the Palace yard like the mist-shapes from the lost legions. When I had a
thousand men I would perform this thing, I thought.

"But day by day the Dakoon drew me to him, and the thing seemed hard to
do, even now before I had the men. Then his sickness came, and I could
not strike an ailing man. When I saw how he was beset by traitors, in my
heart I swore that he should not suffer by my hands. I heard of your
riding to the Neck of Baroob--the men of Boonda Broke brought word. So I
told the Dakoon, and I told him also that Boonda Broke was ready to steal
into his Palace even before he died. He started up, and new life seemed
given him. Calling his servants, he clothed himself, and he came forth
and ordered out his troops. He bade me take my men to keep the road
against Pango Dooni. Then he ranged his men before the Palace, and
scattered them at points in the city to resist Boonda Broke.

"So I rode forth, but I came first to my daughter's bedside. She lies in
a little house not a stone's throw from the Palace, and near to the
Aqueduct of the Falling Fountain. Once she was beautiful and tall and
straight as a bamboo stem, but now she is in body no more than a piece of
silken thread. Yet her face is like the evening sky after a rain. She
is much alone, and only in the early mornings may I see her. She is
cared for by an old woman of our people, and there she bides, and thinks
strange thoughts, and speaks words of wisdom.

"When I told her what the Dakoon bade me do, and what I had sworn to
perform when the Dakoon was dead, she said:

"'But no. Go forth as the Dakoon hath bidden. Stand in the road and
oppose the hillsmen. If Cumner's Son be with them, thou shalt tell him
all. If he speak for the hillsmen and say that all shall be well with