The Keepers of the People

1241He paused and looked round, his face very grave and thoughtful.

1242“The Russians have come to conquer and plunder us who never harmed them. If they had their way, they would defeat us in battle, and then subdue the country by massacre and flogging. After five years of their rule the people, at the building of which we have all of us laboured so hard and so long, would be ruined; they would be spiritless slaves; there would be no laughter in the land. These are the designs of the Russians; and no punishment is too heavy for them.”

1243“Good” said the old Prince.

1244“But there are other and better reasons for fighting them in Varandaleel,” said Prince Ralph. “War, and war alone, knits a people together. But it is no war when but a few of them hold an impregnable pass. The Varandals need hardening; for fifty years no enemy has set foot on their soil. The raids of picked thousands of horsemen are not enough; and the people are growing soft. Every year there are more praters among them, those who lose life to grasp at shadows. But let the dread of tyranny and outrage and shame, the dread of strangers at their hearths, their masters, robbing them of wives, and daughters, and leisure, and pleasure, grip their hearts; let them crush it down, resolved to die rather than endure such things; and the people will be hardened for a generation. Their laughter will come from deeper in their hearts.”

1245“Good,” said the old Prince.

1246“Lastly,” said Prince Ralph, “the people grow too thick on the ground. I want five or six thousand of the men killed. It is but a fair price to pay for killing the Russians. Therefore, I say, we will fight in Varandaleel.”

1247“Good,” said the old Prince.

1248It went against the grain of Colonel Sayers’ professional instinct to throw away the advantage of the impregnable pass, and he said, “But these Russians are European troops. They are well drilled to start with; and they haven’t come all the way here without fights enough to make veterans of them. I’ve a great belief in the Varandals; but you can never tell how natives, even well-drilled, will stand to Europeans.”