and half my month’s pay. Then she turned
up at Dadur Junction in tow of a half-caste,
and had the impidence to say I was her husband
—all among the drivers of the running-shed!’

“‘We’ve done with that,’ says Dravot.
‘These women are whiter than you or me, and
a Queen I will have for the winter months.’

“‘For the last time o’ asking, Dan, do
not,’ I says. ‘It’ll only bring us harm. The
Bible says that Kings ain’t to waste their
strength on women, ’specially when they’ve
got a new raw Kingdom to work over.’

“‘For the last time of answering, I will,’
said Dravot, and he went away through the
pine-trees looking like a big red devil. The
low sun hit his crown and beard on one side,
and the two blazed like hot coals.

“But getting a wife was not as easy as
Dan thought. He put it before the Council,
and there was no answer till Billy Fish said
that he’d better ask the girls. Dravot
damned them all round. ‘What’s wrong
with me?’ he shouts, standing by the idol
Imbra. ‘Am I a dog or am I not enough
of a man for your wenches? Haven’t I put
the shadow of my hand over this country?