One does, and tells him, but warns of the dangers of entering Kamal's territory, which is guarded by tribesmen concealed among the rocks and scrub.
The dun falls when crossing a river, and Kamal pulls the Colonel's son to safety and knocks the pistol out of his hand.
Kamal helps the Colonel's son to his feet, and the young man offers to give the mare to the chieftain as a gift from his father.
[2] This may be read as saying that it is indisputable that geographic points of the compass will never meet in this life, but that when two strong men [or equals] meet, the accidents of birth, whether of nationality, race, or family, do not matter at all—the mutual respect such individuals have, each for the character, prowess, and integrity of the other, are their only criteria for judging and accepting one another.
The vocabulary, stock phrases and rhythms are reminiscent of the old ballads, and the culture described is not unlike that of the Border Reivers.
The first line of the actual story, for example, is: "Kamal is out with twenty men to raise the Border-side," meaning that a raid is in progress to cause trouble in the Border.
The second quatrain (line 9) has the stock phrase: "Then up and spoke the Colonel's son that led a troop of the Guides", which is also found in the Scottish ballad Sir Patrick Spens.
There was not a rock for twenty mile, there was not a clump of tree, But covered a man of my own men with his rifle cocked on his knee.