shall die . ' ` And after ? ' ` Let the Gods order it . I have never pestered Them with prayers . I do not think They will pester me . Look you , I have noticed in my long life that those who eternally break in upon Those Above with complaints and reports and bellowings and weepings are presently sent for in haste , as our Colonel used to send for slack-jawed down-country men who talked too much . No , I have never wearied the Gods . They will remember this , and give me a quiet place where I can drive my lance in the shade , and wait to welcome my sons : I have no less than three Rissaldar -- majors all -- in the regiments . '
` And they likewise , bound upon the Wheel , go forth from life to life -- from despair to despair , ' said the XXXXX below his breath , ` hot , uneasy , snatching . '
India Rissaldar State accident bellowings days jaghir lama weepings years