Page:Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, Kipling, 1899.djvu/203

Rh There was a hound of Hindustan had struck a Euzufzai,

Wherefore they spat upon his face and led him out to die.

It chanced the King went forth that hour when throat was bared to knife;

The Kaffir grovelled under-hoof and clamoured for his life.

Then said the King: "Have hope, O friend! Yea, Death disgraced is hard;

"Much honour shall be thine"; and called the Captain of the Guard,

Yar Khan, a bastard of the Blood, so city-babble saith,

And he was honoured of the King—the which is salt to Death;

And he was son of Daoud Shah the Reiver of the Plains,

And blood of old Durani Lords ran fire in his veins;

And 'twas to tame an Afghan pride nor Hell nor Heaven could bind,

The King would make him butcher to a yelping cur of Hind.