Ebook in formato Kindle (mobi) - Kindle File Ebook (mobi)

Formato per Iphone, Ipad e Ebook (epub) - Ipad, Iphone and Ebook reader format (epub)

Versione ebook di Readme.it powered by Softwarehouse.it






Kim


by Rudyard Kipling


Chapter I


O ye who tread the Narrow Way
By Tophet-flare to judgment Day
Be gentle when 'the heathen' pray
To Buddha at Kamakura!


Buddha at Kamakura.


He satin defiance of municipal ordersastride the gun Zam
Zammah on her brick platform opposite the old Ajaib-Gher -
the Wonder Houseas the natives call the Lahore Museum.
Who hold Zam-Zammahthat 'fire-breathing dragon'hold the
Punjabfor the great green-bronze piece is always first of the


conqueror's loot.

There was some justification for Kim - he had kicked Lala
Dinanath's boy off the trunnions - since the English held the
Punjab and Kim was English. Though he was burned black as any
native; though he spoke the vernacular by preferenceand his
mother-tongue in a clipped uncertain sing-song; though he
consorted on terms of perfect equality with the small boys of the
bazar; Kim was white - a poor white of the very poorest. The
half-caste woman who looked after him (she smoked opiumand
pretended to keep a second-hand furniture shop by the square
where the cheap cabs wait) told the missionaries that she was
Kim's mother's sister; but his mother had been nursemaid in a
Colonel's family and had married Kimball O'Haraa young coloursergeant
of the Mavericksan Irish regiment. He afterwards took
a post on the SindPunjaband Delhi Railwayand his Regiment
went home without him. The wife died of cholera in Ferozepore
and O'Hara fell to drink and loafing up and down the line with
the keen-eyed three-year-old baby. Societies and chaplains
anxious for the childtried to catch himbut O'Hara drifted
awaytill he came across the woman who took opium and learned
the taste from herand died as poor whites die in India. His
estate at death consisted of three papers - one he called his 'ne
varietur' because those words were written below his signature
thereonand another his 'clearance-certificate'. The third was
Kim's birth-certificate. Those thingshe was used to sayin his
glorious opium-hourswould yet make little Kimball a man. On no
account was Kim to part with themfor they belonged to a great
piece of magic - such magic as men practised over yonder behind
the Museumin the big blue-and-white Jadoo-Gher - the Magic
Houseas we name the Masonic Lodge. It wouldhe saidall come
right some dayand Kim's horn would be exalted between pillars monstrous
pillars - of beauty and strength. The Colonel himself
riding on a horseat the head of the finest Regiment in the


worldwould attend to Kim - little Kim that should have been
better off than his father. Nine hundred first-class devils
whose God was a Red Bull on a green fieldwould attend to Kim
if they had not forgotten O'Hara - poor O'Hara that was gangforeman
on the Ferozepore line. Then he would weep bitterly in
the broken rush chair on the veranda. So it came about after his
death that the woman sewed parchmentpaperand birthcertificate
into a leather amulet-case which she strung round
Kim's neck.

'And some day' she saidconfusedly remembering O'Hara's
prophecies'there will come for you a great Red Bull on a green
fieldand the Colonel riding on his tall horseyesand'
dropping into English - 'nine hundred devils.'

'Ah' said Kim'I shall remember. A Red Bull and a Colonel on a
horse will comebut firstmy father saidwill come the two men
making ready the ground for these matters. That is how my father
said they always did; and it is always so when men work magic.'

If the woman had sent Kim up to the local Jadoo-Gher with those
papershe wouldof coursehave been taken over by the
Provincial Lodgeand sent to the Masonic Orphanage in the Hills;
but what she had heard of magic she distrusted. Kimtooheld
views of his own. As he reached the years of indiscretionhe
learned to avoid missionaries and white men of serious aspect who
asked who he wasand what he did. For Kim did nothing with an
immense success. Truehe knew the wonderful walled city of
Lahore from the Delhi Gate to the outer Fort Ditch; was hand in
glove with men who led lives stranger than anything Haroun al
Raschid dreamed of; and he lived in a life wild as that of the
Arabian Nightsbut missionaries and secretaries of charitable
societies could not see the beauty of it. His nickname through
the wards was 'Little Friend of all the World'; and very often
being lithe and inconspicuoushe executed commissions by night
on the crowded housetops for sleek and shiny young men of
fashion. It was intrigue- of course he knew that muchas he
had known all evil since he could speak- but what he loved was
the game for its own sake - the stealthy prowl through the dark
gullies and lanesthe crawl up a waterpipethe sights and
sounds of the women's world on the flat roofsand the headlong
flight from housetop to housetop under cover of the hot dark.
Then there were holy menash-smeared fakirs by their brick
shrines under the trees at the riversidewith whom he was quite
familiar - greeting them as they returned from begging-tours
andwhen no one was byeating from the same dish. The woman who
looked after him insisted with tears that he should wear European
clothes - trousersa shirt and a battered hat. Kim found it
easier to slip into Hindu or Mohammedan garb when engaged on
certain businesses. One of the young men of fashion - he who was
found dead at the bottom of a well on the night of the earthquake
had once given him a complete suit of Hindu kitthe costume
of a lowcaste street boyand Kim stored it in a secret place
under some baulks in Nila Ram's timber-yardbeyond the Punjab
High Courtwhere the fragrant deodar logs lie seasoning after
they have driven down the Ravi. When there was business or frolic
afootKim would use his propertiesreturning at dawn to the
verandaall tired out from shouting at the heels of a marriage
processionor yelling at a Hindu festival. Sometimes there was
food in the housemore often there was notand then Kim went
out again to eat with his native friends.

As he drummed his heels against Zam-Zammah he turned now and
again from his king-of-the-castle game with little Chota Lal and


Abdullah the sweetmeat-seller's sonto make a rude remark to the
native policeman on guard over rows of shoes at the Museum door.
The big Punjabi grinned tolerantly: he knew Kim of old. So did
the water-carriersluicing water on the dry road from his goatskin
bag. So did Jawahir Singhthe Museum carpenterbent over
new packing-cases. So did everybody in sight except the peasants
from the countryhurrying up to the Wonder House to view the
things that men made in their own province and elsewhere. The
Museum was given up to Indian arts and manufacturesand anybody
who sought wisdom could ask the Curator to explain.

'Off ! Off ! Let me up!' cried Abdullahclimbing up ZamZammah's
wheel.

'Thy father was a pastry-cookThy mother stole the ghi" sang
Kim. 'All Mussalmans fell off Zam-Zammah long ago!'

'Let me up!' shrilled little Chota Lal in his gilt-embroidered
cap. His father was worth perhaps half a million sterlingbut
India is the only democratic land in the world.

'The Hindus fell off Zam-Zammah too. The Mussalmans pushed them
off. Thy father was a pastry-cook -'

He stopped; for there shuffled round the cornerfrom the roaring
Motee Bazarsuch a man as Kimwho thought he knew all castes
had never seen. He was nearly six feet highdressed in fold upon
fold of dingy stuff like horse-blanketingand not one fold of it
could Kim refer to any known trade or profession. At his belt
hung a long open-work iron pencase and a wooden rosary such as
holy men wear. On his head was a gigantic sort of tam-o'-shanter.
His face was yellow and wrinkledlike that of Fook Shingthe
Chinese bootmaker in the bazar. His eyes turned up at the corners
and looked like little slits of onyx.

'Who is that?' said Kim to his companions.

'Perhaps it is a man' said Abdullahfinger in mouthstaring.

'Without doubt.' returned Kim; 'but he is no man of India that I
have ever seen.'

'A priestperhaps' said Chota Lalspying the rosary. 'See! He
goes into the Wonder House!'

'Naynay' said the policemanshaking his head. 'I do not
understand your talk.' The constable spoke Punjabi. 'O Friend of
all the Worldwhat does he say?'

'Send him hither' said Kimdropping from Zam-Zammah
flourishing his bare heels. 'He is a foreignerand thou art a
buffalo.'

The man turned helplessly and drifted towards the boys. He was
oldand his woollen gaberdine still reeked of the stinking
artemisia of the mountain passes.

'O Childrenwhat is that big house?' he said in very fair Urdu.

'The Ajaib-Gherthe Wonder House!' Kim gave him no title - such
as Lala or Mian. He could not divine the man's creed.

'Ah! The Wonder House! Can any enter?'


'It is written above the door - all can enter.'

'Without payment?'

'I go in and out. I am no banker' laughed Kim.

'Alas! I am an old man. I did not know.' Thenfingering his
rosaryhe half turned to the Museum.

'What is your caste? Where is your house? Have you come far?' Kim
asked.

'I came by Kulu - from beyond the Kailas - but what know you?
From the Hills where' - he sighed - 'the air and water are fresh
and cool.'

'Aha! Khitai [a Chinaman]' said Abdullah proudly. Fook Shing had
once chased him out of his shop for spitting at the joss above
the boots.

'Pahari [a hillman]' said little Chota Lal.

'Ayechild - a hillman from hills thou'lt never see. Didst hear
of Bhotiyal [Tibet]? I am no Khitaibut a Bhotiya [Tibetan]
since you must know - a lama - orsaya guru in your tongue.'

'A guru from Tibet' said Kim. 'I have not seen such a man. They
be Hindus in Tibetthen?'

'We be followers of the Middle Wayliving in peace in our
lamasseriesand I go to see the Four Holy Places before I die.
Now do youwho are childrenknow as much as I do who am old.'
He smiled benignantly on the boys.

'Hast thou eaten?'

He fumbled in his bosom and drew forth a wornwooden beggingbowl.
The boys nodded. All priests of their acquaintance begged.

'I do not wish to eat yet.' He turned his head like an. old
tortoise in the sunlight. 'Is it true that there are many images
in the Wonder House of Lahore?' He repeated the last words as one
making sure of an address.

'That is true' said Abdullah. 'It is full of heathen buts. Thou
also art an idolater.'

'Never mind him' said. Kim. 'That is the Government's house and
there is no idolatry in itbut only a Sahib with a white beard.
Come with me and I will show.'

'Strange priests eat boys' whispered Chota Lal.

'And he is a stranger and a but-parast [idolater]' said
Abdullahthe Mohammedan.

Kim laughed. 'He is new. Run to your mothers' lapsand be safe.
Come!'

Kim clicked round the self-registering turnstile; the old man
followed and halted amazed. In the entrance-hall stood the larger
figures of the Greco-Buddhist sculptures donesavants know how
long sinceby forgotten workmen whose hands were feelingand
not unskilfullyfor the mysteriously transmitted Grecian touch.


There were hundreds of piecesfriezes of figures in relief
fragments of statues and slabs crowded with figures that had
encrusted the brick walls of the Buddhist stupas and viharas of
the North Country and nowdug up and labelledmade the pride of
the Museum. In open-mouthed wonder the lama turned to this and
thatand finally checked in rapt attention before a large altorelief
representing a coronation or apotheosis of the Lord
Buddha. The Master was represented seated on a lotus the petals
of which were so deeply undercut as to show almost detached.
Round Him was an adoring hierarchy of kingseldersand old-time
Buddhas. Below were lotus-covered waters with fishes and waterbirds.
Two butterfly-winged dewas held a wreath over His head;
above them another pair supported an umbrella surmounted by the
jewelled headdress of the Bodhisat.

'The Lord! The Lord! It is Sakya Muni himself' the lama half
sobbed; and under his breath began the wonderful Buddhist
invocation:

To Him the Waythe LawapartWhom Maya held beneath her heart
Ananda's Lordthe Bodhisat.

'And He is here! The Most Excellent Law is here also. My
pilgrimage is well begun. And what work! What work!'

'Yonder is the Sahib.' said Kimand dodged sideways among the
cases of the arts and manufacturers wing. A white-bearded
Englishman was looking at the lamawho gravely turned and
saluted him and after some fumbling drew forth a note-book and a
scrap of paper.

'Yesthat is my name' smiling at the clumsychildish print.

'One of us who had made pilgrimage to the Holy Places - he is now
Abbot of the Lung-Cho Monastery - gave it me' stammered the
lama. 'He spoke of these.' His lean hand moved tremulously round.

'WelcomethenO lama from Tibet. Here be the imagesand I am
here' - he glanced at the lama's face - 'to gather knowledge.
Come to my office awhile.' The old man was trembling with
excitement.

The office was but a little wooden cubicle partitioned off from
the sculpture-lined gallery. Kim laid himself downhis ear
against a crack in the heat-split cedar doorandfollowing his
instinctstretched out to listen and watch.

Most of the talk was altogether above his head. The lama
haltingly at firstspoke to the Curator of his own lamassery
the Such-zenopposite the Painted Rocksfour months' march
away. The Curator brought out a huge book of photos and showed
him that very placeperched on its cragoverlooking the
gigantic valley of many-hued strata.

'Ayay!' The lama mounted a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles of
Chinese work. 'Here is the little door through which we bring
wood before winter. And thou - the English know of these things?
He who is now Abbot of Lung-Cho told mebut I did not believe.
The Lord - the Excellent One - He has honour here too? And His
life is known?'

'It is all carven upon the stones. Come and seeif thou art
rested.'


Out shuffled the lama to the main hallandthe Curator beside
himwent through the collection with the reverence of a devotee
and the appreciative instinct of a craftsman.

Incident by incident in the beautiful story he identified on the
blurred stonepuzzled here and there by the unfamiliar Greek
conventionbut delighted as a child at each new trove. Where the
sequence failedas in the Annunciationthe Curator supplied it
from his mound of books - French and Germanwith photographs and
reproductions.

Here was the devout Asitathe pendant of Simeon in the Christian
storyholding the Holy Child on his knee while mother and father
listened; and here were incidents in the legend of the cousin
Devadatta. Here was the wicked woman who accused the Master of
impurityall confounded; here was the teaching in the Deer-park;
the miracle that stunned the fire-worshippers; here was the
Bodhisat in royal state as a prince; the miraculous birth; the
death at Kusinagarawhere the weak disciple fainted; while there
were almost countless repetitions of the meditation under the
Bodhi tree; and the adoration of the alms-bowl was everywhere. In
a few minutes the Curator saw that his guest was no mere beadtelling
mendicantbut a scholar of parts. And they went at it
all over againthe lama taking snuffwiping his spectaclesand
talking at railway speed in a bewildering mixture of Urdu and
Tibetan. He had heard of the travels of the Chinese pilgrimsFu-
Hiouen and Hwen-Tsiangand was anxious to know if there was any
translation of their record. He drew in his breath as he turned
helplessly over the pages of Beal and Stanislas Julien. "Tis all
here. A treasure locked.' Then he composed himself reverently to
listen to fragments hastily rendered into Urdu. For the first
time he heard of the labours of European scholarswho by the
help of these and a hundred other documents have identified the
Holy Places of Buddhism. Then he was shown a mighty mapspotted
and traced with yellow. The brown finger followed the Curator's
pencil from point to point. Here was Kapilavastuhere the Middle
Kingdomand here Mahabodhithe Mecca of Buddhism; and here was
Kusinagarasad place of the Holy One's death. The old man bowed
his head over the sheets in silence for a whileand the Curator
lit another pipe. Kim had fallen asleep. When he wakedthe talk
still in spatewas more within his comprehension.

'And thus it wasO Fountain of Wisdomthat I decided to go to
the Holy Places which His foot had trod - to the Birthplaceeven
to Kapila; then to Mahabodhiwhich is Buddh Gaya - to the
Monastery - to the Deer-park -to the place of His death.'

The lama lowered his voice. 'And I come here alone. For five seven
- eighteen - forty years it was in my mind that the Old Law
was not well followed; being overlaidas thou knowestwith
devildomcharmsand idolatry. Even as the child outside said
but now. Ayeven as the child saidwith but-parasti.'

'So it comes with all faiths.'

'Thinkest thou? The books of my lamassery I readand they were
dried pith; and the later ritual with which we of the Reformed
Law have cumbered ourselves - thattoohad no worth to these
old eyes. Even the followers of the Excellent One are at feud on
feud with one another. It is all illusion. Aymayaillusion.
But I have another desire' - the seamed yellow face drew within
three inches of the Curatorand the long forefinger-nail tapped
on the table. 'Your scholarsby these bookshave followed the
Blessed Feet in all their wanderings; but there are things which


they have not sought out. I know nothing - nothing do I know -
but I go to free myself from the Wheel of Things by a broad and
open road.' He smiled with most simple triumph. 'As a pilgrim to
the Holy Places I acquire merit. But there is more. Listen to a
true thing. When our gracious Lordbeing as yet a youthsought
a matemen saidin His father's Courtthat He was too tender
for marriage. Thou knobbiest?'


The Curator noddedwondering what would come next.
'So they made the triple trial of strength against all comers.
And at the test of the Bowour Lord first breaking that which
they gave Himcalled for such a bow as none might bend. Thou
knowest?'


'It is written. I have read.'


'Andovershooting all other marksthe arrow passed far and far
beyond sight. At the last it fell; andwhere it touched earth
there broke out a stream which presently became a Riverwhose
natureby our Lord's beneficenceand that merit He acquired ere
He freed himselfis that whoso bathes in it washes away all
taint and speckle of sin.'


'So it is written' said the Curator sadly.


The lama drew a long breath. "Where is that River? Fountain of
Wisdomwhere fell the arrow?"


'Alas'my brotherI do not know' said the Curator.


'Nayif it please thee to forget - the one thing only that thou
hast not told me. Surely thou must know? SeeI am an old man! I
ask with my head between thy feetO Fountain of Wisdom. We know
He drew the bow! We know the arrow fell! We know the stream
gushed! Wherethenis the River? My dream told me to find it.
So I came. I am here. But where is the River?'


'If I knewthink you I would not cry it aloud?'


'By it one attains freedom from the Wheel of Things' the lama
went onunheeding. 'The River of the Arrow! Think again! Some
little streammaybe - dried in the heats? But the Holy One would
never so cheat an old man.'


'I do not know. I do not know.'


The lama brought his thousand-wrinkled face once more a
handsbreadth from the Englishman's. 'I see thou dost not know.
Not being of the Lawthe matter is hid from thee.'


'Ay - hidden - hidden.'


'We are both boundthou and Imy brother. But I' - he rose with
a sweep of the soft thick drapery - 'I go to cut myself free.
Come also!'


'I am bound' said the Curator. 'But whither goest thou?'


'First to Kashi [Benares]: where else? There I shall meet one of
the pure faith in a Jain temple of that city. He also is a Seeker
in secretand from him haply I may learn. Maybe he will go with
me to Buddh Gaya. Thence north and west to Kapilavastuand there
will I seek for the River. NayI will seek everywhere as I go -
for the place is not known where the arrow fell.'



'And how wilt thou go? It is a far cry to Delhiand farther to
Benares.'

'By road and the trains. From Pathankothaving left the HillsI
came hither in a te-rain. It goes swiftly. At first I was amazed
to see those tall poles by the side of the road snatching up and
snatching up their threads' - he illustrated the stoop and whirl
of a telegraph-pole flashing past the train. 'But laterI was
cramped and desired to walkas I am used.'

'And thou art sure of thy road?' said the Curator.

'Oh. for that one but asks a question and pays moneyand the
appointed persons despatch all to the appointed place. That much
I knew in my lamassery from sure report' said the lama proudly.

'And when dost thou go?' The Curator smiled at the mixture of
old-world piety and modern progress that is the note of India
today.

'As soon as may be. I follow the places of His life till I come
to the River of the Arrow. There ismoreovera written paper of
the hours of the trains that go south.'

'And for food?' Lamasas a rulehave good store of money
somewhere about thembut the Curator wished to make sure.

'For the journeyI take up the Master's begging-bowl. Yes. Even
as He went so go Iforsaking the ease of my monastery. There was
with me when I left the hills a chela [disciple] who begged for
me as the Rule demandsbut halting in Kulu awhile a fever took
him and he died. I have now no chelabut I will take the almsbowl
and thus enable the charitable to acquire merit.' He nodded
his head valiantly. Learned doctors of a lamassery do not beg
but the lama was an enthusiast in this quest.

