Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rudyard Kipling
the very words which the President had said to his gentlemen ‘“Go!” he whispers. “Before I kill thee, go.”
after Genet had left, concerning the peace treaty with En- ‘He looked like it. So I left him.’
gland. He put it to me that in helping him to those very ‘Why did he want to know so badly?’ said Dan.
words I’d be helping three great countries as well as mankind. ‘The way I look at it is that if he had known for certain that
The room was as bare as the palm of your hand, but I couldn’t Washington meant to make the peace treaty with England at
laugh at him.
any price, he’d ha’ left old Faucher fumbling about in Phila-
‘“I’m sorry,” I says, when he wiped his forehead. “As soon as delphia while he went straight back to France and told old
Red Jacket gives permission—”
Danton—“It’s no good your wasting time and hopes on the
‘“You don’t believe me, then?” he cuts in. ‘“Not one little, United States, because she won’t fight on our side—that I’ve
little word, Abbe,” I says; “except that you mean to be on the proof of!” Then Danton might have been grateful and given
winning side. Remember, I’ve been fiddling to all your old Talleyrand a job, because a whole mass of things hang on
friends for months.”
knowing for sure who’s your friend and who’s your enemy.
‘Well, then his temper fled him and he called me names. just think of us poor shop-keepers, for instance.’
‘“Wait a minute, ci-devant,” I says at last. “I am half English ‘Did Red Jacket let you tell, when he came back?’ Una asked.
and half French, but I am not the half of a man. I will tell thee ‘Of course not. He said, “When Cornplanter and I ask you
something the Indian told me. Has thee seen the President?” what Big Hand said to the whites you can tell the Lame Chief.
‘“Oh yes!” he sneers. “I had letters from the Lord Lansdowne All that talk was left behind in the timber, as Big Hand or-
to that estimable old man.”
dered. Tell the Lame Chief there will be no war. He can go
‘“Then,” I says, “thee will understand. The Red Skin said back to France with that word.”
that when thee has met the President thee will feel in thy ‘Talleyrand and me hadn’t met for a long time except at
heart he is a stronger man than thee.”
emigre parties. When I give him the message he just shook
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