Then came the Sahibs from over the sea and called them to most strict account.' 'Some such rumour, I believe, reached me once long ago.

They called it the Black Year, as I remember.' 'What manner of life hast thou led, not to know The Year?
A rumour indeed! All earth knew, and trembled!' 'Our earth never shook but once--upon the day that the Excellent One received Enlightenment.' 'Umph! I saw Delhi shake at least--and Delhi is the navel of the world.' 'So they turned against women and children?
That was a bad deed, for which the punishment cannot be avoided.' 'Many strove to do so, but with very small profit.

I was then in a regiment of cavalry.

It broke.

Of six hundred and eighty sabres stood fast to their salt--how many, think you?
Three.