'Be it so' said the Curatorsmiling. 'Suffer me now to acquire
merit. We be craftsmen togetherthou and I. Here is a new book
of white English paper: here be sharpened pencils two and three thick
and thinall good for a scribe. Now lend me thy spectacles.'

The Curator looked through them. They were heavily scratchedbut
the power was almost exactly that of his own pairwhich he slid
into the lama's handsaying: 'Try these.'

'A feather! A very feather upon the face? The old man turned his
head delightedly and wrinkled up his nose. 'How scarcely do I
feel them! How clearly do I see!

'They bebilaur - crystal - and will never scratch. May they
help thee to thy Riverfor they are thine.'

'I will take them and the pencils and the white note-book' said
the lama'as a sign of friendship between priest and priest and
now -' He fumbled at his beltdetached the open-work iron
pincersand laid it on the Curator's table. 'That is for a
memory between thee and me - my pencase. It is something old even
as I am.'

It was a piece of ancient designChineseof an iron that is not
smelted these days; and the collector's heart in the Curator's
bosom had gone out to it from the first. For no persuasion would
the lama resume his gift.


'When I returnhaving found the RiverI will bring thee a
written picture of the Padma Samthora such as I used to make on
silk at the lamassery. Yes - and of the Wheel of Life' he
chuckled'for we be craftsmen togetherthou and I.'


The Curator would have detained him: they are few in the world
who still have the secret of the conventional brush-pen Buddhist
pictures which areas it werehalf written and half drawn. But
the lama strode outhead high in airand pausing an instant
before the great statue of a Bodhisat in meditationbrushed
through the turnstiles.


Kim followed like a shadow. What he had overheard excited him
wildly. This man was entirely new to all his experienceand he
meant to investigate furtherprecisely as he would have
investigated a new building or a strange festival in Lahore city.
The lama was his troveand he purposed to take possession. Kim's
mother had been Irish too.


The old man halted by Zam-Zammah and looked round till his eye
fell on Kim. The inspiration of his pilgrimage had left him for
awhileand he felt oldforlornand very empty.


'Do not sit under that gun' said the policeman loftily.


'Huh! Owl!' was Kim's retort on the lama's behalf 'Sit under that
gun if it please thee. When didst thou steal the milkwoman's
slippersDunnoo?'


That was an utterly unfounded charge sprung on the spur of the
momentbut it silenced Dunnoowho knew that Kim's clear yell
could call up legions of bad bazar boys if need arose.


'And whom didst thou worship within?' said Kim affablysquatting
in the shade beside the lama.


'I worshipped nonechild. I bowed before the Excellent Law.'


Kim accepted this new God without emotion. He knew already a few
score.


'And what dost thou do?'


'I beg. I remember now it is long since I have eaten or drunk.
What is the custom of charity in this town? In silenceas we do
of Tibetor speaking aloud?'


'Those who beg in silence starve in silence' said Kimquoting a
native proverb. The lama tried to risebut sank back again
sighing for his discipledead in far-away Kulu. Kim watched head
to one sideconsidering and interested.


'Give me the bowl. I know the people of this city - all who are
charitable. Giveand I will bring it back filled.'


Simply as a child the old man handed him the bowl.
[start here]
'Restthou. I know the people.'


He trotted off to the open shop of a kunjria low-caste
vegetable-sellerwhich lay opposite the belt-tramway line down
the Motee Bazar. She knew Kim of old.



'Ohohast thou turned yogi with thy begging-bowl?' she cried.

'Nay.' said Kim proudly. 'There is a new priest in the city a man
such as I have never seen.'

'Old priest - young tiger' said the woman angrily. 'I am tired
of new priests! They settle on our wares like flies. Is the
father of my son a well of charity to give to all who ask?'

'No' said Kim. 'Thy man is rather yagi [bad-tempered] than yogi
[a holy man]. But this priest is new. The Sahib in the Wonder
House has talked to him like a brother. O my motherfill me this
bowl. He waits.'

'That bowl indeed! That cow-bellied basket! Thou hast as much
grace as the holy bull of Shiv. He has taken the best of a basket
of onions alreadythis morn; and forsoothI must fill thy bowl.
He comes here again.'

The hugemouse-coloured Brahmini bull of the ward was
shouldering his way through the many-coloured crowda stolen
plantain hanging out of his mouth. He headed straight for the
shopwell knowing his privileges as a sacred beastlowered his
headand puffed heavily along the line of baskets ere making his
choice. Up flew Kim's hard little heel and caught him on his
moist blue nose. He snorted indignantlyand walked away across
the tram-railshis hump quivering with rage.

'See! I have saved more than the bowl will cost thrice over. Now
mothera little rice and some dried fish atop - yesand some
vegetable curry.'

A growl came out of the back of the shopwhere a man lay.

'He drove away the bull' said the woman in an undertone. 'It is
good to give to the poor.' She took the bowl and returned it full
of hot rice.

'But my yogi is not a cow' said Kim gravelymaking a hole with
his fingers in the top of the mound. 'A little curry is goodand
a fried cakeand a morsel of conserve would please himI
think.'

'It is a hole as big as thy head' said the woman fretfully. But
she filled itnone the lesswith goodsteaming vegetable
curryclapped a fried cake atopand a morsel of clarified
butter on the cakedabbed a lump of sour tamarind conserve at
the side; and Kim looked at the load lovingly.

'That is good. When I am in the bazar the bull shall not come to
this house. He is a bold beggar-man.'

'And thou?' laughed the woman. 'But speak well of bulls. Hast
thou not told me that some day a Red Bull will come out of a
field to help thee? Now hold all straight and ask for the holy
man's blessing upon me. Perhapstoohe knows a cure for my
daughter's -sore eyes. Ask. him that alsoO thou Little Friend
of all the World.'

But Kim had danced off ere the end of the sentencedodging
pariah dogs and hungry acquaintances.

'Thus do we beg who know the way of it' said he proudly to the
lamawho opened his eyes at the contents of the bowl. 'Eat now


and - I will eat with thee. Ohebhisti!' he called to the watercarrier
sluicing the crotons by the Museum. 'Give water here. We
men are thirsty.'

'We men!' said the bhistilaughing. 'Is one skinful enough for
such a pair? Drinkthenin the name of the Compassionate.'

He loosed a thin stream into Kim's handswho drank nativefasion;
but the lama must needs pull out a cup from his inexhaustible
upper draperies and drink ceremonially.

'Pardesi [a foreigner]' Kim explainedas the old man delivered
in an unknown tongue what was evidently a blessing.

They ate together in great contentclearing the beggingbowl.
Then the lama took snuff from a portentous wooden snuff-gourd
fingered his rosary awhileand so dropped into the easy sleep of
ageas the shadow of Zam-Zammah grew long.

Kim loafed over to the nearest tobacco-sellera rather lively
young Mohammedan womanand begged a rank cigar of the brand that
they sell to students of the Punjab University who copy English
customs. Then he smoked and thoughtknees to chinunder the
belly of the gunand the outcome of his thoughts was a sudden
and stealthy departure in the direction of Nila Ram's timberyard.


The lama did not wake till the evening life of the city had begun
with lamp-lighting and the return of white-robed clerks and
subordinates from the Government offices. He stared dizzily in
all directionsbut none looked at him save a Hindu urchin in a
dirty turban and Isabella-coloured clothes. Suddenly he bowed his
head on his knees and wailed.

'What is this?' said the boystanding before him. 'Hast thou
been robbed?'

'It is my new chela [disciple] that is gone away from meand I
know not where he is.'

'And what like of man was thy disciple?'

'It was a boy who came to me in place of him who diedon account
of the merit which I had gained when I bowed before the Law
within there.' He pointed towards the Museum. 'He came upon me to
show me a road which I had lost. He led me into the Wonder House
and by his talk emboldened me to speak to the Keeper of the
Imagesso that I was cheered and made strong. And when I was
faint with hunger he begged for meas would a chela for his
teacher. Suddenly was he sent. Suddenly has he gone away. It was
in my mind to have taught him the Law upon the road to Benares.'

Kim stood amazed at thisbecause he had overheard the talk in
the Museumand knew that the old man was speaking the truth
which is a thing a native on the road seldom presents to a
stranger.

'But I see now that he was but sent for a purpose. By this I know
that I shall find a certain River for which I seek.'

'The River of the Arrow?' said Kimwith a superior smile.

'Is this yet another Sending?' cried the lama. 'To none have I
spoken of my searchsave to the Priest of the Images. Who art


thou?'

'Thy chela' said Kim simplysitting on his heels. 'I have never
seen anyone like to thee in all this my life. I go with thee to
Benares. AndtooI think that so old a man as thouspeaking
the truth to chance-met people at duskis in great need of a
disciple.'

'But the River - the River of the Arrow?'

'Ohthat I heard when thou wast speaking to the- Englishman. I
lay against the door.'

The lama sighed. 'I thought thou hadst been a guide permitted.
Such things fall sometimes - but I am not worthy. Thou dost not
thenknow the River?'

'Not U Kim laughed uneasily. 'I go to look for - for a bull a
Red. Bull on a green field who shall help me.' Boylikeif an
acquaintance had a schemeKim was quite ready with one of his own;
andboylikehe had really thought for as much as twenty minutes at a
time of his father's prophecy.

'To whatchild?' said the lama.

'God knowsbut so my father told me'. I heard thy talk in the
Wonder House of all those new strange places in the Hillsand if
one so old and so little - so used to truth-telling - may go out
for the small matter of a riverit seemed to me that I too must
go a-travelling. If it is our fate to find those things we shall
find them - thouthy River; and Imy Bulland the Strong
Pillars and some other matters that I forget.'

'It is not pillars but a Wheel from which I would be free' said
the lama.

'That is all one. Perhaps they will make me a king' said Kim
serenely prepared for anything.

'I will teach thee other and better desires upon the road' the
lama replied in the voice of authority. 'Let us go to Benares.'

'Not by night. Thieves are abroad. Wait till the day.'

'But there is no place to sleep.' The old man was used to the
order of his monasteryand though he slept on the groundas the
Rule decreespreferred a decency in these things.

'We shall get good lodging at the Kashmir Serai' said Kim
laughing at his perplexity. 'I have a friend there. Come!'

The hot and crowded bazars blazed with light as they made their
way through the press of all the races in Upper Indiaand the
lama mooned through it like a man in a dream. It was his first
experience of a large manufacturing cityand the crowded tramcar
with its continually squealing brakes frightened him. Half
pushedhalf towedhe arrived at the high gate of the Kashmir
Serai: that huge open square over against the railway station
surrounded with arched cloisterswhere the camel and horse
caravans put up on their return from Central Asia. Here were all
manner of Northern folktending tethered ponies and kneeling
camels; loading and unloading bales and bundles; drawing water
for the evening meal at the creaking well-windlasses; piling
grass before the shriekingwild-eyed stallions; cuffing the


surly caravan dogs; paying off camel-drivers; taking on new
grooms; swearingshoutingarguingand chaffering in the packed
square. The cloistersreached by three or four masonry steps
made a haven of refuge around this turbulent sea. Most of them
were rented to tradersas we rent the arches of a viaduct; the
space between pillar and pillar being bricked or boarded off into
roomswhich were guarded by heavy wooden doors and cumbrous
native padlocks. Locked doors showed that the owner was awayand
a few rude - sometimes very rude - chalk or paint scratches told
where he had gone. Thus: 'Lutuf Ullah is gone to Kurdistan.'
Belowin coarse verse: 'O Allahwho sufferest lice to live on
the coat of a Kabuliwhy hast thou allowed this louse Lutuf to
live so long?'

Kimfending the lama between excited men and excited beasts
sidled along the cloisters to the far endnearest the -railway
stationwhere Mahbub Alithe horse-traderlived when he came
in from that mysterious land beyond the Passes of the North.

Kim had had many dealings with Mahbub in his little life
especially between his tenth and his thirteenth year - and the
big burly Afghanhis beard dyed scarlet with lime (for he was
elderly and did not wish his grey hairs to show)knew the boy's
value as a gossip. Sometimes he would tell Kim to watch a man who
had nothing whatever to do with horses: to follow him for one
whole day and report every soul with whom he talked. Kim would
deliver himself of his tale at eveningand Mahbub would listen
without a word or gesture. It was intrigue of some kindKim
knew; but its worth lay in saying nothing whatever to anyone
except Mahbubwho gave him beautiful meals all hot from the
cookshop at the head of the seraiand once as much as eight
annas in money.

'He is here' said Kimhitting a bad-tempered camel on the nose.
'Ohe. Mahbub Ali!' He halted at a dark arch and slipped behind
the bewildered lama.

The horse-traderhis deepembroidered Bokhariot belt unloosed
was lying on a pair of silk carpet saddle-bagspulling lazily at
an immense silver hookah. He turned his head very slightly at the
cry; and seeing only the tall silent figurechuckled in his
deep. chest.

'Allah! A lama! A Red Lama! It is far from Lahore to the Passes.
What dost thou do here?'

The lama held out the begging-bowl mechanically.

'God's curse on all unbelievers!' said Mahbub. 'I do not give to
a lousy Tibetan; but ask my Baltis over yonder behind the camels.
They may value your blessings. Ohhorseboyshere is a
countryman of yours. See if he be hungry.'

A shavencrouching Baltiwho had come down with the horsesand
who was nominally some sort of degraded Buddhistfawned upon the
priestand in thick gutturals besought the Holy One to sit at
the horseboys' fire.

'Go!' said Kimpushing him lightlyand the lama strode away
leaving Kim at the edge of the cloister.

'Go!' said Mahbub Alireturning to his hookah. 'Little Hindu
run away. God's curse on all unbelievers! Beg from those of my
tail who are of thy faith.'


'Maharaj' whined Kimusing the Hindu form of addressand
thoroughly enjoying the situation; 'my father is dead - my mother
is dead - my stomach is empty.'

'Beg from my men among the horsesI say. There must be some
Hindus in my tall.'

'OhMahbub Alibut am I a Hindu?' said Kim in English.

The trader gave no sign of astonishmentbut looked under shaggy
eyebrows.

'Little Friend of all the World' said he'what is this?'

'Nothing. I am now that holy man's disciple; and we go a
pilgrimage together - to Benareshe says. He is quite madand I
am tired of Lahore city. I wish new air and water.'

'But for whom dost thou work? Why come to me?' The voice was
harsh with suspicion.

'To whom else should I come? I have no money. It is not good to
go about without money. Thou wilt sell many horses to the
officers. They are very fine horsesthese new ones: I have seen
them. Give me a rupeeMahbub Aliand when I come to my wealth I
will give thee a bond and pay.'

'Um!' said Mahbub Alithinking swiftly. 'Thou hast never before
lied to me. Call that lama - stand back in the dark.'

'Ohour tales will agree' said Kimlaughing.

'We go to Benares' said the lamaas soon as he understood the
drift of Mahbub Ali's questions. 'The boy and II go to seek for
a certain River.'

'Maybe - but the boy?'

'He is my disciple. He was sentI thinkto guide me to that
River. Sitting under a. gun was I when he came suddenly. Such
things have befallen the fortunate to whom guidance was allowed.
But I remember nowhe said he was of this world - a Hindu.'

'And his name?'

'That I did not ask. Is he not my disciple?'

'His country - his race - his village? Mussalman - Sikh Hindu -
Jain - low caste or high?'

'Why should I ask? There is neither high nor low in the Middle
Way. If he is my chela - does - will - can anyone take him from
me? forlook youwithout him I shall not find my River.' He
wagged his head solemnly.

'None shall take him from thee. Gosit among my Baltis' said
Mahbub Aliand the lama drifted offsoothed by the promise.

'Is he not quite mad?' said Kimcoming forward to the light
again. 'Why should I lie to theeHajji?'

Mahbub puffed his hookah in silence. Then he beganalmost
whispering: 'Umballa is on the road to Benares - if indeed ye two


go there.'

'Tck! Tck! I tell thee he does not know how to lie - as we two
know.'

'And if thou wilt carry a message for me as far as UmballaI
will give thee money. It concerns a horse - a white stallion
which I have sold to an officer upon the last time I returned
from the Passes. But then - stand nearer and hold up hands as
begging -the pedigree of the white stallion was not fully
establishedand that officerwho is now at Umballabade me
make it clear.' (Mahbub here described the horse and the
appearance of the officer.) 'So the message to that officer will
be: "The pedigree of the white stallion is fully established." By
this will he know that thou comest from me. He will then say
What proof hast thou?and thou wilt answer: "Mahbub Ali has
given me the proof."'

'And all for the sake of a white stallion' said Kimwith a
gigglehis eyes aflame.

'That pedigree I will give thee now - in my own fashion and some
hard words as well.' A shadow passed behind Kimand a feeding
camel. Mahbub Ali raised his voice.

'Allah! Art thou the only beggar in the city? Thy mother is dead.
Thy father is dead. So is it with all of them. Wellwell - '

He turned as feeling on the floor beside him and tossed a flap of
softgreasy Mussalman bread to the boy. 'Go and lie down among
my horseboys for tonight - thou and the lama. Tomorrow I may give
thee service.'

Kim slunk awayhis teeth in the breadandas he expectedhe
found a small wad of folded tissue-paper wrapped in oilskinwith
three silver rupees - enormous largesse. He smiled and thrust
money and paper into his leather amulet-case. The lama
sumptuously fed by Mahbub's Baltiswas already asleep in a
corner of one of the stalls. Kim lay down beside him and laughed.
He knew he had rendered a service to Mahbub Aliand not for one
little minute did he believe the tale of the stallion's pedigree.

But Kim did not suspect that Mahbub Aliknown as one of the best
horse-dealers in the Punjaba wealthy and enterprising trader
whose caravans penetrated far and far into the Back of Beyond
was registered in one of the locked books of the Indian Survey
Department as C25 IB. Twice or thrice yearly C25 would send in a
little storybaldly told but most interestingand generally it
was checked by the statements of R17 and M4 - quite true. It
concerned all manner of out-of-the-way mountain principalities
explorers of nationalities other than Englishand the guntrade was
in briefa small portion of that vast mass of 'information
received' on which the Indian Government acts. Butrecently
five confederated Kingswho had no business to confederatehad
been informed by a kindly Northern Power that there was a leakage
of news from their territories into British India. So those
Kings' Prime Ministers were seriously annoyed and took steps
after the Oriental fashion. They suspectedamong many others
the bullyingred-bearded horsedealer whose caravans ploughed
through their fastnesses belly-deep in snow. At leasthis
caravan that season had been ambushed and shot at twice on the
way downwhen Mahbub's men accounted for three strange ruffians
who mightor might nothave been hired for the job. Therefore
Mahbub had avoided halting at the insalubrious city of Peshawur


and had come through without stop to Lahorewhereknowing his
country-peoplehe anticipated curious developments.

And there was that on Mahbub Ali which he did not wish to keep an
hour longer than was necessary - a wad of closely folded tissuepaper
wrapped in oilskin - an impersonalunaddressed statement
with five microscopic pin-holes in one cornerthat most
scandalously betrayed the five confederated Kingsthe
sympathetic Northern Powera Hindu banker in Peshawura firm of
gun-makers in Belgiumand an importantsemi-independent
Mohammedan ruler to the south. This last was R17's workwhich
Mahbub had picked up beyond the Dora Pass and was carrying in for
R17whoowing to circumstances over which he had no control
could not leave his post of observation. Dynamite was milky and
innocuous beside that report Of C25; and even an Orientalwith
an Oriental's views of the value of timecould see that the
sooner it was in the proper hands the better. Mahbub had no
particular desire to die by violencebecause two or three family
blood-feuds across the Border hung unfinished on his handsand
when these scores were cleared he intended to settle down as a
more or less virtuous citizen. He had never passed the serai gate
since his arrival two days agobut had been ostentatious in
sending telegrams to Bombaywhere he banked some of his money;
to Delhiwhere a sub-partner of his own clan was selling horses
to the agent of a Rajputana state; and to Umballawhere an
Englishman was excitedly demanding the pedigree of a white
stallion. The public letter-writerwho knew Englishcomposed
excellent telegramssuch as: 'CreightonLaurel BankUmballa.
Horse is Arabian as already advised. Sorrowful delayed pedigree
which am translating.' And later to the same address: 'Much
sorrowful delay. Will forward pedigree.' To his sub-partner at
Delhi he wired: 'Lutuf Ullah. Have wired two thousand rupees your
credit Luchman Narain's bank-' This was entirely in the way of
tradebut every one of those telegrams was discussed and rediscussed
by parties who conceived themselves to be interested
before they went over to the railway station in charge of a
foolish Baltiwho allowed all sorts of people to read them on
the road.

