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Updated: June 10, 2025
They are very much afraid," said Bukta, who was not too bold himself "It remains only to give orders. They said they will obey if thou wilt only stand between them and the Government." "That I know," said Chinn, strolling slowly to the table-land. A few of the elder men stood in an irregular semicircle in an open glade; but the ruck of people women and children were hidden in the thicket.
"No need to show that we care," said he. "Now, after this, we can kill what we choose. Put out your hand, Sahib." Chinn obeyed. It was entirely steady, and Bukta nodded. "That also was your custom. My men skin quickly. They will carry the skin to cantonments. Will the Sahib come to my poor village for the night and, perhaps, forget that I am his officer?" "But those men the beaters.
Am I ever angry with my Bhils? I say angry words, and threaten many things. Thou knowest, Bukta. I have seen thee smile behind the hand. I know, and thou knowest. The Bhils are my children. I have said it many times." "Ay. We be thy children," said Bukta. "And no otherwise is it with Jan Chinn, my father's father. He would see the land he loved and the people once again. It is a good ghost, Bukta.
Thereat Bukta propounded a theory which to a white mind would have seemed raving insanity; but the whispering, level-headed little men of war considered it from every point of view, and thought that there might be a great deal in it. At mess under the oil-lamps the talk turned as usual to the unfailing subject of shikar big game-shooting of every kind and under all sorts of conditions.
Bukta made no motion to raise his rifle, but kept his eyes on Chinn, who met the shattering roar of the charge with a single shot it seemed to him hours as he sighted which tore through the throat, smashing the backbone below the neck and between the shoulders.
Or, again, if written order came from the Government that a Bhil was to repair to a walled city of the plains to give evidence in a law-court, would it be wise to disregard that order? On the other hand, if it were obeyed, would the rash voyager return alive? "But what have I to do with these things?" Chinn demanded of Bukta, impatiently. "I am a soldier. I do not know the law." "Hoo!
We are all servants of your father's son. Has the Sahib forgotten who took him to see the trapped tiger in the village across the river, when his mother was so frightened and he was so brave?" The scene came back to Chinn in great magic-lantern flashes. "Bukta!" he cried; and all in a breath: "You promised nothing should hurt me. Is it Bukta?" The man was at his feet a second time.
"I think so, sir; but if if they should accidentally put an make asses of 'emselves they might, you know I hope you'll represent that they were only frightened. There isn't an ounce of real vice in 'em, and I should never forgive myself if any one of of my name got them into trouble." The Colonel nodded, but said nothing. Chinn and Bukta departed at once.
He dropped into a deep wicker chair, over which was thrown his first tiger-skin, and his weight on the cushion flapped the clawed paws over his shoulders. He laid hold of them mechanically as he spoke, drawing the painted hide, cloak-fashion, about him. "Now will I tell the truth, Bukta," he said, leaning forward, the dried muzzle on his shoulder, to invent a specious lie.
It was a parching day, and the boy very naturally stripped and went in for a bathe, leaving Bukta by the clothes. A white skin shows far against brown jungle, and what Bukta beheld on Chinn's back and right shoulder dragged him forward step by step with staring eyeballs. "I'd forgotten it isn't decent to strip before a man of his position," said Chinn, flouncing in the water.
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