I held by Scindia—my lance from butt to tuft was

dyed,

The froth of battle bossed the shield and roped

the bridle-chain

What time beneath our horses' feet a maiden rose

and cried,

And clung to Scindia, and I turned a sword-cut from the twain.

(He set a spell upon the maid in woodlands long ago,

A hunter by the Tapti banks she gave him water

there :

He turned her heart to water, and she followed to

her woe.

What need had he of Lalun who had twenty maids as fair?)

Now in that hour strength left my lord; he wrenched

his mare aside;

He bound the girl behind him and we slashed and struggled free.

Across the reeling wreck of strife we rode as shadows

ride

From Paniput to Delhi town, but not alone

were we.

'Twas Lutuf-Ullah Populzai laid horse upon our track,

A swine-fed reiver of the North that lusted for the

maid;

I might have barred his path awhile, but Scindia called me back,

And I-Oh woe for Scindia!-I listened and obeyed.

League after league the formless scrub took shape and glided by―

League after league the white road swirled behind

the white mare's feet

League after league, when leagues were done, we

heard the Populzai,

Where sure as Time and swift as Death the tireless

footfall beat.

3

Noon's eye beheld that shame of flight, the shadows

fell, we fled

Where steadfast as the wheeling kite he followed

in our train;

The black wolf warred where we had warred, the jackal mocked our dead,

And terror born of twilight tide made mad the labouring brain.

I gasped :-'A kingdom waits my lord; her love is but her own.

'A day shall mar, a day shall cure for her, but what

for thee?

Cut loose the girl: he follows fast. Cut loose and ride alone!'

Then Scindia 'twixt his blistered lips :-'My Queens' Queen shall she be!

'Of all who eat my bread last night 'twas she alone

that came

'To seek her love between the spears and find her

crown therein!

'One shame is mine to-day, what need the weight of double shame?

'If once we reach the Delhi gate, though all be lost, I win!'

We rode the white mare failed-her trot a staggering stumble grew,

The cooking-smoke of even rose and weltered and hung low;

And still we heard the Populzai and still we strained

anew,

And Delhi town was very near, but nearer was the foe.

Yea, Delhi town was very near when Lalun whispered: -'Slay!

'Lord of my life, the mare sinks fast-stab deep

and let me die!'

But Scindia would not, and the maid tore free and

flung away,

And turning as she fell we heard the clattering

Populzai.

Then Scindia checked the gasping mare that rocked and groaned for breath,

And wheeled to charge and plunged the knife a

hands-breadth in her side

The hunter and the hunted know how that last pause is death

The blood had chilled about her heart, she reared and fell and died.

Our Gods were kind. Before he heard the maiden's piteous scream

A log upon the Delhi road, beneath the mare he

lay

Lost mistress and lost battle passed before him like

a dream;

The darkness closed about his eyes-I bore my

King away.