334: KIPLING
They have looked each other between the eyes,
and there they found no fault, They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood
on leavened bread and salt; They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood
on fire and fresh-cut sod, On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and
the Wondrous Names of God. The Colonel's son he rides the mare and Kamal's boy
the dun, And two have come back to Fort Bukloh where there
went forth but one. And when they drew to the Quarter- Guard, full
twenty swords flew clear There was not a man but carried his feud with the
blood of the mountaineer. Ha' done! ha' done! ' said the Colonel's son. ' Put
up the steel at your sides !
Last night ye had struck at a Border thief to- night 'tis a man of the Guides! '
Oh, east is east, and west is west, and never the
two shall meet Till earth and sky stand presently at God's great
Judgment Seat. But there is neither east nor west, border or breed
or birth, When two strong men stand face to face, though
they come from the ends of the earth.
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