Whenin Mahbub's own picturesque languagehe had muddied the
wells of inquiry with the stick of precautionKim had dropped on
himsent from Heaven; andbeing as prompt as he was
unscrupulousMahbub Ali used to taking all sorts of gusty
chancespressed him into service on the spot.

A wandering lama with a low-caste boy-servant might attract a
moment's interest as they wandered about Indiathe land of
pilgrims; but no one would suspect them orwhat was more to the
pointrob.

He called for a new light-ball to his hookahand considered the
case. If the worst came to the worstand the boy came to harm
the paper would incriminate nobody. And he would go up to Umballa
leisurely and - at a certain risk of exciting fresh suspicion repeat
his tale by word of mouth to the people concerned.

But R17's report was the kernel of the whole affairand it would
be distinctly inconvenient if that failed to come to hand.
HoweverGod was greatand Mahbub Ali felt he had done all he
could for the time being. Kim was the one soul in the world who
had never told him a lie. That would have been a fatal blot on
Kim's character if Mahbub had not known that to othersfor his
own ends or Mahbub's businessKim could lie like an Oriental.


Then Mahbub Ali rolled across the serai to the Gate of the
Harpies who paint their eyes and trap the strangerand was at
some pains to call on the one girl whohe had reason to believe
was a particular friend of a smooth-faced Kashmiri pundit who had
waylaid his simple Balti in the matter of the telegrams. It was
an utterly foolish thing to do; because they fell to drinking
perfumed brandy against the Law of the Prophetand Mahbub grew
wonderfully drunkand the gates of his mouth were loosenedand
he pursued the Flower of Delight with the feet of intoxication
till he fell flat among the cushionswhere the Flower of
Delightaided by a smooth-faced Kashmiri punditsearched him
from head to foot most thoroughly.

About the same hour Kim heard soft feet in Mahbub's deserted
stall. The horse-tradercuriously enoughhad left his door
unlockedand his men were busy celebrating their return to India
with a whole sheep of Mahbub's bounty. A sleek young gentleman
from Delhiarmed with a bunch of keys which the Flower had
unshackled from the senseless one's beltwent through every
single boxbundlematand saddle-bag in Mahbub's possession
even more systematically than the Flower and the pundit were
searching the owner.

'And I think.' said the Flower scornfully an hour laterone
rounded elbow on the snoring carcass'that he is no more than a
pig of an Afghan horse-dealerwith no thought except women and
horses. Moreoverhe may have sent it away by now - if ever there
were such a thing.'

'Nay - in a matter touching Five Kings it would be next his black
heart' said the pundit. 'Was there nothing?'

The Delhi man laughed and resettled his turban as he entered. 'I
searched between the soles of his slippers as the Flower searched
his clothes. This is not the man but another. I leave little
unseen.'

'They did not say he was the very man' said the pundit
thoughtfully. 'They saidLook if he be the man, since our
counsels are troubled.'

'That North country is full of horse-dealers as an old coat of
lice. There is Sikandar KhanNur Ali Begand Farrukh Shah all
heads of kafilas [caravans] - who deal there' said the Flower.

'They have not yet come in' said the pundit. 'Thou must ensnare
them later.'

Phew!' said the Flower with deep disgustrolling Mahbub's head
from her lap. 'I earn my money. Farrukh Shah is a bearAli Beg a
swashbucklerand old Sikandar Khan - yaie! Go! I sleep now. This
swine will not stir till dawn.'

When Mahbub wokethe Flower talked to him severely on the sin of
drunkenness. Asiatics do not wink when they have outmanoeuvred an
enemybut as Mahbub Ali cleared his throattightened his belt
and staggered forth under the early morning starshe came very
near to it.

'What a colt's trick!' said he to himself 'As if every girl in
Peshawur did not use it! But 'twas prettily done. Now God He
knows how many more there be upon the Road who have orders to
test me - perhaps with the knife. So it stands that the boy must

go to Umballa - and by rail -for the writing is something


urgent. I abide herefollowing the Flower and drinking wine as
an Afghan coper should.'

He halted at the stall next but one to his own. His men lay there
heavy with sleep. There was no sign of Kim or the lama.

'Up! He stirred a sleeper. 'Whither went those who lay here last
even - the lama and the boy? Is aught missing?'

'Nay' grunted the man'the old madman rose at second cockcrow
saying he would go to Benaresand the young one led him away.'

'The curse of Allah on all unbelievers!' said Mahbub heartily
and climbed into his own stallgrowling in his beard.

But it was Kim who had wakened the lama - Kim with one eye laid
against a knot-hole in the plankingwho had seen the Delhi man's
search through the boxes. This was no common thief that turned
over lettersbillsand saddles - no mere burglar who ran a
little knife sideways into the soles of Mahbub's slippersor
picked the seams of the saddle-bags so deftly. At first Kim had
been minded to give the alarm - the long-drawn cho-or -choor!
[thief! thief!] that sets the serai ablaze of nights; but he
looked more carefullyandhand on amuletdrew his own
conclusions.

'It must be the pedigree of that made-up horse-lie' said he
'the thing that I carry to Umballa. Better that we go now. Those
who search bags with knives may presently search bellies with
knives. Surely there is a woman behind this. Hai! Hai! in a
whisper to the light-sleeping old man. 'Come. It is time - time
to go to Benares.'

The lama rose obedientlyand they passed out of the serai like
shadows.

Chapter 2

And whoso willfrom Pride released;
Contemning neither creed nor priest
May feel the Soul of all the East.
About him at Kamakura.

Buddha at Kamakura.

They entered the fort-like railway stationblack in the end of
night; the electrics sizzling over the goods-yard where they
handle the heavy Northern grain-traffic.

'This is the work of devils!' said the lamarecoiling from the
hollow echoing darknessthe glimmer of rails between the masonry
platformsand the maze of girders above. He stood in a gigantic
stone hall pavedit seemedwith the sheeted dead third-class
passengers who had taken their tickets overnight and were
sleeping in the waiting-rooms. All hours of the twenty-four are
alike to Orientalsand their passenger traffic is regulated
accordingly.


'This is where the fire-carriages come. One stands behind that
hole' -Kim pointed to the ticket-office - 'who will give thee a
paper to take thee to Umballa.'

'But we go to Benares' he replied petulantly.

'All one. Benares then. Quick: she comes!'

'Take thou the purse.'

The lamanot so well used to trains as he had pretendedstarted
as the 3.25a.m. south-bound roared in. The sleepers sprang to
lifeand the station filled with clamour and shoutingscries of
water and sweetmeat vendorsshouts of native policemenand
shrill yells of women gathering up their basketstheir families
and their husbands.

'It is the train - only the te-rain. It will not come here.
Wait!' Amazed at the lama's immense- simplicity (he had handed
him a small bag full of rupees)Kim asked and paid for a ticket
to Umballa. A sleepy clerk grunted and flung out a ticket to the
next stationjust six miles distant.

'Nay' said Kimscanning it with a grin. 'This may serve for
farmersbut I live in the city of Lahore. It was cleverly done
Babu. Now give the ticket to Umballa.'

The Babu scowled and dealt the proper ticket.

'Now another to Amritzar' said Kimwho had no notion of
spending Mahbub Ali's money on anything so crude as a paid ride
to Umballa. 'The price is so much. The small money in return is
just so much. I know the ways of the te-rain ... Never did yogi
need chela as thou dost' he went on merrily to the bewildered
lama. 'They would have flung thee out at Mian Mir but for me.
This way! Come!' He returned the moneykeeping only one anna in
each rupee of the price of the Umballa ticket as his commission the
immemorial commission of Asia.

The lama jibbed at the open door of a crowded third-class
carriage. 'Were it not better to walk?' said he weakly.

A burly Sikh artisan thrust forth his bearded head. 'Is he
afraid? Do not be afraid. I remember the time when I was afraid
of the te-rain. Enter! This thing is the work of the Government.'

'I do not fear' said the lama. 'Have ye room within for two?'

'There is no room even for a mouse' shrilled the wife of a wellto-
do cultivator - a Hindu Jat from the rich Jullundurdistrict.
Our night trains are not as well looked after as the day ones
where the sexes are very strictly kept to separate carriages.

'Ohmother of my sonwe can make space' said the blueturbaned
husband. 'Pick up the child. It is a holy mansee'st thou?'

'And my lap full of seventy times seven bundles! Why not bid him
sit on my kneeShameless? But men are ever thus!' She looked
round for approval. An Amritzar courtesan near the window sniffed
behind her head drapery.

'Enter! Enter!' cried a fat Hindu money-lenderhis folded
account-book in a cloth under his arm. With an oily smirk: 'It is
well to be kind to the poor.'


'Ayat seven per cent a month with a mortgage on the unborn
calf' said a young Dograsoldier going south on leave; and they
all laughed.

'Will it travel to Benares?' said the lama.

'Assuredly. Else why should we come? Enteror we are left'
cried Kim.

'See!' shrilled the Amritzar girl. 'He has never entered a train.
Ohsee!'

'Nayhelp' said the cultivatorputting out a large brown hand
and hauling him in. 'Thus is it donefather.'

'But - but - I sit on the floor. It is against the Rule to sit on
a bench' said the lama. 'Moreoverit cramps me.'

'I say' began the money-lenderpursing his lips'that there is
not one rule of right living which these te-rains do not cause as
to break. We sitfor exampleside by side with all castes and
peoples.'

'Yeaand with most outrageously shameless ones' said the wife
scowling at the Amritzar girl making eyes at the young sepoy.

'I said we might have gone by cart along the road' said the
husband'and thus have saved some money.'

'Yes - and spent twice over what we saved on food by the way.
That was talked out ten thousand times.'

'Ayby ten thousand tongues' grunted he.

'The Gods help us poor women if we may not speak. Oho! He is of
that sort which may not look at or reply to a woman.' For the
lamaconstrained by his Ruletook not the faintest notice of
her. 'And his disciple is like him?'

'Naymother' said Kim most promptly. 'Not when the woman is
well-looking and above all charitable to the hungry.'

'A beggar's answer' said the Sikhlaughing. 'Thou hast brought
it on thyselfsister!' Kim's hands were crooked in supplication.

'And whither goest thou?' said the womanhanding him the half of
a cake from a greasy package.

'Even to Benares.'

'Jugglers belike?' the young soldier suggested. 'Have ye any
tricks to pass the time? Why does not that yellow man answer?'

'Because' said Kim stoutly'he is holyand thinks upon matters
hidden from thee.'

'That may be well. We of the Ludhiana Sikhs' - he rolled it out
sonorously -'do not trouble our heads with doctrine. We fight.'

'My sister's brother's son is naik (corporal] in that regiment'
said the Sikh craftsman quietly. 'There are also some Dogra
companies there.' The soldier glaredfor a Dogra is of other


caste than a Sikhand the banker tittered.

'They are all one to me' said the Amritzar girl.

'That we believe' snorted the cultivator's wife malignantly.

'Naybut all who serve the Sirkar with weapons in their hands
areas it wereone brotherhood. There is one brotherhood of the
castebut beyond that again' - she looked round timidly -'the
bond of the Pulton - the Regiment -eh?'

'My brother is in a Jat regiment' said the cultivator. 'Dogras
be good men.'

'Thy Sikhs at least were of that opinion' said the soldierwith
a scowl at the placid old man in the corner. 'Thy Sikhs thought
so when our two companies came to help them at the Pirzai Kotal
in the face of eight Afridi standards on the ridge not three
months gone.'

He told the story of a Border action in which the Dogra companies
of the Ludhiana Sikhs had acquitted themselves well. The Amritzar
girl smiled; for she knew the talc was to win her approval.

'Alas!' said the cultivator's wife at the end. 'So their villages
were burnt and their little children made homeless?'

'They had marked our dead. They paid a great payment after we of
the Sikhs had schooled them. So it was. Is this Amritzar?'

'Ayand here they cut our tickets' said the bankerfumbling at
his belt.

The lamps were paling in the dawn when the half-caste guard came
round. Ticket-collecting is a slow business in the Eastwhere
people secrete their tickets in all sorts of curious places. Kim
produced his and was told to get out.

'But I go to Umballa' he protested. 'I go with this holy man.'

'Thou canst go to Jehannum for aught I care. This ticket is only

Kim burst into a flood of tearsprotesting that the lama was his
father and his motherthat he was the prop of the lama's
declining yearsand that the lama would die without his care.
All the carriage bade the guard be merciful - the banker was
specially eloquent here - but the guard hauled Kim on to the
platform. The lama blinked - he could not overtake the situation
and Kim lifted up his voice and wept outside the carriage
window.

'I am very poor. My father is dead - my mother is dead. O
charitable onesif I am left herewho shall tend that old man?'

'What - what is this?' the lama repeated. 'He must go to Benares.
He must come with me. He is my chela. If there is money to be
paid -'

'Ohbe silent' whispered Kim; 'are we Rajahs to throw away good
silver when the world is so charitable?'

The Amritzar girl stepped out with her bundlesand it was on her
that Kim kept his watchful eye. Ladies of that persuasionhe
knewwere generous.


'A ticket - a little tikkut to Umballa - O Breaker of Hearts!'
She laughed. 'Hast thou no charity?'

'Does the holy man come from the North'

'From far and far in the North he comes' cried Kim. 'From among
the hills.'

'There is snow among the pine-trees in the North - in the hills
there is snow. My mother was from Kulu. Get thee a ticket. Ask
him for a blessing.'

'Ten thousand blessings' shrilled Kim. 'O Holy Onea woman has
given us in charity so that I can come with thee - a woman with a
golden heart. I run for the tikkut.'

The girl looked up at the lamawho had mechanically followed Kim
to the platform. He bowed his head that he might not see herand
muttered in Tibetan as she passed on with the crowd.

'Light come - light go' said the cultivator's wife viciously.

'She has acquired merit' returned the lama. 'Beyond doubt it was
a nun.'

'There be ten thousand such nuns in Amritzar alone. Return
old manor the te-rain may depart without thee' cried the
banker.

'Not only was it sufficient for the ticketbut for a little food
also' said Kimleaping to his place. 'Now eatHoly One. Look.
Day comes!'

Goldenrosesaffronand pinkthe morning mists smoked away
across the flat green levels. All the rich Punjab lay out in the
splendour of the keen sun. The lama flinched a little as the
telegraph-posts swung by.

'Great is the speed of the te-rain' said the bankerwith a
patronizing grin. 'We have gone farther since Lahore than thou
couldst walk in two days: at evenwe shall enter Umballa.'

'And that is still far from Benares' said the lama wearily
mumbling over the cakes that Kim offered. They all unloosed their
bundles and made their morning meal. Then the bankerthe
cultivatorand the soldier prepared their pipes and wrapped the
compartment in chokingacrid smokespitting and coughing and
enjoying themselves. The Sikh and the cultivator's wife chewed
pan; the lama took snuff and told his beadswhile Kimcrosslegged
smiled over the comfort of a full stomach.

'What rivers have ye by Benares?' said the lama of a sudden to
the carriage at large.

'We have Gunga' returned the bankerwhen the little titter had
subsided.

'What others?'

'What other than Gunga?'

'Naybut in my mind was the thought of a certain River of
healing.'


'That is Gunga. Who bathes in her is made clean and goes to the
Gods. Thrice have I made pilgrimage to Gunga.' He looked round
proudly.

'There was need' said the young sepoy drilyand the travellers'
laugh turned against the banker.

'Clean - to return again to the Gods' the lama muttered. 'And to
go forth on the round of lives anew - still tied to the Wheel.'
He shook his head testily. 'But maybe there is a mistake. Who
thenmade Gunga in the beginning?'

'The Gods. Of what known faith art thou?' the banker said
appalled.

'I follow the Law - the Most Excellent Law. So it was the Gods
that made Gunga. What like of Gods were they?'

The carriage looked at him in amazement. It was inconceivable
that anyone should be ignorant of Gunga.

'What - what is thy God?' said the money-lender at last.

'Hear!' said the lamashifting the rosary to his hand. 'Hear:
for I speak of Him now! O people of Hindlisten!'

He began in Urdu the tale of the Lord Buddhabutborne by his
own thoughtsslid into Tibetan and long-droned texts from a
Chinese book of the Buddha's life. The gentletolerant folk
looked on reverently. All India is full of holy men stammering
gospels in strange tongues; shaken and consumed in the fires of
their own zeal; dreamersbabblersand visionaries: as it has
been from the beginning and will continue to the end.

'Um!' said the soldier of the Ludhiana Sikhs. 'There was a
Mohammedan regiment lay next to us at the Pirzai Kotaland a
priest of theirs - he wasas I remembera naik - when the fit
was on himspake prophecies. But the mad all are in God's
keeping. His officers overlooked much in that man.'

The lama fell back on Urduremembering that he was in a strange
land. 'Hear the tale of the Arrow which our Lord loosed from the
bow' he said.

This was much more to their tasteand they listened curiously
while he told it. 'NowO people of HindI go to seek that
River. Know ye aught that may guide mefor we be all men and
women in evil case.'

'There is Gunga - and Gunga alone - who washes away sin.' ran the
murmur round the carriage.

'Though past question we have good Gods Jullundur-way' said the
cultivator's wifelooking out of the window. 'See how they have
blessed the crops.'

'To search every river in the Punjab is no small matter' said
her husband. 'For mea stream that leaves good silt on my land
sufficesand I thank Bhumiathe God of the Home-stead.' He
shrugged one knottedbronzed shoulder.

'Think you our Lord came so far North?' said the lamaturning to
Kim.


'It may be' Kim replied soothinglyas he spat red pan-juice on
the floor.

'The last of the Great Ones' said the Sikh with authority'was
Sikander Julkarn [Alexander the Great]. He paved the streets of
Jullundur and built a great tank near Umballa. That pavement
holds to this day; and the tank is there also. I never heard of
thy God.'

'Let thy hair grow long and talk Punjabi' said the young soldier
jestingly to Kimquoting a Northern proverb. 'That is all that
makes a Sikh.' But he did not say this very loud.

The lama sighed and shrank into himselfa dingyshapeless mass.
In the pauses of their talk they could hear the low droning _'Om
mane pudme hum! Om mane pudme hum!' - and the thick click of the
wooden rosary beads.

'It irks me' he said at last. 'The speed and the clatter irk me.
Moreovermy chelaI think that maybe we have over-passed that
River.'

'Peacepeace' said Kim. 'Was not the River near Benares? We are
yet far from the place.'

'But - if our Lord came Northit may be any one of these little
ones that we have run across.'

'I do not know.'

'But thou wast sent to me - wast thou sent to me? - for the merit
I had acquired over yonder at Such-zen. From beside the cannon
didst thou come - bearing two faces -and two garbs.'

'Peace. One must not speak of these things here' whispered Kim.
'There was but one of me. Think again and thou wilt remember. A
boy - a Hindu boy - by the great green cannon.'

'But was there not also an Englishman with a white beard holy
among images - who himself made more sure my assurance of the
River of the Arrow?'

'He - we - went to the Ajaib-Gher in Lahore to pray before the
Gods there' Kim explained to the openly listening company. 'And
the Sahib of the Wonder House talked to him - yesthis is truth
as a brother. He is a very holy manfrom far beyond the Hills.
Restthou. In time we come to Umballa.'

'But my River - the River of my healing?'

