finest men that God Almighty ever made.
Nothing more, I do assure you.’

“‘That may be,’ says Billy Fish, ‘and yet
I should be sorry if it was.’ He sinks his
head upon his great fur cloak for a minute
and thinks. ‘King,’ says he, ‘be you man
or god or devil, I’ll stick by you to-day. I
have twenty of my men with me, and they
will follow me. We’ll go to Bashkai until
the storm blows over.’

“A little snow had fallen in the night, and
everything was white except the greasy fat
clouds that blew down and down from the
north. Dravot came out with his crown
on his head, swinging his arms and stamping
his feet, and looking more pleased than
Punch.

“‘For the last time, drop it, Dan,’ says I
in a whisper. ‘Billy Fish here says that
there will be a row.’

“‘A row among my people!’ says Dravot.
‘Not much. Peachy, you’re a fool not to
get a wife too. Where’s the girl?’ says he
with a voice as loud as the braying of a
jackass. ‘Call up all the Chiefs and priests,
and let the Emperor see if his wife suits him.’