Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/139

 Then I knew, the while I doubted—knew His Hand was certain o'er me. Still—it might be self-delusion—scores of better men had died— I could reach the township living, but. . . He knows what terror tore me. . . But I didn't. . .but I didn't. I went down the other side.

Till the snow ran out in flowers, and the flowers turned to aloes, And the aloes sprung to thickets and a brimming stream ran by; But the thickets dwined to thorn-scrub, and the water drained to shallows, And I dropped again on desert—blasted earth, and blasting sky. . ..

I remember lighting fires; I remember sitting by 'em; I remember seeing faces, hearing voices, through the smoke; I remember they were fancy—for I threw a stone to try 'em. "Something lost behind the Ranges" was the only word they spoke.

I remember going crazy. I remember that I knew it When I heard myself hallooing to the funny folk I saw. 'Very full of dreams that desert, but my two legs took me through it. . . And I used to watch 'em moving with the toes all black and raw.

But at last the country altered—White Man's country past disputing— Rolling grass and open timber, with a hint of hills behind— There I found me food and water, and I lay a week recruiting. Got my strength and lost my nightmares. Then I entered on my find.