'And thenif it please theewe will go hunting for that River
on foot. So that we miss nothing - not even a little rivulet in a
field-side.'

'But thou hast a Search of thine own?' The lama - very pleased
that he remembered so well - sat bolt upright.

'Ay' said Kimhumouring him. The boy was entirely happy to be
out chewing pan and seeing new people in the great good-tempered
world.

'It was a bull - a Red Bull that shall come and help thee and
carry thee - whither? I have forgotten. A Red Bull on a green


fieldwas it not?'

'Nayit will carry me nowhere' said Kim. 'It is but a tale I
told thee.'

'What is this?' The cultivator's wife leaned forwardher
bracelets clinking on her arm. 'Do ye both dream dreams? A Red
Bull on a green fieldthat shall carry thee to the heavens or
what? Was it a vision? Did one make a prophecy? We have a Red
Bull in our village behind Jullundur cityand he grazes by
choice in the very greenest of our fields!'

'Give a woman an old wife's tale and a weaver-bird a leaf and a
thread'they will weave wonderful things' said the Sikh. 'All
holy men dream dreamsand by following holy men their disciples
attain that power.'

'A Red Bull on a green fieldwas it?' the lama repeated. 'In a
former life it may be thou hast acquired meritand the Bull will
come to reward thee.'

'Nay - nay - it was but a tale one told to me - for a jest
belike. But I will seek the Bull about Umballaand thou canst
look for thy River and rest from the clatter of the train.'

'It may be that the Bull knows - that he is sent to guide us
both.' said the lamahopefully as a child. Then to the company
indicating Kim: 'This one was sent to me but yesterday. He is
notI thinkof this world.'

'Beggars aplenty have I metand holy men to bootbut never such
a yogi nor such a disciple' said the woman.

Her husband touched his forehead lightly with one finger
and smiled. But the next time the lama would eat they took care
to give him of their best.

And at last - tiredsleepyand dusty - they reached Umballa
City Station.

'We abide here upon a law-suit' said the cultivator's wife to
Kim. 'We lodge with my man's cousin's younger brother. There is
room also in the courtyard for thy yogi and for thee. Will- will
he give me a blessing?'

'O holy man! A woman with a heart of gold gives us lodging for
the night. It is a kindly landthis land of the South. See how
we have been helped since the dawn!'

The lama bowed his head in benediction.

'To fill my cousin's younger brother's house with wastrels -' the
husband beganas he shouldered his heavy bamboo staff.

'Thy cousin's younger brother owes my father's cousin something
yet on his daughter's marriage-feast' said the woman crisply.
'Let him put their food to that account. The yogi will begI
doubt not.'

'AyI beg for him' said Kimanxious only to get the lama under
shelter for the nightthat he might seek Mahbub Ali's Englishman
and deliver himself of the white stallion's pedigree.


'Now' said hewhen the lama had come to an anchor in the inner
courtyard of a decent Hindu house behind the cantonments'I go
away for a while - to - to buy us victual in the bazar. Do not
stray abroad till I return.'

'Thou wilt return? Thou wilt surely return?' The old man caught
at his wrist. 'And thou wilt return in this very same shape? Is
it too late to look tonight for the River?'

'Too late and too dark. Be comforted. Think how far thou art on
the road - an hundred miles from Lahore already.'

'Yea - and farther from my monastery. Alas! It is a great and
terrible world.'

Kim stole out and awayas unremarkable a figure as ever carried
his own and a few score thousand other folk's fate slung round
his neck. Mahbub Ali's directions left him little doubt of the
house in which his Englishman lived; and a groombringing a dogcart
home from the Clubmade him quite sure. It remained only to
identify his manand Kim slipped through the garden hedge and
hid in a clump of plumed grass close to the veranda. The house
blazed with lightsand servants moved about tables dressed with
flowersglassand silver. Presently forth came an Englishman
dressed in black and - whitehumming a tune. It was too dark to
see his faceso Kimbeggar-wisetried an old experiment.

'Protector of the Poor!'

The man backed towards the voice.

'Mahbub Ali says -'

'Hah! What says Mahbub Ali?' He made no attempt to look for the
speakerand that showed Kim that he knew.

'The pedigree of the white stallion is fully established.'

'What proof is there?' The Englishman switched at the rose-hedge
in the side of the drive.

'Mahbub Ali has given me this proof.' Kim flipped the wad of
folded paper into the airand it fell in the path beside the
manwho put his foot on it as a gardener came round the corner.
When the servant passed he picked it updropped a rupee - Kim
could hear the clink - and strode into the housenever turning
round. Swiftly Kim took up the money; but for all his training
he was Irish enough by birth to reckon silver the least part of
any game. What he desired was the visible effect of action; so
instead of slinking awayhe lay close in the grass and wormed
nearer to the house.

He saw - Indian bungalows are open through and through the
Englishman return to a small dressing-roomin a comer of the
verandathat was half officelittered with papers and despatchboxes
and sit down to study Mahbub Ali's message. His faceby
the full ray of the kerosene lampchanged and darkenedand Kim
used as every beggar must be to watching countenancestook good
note.

'Will! Willdear!' called a woman's voice. 'You ought to be in
the drawing-room. They'll be here in a minute.'

The man still read intently.


'Will!' said the voicefive minutes later. 'He's come. I can
hear the troopers in the drive.'

The man dashed out bareheaded as a big landau with four native
troopers behind it halted at the verandaand a tallblack
haired manerect as an arrowswung outpreceded by a young
officer who laughed pleasantly.

Flat on his belly lay Kimalmost touching the high wheels. His
man and the black stranger exchanged two sentences.

'Certainlysir' said the young officer promptly. 'Everything
waits while a horse is concerned.'

'We shan't be more than twenty minutes' said Kim's man. 'You can
do the honours -keep 'em amusedand all that.'

'Tell one of the troopers to wait' said the tall manand they
both passed into the dressing-room together as the landau rolled
away. Kim saw their heads bent over Mahbub Ali's messageand
heard the voices - one low and deferentialthe other sharp and
decisive.

'It isn't a question of weeks. It is a question of days - hours
almost' said the elder. 'I'd been expecting it for some time
but this' - he tapped Mahbub Ali's paper - 'clinches it. Grogan's
dining here to-nightisn't he?'

'Yessirand Macklin too.'

'Very good. I'll speak to them myself. The matter will be
referred to the Councilof coursebut this is a case where one
is justified in assuming that we take action at once. Warn the
Pined and Peshawar brigades. It will disorganize all the summer
reliefsbut we can't help that. This comes of not smashing them
thoroughly the first time. Eight thousand should be enough.'

'What about artillerysir?'

'I must consult Macklin.'

'Then it means war?'

'No. Punishment. When a man is bound by the action of his
predecessor -'

'But C25 may have lied.'

'He bears out the other's information. Practicallythey showed
their hand six months back. But Devenish would have it there was
a chance of peace. Of course they used it to make themselves
stronger. Send off those telegrams at once - the new codenot
the old - mine and Wharton's. I don't think we need keep the
ladies waiting any longer. We can settle the rest over the
cigars. I thought it was coming. It's punishment - not war.'

As the trooper cantered offKim crawled round to the back of the
housewheregoing on his Lahore experienceshe judged there
would be food - and information. The kitchen was crowded with
excited scullionsone of whom kicked him.

'Aie' said Kimfeigning tears. 'I came only to wash dishes in
return for a bellyful.'


'All Umballa is on the same errand. Get hence. They go in now
with the soup. Think you that we who serve Creighton Sahib need
strange scullions to help us through a big dinner?'

'It is a very big dinner' said Kimlooking at the plates.

'Small wonder. The guest of honour is none other than the Jang-i-
Lat Sahib [the Commander-in-Chief].'

'Ho!' said Kimwith the correct guttural note of wonder. He had
learned what he wantedand when the scullion turned he was gone.

'And all that trouble' said he to himselfthinking as usual in
Hindustani'for a horse's pedigree! Mahbub Ali should have come
to me to learn a little lying. Every time before that I have
borne a message it concerned a woman. Now it is men. Better. The
tall man said that they will loose a great army to punish someone
-somewhere - the news goes to Pindi and Peshawur. There are also
guns. Would I had crept nearer. It is big news!'

He returned to find the cultivator's cousin's younger brother
discussing the family law-suit in all its bearings with the
cultivator and his wife and a few friendswhile the lama dozed.
After the evening meal some one passed him a water-pipe; and Kim
felt very much of a man as he pulled at the smooth coconut-shell
his legs spread abroad in the moonlighthis tongue clicking in
remarks from time to time. His hosts were most polite; for the
cultivator's wife had told them of his vision of the Red Bull
and of his probable descent from another world. Moreoverthe
lama was a great and venerable curiosity.

The family priestan oldtolerant Sarsut Brahmindropped in
laterand naturally started a theological argument to impress
the family. By creedof coursethey were all on their priest's
sidebut the lama was the guest and the novelty. His gentle
kindlinessand his impressive Chinese quotationsthat sounded
like spellsdelighted them hugely; and in this sympathetic
simple airhe expanded like the Bodhisat's own lotusspeaking
of his life in the great hills of Such-zenbeforeas he said
'I rose up to seek enlightenment.'

Then it came out that in those worldly days he had been a masterhand
at casting horoscopes and nativities; and the family priest
led him on to describe his methods; each giving the planets names
that the other could not understandand pointing upwards as the
big stars sailed across the dark. The children of the house
tugged unrebuked at his rosary; and he clean forgot the Rule
which forbids looking at women as he talked of enduring snows
landslipsblocked passesthe remote cliffs where men find
sapphires and turquoiseand that wonderful upland road that
leads at last into Great China itself.

'How thinkest thou of this one?' said the cultivator aside to the
priest.

'A holy man - a holy man indeed. His Gods are not the Godsbut
his feet are upon the Way' was the answer. 'And his methods of
nativitiesthough that is beyond theeare wise and sure.1

'Tell me' said Kim lazily'whether I find my Red Bull on a
green fieldas was promised me.'


'What knowledge hast thou of thy birth-hour?' the priest asked
swelling with importance.

'Between first and second cockcrow of the first night in May.'

'Of what year?'

'I do not know; but upon the hour that I cried first fell the
great earthquake in Srinagar which is in Kashmir.' This Kim had
from the woman who took care of himand she again from Kimball
O'Hara. The earthquake had been felt in Indiaand for long stood
a leading date in the Punjab.

'Ai!' said a woman excitedly. This seemed to make Kim's
supernatural origin more certain. "Was not such an one's daughter
born then -'

'And her mother bore her husband four sons in four years all
likely boys' cried the cultivator's wifesitting outside the
circle in the shadow.

'None reared in the knowledge' said the family priest'forget
how the planets stood in their Houses upon that night.' He began
to draw in the dust of the courtyard. 'At least thou hast good
claim to a half of the House of the Bull. How runs thy prophecy?'

'Upon a day' said Kimdelighted at the sensation he was
creating'I shall be made great by means of a Red Bull on a
green fieldbut first there will enter two men making all things
ready.'

'Yes: thus ever at the opening of a vision. A thick darkness that
clears slowly; anon one enters with a broom making ready the
place. Then begins the Sight. Two men - thou sayest? Ayay. The
Sunleaving the House of the Bullenters that of the Twins.
Hence the two men of the prophecy. Let us now consider. Fetch me
a twiglittle one.'

He knitted his browsscratchedsmoothed outand scratched
again in the dust mysterious signs - to the wonder of all save
the lamawhowith fine instinctforbore to interfere.

At the end of half an hourhe tossed the twig from him with a
grunt.

'Hm! Thus say the stars. Within three days come the two men to
make all things ready. After them follows the Bull; but the sign
over against him is the sign of War and armed men.'

'There was indeed a man of the Ludhiana Sikhs in the carriage
from Lahore' said the cultivator's wife hopefully.

'Tck! Armed men - many hundreds. What concern hast thou with
war?' said the priest to Kim. 'Thine is a red and an angry sign
of War to be loosed very soon.'

'None - none.' said the lama earnestly. 'We seek only peace and
our River.'

Kim smiledremembering what he had overheard in the dressingroom.
Decidedly he was a favourite of the stars.

The priest brushed his foot over the rude horoscope. 'More than
this I cannot see. In three days comes the Bull to theeboy.'


'And my Rivermy River' pleaded the lama. 'I had hoped his Bull
would lead us both to the River.'


'Alasfor that wondrous Rivermy brother' the priest replied.
'Such things are not common.'


Next morningthough they were pressed to staythe lama insisted
on departure. They gave Kim a large bundle of good food and
nearly three annas in copper money for the needs of the roadand
with many blessings watched the two go southward in the dawn.


'Pity it is that these and such as these could not be freed from


'Naythen would only evil people be left on the earthand who
would give us meat and shelter?' quoth Kimstepping merrily
under his burden.


'Yonder is a small stream. Let us look' said the lamaand he
led from the white road across the fields; walking into a very
hornets' nest of pariah dogs.


Chapter 3


Yeavoice of every Soul that clung


To life that strove from rung to rung
When Devadatta's rule was young
The warm wind brings Kamakura.


Buddha at Kamakura.


Behind them an angry farmer brandished a bamboo pole. He was a
market-gardenerArain by castegrowing vegetables and flowers
for Umballa cityand well Kim knew the breed.


'Such an one' said the lamadisregarding the dogs'is impolite
to strangersintemperate of speech and uncharitable. Be warned
by his demeanourmy disciple.'


'Hoshameless beggars!' shouted the farmer. 'Begone! Get hence!'


'We go' the lama returnedwith quiet dignity. 'We go from these
unblessed fields.'


'Ah' said Kimsucking in his breath. 'If the next crops fail
thou canst only blame thine own tongue.'


The man shuffled uneasily in his slippers. 'The land is full of
beggars' he beganhalf apologetically.


'And by what sign didst thou know that we would beg from theeO
Mali?' said Kim tartlyusing the name that a market-gardener
least likes. 'All we sought was to look at that river beyond the
field there.'


'Riverforsooth!' the man snorted. 'What city do ye hail from
not to know a canal-cut? It runs as straight as an arrow ' and I



pay for the water as though it were molten silver. There is a
branch of a river beyond. But if ye need water I can give that and
milk.'

'Naywe will go to the river' said the lamastriding out.

'Milk and a meal.' the man stammeredas he looked at the strange
tall figure. 'I - I would not draw evil upon myself - or my
crops. But beggars are so many in these hard days.'

'Take notice.' The lama turned to Kim. 'He was led to speak
harshly by the Red Mist of anger. That clearing from his eyeshe
becomes courteous and of an affable heart. May his fields be
blessed! Beware not to judge men too hastilyO farmer.'

'I have met holy ones who would have cursed thee from hearthstone
to byre' said Kim to the abashed man. 'Is he not wise and holy?
I am his disciple.'

He cocked his nose in the air loftily and stepped across the
narrow field-borders with great dignity.

'There is no pride' said the lamaafter a pause'there is no
pride among such as follow the Middle Way.'

'But thou hast said he was low-caste and discourteous.'

'Low-caste I did not sayfor how can that be which is not?
Afterwards he amended his discourtesyand I forgot the offence.
Moreoverhe is as we arebound upon the Wheel of Things; but he
does not tread the way of deliverance.' He halted at a little
runlet among the fieldsand considered the hoof-pitted bank.

'Nowhow wilt thou know thy River?' said Kimsquatting in the
shade of some tall sugar-cane.

'When I find itan enlightenment will surely be given. ThisI
feelis not the place. O littlest among the watersif only thou
couldst tell me where runs my River! But be thou blessed to make
the fields bear!'

'Look! Look!' Kim sprang to his side and dragged him back. A
yellow-and-brown streak glided from the purple rustling stems to
the bankstretched its neck to the waterdrankand lay still a
big cobra with fixedlidless eyes.

'I have no stick - I have no stick' said Kim. '1 will get me one
and break his back.'

'Why? He is upon the Wheel as we are - a life ascending or
descending - very far from deliverance. Great evil must the soul
have done that is cast into this shape.'

'I hate all snakes' said Kim. No native training can quench the
white man's horror of the Serpent.

'Let him live out his life.' The coiled thing hissed and half
opened its hood. 'May thy release come soonbrother!' the lama
continued placidly. 'Hast thou knowledgeby chanceof my
River?'

'Never have I seen such a man as thou art' Kim whispered
overwhelmed. 'Do the very snakes understand thy talk?'


'Who knows?' He passed within a foot of the cobra's poised head.
It flattened itself among the dusty coils.

'Comethou!' he called over his shoulder.

'Not I' said Kim'. 'I go round.'

'Come. He does no hurt.'

Kim hesitated for a moment. The lama backed his order by some
droned Chinese quotation which Kim took for a charm. He obeyed
and bounded across the rivuletand the snakeindeedmade no
sign.

'Never have I seen such a man.' Kim wiped the sweat from his
forehead. 'And nowwhither go we?'

'That is for thee to say. I am oldand a stranger - far from my
own place. But that the rel-carriage fills my head with noises of
devil-drums I would go in it to Benares now ... Yet by so going
we may miss the River. Let us find another river.'

Where the hard-worked soil gives three and even four crops a year
through patches of sugar-canetobaccolong white radishes
and nol-kolall that day they strolled onturning aside to
every glimpse of water; rousing village dogs and sleeping
villages at noonday; the lama replying to the volleyed questions
with an unswerving simplicity. They sought a River a River of
miraculous healing. Had any one knowledge of such a stream?
Sometimes men laughedbut more often heard the story out to the
end and offered them a place in the shadea drink of milkand a
meal. The women were always kindand the little children as
children are the world overalternately shy and venturesome.
Evening found them at rest under the village tree of a mudwalled
mud-roofed hamlettalking to the headman as the cattle
came in from the grazing-grounds and the women prepared the day's
last meal. They had passed beyond the belt of market-gardens
round hungry Umballaand were among the mile-wide green of the
staple crops.

He was a white-bearded and affable elderused to entertaining
strangers. He dragged out a string bedstead for the lamaset
warm cooked food before himprepared him a pipeandthe
evening ceremonies being finished in the village templesent for
the village priest.

Kim told the older children tales of the size and beauty of
Lahoreof railway traveland such-like city thingswhile the
men talkedslowly as their cattle chew the cud.

'I cannot fathom it' said the headman at last to the priest.
'How readest thou this talk?' The lamahis tale toldwas
silently telling his beads.

'He is a Seeker.' the priest answered. 'The land is full of such.
Remember him who came only lastmonth - the fakir with the
tortoise?'

'Aybut that man had right and reasonfor Krishna Himself
appeared in a vision promising him Paradise without the burningpyre
if he journeyed to Prayag. This man seeks no God who is
within my knowledge.'

'Peacehe is old: he comes from far offand he is mad' the


smooth-shaven priest replied. 'Hear me.' He turned to the lama.
'Three koss [six miles] to the westward runs the great road to
Calcutta.'

'But I would go to Benares - to Benares.'

'And to Benares also. It crosses all streams on this side of
Hind. Now my word to theeHoly Oneis rest here till tomorrow.
Then take the road' (it was the Grand Trunk Road he meant) 'and
test each stream that it overpasses; foras I understandthe
virtue of thy River lies neither in one pool nor placebut
throughout its length. Thenif thy Gods willbe assured that
thou wilt come upon thy freedom.'

'That is well said.' The lama was much impressed by the plan. 'We
will begin tomorrowand a blessing on thee for showing old feet
such a near road.' A deepsing-song Chinese half-chant closed
the sentence. Even the priest was impressedand the headman
feared an evil spell: but none could look at the lama's simple
eager face and doubt him long.

'Seest thou my chela?' he saiddiving into his snuff-gourd with
an important sniff. It was his duty to repay courtesy with
courtesy.

'I see - and hear.' The headman rolled his eye where Kim was
chatting to a girl in blue as she laid crackling thorns on a
fire.

'He also has a Search of his own. No riverbut a Bull. Yeaa
Red Bull on a green field will some day raise him to honour. He
isI thinknot altogether of this world. He was sent of a
sudden to aid me in this searchand his name is Friend of all
the World.'

