For every cow I spared before—
In charity set free—
If I may reach my hold once more
I'll reive an honest three.
For every time I raised the lowe
That scared the dusty plain,
By sword and cord, by torch and tow
I'll light the land with twain!
Ride hard, ride hard to Abazai,
Young Sahib with the yellow hair—
Lie close, lie close as Khuttucks[1] lie,
Fat herds below Bonair!
The one I'll shoot at twilight- tide,
At dawn I'll drive the other;
The black shall mourn for hoof and hide,
The white man for his brother.
'Tis war, red war, I'll give you then,
War till my sinews fail;
For the wrong you have done to a chief of men,
And a thief of the Zukka Kheyl.
And if I fall to your hand afresh
I give you leave for the sin,
That you cram my throat with the foul pig's flesh,
And swing me in the skin!
- ↑ A tribe on the Indian frontier.
