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Skag had met fear there something of monstrous proportion, more powerful than will, harder to deal with by a wide margin than any plain adjustment to death. It stayed with him. It was more formidable than pain. He had talked with Cadman about a peculiar inadequacy he felt in dealing with the snake as if his force did not penetrate. Cadman knew too much to hoot at Skag's dilemma.
The two Americans looked into each other's eyes, without words the Calcutta-bound train was alongside. "Remember, I'm responsible for you from now on, son!" Cadman said, as he loosed Skag's hand. The Monkey Glen Skag and Cadman were back in Hurda where Dickson Sahib lived, and the younger man was disconsolate at the thought of Cadman's leaving for England.
That was always the point of the blackest fear that the elephant ahead should come to some Mohammedan household, and leave Carlin where no one could pass the veil. "But what of the messenger who brought word to the Sahibas?" Skag asked. "He would slip away. Some hiding place for him possibly back at Hurda." Chakkra seemed sure of this. That was Skag's long night.
It seemed a pity out of all proportion. . . . He held the tiny breathless thing tenderly, as if it were a dead child. . . . So he laid it down reluctantly, at last; and straightened to see a hunting cheetah coming toward him, not far away. He glanced down, Nels was not there. He looked all about, Nels was not in sight. Then the reserves in Skag's nature came up.
There was a bad death-percentage and none of the big cats were in show form, until the Clouds began to take Skag's word for the main thing wrong. It wasn't the hard life, nor the coops, nor the travel, but the steady day in and day out lack of fresh air. Skag knew what the animals suffered, because it all but murdered him on hot nights.
The feeling in it chained Skag's ear; it was like a strong man contending bravely with his tongue, but calling on the gods for help, with his heart. Listening intently, the American began to get the words: "What are we before thee oh thou most Exalted! Children of men, our generations pass before thee as the seasons.
Skag's education was of the kind that accumulates when a man does not know he is being educated. . . . Certainly Carlin was unattainable this was an often recurring thought as he learned Hindi from her and something of Urdu; the usages of her world, its castes and cults. Down in the unwalled city one mid-afternoon, he finished certain errands and started for the bungalow.
Their heads are bare before this multitude and without shame. What's one to make of it? There's no knowing these people!" Skag's eye quite unconsciously dropped to the white helmet, carried ceremonially in the hand; and glancing away quickly, he caught a mounting flush on the stern countenance.
Skag loved the Arab very hard that moment, and no less afterward. Kala Khan needed care at once. His wound was long and deep, from the hock on the inside, up to the stifle-joint. Ian Deal was on his feet, the Arab still between him and Skag's eyes. But now her brother drew off, back turned, walking away, his arms and hands fumbling queerly about his head, as he staggered a little.
Skag could see nothing ahead but Nels lying closer to the trail. Chakkra's shoulder was suddenly within reach of Skag's hand, for the head of his master was lifted. As the great curve of Gunpat Rao's trumpet arched before his face two things happened to Skag. A full blast of hot breath drove through him; and a keen high vibrant tone pierced every nerve.
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