The priest smiled. 'HothereFriend of all the World' he cried
across the sharp-smelling smoke'what art thou?'

'This Holy One's disciple' said Kim.

'He says thou are a but [a spirit].'

'Can buts eat?' said Kimwith a twinkle. 'For I am hungry.'

'It is no jest' cried the lama. 'A certain astrologer of that city
whose name I have forgotten -'

'That is no more than the city of Umballa where we slept last
night' Kim whispered to the priest.

'AyUmballa was it? He cast a horoscope and declared that my
chela should find his desire within two days. But what said he of
the meaning of the starsFriend of all the World?'

Kim cleared his throat and looked around at the village
greybeards.

'The meaning of my Star is War' he replied pompously.

Somebody laughed at the little tattered figure strutting on the
brickwork plinth under the great tree. Where a native would have
lain downKim's white blood set him upon his feet.

'AyWar' he answered.


'That is a sure prophecy' rumbled a deep voice. 'For there is
always war along the Border -as I know.'


It was an oldwithered manwho had served the Government in the
days of the Mutiny as a native officer in a newly raised cavalry
regiment. The Government had given him a good holding in the
villageand though the demands of his sonsnow grey-bearded
officers on their own accounthad impoverished himhe was still
a person of consequence. English officials - Deputy Commissioners
even - turned aside from the main road to visit himand on those
occasions he dressed himself in the uniform of ancient daysand
stood up like a ramrod.


'But this shall be a great war - a war of eight thousand.' Kim's
voice shrilled across the quick-gathering crowdastonishing
himself.


'Redcoats or our own regiments?' the old man snappedas though
he were asking an equal. His tone made men respect Kim.


'Redcoats' said Kim at a venture. 'Redcoats and guns.'


'But - but the astrologer said no word of this' cried the lama
snuffing prodigiously in his excitement.


'But I know. The word has come to mewho am this Holy One's
disciple. There will rise a war - a war of eight thousand redcoats.
From Pindi and Peshawur they will be drawn. This is
sure.


'The boy has heard bazar-talk' said the priest.


'But he was always by my side' said the lama. 'How should he know?
I did not know.'


'He will make a clever juggler when the old man is dead' muttered
the priest to the headman. 'What new trick is this?'


'A sign. Give me a sign' thundered the old soldier suddenly. 'If
there were war my sons would have told me.'


'When all is readythy sonsdoubt notwill be told. But it is a
long road from thy sons to the man in whose hands these things
lie.' Kim warmed to the gamefor it reminded him of experiences
in the letter-carrying linewhenfor the sake of a few picehe
pretended to know more than he knew. But now he was playing for
larger things - the sheer excitement and the sense of power. He
drew a new breath and went on.


'Old mangive me a sign. Do underlings order the goings of eight
thousand redcoats -with guns?'


'No.' Still the old man answered as though Kim were an equal.


'Dost thou know who He isthenthat gives the order?'


'I have seen Him.'


'To know again?'


'I have known Him since he was a lieutenant in the topkhana (the
Artillery].'



'A tall man. A tall man with black hairwalking thus?' Kim took
a few paces in a stiffwooden style.

'Ay. But that anyone may have seen.' The crowd were breathlessstill
through all this talk.

'That is true' said Kim. 'But I will say more. Look now. First
the great man walks thus. Then He thinks thus.' (Kim drew a
forefinger over his forehead and downwards till it came to rest
by the angle of the jaw.) 'Anon He twitches his fingers thus.
Anon He thrusts his hat under his left armpit.' Kim illustrated
the motion and stood like a stork.

The old man groanedinarticulate with amazement; and the crowd
shivered.

'So - so - so. But what does He when He is about to give an order?'

'He rubs the skin at the back of his neck - thus. Then falls one
finger on the table and He makes a small sniffing noise through
his nose. Then He speakssaying: "Loose such and such a regiment.
Call out such guns."'

The old man rose stiffly and saluted.

'"For"' - Kim translated into the vernacular the clinching
sentences he had heard in the dressing-room at Umballa - '"For
says He, we should have done this long ago. It is not war - it is
a chastisement. Snff!"'

'Enough. I believe. I have seen Him thus in the smoke of battles.
Seen and heard. It is He!'

'I saw no smoke' - Kim's voice shifted to the rapt sing-song of the
wayside fortune-teller. 'I saw this in darkness. First came a man
to make things clear. Then came horsemen. Then came He. standing in
a ring of light. The rest followed as I have said. Old manhave I
spoken truth?'

'It is He. Past all doubt it is He.'

The crowd drew a longquavering breathstaring alternately at the
old manstill at attentionand ragged Kim against the purple
twilight.

'Said I not - said I not he was from the other world?' cried the
lama proudly. 'He is the Friend of all the World. He is the
Friend of the Stars!'

'At least it does not concern us' a man cried. 'O thou young
soothsayerif the gift abides with thee at all seasonsI have a
red-spotted cow. She may be sister to thy Bull for aught I know '


'Or I care' said Kim. 'My Stars do not concern themselves with thy
cattle.'

'Naybut she is very sick' a woman struck in. 'My man is a
buffaloor he would have chosen his words better. Tell me if she
recover?'

Had Kim been at all an ordinary boyhe would have carried on the
play; but one does not know Lahore cityand least of all the
fakirs by the Taksali Gatefor thirteen years without also knowing


human nature.

The priest looked at him sidewayssomething bitterly - a dry and
blighting smile.

'Is there no priestthenin the village? I thought I had seen a
great one even now' cried Kim.

'Ay - but -' the woman began.

'But thou and thy husband hoped to get the cow cured for a handful
of thanks.' The shot told: they were notoriously the closest-fisted
couple in the village. 'It is not well to cheat the temples. Give a
young calf to thine own priestandunless thy Gods are angry past
recallshe will give milk within a month.'

'A master-beggar art thou' purred the priest approvingly. 'Not the
cunning of forty years could have done better. Surely thou hast
made the old man rich?'

'A little floura little butter and a mouthful of cardamoms' Kim
retortedflushed with the praisebut still cautious -'Does one
grow rich on that? Andas thou canst seehe is mad. But it serves
me while I learn the road at least."

He knew what the fakirs of the Taksali Gate were like when they
talked among themselvesand copied the very inflection of their
lewd disciples.

'Is his Searchthentruth or a cloak to other ends? It may be
treasure.'

'He is mad - many times mad. There is nothing else.'

Here the old soldier bobbled up and asked if Kim would accept his
hospitality for the night. The priest recommended him to do sobut
insisted that the honour of entertaining the lama belonged to the
temple - at which the lama smiled guilelessly. Kim glanced from one
face to the otherand drew his own conclusions.

'Where is the money?' he whisperedbeckoning the old man off into
the darkness.

'In my bosom. Where else?'

'Give it me. Quietly and swiftly give it me.'

'But why? Here is no ticket to buy.'

'Am I thy chelaor am I not? Do I not safeguard thy old feet about
the ways? Give me the money and at dawn I will return it.' He
slipped his hand above the lama's girdle and brought away the
purse.

'Be it so - be it so.' The old man nodded his head. 'This is a
great and terrible world. I never knew there were so many men alive
in it.'

Next morning the priest was in a very bad temperbut the lama was
quite happy; and Kim had enjoyed a most interesting evening with
the old manwho brought out his cavalry sabre andbalancing it on
his dry kneestold tales of the Mutiny and young captains thirty
years in their gravestill Kim dropped off to sleep.


'Certainly the air of this country is good' said the lama. 'I
sleep lightlyas do all old men; but last night I slept unwaking
till broad day. Even now I am heavy.'

'Drink a draught of hot milk' said Kimwho had carried not a few
such remedies to opium-smokers of his acquaintance. 'It is time to
take the Road again.'

'The long Road that overpasses all the rivers of Hind' said the
lama gaily. 'Let us go. But how thinkest thouchelato recompense
these peopleand especially the priestfor their great kindness?
Truly they are but-parastbut in other livesmaybethey will
receive enlightenment. A rupee to the temple? The thing within is
no more than stone and red paintbut the heart of man we must
acknowledge when and where it is good.'

'Holy Onehast thou ever taken the Road alone?' Kim looked up
sharplylike the Indian crows so busy about the fields.

'Surelychild: from Kulu to Pathankot - from Kuluwhere my first
chela died. When men were kind to us we made offeringsand all men
were well-disposed throughout all the Hills.'

'It is otherwise in Hind' said Kim drily. 'Their Gods are manyarmed
and malignant. Let them alone.'

'I would set thee on thy road for a littleFriend of all the World
thou and thy yellow man.' The old soldier ambled up the village
streetall shadowy in the dawnon a puntscissor-hocked pony.
'Last night broke up the fountains of remembrance in my so-dried
heartand it was as a blessing to me. Truly there is war abroad in
the air. I smell it. See! I have brought my sword.'

He sat long-legged on the little beastwith the big sword at his
side -hand dropped on the pommel - staring fiercely over the flat
lands towards the North. 'Tell me again how He showed in thy
vision. Come up and sit behind me. The beast will carry two.'

'I am this Holy One's disciple' said Kimas they cleared the
village-gate. The villagers seemed almost sorry to be rid of them
but the priest's farewell was cold and distant. He had wasted some
opium on a man who carried no money.

'That is well spoken. I am not much used to holy menbut respect
is always good. There is no respect in these days - not even when
a Commissioner Sahib comes to see me. But why should one whose
Star leads him to war follow a holy man?'

'But he is a holy man' said Kim earnestly. 'In truthand in talk
and in actholy. He is not like the others. I have never seen such
an one. We be not fortune-tellersor jugglersor beggars.'

'Thou art not. That I can see. But I do not know that other. He
marches wellthough.'

The first freshness of the day carried the lama forward with long
easycamel-like strides. He was deep in meditationmechanically
clicking his rosary.

They followed the rutted and worn country road that wound across
the flat between the great dark-green mango-grovesthe line of the
snowcapped Himalayas faint to the eastward. All India was at work
in the fieldsto the creaking of well-wheelsthe shouting of
ploughmen behind their cattleand the clamour of the crows. Even


the pony felt the good influence and almost broke into a trot as
Kim laid a hand on the stirrup-leather.

'It repents me that I did not give a rupee to the shrine' said the
lama on the last bead of his eighty-one.

The old soldier growled in his beardso that the lama for the
first time was aware of him.

'Seekest thou the River also?' said heturning.

'The day is new' was the reply. 'What need of a river save to
water at before sundown? I come to show thee a short lane to the
Big Road.'

'That is a courtesy to be rememberedO man of good will. But why
the sword?'

The old soldier looked as abashed as a child interrupted in his
game of make-believe.

'The sword' he saidfumbling it. 'Ohthat was a fancy of mine
an old man's fancy. Truly the police orders are that no man must
bear weapons throughout Hindbut' - he cheered up and slapped the
hilt - 'all the constabeels hereabout know me.'

'It is not a good fancy' said the lama. 'What profit to kill men?'

'Very little - as I know; but if evil men were not now and then
slain it would not be a good world for weaponless dreamers. I do
not speak without knowledge who have seen the land from Delhi south
awash with blood.'

'What madness was thatthen?'

'The Gods'who sent it for a plaguealone know. A madness ate
into all the Armyand they turned against their officers. That
was the first evilbut not past remedy if they had then held their
hands. But they chose to kill the Sahibs' wives and children. Then
came the Sahibs from over the sea and called them to most strict
account.'

'Some such rumourI believereached me once long ago. They
called it the Black Yearas I remember.'

'What manner of life hast thou lednot to know The Year? A rumour
indeed! All earth knewand 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 sobut 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 manythink you? Three. Of whom I
was one.'

'The greater merit.'


'Merit! We did not consider it merit in those days. My peoplemy
friendsmy brothers fell from me. They said: "The time of the
English is accomplished. Let each strike out a little holding for
himself." But I had talked with the men of Sobraonof
Chilianwallahof Moodkee and Ferozeshah. I said: "Abide a little
and the wind turns. There is no blessing in this work." In those
days I rode seventy miles with an English Memsahib and her babe on
my saddle-bow. (Wow! That was a horse fit for a man!) I placed them
in safetyand back came I to my officer the one that was not
killed of our five. "Give me work said I, for I am an outcast
among my own kindand my cousin's blood is wet on my sabre." "Be
content said he. There is great work forward. When this madness
is over there is a recompense."'

'Aythere is a recompense when the madness is oversurely?' the
lama muttered half to himself.

'They did not hang medals in those days on all who by accident had
heard a gun fired. No! In nineteen pitched battles was I; in sixand-
forty skirmishes of horse; and in small affairs without number.
Nine wounds I bear; a medal and four clasps and the medal of an
Orderfor my captainswho are now generalsremembered me when
the Kaisar-i-Hind had accomplished fifty years of her reignand
all the land rejoiced. They said: "Give him the Order of Berittish
India." I carry it upon my neck now. I have also my jaghir
[holding] from the hands of the State - a free gift to me and mine.
The men of the old days -they are now Commissioners - come riding
to me through the crops - high upon horses so that all the village
sees - and we talk out the old skirmishesone dead man's name
leading to another.'

'And after?' said the lama.

'Ohafterwards they go awaybut not before my village has seen.

'And at the last what wilt thou do?'

'At the last I shall die.'

'And after?'

'Let the Gods order it. I have never pestered Them with prayers.
I do not think They will pester me. Look youI have noticed in my
long life that those who eternally break in upon Those Above with
complaints and reports and bellowings and weepings are presently
sent for in hasteas our Colonel used to send for slack-jawed
down-country men who talked too much. NoI have never wearied the
Gods. They will remember thisand give me a quiet place where I
can drive my lance in the shadeand wait to welcome my sons: I
have no less than three Rissaldar-majors all - in the regiments.'

'And they likewisebound upon the Wheelgo forth from life to
life - from despair to despair' said the lama below his breath
'hotuneasysnatching.'

'Ay' the old soldier chuckled. 'Three Rissaldar-majors in three
regiments. Gamblers a littlebut so am I. They must be well
mounted; and one cannot take the horses as in the old days one took
women. Wellwellmy holding can pay for all. How thinkest thou?
It is a well-watered stripbut my men cheat me. I do not know how
to ask save at the lance's point. Ugh! I grow angry and I curse
themand they feign penitencebut behind my back I know they call
me a toothless old ape.'


'Hast thou never desired any other thing?'

'Yes - yes - a thousand times! A straight back and a close-clinging
knee once more; a quick wrist and a keen eye; and the marrow that
makes a man. Ohthe old days - the good days of my strength!'

'That strength is weakness.'

'It has turned so; but fifty years since I could have proved it
otherwise' the old soldier retorteddriving his stirrup-edge into
the pony's lean flank.

'But I know a River of great healing.'

'I have drank Gunga-water to the edge of dropsy. All she gave me
was a fluxand no sort of strength.'

'It is not Gunga. The River that I know washes from all taint of
sin. Ascending the far bank one is assured of Freedom. I do not
know thy lifebut thy face is the face of the honourable and
courteous. Thou hast clung to thy Wayrendering fidelity when it
was hard to givein that Black Year of which I now remember
other tales. Enter now upon the Middle Way which is the path to
Freedom. Hear the Most Excellent Lawand do not follow dreams.'

'Speakthenold man' the soldier smiledhalf saluting. 'We be
all babblers at our age.'

The lama squatted under the shade of a mangowhose shadow played
checkerwise over his face; the soldier sat stiffly on the pony;
and Kimmaking sure that there were no snakeslay down in the
crotch of the twisted roots.

There was a drowsy buzz of small life in hot sunshinea cooing
of dovesand a sleepy drone of well-wheels across the fields.
Slowly and impressively the lama began. At the end of ten minutes
the old soldier slid from his ponyto hear better as he said
and sat with the reins round his wrist. The lama's voice faltered
the periods lengthened. Kim was busy watching a grey squirrel.
When the little scolding bunch of furclose pressed to the
branchdisappearedpreacher and audience were fast asleepthe
old officer's strong-cut head pillowed on his armthe lama's
thrown back against the tree-bolewhere it showed like yellow
ivory. A naked child toddled upstaredandmoved by some quick
impulse of reverencemade a solemn little obeisance before the
lama - only the child was so short and fat that it toppled over
sidewaysand Kim laughed at the sprawlingchubby legs. The
childscared and indignantyelled aloud.

'Hai! Hai!' said the soldierleaping to his feet. 'What is it?
What orders? ... It is ... a child! I dreamed it was an alarm.
Little one - little one - do not cry. Have I slept? That was
discourteous indeed!'

'I fear! I am afraid!' roared the child.

'What is it to fear? Two old men and a boy? How wilt thou ever make
a soldierPrinceling?'

The lama had waked toobuttaking no direct notice of the child
clicked his rosary.

'What is that?' said the childstopping a yell midway. 'I have
never seen such things. Give them me.'


'Aha.' said the lamasmilingand trailing a loop of it on the
grass:


This is a handful of cardamoms
This is a lump of ghi:
This is millet and chillies and rice
A supper for thee and me!


The child shrieked with joyand snatched at the darkglancing
beads.


'Oho!' said the old soldier. 'Whence hadst thou that songdespiser
of this world?'


'I learned it in Pathankot - sitting on a doorstep' said the lama
shyly. 'It is good to be kind to babes.'


'As I rememberbefore the sleep came on usthou hadst told me
that marriage and bearing were darkeners of the true light
stumbling-blocks upon the Way. Do children drop from Heaven in thy
country? Is it the Way to sing them songs?'


'No man is all perfect' said the lama gravelyrecoiling the
rosary. 'Run now to thy motherlittle one.'


'Hear him!' said the soldier to Kim. 'He is ashamed for that he has
made a child happy. There was a very good householder lost in thee
my brother. Haichild!' He threw it a pice. 'Sweetmeats are always
sweet.' And as the little figure capered away into the sunshine:
'They grow up and become men. Holy OneI grieve that I slept in
the midst of thy preaching. Forgive me.'


'We be two old men' said the lama. 'The fault is mine. I listened
to thy talk of the world and its madnessand one fault led to the
next.'


'Hear him! What harm do thy Gods suffer from play with a babe? And
that song was very well sung. Let us go on and I will sing thee the
song of Nikal Seyn before Delhi - the old song.'


And they fared out from the gloom of the mango topethe old man's
highshrill voice ringing across the fieldas wail by long-drawn
wail he unfolded the story of Nikal Seyn [Nicholson] - the song
that men sing in the Punjab to this day. Kim was delightedand the
lama listened with deep interest.


'Ahi! Nikal Seyn is dead - he died before Delhi! Lances of the
Northtake vengeance for Nikal Seyn.' He quavered it out to the
endmarking the trills with the flat of his sword on the pony's
rump.


'And now we come to the Big Road' said heafter receiving the
compliments of Kim; for the lama was markedly silent. 'It is long
since I have ridden this waybut thy boy's talk stirred me. See
Holy One - the Great Road which is the backbone of all Hind. For
the most part it is shadedas herewith four lines of trees; the
middle road -all hard takes the quick traffic. In the days before
rail-carriages the Sahibs travelled up and down here in hundreds.
Now there are only country-carts and such like. Left and right is
the rougher road for the heavy carts - grain and cotton and timber
fodderlime and hides. A man goes in safety here for at every few
koss is a police-station. The police are thieves and extortioners
(I myself would patrol it with cavalry - young recruits under a



strong captain)but at least they do not suffer any rivals. All
castes and kinds of men move here.

Look! Brahmins and chumarsbankers and tinkersbarbers and
bunniaspilgrims -and potters - all the world going and coming. It
is to me as a river from which I am withdrawn like a log after a
flood.'

And truly the Grand Trunk Road is a wonderful spectacle. It runs
straightbearing without crowding India's traffic for fifteen
hundred miles - such a river of life as nowhere else exists in
the world. They looked at the green-archedshade-flecked length
of itthe white breadth speckled with slow-pacing folk; and the
two-roomed police-station opposite.

