I thought his beard was grayer than it had been, but oh, sahib, he strode as an arrow goes, swift and straight, and splendid.
Lonely as an arrow that has left the sheaf! I had to run to catch up with him, and I was out of breath when I touched his sleeve.

He turned and waited while I thought of things to say, and then struggled to find words with which to say them.
"Sahib!" said I."Oh, Major sahib!" And then my throat became full of words each struggling to be first, and I was silent.
"Well ?" said he, standing with both arms folded, looking very grave, but not angry nor contemptuous.
"Sahib," I said, "I am a true man.

As I stand here, I am a true man.
I have been a fool--I have been half-hearted--I was like a man in the dark; I listened and heard voices that deceived me!" "And am I to listen and hear voices, too ?" he asked.
"Nay, sahib!" I said.

"Not such voices, but true words!" "Words ?" he said.

"Words! Words! There have already been too many words.