Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/307

 (He set a spell upon the maid in woodlands long ago, A hunter by the Tapti banks, she gave him water there: He turned her heart to water, and she followed to her woe. What need had he of Lalun who had twenty maids as fair?)

Now in that hour strength left my lord; he wrenched his mare aside; He bound the girl behind him and we slashed and struggled free. Across the reeling wreck of strife we rode as shadows ride From Paniput to Delhi town, but not alone were we.

'T was Lutif-Ullah Populzai laid horse upon our track, A swine-fed reiver of the North that lusted for the maid; I might have barred his path awhile, but Scindia called me back, And I—O woe for Scindia!—I listened and obeyed.

League after league the formless scrub took shape and glided by— League after league the white road swirled behind the white mare's feet— League after league, when leagues were done, we heard the Populzai, Where sure as Time and swift as Death the tireless footfall beat.

Noon's eye beheld that shame of flight; the shadows fell, we fled Where steadfast as the wheeling kite he followed in our train; The black wolf warred where we had warred, the jackal mocked our dead, And terror born of twilight-tide made mad the labouring brain.