'Who bears arms against the law?' a constable called out
laughinglyas he caught sight of the soldier's sword. 'Are not
the police enough to destroy evil-doers?'

'It was because of the police I bought it' was the answer. 'Does
all go well in Hind?'

'Rissaldar Sahiball goes well.'

'I am like an old tortoiselook youwho puts his head out from
the bank and draws it in again. Aythis is the Road of Hindustan.
All men come by this way...'

'Son of a swineis the soft part of the road meant for thee to
scratch thy back upon? Father of all the daughters of shame and
husband of ten thousand virtueless onesthy mother was devoted
to a devilbeing led thereto by her mother. Thy aunts have never
had a nose for seven generations! Thy sister - What Owl's folly
told thee to draw thy carts across the road? A broken wheel? Then
take a broken head and put the two together at leisure!'

The voice and a venomous whip-cracking came out of a pillar of
dust fifty yards awaywhere a cart had broken down. A thinhigh
Kathiawar marewith eyes and nostrils aflamerocketed out of
the jamsnorting and wincing as her rider bent her across the
road in chase of a shouting man. He was tall and grey-bearded
sitting the almost mad beast as a piece of herand scientifically
lashing his victim between plunges.

The old man's face lit with pride. 'My child!' said he brieflyand
strove to rein the pony's neck to a fitting arch.

'Am I to be beaten before the police?' cried the carter. 'Justice!
I will have Justice -'

'Am I to be blocked by a shouting ape who upsets ten thousand sacks
under a young horse's nose? That is the way to ruin a mare.'

'He speaks truth. He speaks truth. But she follows her man close'
said the old man. The carter ran under the wheels of his cart and
thence threatened all sorts of vengeance.

'They are strong menthy sons' said the policeman serenely
picking his teeth.

The horseman delivered one last vicious cut with his whip and came
on at a canter.

'My father!' He reigned back ten yards and dismounted.


The old man was off his pony in an instantand they embraced as do
father and son in the East.


Chapter 4


Good Luckshe is never a lady
But the cursedest quean alive
Tricksywincingand jady -
Kittle to lead or drive.
Greet her - she's hailing a stranger!
Meet her - she's busking to leave!
Let her alone for a shrew to the bone
And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve!
Largesse! LargesseO Fortune!
Give or hold at your will.
If I've no care for Fortune
Fortune must follow me still!


The Wishing-Caps.


Thenlowering their voicesthey spoke together. Kim came to rest
under a treebut the lama tugged impatiently at his elbow.


'Let us go on. The River is not here.'


'Hai mai! Have we not walked enough for a little? Our River will
not run away. Patienceand he will give us a dole.'


'This.' said the old soldier suddenly'is the Friend of the Stars.
He brought me the news yesterday. Having seen the very man Himself
in a visiongiving orders for the war.'


'Hm!' said his sonall deep in his broad chest. 'He came by a
bazar-rumour and made profit of it.'


His father laughed. 'At least he did not ride to me begging for a
new chargerand the Gods know how many rupees. Are thy brothers'
regiments also under orders?'


'I do not know. I took leave and came swiftly to thee in case -'


'In case they ran before thee to beg. O gamblers and spendthrifts
all! But thou hast never yet ridden in a charge. A good horse is
needed theretruly. A good follower and a good pony also for the
marching. Let us see - let us see.' He thrummed on the pommel.


'This is no place to cast accounts inmy father. Let us go to thy
house.'


'At least pay the boythen: I have no pice with meand he brought
auspicious news. Ho! Friend of all the Worlda war is toward as
thou hast said.'


'Nayas I knowthe war' returned Kim composedly.


'Eh?' said the lamafingering his beadsall eager for the road.


'My master does not trouble the Stars for hire. We brought the news



bear witnesswe brought the newsand now we go.' Kim half-crooked
his hand at his side.

The son tossed a silver coin through the sunlightgrumbling
something about beggars and jugglers. It was a four-anna pieceand
would feed them well for days. The lamaseeing the flash of the
metaldroned a blessing.

'Go thy wayFriend of all the World' piped the old soldier
wheeling his scrawny mount. 'For once in all my days I have met a
true prophet - who was not in the Army.'

Father and son swung round together: the old man sitting as erect
as the younger.

A Punjabi constable in yellow linen trousers slouched across the
road. He had seen the money pass.

'Halt!' he cried in impressive English. 'Know ye not that there is
a takkus of two annas a headwhich is four annason those who
enter the Road from this side-road? It is the order of the Sirkar
and the money is spent for the planting of trees and the
beautification of the ways.'

'And the bellies of the police' said Kimslipping out of arm's
reach. 'Consider for a whileman with a mud head. Think you we
came from the nearest pond like the frogthy father-in-law? Hast
thou ever heard the name of thy brother?'

'And who was he? Leave the boy alone' cried a senior constable
immensely delightedas he squatted down to smoke his pipe in the
veranda.

'He took a label from a bottle of belaitee-pani [soda-water]and
affixing it to a bridgecollected taxes for a month from those who
passedsaying that it was the Sirkar's order. Then came an
Englishman and broke his head. AhbrotherI am a town-crownot a
village-crow!'

The policeman drew back abashedand Kim hooted at him all down the
road.

'Was there ever such a disciple as I?' he cried merrily to the
lama. 'All earth would have picked thy bones within ten mile of
Lahore city if I had not guarded thee.'

'I consider in my own mind whether thou art a spiritsometimesor
sometimes an evil imp' said the lamasmiling slowly.

'I am thy chela.' Kim dropped into step at his side - that
indescribable gait of the long-distance tramp all the world over.

'Now let us walk' muttered the lamaand to the click of his
rosary they walked in silence mile upon mile. The lama as usual
was deep in meditationbut Kim's bright eyes were open wide. This
broadsmiling river of lifehe consideredwas a vast improvement
on the cramped and crowded Lahore streets. There were new people
and new sights at every stride - castes he knew and castes that
were altogether out of his experience.

They met a troop of long-hairedstrong-scented Sansis with baskets
of lizards and other unclean food on their backstheir lean dogs
sniffing at their heels. These people kept their own side of the
road'moving at a quickfurtive jog-trotand all other castes


gave them ample room; for the Sansi is deep pollution. Behind them
walking wide and stiffly across the strong shadowsthe memory of
his leg-irons still on himstrode one newly released from the
jail; his full stomach and shiny skin to prove that the Government
fed its prisoners better than most honest men could feed
themselves. Kim knew that walk welland made broad jest of it as
they passed. Then an Akalia wild-eyedwild-haired Sikh devotee
in the blue-checked clothes of his faithwith polished-steel
quoits glistening on the cone of his tall blue turbanstalked
pastreturning from a visit to one of the independent Sikh States
where he had been singing the ancient glories of the Khalsa to
College-trained princelings in top-boots and white-cord breeches.
Kim was careful not to irritate that man; for the Akali's temper is
short and his arm quick. Here and there they met or were overtaken
by the gaily dressed crowds of whole villages turning out to some
local fair; the womenwith their babes on their hipswalking
behind the menthe older boys prancing on sticks of sugar-cane
dragging rude brass models of locomotives such as they sell for a
halfpennyor flashing the sun into the eyes of their betters from
cheap toy mirrors. One could see at a glance what each had bought;
and if there were any doubt it needed only to watch the wives
comparingbrown arm against brown armthe newly purchased dull
glass bracelets that come from the North-West. These merry-makers
stepped slowlycalling one to the other and stopping to haggle
with sweetmeat-sellersor to make a prayer before one of the
wayside shrines - sometimes Hindusometimes Mussalman - which the
low-caste of both creeds share with beautiful impartiality. A solid
line of bluerising and falling like the back of a caterpillar in
hastewould swing up through the quivering dust and trot past to a
chorus of quick cackling. That was a gang of changars - the women
who have taken all the embankments of all the Northern railways
under their charge - a flat-footedbig-bosomedstrong-limbed
blue-petticoated clan of earth-carriershurrying north on news of
a joband wasting no time by the road. They belong to the caste
whose men do not countand they walked with squared elbows
swinging hipsand heads on highas suits women who carry heavy
weights. A little later a marriage procession would strike into the
Grand Trunk with music and shoutingsand a smell of marigold and
jasmine stronger even than the reek of the dust. One could see the
bride's littera blur of red and tinselstaggering through the
hazewhile the bridegroom's bewreathed pony turned aside to snatch
a mouthful from a passing fodder-cart. Then Kim would join the
Kentish-fire of good wishes and bad jokeswishing the couple a
hundred sons and no daughtersas the saying is. Still more
interesting and more to be shouted over it was when a strolling
juggler with some half-trained monkeysor a pantingfeeble bear
or a woman who tied goats' horns to her feetand with these danced
on a slack-ropeset the horses to shying and the women to shrill
long-drawn quavers of amazement.

The lama never raised his eyes. He did not note the money-lender on
his goose-rumped ponyhastening along to collect the cruel
interest; or the long-shoutingdeep-voiced little mob -still in
military formation - of native soldiers on leaverejoicing to be
rid of their breeches and putteesand saying the most outrageous
things to the most respectable women in sight. Even the seller of
Ganges-water he did not seeand Kim expected that he would at
least buy a bottle of that precious stuff. He looked steadily at
the groundand strode as steadily hour after hourhis soul busied
elsewhere. But Kim was in the seventh heaven of joy. The Grand Trunk
at this point was built on an embankment to guard against
winter floods from the foothillsso that one walkedas it werea
little above the countryalong a stately corridorseeing all
India spread out to left and right. It was beautiful to behold the


many-yoked grain and cotton wagons crawling over the country roads:
one could hear their axlescomplaining a mile awaycoming nearer
till with shouts and yells and bad words they climbed up the steep
incline and plunged on to the hard main roadcarter reviling
carter. It was equally beautiful to watch the peoplelittle clumps
of red and blue and pink and white and saffronturning aside to go
to their own villagesdispersing and growing small by twos and
threes across the level plain. Kim felt these thingsthough he
could not give tongue to his feelingsand so contented himself
with buying peeled sugar-cane and spitting the pith generously
about his path. From time to time the lama took snuffand at last
Kim could endure the silence no longer.

'This is a good land - the land of the South!' said he. 'The air is
good; the water is good. Eh?'

'And they are all bound upon the Wheel' said the lama. 'Bound from
life after life. To none of these has the Way been shown.' He shook
himself back to this world.

'And now we have walked a weary way' said Kim. 'Surely we shall
soon come to a parao [a resting-place]. Shall we stay there? Look
the sun is sloping.'

'Who will receive us this evening?'

'That is all one. This country is full of good folk. Besides' he
sunk his voice beneath a whisper - 'we have money.'

The crowd thickened as they neared the resting-place which marked
the end of their day's journey. A line of stalls selling very
simple food and tobaccoa stack of firewooda police-stationa
wella horse-trougha few treesandunder themsome trampled
ground dotted with the black ashes of old firesare all that mark
a parao on the Grand Trunk; if you except the beggars and the crows

-both hungry.
By this time the sun was driving broad golden spokes through the
lower branches of the mango-trees; the parakeets and doves were
coming. home in their hundreds; the chatteringgrey-backed Seven
Sisterstalking over the day's adventureswalked back and forth
in twos and threes almost under the feet of the travellers; and
shufflings and scufflings in the branches showed that the bats were
ready to go out on the night-picket. Swiftly the light gathered
itself togetherpainted for an instant the faces and the
cartwheels and the bullocks' horns as red as blood. Then the night
fellchanging the touch of the airdrawing a loweven hazelike
a gossamer veil of blueacross the face of the countryand
bringing outkeen and distinctthe smell of wood-smoke and cattle
and the good scent of wheaten cakes cooked on ashes. The evening
patrol hurried out of the police-station with important coughings
and reiterated orders; and a live charcoal ball in the cup of a
wayside carter's hookah glowed red while Kim's eye mechanically
watched the last flicker of the sun on the brass tweezers.

The life of the parao was very like that of the Kashmir Serai on a
small scale. Kim dived into the happy Asiatic disorder whichif
you only allow timewill bring you everything that a simple man
needs.

His wants were fewbecausesince the lama had no caste scruples
cooked food from the nearest stall would serve; butfor luxury's
sakeKim bought a handful of dung-cakes to build a fire. All
aboutcoming and going round the little flamesmen cried for oil


or grainor sweetmeatsor tobaccojostling one another while
they waited their turn at the well; and under the men's voices you
heard from haltedshuttered carts the high squeals and giggles of
women whose faces should not be seen in public.

Nowadayswell-educated natives are of opinion that when their
womenfolk travel - and they visit a good deal - it is better to
take them quickly by rail in a properly screened compartment; and
that custom is spreading. But there are always those of the old
rock who hold by the use of their forefathers; andabove all
there are always the old women - more conservative than the men who
toward the end of their days go on a pilgrimage. Theybeing
withered and undesirabledo notunder certain circumstances
object to unveiling. After their long seclusionduring which they
have always been in business touch with a thousand outside
intereststhey love the bustle and stir of the open roadthe
gatherings at the shrinesand the infinite possibilities of gossip
with like-minded dowagers. Very often it suits a longsuffering
family that a strong-tonguediron-willed old lady should disport
herself about India in this fashion; for certainly pilgrimage is
grateful to the Gods. So all about Indiain the most remote
placesas in the most publicyou find some knot of grizzled
servitors in nominal charge of an old lady who is more or less
curtained and hid away in a bullock-cart. Such men are staid and
discreetand when a European or a high-caste native is near will
net their charge with most elaborate precautions; but in the
ordinary haphazard chances of pilgrimage the precautions are not
taken. The old lady isafter allintensely humanand lives to
look upon life.

Kim marked down a gaily ornamented ruth or family bullock-cart
with a broidered canopy of two domeslike a double-humped camel
which had just been drawn into the par. Eight men made its retinue
and two of the eight were armed with rusty sabres - sure signs that
they followed a person of distinctionfor the common folk do not
bear arms. An increasing cackle of complaintsordersand jests
and what to a European would have been bad languagecame from
behind the curtains. Here was evidently a woman used to command.

Kim looked over the retinue critically. Half of them were thinlegged
grey-bearded Ooryas from down country. The other half were
duffle-cladfelt-hatted hillmen of the North; and that mixture
told its own taleeven if he had not overheard the incessant
sparring between the two divisions. The old lady was going south on
a visit - probably to a rich relativemost probably to a son-inlaw
who had sent up an escort as a mark of respect. The hillmen
would be of her own people - Kulu or Kangra folk. It was quite
clear that she was not taking her daughter down to be weddedor
the curtains would have been laced home and the guard would have
allowed no one near the car. A merry and a high-spirited dame
thought Kimbalancing the dung-cake in one handthe cooked food
in the otherand piloting the lama with a nudging shoulder.
Something might be made out of the meeting. The lama would give him
no helpbutas a conscientious chelaKim was delighted to beg
for two.

He built his fire as close to the cart as he daredwaiting for one
of the escort to order him away. The lama dropped wearily to the
groundmuch as a heavy fruit-eating bat cowersand returned to
his rosary.

'Stand farther offbeggar!' The order was shouted in broken
Hindustani by one of the hillmen.


'Huh! It is only a pahari [a hillman]'said Kim over his shoulder.
'Since when have the hill-asses owned all Hindustan?'

The retort was a swift and brilliant sketch of Kim's pedigree for
three generations.

'Ah!' Kim's voice was sweeter than everas he broke the dung-cake
into fit pieces. 'In my country we call that the beginning of love-talk.'

A harshthin cackle behind the curtains put the hillman on his
mettle for a second shot.

'Not so bad - not so bad' said Kim with calm. 'But have a caremy
brotherlest we - weI say - be minded to give a curse or so in
return. And our curses have the knack of biting home.'

The Ooryas laughed; the hillman sprang forward threateningly. The
lama suddenly raised his headbringing his huge tam-o'-shanter hat
into the full light of Kim's new-started fire.

'What is it?' said he.

The man halted as though struck to stone. 'I - I - am saved from a
great sin' he stammered.

'The foreigner has found him a priest at last' whispered one of
the Ooryas.

'Hai! Why is that beggar-brat not well beaten?' the old woman
cried.

The hillman drew back to the cart and whispered something to the
curtain. There was dead silencethen a muttering.

'This goes well' thought Kimpretending neither to see nor hear.

'When - when - he has eaten' - the hillman fawned on Kim - 'it - it
is requested that the Holy One will do the honour to talk to one
who would speak to him.'

'After he has eaten he will sleep' Kim returned loftily. He could
not quite see what new turn the game had takenbut stood resolute
to profit by it. 'Now I will get him his food.' The last sentence
spoken loudlyended with a sigh as of faintness.

'I - I myself and the others of my people will look to that - if it
is permitted.'

'It is permitted' said Kimmore loftily than ever. 'Holy One
these people will bring us food.'

'The land is good. All the country of the South is good - a great
and a terrible world' mumbled the lama drowsily.

'Let him sleep' said Kim'but look to it that we are well fed
when he wakes. He is a very holy man.'

Again one of the Ooryas said something contemptuously.

'He is not a fakir. He is not a down-country beggar' Kim went on
severelyaddressing the stars. 'He is the most holy of holy men.
He is above all castes. I am his chela.'

'Come here!' said the flat thin voice behind the curtain; and Kim


cameconscious that eyes he could not see were staring at him. One
skinny brown finger heavy with rings lay on the edge of the cart
and the talk went this way:

'Who is that one?'

'An exceedingly holy one. He comes from far off. He comes from
Tibet.'

'Where in Tibet?'

'From behind the snows - from a very far place. He knows the stars;
he makes horoscopes; he reads nativities. But he does not do this
for money. He does it for kindness and great charity. I am his
disciple. I am called also the Friend of the Stars.'

'Thou art no hillman.'

'Ask him. He will tell thee I was sent to him from the Stars to
show him an end to his pilgrimage.'

'Humph! Considerbratthat I am an old woman and not altogether a
fool. Lamas I knowand to these I give reverencebut thou art no
more a lawful chela than this my finger is the pole of this wagon.
Thou art a casteless Hindu - a bold and unblushing beggar
attachedbeliketo the Holy One for the sake of gain.'

'Do we not all work for gain?' Kim changed his tone promptly to
match that altered voice. 'I have heard' - this was a bow drawn at
a venture - 'I have heard -'

'What hast thou heard?' she snappedrapping with the finger.

'Nothing that I well rememberbut some talk in the bazarswhich
is doubtless a liethat even Rajahs - small Hill Rajahs -'

'But none the less of good Rajput blood.'

'Assuredly of good blood. That these even sell the more comely of
their womenfolk for gain. Down south they sell them - to zemindars
and such-all of Oudh.'

If there be one thing in the world that the small Hill Rajahs deny
it is just this charge; but it happens to be one thing that the
bazars believewhen they discuss the mysterious slave-traffics of
India. The old lady explained to Kimin a tenseindignant
whisperprecisely what manner and fashion of malignant liar he
was. Had Kim hinted this when she was a girlhe would have been
pommelled to death that same evening by an elephant. This was
perfectly true.

'Ahai! I am only a beggar's bratas the Eye of Beauty has said'
he wailed in extravagant terror.

'Eye of Beautyforsooth! Who am I that thou shouldst fling
beggar-endearments at me?' And yet she laughed at the longforgotten
word. 'Forty years ago that might have been saidand not
without truth. Ay. thirty years ago. But it is the fault of this
gadding up and down Hind that a king's widow must jostle all the
scum of the landand be made a mock by beggars.'

'Great Queen' said Kim promptlyfor he heard her shaking with
indignation'I am even what the Great Queen says I am; but none
the less is my master holy. He has not yet heard the Great Queen's


order that -' I

'Order? I order a Holy One - a Teacher of the Law - to come and
speak to a woman? Never!'

'Pity my stupidity. I thought it was given as an order -'

'It was not. It was a petition. Does this make all clear?'

A silver coin clicked on the edge of the cart. Kim took it and
salaamed profoundly. The old lady recognized thatas the eyes and
the ears of the lamahe was to be propitiated.

