44
THE BALLAD OF
The fever held him—the Captain said,
‘I’d give a hundred to look at his head!’
‘I’d give a hundred to look at his head!’
The Hospital punkahs creaked and whirred,
But Babu Harendra (Gomashta) heard.
But Babu Harendra (Gomashta) heard.
He thought of the cane-brake, green and dank,
That girdled his home by the Dacca tank.
That girdled his home by the Dacca tank.
He thought of his wife and his High School son,
He thought—but abandoned the thought—of a gun.
He thought—but abandoned the thought—of a gun.
His sleep was broken by visions dread
Of a shining Boh with a silver head.
Of a shining Boh with a silver head.
He kept his counsel and went his way,
And swindled the cartmen of half their pay.
And swindled the cartmen of half their pay.
*********
And the months went on, as the worst must do,
And the Boh returned to the raid anew.
And the Boh returned to the raid anew.
But the Captain had quitted the long-drawn strife,
And in far Simoorie had taken a wife.
And in far Simoorie had taken a wife.
And she was a damsel of delicate mould,
With hair like the sunshine and heart of gold,
With hair like the sunshine and heart of gold,
