A king rules a small Himalayan kingdom, struggling with limited resources and a small army. He is tributary to the Indian Government and relies on timber sales for revenue. The king's authority is challenged by a rebellious outlander named Namgay Doola, who refuses to pay taxes and incites others to do the same. Despite his defiance, Namgay Doola is a skilled log-snapper, which earns him some respect. The king, bound by a vow against executing his subjects, seeks counsel on how to deal with Namgay Doola's rebellion. After observing the outlander’s bravery during a log-jam rescue, the king decides to confront him. However, Namgay Doola's antics continue, leading to further trouble when he cuts off the tail of a cow belonging to a villager who betrayed him. The king and his subjects attempt to capture Namgay Doola, who barricades himself in his hut, armed and defiant. The situation escalates, but the king is reluctant to harm him or his family. Instead, the narrator, a visitor, engages with Namgay Doola, discovering his heritage and the influence of his father, a former soldier of the East India Company. As tensions rise, the narrator proposes a solution: instead of punishing Namgay Doola, the king should honor him by making him a leader in the army, thus channeling his rebellious spirit into service for the kingdom. The king agrees, and Namgay Doola is renamed Patsay Doola, symbolizing his new role. The story concludes with the king's satisfaction and the narrator's refusal to buy land, recognizing the unique spirit of the outlander.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1892 · Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Satire