'I am but the Holy One's disciple. When he has eaten perhaps he
will come.'

'Ohvillain and shameless rogue!' The jewelled forefinger shook
itself at him reprovingly; but he could hear the old lady's
chuckle.

'Naywhat is it?' he saiddropping into his most caressing and
confidential tone - the onehe well knewthat few could resist.
'Is - is there any need of a son in thy family? Speak freelyfor
we priests -' That last was a direct plagiarism from a fakir by the
Taksali Gate.

'We priests! Thou art not yet old enough to -' She checked the joke
with another laugh. 'Believe menow and againwe womenO priest
think of other matters than sons. Moreovermy daughter has borne
her man-child.'

'Two arrows in the quiver are better than one; and three are better
still.' Kim quoted the proverb with a meditative coughlooking
discreetly earthward.

'True - ohtrue. But perhaps that will come. Certainly those downcountry
Brahmins are utterly useless. I sent gifts and monies and
gifts again to themand they prophesied.'

'Ah' drawled Kimwith infinite contempt'they prophesied!' A
professional could have done no better.

'And it was not till I remembered my own Gods that my prayers were
heard. I chose an auspicious hourand - perhaps thy Holy One has
heard of the Abbot of the Lung-Cho lamassery. It was to him I put
the matterand behold in the due time all came about as I desired.
The Brahmin in the house of the father of my daughter's son has
since said that it was through his prayers - which is a little
error that I will explain to him when we reach our journey's end.
And so afterwards I go to Buddh Gayato make shraddha for the
father of my children.'

'Thither go we.'

'Doubly auspicious' chirruped the old lady. 'A second son at
least!'

'O Friend of all the World!' The lama had wakedandsimply as a
child bewildered in a strange bedcalled for Kim.

'I come! I comeHoly One!' He dashed to the firewhere he found
the lama already surrounded by dishes of foodthe hillmen visibly
adoring him and the Southerners looking sourly.


'Go back! Withdraw!' Kim cried. 'Do we eat publicly like dogs?'
They finished the meal in silenceeach turned a little from the
otherand Kim topped it with a native-made cigarette.

'Have I not said an hundred times that the South is a good land?
Here is a virtuous and high-born widow of a Hill Rajah on
pilgrimageshe saysto Buddha Gay. She it is sends us those
dishes; and when thou art well rested she would speak to thee.'

'Is this also thy work?' The lama dipped deep into his snuff-gourd.

'Who else watched over thee since our wonderful journey began?'
Kim's eyes danced in his head as he blew the rank smoke through his
nostrils and stretched him on the dusty ground. 'Have I failed to
oversee thy comfortsHoly One?'

'A blessing on thee.' The lama inclined his solemn head. 'I have
known many men in my so long lifeand disciples not a few. But to
none among menif so be thou art woman-bornhas my heart gone out
as it has to thee - thoughtfulwiseand courteous; but something
of a small imp.'

'And I have never seen such a priest as thou.' Kim considered the
benevolent yellow face wrinkle by wrinkle. 'It is less than three
days since we took the road togetherand it is as though it were a
hundred years.'

'Perhaps in a former life it was permitted that I should have
rendered thee some service. Maybe' - he smiled -'I freed thee from
a trap; orhaving caught thee on a hook in the days when I was
not enlightenedcast thee back into the river.'

'Maybe' said Kim quietly. He had heard this sort of speculation
again and againfrom the mouths of many whom the English would not
consider imaginative. 'Nowas regards that

women in the bullock-cart I think she needs a second son for her
daughter.'

'That is no part of the Way' sighed the lama. 'But at least she is
from the Hills. Ahthe Hillsand the snow of the Hills!'

He rose and stalked to the cart. Kim would have given his ears to
come toobut the lama did not invite him; and the few words he
caught were in an unknown tonguefor they spoke some common speech
of the mountains. The woman seemed to ask questions which the lama
turned over in his mind before answering. Now and again he heard
the singsong cadence of a Chinese quotation. It was a strange
picture that Kim watched between drooped eyelids. The lamavery
straight and erectthe deep folds of his yellow clothing slashed
with black in the light of the parao fires precisely as a knotted
tree-trunk is slashed with the shadows of the low sunaddressed a
tinsel and lacquered ruth which burned like a many-coloured jewel
in the same uncertain light. The patterns on the gold-worked
curtains ran up and downmelting and reforming as the folds shook
and quivered to the night wind; and when the talk grew more earnest
the jewelled forefinger snapped out little sparks of light between
the embroideries. Behind the cart was a wall of uncertain darkness
speckled with little flames and alive with half-caught forms and
faces and shadows. The voices of early evening had settled down to
one soothing hum whose deepest note was the steady chumping of the
bullocks above their chopped strawand whose highest was the
tinkle of a Bengali dancing-girl's sitar. Most men had eaten and
pulled deep at their gurglinggrunting hookahswhich in full


blast sound like bull-frogs.

At last the lama returned. A hillman walked behind him with a
wadded cotton-quilt and spread it carefully by the fire.

'She deserves ten thousand grandchildren' thought Kim. 'None the
lessbut for methose gifts would not have come.'

'A virtuous woman - and a wise one.' The lama slackened offjoint
by jointlike a slow camel. 'The world is full of charity to those
who follow the Way.' He flung a fair half of the quilt over Kim.
'And what said she?' Kim rolled up in his share of it.

'She asked me many questions and propounded many problems - the
most of which were idle tales which she had heard from devilserving
priests who pretend to follow the Way. Some I answeredand
some I said were foolish. Many wear the Robebut few keep the
Way.'

'True. That is true.' Kim used the thoughtfulconciliatory tone of
those who wish to draw confidences.

'But by her lights she is most right-minded. She desires greatly
that we should go with her to Buddh Gaya; her road being oursas I
understandfor many days' journey to the southward.'

'And?'

'Patience a little. To this I said that my Search came before all
things. She had heard many foolish legendsbut this great truth of
my River she had never heard. Such are the priests of the lower
hills! She knew the Abbot of Lung-Chobut she did not know of my
River - nor the tale of the Arrow.'

'And?'

'I spoke therefore of the Searchand of the Wayand of matters
that were profitable; she desiring only that I should accompany her
and make prayer for a second son.'

'Aha! "We women" do not think of anything save children' said Kim
sleepily.

'Nowsince our roads run together for a whileI do not see that
we in any way depart from our Search if so be we accompany her - at
least as far as - I have forgotten the name of the city.'

'Ohe!' said Kimturning and speaking in a sharp whisper to one of
the Ooryas a few yards away. 'Where is your master's house?'

'A little behind Saharunporeamong the fruit gardens.' He named
the village.

'That was the place' said the lama. 'So farat leastwe can go
with her.'

'Flies go to carrion' said the Ooryain an abstracted voice.

'For the sick cow a crow; for the sick man a Brahmin.' Kim breathed
the proverb impersonally to the shadow-tops of the trees overhead.

The Oorya grunted and held his peace.

'So then we go with herHoly One?'


'Is there any reason against? I can still step aside and try all
the rivers that the road overpasses. She desires that I should
come. She very greatly desires it.'

Kim stifled a laugh in the quilt. When once that imperious old lady
had recovered from her natural awe of a lama he thought it probable
that she would be worth listening to.

He was nearly asleep when the lama suddenly quoted a proverb: 'The
husbands of the talkative have a great reward hereafter.' Then Kim
heard him snuff thriceand dozed offstill laughing.

The diamond-bright dawn woke men and crows and bullocks together.
Kim sat up and yawnedshook himselfand thrilled with delight.
This was seeing the world in real truth; this was life as he would
have it - bustling and shoutingthe buckling of beltsand beating
of bullocks and creaking of wheelslighting of fires and cooking
of foodand new sights at every turn of the approving eye. The
morning mist swept off in a whorl of silverthe parrots shot away
to some distant river in shrieking green hosts: all the well-wheels
within ear-shot went to work. India was awakeand Kim was in the
middle of itmore awake and more excited than anyonechewing on a
twig that he would presently use as a toothbrush; for he borrowed
right- and left-handedly from all the customs of the country he
knew and loved. There was no need to worry about food - no need to
spend a cowrie at the crowded stalls. He was the disciple of a holy
man annexed by a strong-willed old lady. All things would be
prepared for themand when they were respectfully invited so to do
they would sit and eat. For the rest - Kim giggled here as he
cleaned his teeth - his hostess would rather heighten the enjoyment
of the road. He inspected her bullocks criticallyas they came up
grunting and blowing under the yokes. If they went too fast -it was
not likely - there would be a pleasant seat for himself along the
pole; the lama would sit beside the driver. The escortof course
would walk. The old ladyequally of coursewould talk a great
dealand by what he had heard that conversation would not lack
salt. She was already orderingharanguingrebukingandit must
be saidcursing her servants for delays.

'Get her her pipe. In the name of the Godsget her her pipe and
stop her ill-omened mouth' cried an Ooryatying up his shapeless
bundles of bedding. 'She and the parrots are alike. They screech in
the dawn.'

'The lead-bullocks! Hai! Look to the lead-bullocks!' They were
backing and wheeling as a grain-cart's axle caught them by the
horns. "Son of an owlwhere dost thou go?' This to the grinning
carter.

'Ai! Yai! Yai! That within there is the Queen of Delhi going to
pray for a son' the man called back over his high load. 'Room for
the Queen of Delhi and her Prime Minister the grey monkey climbing
up his own sword!' Another cart loaded with bark for a down-country
tannery followed close behindand its driver added a few
compliments as the ruth-bullocks backed and backed again.

From behind the shaking curtains came one volley of invective. It
did not last longbut in kind and qualityin blisteringbiting
appropriatenessit was beyond anything that even Kim had heard. He
could see the carter's bare chest collapse with amazementas the
man salaamed reverently to the voiceleaped from the poleand
helped the escort haul their volcano on to the main road. Here the
voice told him truthfully what sort of wife he had weddedand what


she was doing in his absence.

'Ohshabash!' murmured Kimunable to contain himselfas the man
slunk away.

'Well doneindeed? It is a shame and a scandal that a poor woman
may not go to make prayer to her Gods except she be jostled and
insulted by all the refuse of Hindustan - that she must eat gali
[abuse] as men eat ghi. But I have yet a wag left to my tongue - a
word or two well spoken that serves the occasion. And still am I
without my tobacco! Who is the one-eyed and luckless son of shame
that has not yet prepared my pipe?'

It was hastily thrust in by a hillmanand a trickle of thick smoke
from each corner of the curtains showed that peace was restored.

If Kim had walked proudly the day beforedisciple of a holy man
today he paced with tenfold pride in the train of a semi-royal
processionwith a recognized place under the patronage of an old
lady of charming manners and infinite resource. The escorttheir
heads tied up native-fashionfell in on either side the cart
shuffling enormous clouds of dust.

The lama and Kim walked a little to one side; Kim chewing his stick
of sugarcaneand making way for no one under the status of a
priest. They could hear the old lady's tongue clack as steadily as
a rice-husker. She bade the escort tell her what was going on on
the road; and so soon as they were clear of the parao she flung
back the curtains and peered outher veil a third across her face.
Her men did not eye her directly when she addressed themand thus
the proprieties were more or less observed.

A darksallowish District Superintendent of Policefaultlessly
uniformedan Englishmantrotted by on a tired horseandseeing
from her retinue what manner of person she waschaffed her.

'O mother' he cried'do they do this in the zenanas? Suppose an
Englishman came by and saw that thou hats no nose?'

'What?' she shrilled back. 'Thine own mother has no nose? Why say
sothenon the open road?'

It was a fair counter. The Englishman threw up his hand with the
gesture of a man hit at sword-play. She laughed and nodded.

'Is this a face to tempt virtue aside?. She withdrew all her veil
and stared at him.

It was by no means lovelybut as the man gathered up his reins he
called it a Moon of Paradisea Disturber of Integrityand a few
other fantastic epithets which doubled her up with mirth.

'That is a nut-cut [rogue]' she said. 'All police-constables are
nut-cuts; but the police-wallahs are the worst. Haimy sonthou
hast never learned all that since thou camest from Belait [Europe].
Who suckled thee?'

'A pahareen - a hillwoman of Dalhousiemy mother. Keep thy beauty
under a shade - O Dispenser of Delights' and he was gone.

'These be the sort' - she took a fine judicial toneand stuffed
her mouth with pan - 'These be the sort to oversee justice. They
know the land and the customs of the landThe othersall new from
Europesuckled by white women and learning our tongues from books


are worse than the pestilence. They do harm to Kings.' Then she
told a longlong tale to the world at largeof an ignorant young
policeman who had disturbed some small Hill Rajaha- ninth cousin
of her ownin the matter of a trivial land-casewinding up with a
quotation from a work by no means devotional.

Then her mood changedand she bade one of the escort ask whether
the lama would walk alongside and discuss matters of religion. So
Kim dropped back into the dust and returned to his sugar-cane. For
an hour or more the lama's tam-o'shanter showed like a moon through
the haze; andfrom all he heardKim gathered that the old woman
wept. One of the Ooryas half apologized for his rudeness overnight
saying that he had never known his mistress of so bland a temper
and he ascribed it to the presence of the strange priest.
Personallyhe believed in Brahminsthoughlike all nativeshe
was acutely aware of their cunning and their greed. Stillwhen
Brahmins but irritated with begging demands the mother of his
master's wifeand when she sent them away so angry that they
cursed the whole retinue (which was the real reason of the second
off-side bullock going lameand of the pole breaking the night
before)he was prepared to accept any priest of any other
denomination in or out of India. To this Kim assented with wise
nodsand bade the Oorya observe that the lama took no moneyand
that the cost of his and Kim's food would be repaid a hundred times
in the good luck that would attend the caravan henceforward. He
also told stories of Lahore cityand sang a song or two which made
the escort laugh. As a town-mouse well acquainted with the latest
songs by the most fashionable composers - they are women for the
most part - Kim had a distinct advantage over men from a little
fruit-village behind Saharunporebut he let that advantage be
inferred.

At noon they turned aside to eatand the meal was goodplentiful
and well-served on plates of clean leavesin decencyout of drift
of the dust. They gave the scraps to certain beggarsthat all
requirements might be fulfilledand sat down to a longluxurious
smoke. The old lady had retreated behind her curtainsbut mixed
most freely in the talkher servants arguing with and
contradicting her as servants do throughout the East. She compared
the cool and the pines of the Kangra and Kulu hills with the dust
and the mangoes of the South; she told a tale of some old local
Gods at the edge of her husband's territory; she roundly abused the
tobacco which she was then smokingreviled all Brahminsand
speculated without reserve on the coming of many grandsons.

Chapter 5

Here come I to my own again
Fedforgivenand known again
Claimed by bone of my bone again
And sib to flesh of my flesh!
The fatted calf is dressed for me
But the husks have greater zest for me ...
I think my pigs will be best for me
So I'm off to the styes afresh.


The Prodigal Son.



Once more the lazystring-tiedshuffling procession got under
wayand she slept till they reached the next halting-stage. It was
a very short marchand time lacked an hour to sundownso Kim cast
about for means of amusement.

'But why not sit and rest?' said one of the escort. 'Only the
devils and the English walk to and fro without reason.'

'Never make friends with the Devila Monkeyor a Boy. No man
knows what they will do next' said his fellow.

Kim turned a scornful back - he did not want to hear the old story
how the Devil played with the boys and repented of it and walked
idly across country.

The lama strode after him. All that daywhenever they passed a
streamhe had turned aside to look at itbut in no case had he
received any warning that he had found his River. Insensiblytoo
the comfort of speaking to someone in a reasonable tongue' and of
being properly considered and respected as her spiritual adviser by
a well-born womanhad weaned his thoughts a little from the
Search. And furtherhe was prepared to spend serene years in his
quest; having nothing of the white manis impatiencebut a great
faith.

'Where goest thou?' he called after Kim.

'Nowhither - it was a small marchand all this'- Kim waved his
hands abroad - 'is new to me.'

'She is beyond question a wise and a discerning woman. But it is
hard to meditate when -'

'All women are thus.' Kim spoke as might have Solomon.

'Before the lamassery was a broad platform' the lama muttered
looping up the well-worn rosary'of stone. On that I have left the
marks of my feet - pacing to and fro with these.'

He clicked the beadsand began the 'Om mane pudme hum's of his
devotion; grateful for the coolthe quietand the absence of
dust.

One thing after another drew Kim's idle eye across the plain. There
was no purpose in his wanderingsexcept that the build of the huts
near by seemed newand he wished to investigate.

They came out on a broad tract of grazing-groundbrown and purple
in the afternoon lightwith a heavy clump of mangoes in the
centre. It struck Kim as curious that no shrine stood in so
eligible a spot: the boy was observing as any priest for these
things. Far across the plain walked side by side four menmade
small by the distance. He looked intently under his curved palms
and caught the sheen of brass.

'Soldiers. White soldiers!' said he. 'Let us see.'

'It is always soldiers when thou and I go out alone together. But I
have never seen the white soldiers.'

'They do no harm except when they are drunk. Keep behind this
tree.'

They stepped behind the thick trunks in the cool dark of the mango



tope. Two little figures halted; the other two came forward
uncertainly. They were the advance-party of a regiment on the
marchsent outas usualto mark the camp. They bore five-foot
sticks with fluttering flagsand called to each other as they
spread over the flat earth.

At last they entered the mango-grovewalking heavily.

'It's here or hereabouts - officers' tents under the treesI take
itan' the rest of us can stay outside. Have they marked out for
the baggage-wagons behind?'

They cried again to their comrades in the distanceand the rough
answer came back faint and mellowed.

'Shove the flag in herethen' said one.

'What do they prepare?' said the lamawonderstruck. 'This is a
great and terrible world. What is the device on the flag?'

A soldier thrust a stave within a few feet of themgrunted
discontentedlypulled it up againconferred with his companion
who looked up and down the shaded cave of greeneryand returned
it.

Kim stared with all his eyeshis breath coming short and sharp
between his teeth. The soldiers stamped off into the sunshine.

'O Holy One!' he gasped. 'My horoscope! The drawing in the dust by
the priest at Umballa! Remember what he said. First come two ferashes
- to make all things ready - in a dark placeas it is
always at the beginning of a vision.'

'But this is not vision' said the lama. 'It is the world's
Illusionand no more.'

'And after them comes the Bull - the Red Bull on the green field.
Look! It is he!'

He pointed to the flag that was snap snapping in the evening breeze
not ten feet away. It was no more than an ordinary camp markingflag;
but the regimentalways punctilious in matters of millinery
had charged it with the regimental devicethe Red Bullwhich is
the crest of the Mavericks - the great Red Bull on a background of
Irish green.

'I seeand now I remember.' said the lama. 'Certainly it is thy
Bull. Certainlyalsothe two men came to make all ready.'

'They are soldiers - white soldiers. What said the priest? "The
sign over against the Bull is the sign of War and armed men." Holy
Onethis thing touches my Search.'

'True. It is true.' The lama stared fixedly at the device that
flamed like a ruby in the dusk. 'The priest at Umballa said that
thine was the sign of War.'

'What is to do now?'

'Wait. Let us wait.'

'Even now the darkness clears" said Kim. It was only natural that
the descending sun should at last strike through the tree-trunks
across the grovefilling it with mealy gold light for a few


minutes; but to Kim it was the crown of the Umballa Brahmin's
prophecy.


'Hark!' said the lama. 'One beats a drum - far off!'


At first the soundcarrying diluted through the still air
resembled the beating of an artery in the head. Soon a sharpness
was added.


'Ah! The music' Kim explained. He knew the sound of a regimental
bandbut it amazed the lama.


At the far end of the plain a heavydusty column crawled in sight.
Then the wind brought the tune:


We crave your condescension
To tell you what we know
Of marching in the Mulligan Guards
To Sligo Port below!


Here broke in the shrill-tongued fifes:


We shouldered arms
We marched - we marched away.
From Phoenix Park
We marched to Dublin Bay.
The drums and the fifes
Ohsweetly they did play
As we marched - marched - marched - with the
Mulligan Guards!


