‘By what road didst thou attain knowledge to make these devilries?’ I said, pointing.
‘I cannot tell. I am but a Lepcha of Darjeeling, and yet the stuff—’
‘Which thou hast stolen.’
‘Nay, surely. Did I steal? I desired it so. The stuff—the stuff—what else should I have done with the stuff?’ He twisted the velvet between his fingers.
‘But the sin of maiming the cow—consider that.’
‘That is true; but oh, Sahib, that man betrayed me and I had no thought—but the heifer’s tail waved in the moonlight and I had my knife. What else should I have done? The tail came off ere I was aware. Sahib, thou knowest more than I.’
‘That is true,’ said I. ‘Stay within the door. I go to speak to the King.’
The population of the State were ranged on the hillsides. I went forth and spoke to the King.
‘O King,’ said I. ‘Touching this man there be two courses open to thy wisdom. Thou canst either hang him from a tree, he and his brood, till there remains no hair that is red within the land.’
‘Nay’ said the King. ‘Why should I hurt the little children?’