It was the band of the Mavericks playing the regiment to camp; for
the men were route-marching with their baggage. The rippling column
swung into the level - carts behind it divided left and rightran
about like an ant-hilland ...


'But this is sorcery!' said the lama.


The plain dotted itself with tents that seemed to riseall spread
from the carts. Another rush of men invaded the grovepitched a
huge tent in silenceran up yet eight or nine more by the side of
itunearthed cooking-potspansand bundleswhich were taken
possession of by a crowd of native servants; and behold the mango-
tope turned into an orderly town as they watched!


'Let us go' said the lamasinking back afraidas the fires
twinkled and white officers with jingling swords stalked into the
Mess-tent.


'Stand back in the shadow. No one can see beyond the light of a
fire' said Kimhis eyes still on the flag. He had never before
watched the routine of a seasoned regiment pitching camp in thirty
minutes.


'Look! look! look!' clucked the lama. 'Yonder comes a priest.' It
was Bennettthe Church of England Chaplain of the regiment
limping in dusty black. One of his flock had made some rude remarks
about the Chaplain's mettle; and to abash him Bennett had marched
step by step with the men that day. The black dressgold cross on
the watch-chainthe hairless faceand the softblack wideawake
hat would have marked him as a holy man anywhere in all India. He
dropped into a camp-chair by the door of the Mess-tent and slid off
his boots. Three or four officers gathered round himlaughing and
joking over his exploit.



'The talk of white men is wholly lacking in dignity' said the
lamawho judged only by tone. 'But I considered the countenance of
that priest and I think he is learned. Is it likely that he will
understand our talk? I would talk to him of my Search.'

'Never speak to a white man till he is fed' said Kimquoting a
well-known proverb. 'They will eat nowand - and I do not think
they are good to beg from. Let us go back to the resting-place.
After we have eaten we will come again. It certainly was a Red Bull

-my Red Bull.'
They were both noticeably absent-minded when the old lady's retinue
set their meal before them; so none broke their reservefor it is
not lucky to annoy guests.

'Now' said Kimpicking his teeth'we will return to that place;
but thouO Holy Onemust wait a little way offbecause thy feet
are heavier than mine and I am anxious to see more of that Red
Bull.'

'But how canst thou understand the talk? Walk slowly. The road is
dark' the lama replied uneasily.

Kim put the question aside. 'I marked a place near to the trees'
said he'where thou canst sit till I call. Nay' as the lama made
some sort of protest'remember this is my Search - the Search for
my Red Bull. The sign in the Stars was not for thee. I know a
little of the customs of white soldiersand I always desire to see
some new things.'

'What dost thou not know of this world?' The lama squatted
obediently in a little hollow of the ground not a hundred yards
from the hump of the mango-trees dark against the star-powdered
sky.

'Stay till I call.' Kim flitted into the dusk. He knew that in all
probability there would be sentries round the campand smiled to
himself as he heard the thick boots of one. A boy who can dodge
over the roofs of Lahore city on a moonlight nightusing every
little patch and corner of darkness to discomfit his pursueris
not likely to be checked by a line of well-trained soldiers. He
paid them the compliment of crawling between a coupleandrunning
and haltingcrouching and dropping flatworked his way toward the
lighted Mess-tent whereclose pressed behind the mango-treehe
waited till some chance word should give him a returnable lead.

The one thing now in his mind was further information as to the Red
Bull. For aught he knewand Kim's limitations were as curious and
sudden as his expansionsthe menthe nine hundred thorough devils
of his father's prophecymight pray to the beast after darkas
Hindus pray to the Holy Cow. That at least would be entirely right
and logicaland the padre with the gold cross would be therefore
the man to consult in the matter. On the other handremembering
sober-faced padres whom he had avoided in Lahore citythe priest
might be an inquisitive nuisance who would bid him learn. But had
it not been proven at Umballa that his sign in the high heavens
portended War and armed men? Was he not the Friend of the Stars as
well as of all the Worldcrammed to the teeth with dreadful
secrets? Lastly - and firstly as the undercurrent of all his quick
thoughts -this adventurethough he did not know the English word
was a stupendous lark - a delightful continuation of his old
flights across the housetopsas well as the fulfilment of sublime
prophecy. He lay belly-flat and wriggled towards the Mess-tent


doora hand on the amulet round his neck.

It was as he suspected. The Sahibs prayed to their God; for in the
centre of the Mess-table - its sole ornament when they were on the
line of march - stood a golden bull fashioned from old-time loot of
the Summer Palace at Pekin - a red-gold bull with lowered head
ramping upon a field of Irish green. To him the Sahibs held out
their glasses and cried aloud confusedly.

Now the Reverend Arthur Bennett always left Mess after that toast
and being rather tired by his march his movements were more abrupt
than usual. Kimwith slightly raised headwas still staring at
his totem on the tablewhen the Chaplain stepped on his right
shoulder-blade. Kim flinched under the leatherandrolling
sidewaysbrought down the Chaplainwhoever a man of action
caught him by the throat and nearly choked the life out of him. Kim
then kicked him desperately in the stomach. Mr Bennett gasped and
doubled upbut without relaxing his griprolled over againand
silently hauled Kim to his own tent. The Mavericks were incurable
practical jokers; and it occurred to the Englishman that silence
was best till he had made complete inquiry.

'Whyit's a boy!' he saidas he drew his prize under the light of
the tent-pole lanternthen shaking him severely cried: 'What were
you doing? You're a thief. Choor? Mallum?' His Hindustani was very
limitedand the ruffled and disgusted Kim intended to keep to the
character laid down for him. As he recovered his breath he was
inventing a beautifully plausible tale of his relations to some
scullionand at the same time keeping a keen eye on and a little
under the Chaplain's left arm-pit. The chance came; he ducked for
the doorwaybut a long arm shot out and clutched at his neck
snapping the amulet-string and closing on the amulet.

'Give it me. Ogive it me. Is it lost? Give me the papers.'

The words were in English - the tinnysaw-cut English of the
native-bredand the Chaplain jumped.

'A scapular' said heopening his hand. 'Nosome sort of heathen
charm. Why - whydo you speak English? Little boys who steal are
beaten. You know that?'

'I do not - I did not steal.' Kim danced in agony like a terrier at
a lifted stick. 'Ohgive it me. It is my charm. Do not thieve it
from me.'

The Chaplain took no heedbutgoing to the tent doorcalled
aloud. A fattishclean-shaven man appeared.

'I want your adviceFather Victor' said Bennett. 'I found this
boy in the dark outside the Mess-tent. OrdinarilyI should have
chastised him and let him gobecause I believe him to be a thief.
But it seems he talks Englishand he attaches some sort of value
to a charm round his neck. I thought perhaps you might help me.'

Between himself and the Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Irish
contingent layas Bennett believedan unbridgeable gulfbut it
was noticeable that whenever the Church of England dealt with a
human problem she was very likely to call in the Church of Rome.
Bennett's official abhorrence of the Scarlet Woman and all her ways
was only equalled by his private respect for Father Victor.

'A thief talking Englishis it? Let's look at his charm. Noit's
not a scapularBennett.' He held out his hand.


'But have we any right to open it? A sound whipping -'

'I did not thieve' protested Kim. 'You have hit me kicks all over
my body. Now give me my charm and I will go away.'

'Not quite so fast. We'll look first' said Father Victor
leisurely rolling out poor Kimball O'Hara's 'ne varietur'
parchmenthis clearance-certificateand Kim's baptismal
certificate. On this last O'Hara - with some confused idea that he
was doing wonders for his son - had scrawled scores of times: 'Look
after the boy. Please look after the boy' - signing his name and
regimental number in full.

'Powers of Darkness below!" said Father Victorpassing all over to
Mr Bennett. 'Do you know what these things are?'

'Yes.' said Kim. 'They are mineand I want to go away.'

'I do not quite understand' said Mr Bennett. 'He probably brought
them on purpose. It may be a begging trick of some kind.'

'I never saw a beggar less anxious to stay with his companythen.
There's the makings of a gay mystery here. Ye believe in
ProvidenceBennett?'

'I hope so.'

'WellI believe in miraclesso it comes to the same thing. Powers
of Darkness! Kimball O'Hara! And his son! But then he's a native
and I saw Kimball married myself to Annie Shott. How long have you
had these thingsboy?'

'Ever since I was a little baby.'

Father Victor stepped forward quickly and opened the front of Kim's
upper garment. 'You seeBennetthe's not very black. What's your
name?'

'Kim.'

'Or Kimball?'

'Perhaps. Will you let me go away?'

'What else?'

'They call me Kim Rishti ke. That is Kim of the Rishti.'

'What is that - "Rishti"?'

'Eye-rishti - that was the Regiment - my father's.'

'Irish - ohI see.'

'Yess. That was how my father told me. My fatherhe has lived.'

'Has lived where?'

'Has lived. Of course he is dead - gone-out.'

'Oh! That's your abrupt way of putting itis it?'

Bennett interrupted. 'It is possible I have done the boy an


injustice. He is certainly whitethough evidently neglected. I am
sure I must have bruised him. I do not think spirits -'

'Get him a glass of sherrythenand let him squat on the cot.
NowKim' continued Father Victor'no one is going to hurt you.
Drink that down and tell us about yourself. The truthif you've no
objection.'

Kim coughed a little as he put down the empty glassand
considered. This seemed a time for caution and fancy. Small boys
who prowl about camps are generally turned out after a whipping.
But he had received no stripes; the amulet was evidently working in
his favourand it looked as though the Umballa horoscope and the
few words that he could remember of his father's maunderings fitted
in most miraculously. Else why did the fat padre seem so impressed
and why the glass of hot yellow drink from the lean one?

'My fatherhe is dead in Lahore city since I was very little. The
womanshe kept kabarri shop near where the hire-carriages are.'
Kim began with a plungenot quite sure how far the truth would
serve him.

'Your mother?'

'No!' - with a gesture of disgust. 'She went out when I was born.
My fatherhe got these papers from the Jadoo-Gher what do you call
that?' (Bennett nodded) 'because he was in good-standing. What do
you call that?' (again Bennett nodded). 'My father told me that. He
saidtooand also the Brahmin who made the drawing in the dust at
Umballa two days agohe saidthat I shall find a Red Bull on a
green field and that the Bull shall help me.'

'A phenomenal little liar' muttered Bennett.

'Powers of Darkness belowwhat a country!' murmured Father Victor.
'Go onKim.'

'I did not thieve. BesidesI am just now disciple of a very holy
man. He is sitting outside. We saw two men come with flagsmaking
the place ready. That is always so in a dreamor on account of a a
-prophecy. So I knew it was come true. I saw the Red Bull on the
green fieldand my father he said: "Nine hundred pukka devils and
the Colonel riding on a horse will look after you when you find the
Red Bull!" I did not know what to do when I saw the Bullbut I
went away and I came again when it was dark. I wanted to see the
Bull againand I saw the Bull again with the - the Sahibs praying
to it. I think the Bull shall help me. The holy man said so too. He
is sitting outside. Will you hurt himif I call him a shout now?
He is very holy. He can witness to all the things I sayand he
knows I am not a thief.'

'"Sahibs praying to a bull!" What in the world do you make of
that?' said Bennett. "'Disciple of a holy man!" Is the boy mad?'

'It's O'Hara's boysure enough. O'Hara's boy leagued with all the
Powers of Darkness. It's very much what his father would have done
if he was drunk. We'd better invite the holy man. He may know
something.'

'He does not know anything' said Kim. 'I will show you him if you
come. He is my master. Then afterwards we can go.'

'Powers of Darkness!' was all that Father Victor could sayas
Bennett marched offwith a firm hand on Kim's shoulder.


They found the lama where he had dropped.

'The Search is at an end for me' shouted Kim in the vernacular. 'I
have found the Bullbut God knows what comes next. They will not
hurt you. Come to the fat priest's tent with this thin man and see
the end. It is all newand they cannot talk Hindi. They are only
uncurried donkeys.'

'Then it is not well to make a jest of their ignorance' the lama
returned. 'I am glad if thou art rejoicedchela.'

Dignified and unsuspicioushe strode into the little tentsaluted
the Churches as a Churchmanand sat down by the open charcoal
brazier. The yellow lining of the tent reflected in the lamplight
made his face red-gold.

Bennett looked at him with the triple-ringed uninterest of the
creed that lumps nine-tenths of the world under the title of
'heathen'.

'And what was the end of the Search? What gift has the Red Bull
brought?' The lama addressed himself to Kim.

'He saysWhat are you going to do?' Bennett was staring uneasily
at Father Victorand Kimfor his own endstook upon himself the
office of interpreter.

'I do not see what concern this fakir has with the boywho is
probably his dupe or his confederate' Bennett began. 'We cannot
allow an English boy - Assuming that he is the son of a Masonthe
sooner he goes to the Masonic Orphanage the better.'

'Ah! That's your opinion as Secretary to the Regimental Lodge'
said Father Victor; 'but we might as well tell the old man what we
are going to do. He doesn't look like a villain.'

'My experience is that one can never fathom the Oriental mind. Now
KimballI wish you to tell this man what I say word for word.'

Kim gathered the import of the next few sentences and began thus:

'Holy Onethe thin fool who looks like a camel says that I am the
son of a Sahib.'

'But how?'

'Ohit is true. I knew it since my birthbut he could only find
it out by rending the amulet from my neck and reading all the
papers. He thinks that once a Sahib is always a Sahiband between
the two of them they purpose to keep me in this Regiment or to send
me to a madrissah [a school]. It has happened before. I have always
avoided it. The fat fool is of one mind and the camel-like one of
another. But that is no odds. I may spend one night here and
perhaps the next. It has happened before. Then I will run away and
return to thee.'

'But tell them that thou art my chela. Tell them how thou didst
come to me when I was faint and bewildered. Tell them of our
Searchand they will surely let thee go now.'

'I have already told them. They laughand they talk of the
police.'


'What are you saying?' asked Mr Bennett.

'Oah. He only says that if you do not let me go it will stop him in
his business - his ur-gent private af-fairs.' This last was a
reminiscence of some talk with a Eurasian clerk in the Canal
Departmentbut it only drew a smilewhich nettled him. 'And if
you did know what his business was you would not be in such a
beastly hurry to interfere.'

'What is it then?' said Father Victornot without feelingas he
watched the lama's face.

'There is a River in this country which he wishes to find so verree
much. It was put out by an Arrow which -'Kim tapped his foot
impatiently as he translated in his own mind from the vernacular to
his clumsy English. 'Oahit was made by our Lord God Buddhayou
knowand if you wash there you are washed away from all your sins
and made as white as cotton-wool.' (Kim had heard mission-talk in
his time.) 'I am his discipleand we must find that River. It is
so verree valuable to us.'

'Say that again' said Bennett. Kim obeyedwith amplifications.

'But this is gross blasphemy!' cried the Church of England.

'Tck! Tck!' said Father Victor sympathetically. 'I'd give a good
deal to be able to talk the vernacular. A river that washes away
sin! And how long have you two been looking for it?'

'Ohmany days. Now we wish to go away and look for it again. It is
not hereyou see.'

'I see' said Father Victor gravely. 'But he can't go on in that
old man's company. It would be differentKimif you were not a
soldier's son. Tell him that the Regiment will take care of you and
make you as good a man as your - as good a man as can be. Tell him
that if he believes in miracles he must believe that -'

'There is no need to play on his credulity' Bennett interrupted.

'I'm doing no such thing. He must believe that the boy's coming
here -to his own Regiment - in search of his Red Bull is in the
nature of a miracle. Consider the chances against itBennett. This
one boy in all Indiaand our Regiment of all others on the line o'
march for him to meet with! It's predestined on the face of it.
Yestell him it's Kismet. Kismetmallum? [Do you understand?]'

He turned towards the lamato whom he might as well have talked of
Mesopotamia.

'They say' - the old man's eye lighted at Kim's speech 'they say
that the meaning of my horoscope is now accomplishedand that
being led back - though as thou knowest I went out of curiosity to
these people and their Red Bull I must needs go to a madrissah
and be turned into a Sahib. Now I make pretence of agreementfor
at the worst it will be but a few meals eaten away from thee. Then
I will slip away and follow down the road to Saharunpore.
ThereforeHoly Onekeep with that Kulu woman - on no account
stray far from her cart till I come again. Past questionmy sign
is of War and of armed men. See how they have given me wine to
drink and set me upon a bed of honour! My father must have been
some great person. So if they raise me to honour among themgood.
If notgood again. However it goesI will run back to thee when I
am tired. But stay with the Rajputnior I shall miss thy feet ...


Oah yess' said the boy'I have told him everything you tell me to
say.'

'And I cannot see any need why he should wait' said Bennett
feeling in his trouser-pocket. 'We can investigate the details
later - and I will give him a ru -'

'Give him time. Maybe he's fond of the lad' said Father Victor
half arresting the clergyman's motion.

The lama dragged forth his rosary and pulled his huge hat-brim over
his eyes.

'What can he want now?'

'He says' - Kim put up one hand. 'He says: Be quiett.' He wants to
speak to me by himself You seeyou do not know one little word of
what he saysand I think if you talk he will perhaps give you very
bad curses. When he takes those beads like thatyou seehe always
wants to be quiett.'

The two Englishmen sat overwhelmedbut there was a look in
Bennett's eye that promised ill for Kim when he should be relaxed
to the religious arm.

'A Sahib and the son of a Sahib -' The lama's voice was harsh with
pain. 'But no white man knows the land and the customs of the land
as thou knowest. How comes it this is true?'

'What matterHoly One? - but remember it is only for a night or
two. RememberI can change swiftly. It will all be as it was when
I first spoke to thee under Zam-Zammah the great gun -'

'As a boy in the dress of white men - when I first went to the
Wonder House. And a second time thou wast a Hindu. What shall the
third incarnation be?' He chuckled drearily. 'Ahchelathou has
done a wrong to an old man because my heart went out to thee.'

'And mine to thee. But how could I know that the Red Bull would
bring me to this business?'

The lama covered his face afreshand nervously rattled the rosary.
Kim squatted beside him and laid hold upon a fold of his clothing.

'Now it is understood that the boy is a Sahib?' he went on in a
muffled tone. 'Such a Sahib as was he who kept the images in the
Wonder House.' The lama's experience of white men was limited. He
seemed to be repeating a lesson. 'So then it is not seemly that he
should do other than as the Sahibs do. He must go back to his own
people.'

'For a day and a night and a day' Kim pleaded.

'Noye don't!' Father Victor saw Kim edging towards the doorand
interposed a strong leg.

'I do not understand the customs of white men. The Priest of the
Images in the Wonder House in Lahore was more courteous than the
thin one here. This boy will be taken from me. They will make a
Sahib of my disciple? Woe to me! How shall I find my River? Have
they no disciples? Ask.'

'He says he is very sorree that he cannot find the River now any
more. He saysWhy have you no disciplesand stop bothering him?


He wants to be washed of his sins.'

Neither Bennett nor Father Victor found any answer ready.

Said Kim in Englishdistressed for the lama's agony: 'I think if
you will let me go now we will walk away quietly and not steal. We
will look for that River like before I was caught. I wish I did not
come here to find the Red Bull and all that sort of thing. I do not
want it.'

'It's the very best day's work you ever did for yourselfyoung
man' said Bennett.

'Good heavensI don't know how to console him' said Father
Victorwatching the lama intently. 'He can't take the boy away
with himand yet he's a good man - I'm sure he's a good man.
Bennettif you give him that rupee he'll curse you root and
branch!'

They listened to each other's breathing - three - five full
minutes. Then the lama raised his headand looked forth across
them into space and emptiness.

'And I am a Follower of the Way' he said bitterly. 'The sin is
mine and the punishment is mine. I made believe to myself for now I
see it was but make-belief - that thou wast sent to me to aid in
the Search. So my heart went out to thee for thy charity and thy
courtesy and the wisdom of thy little years. But those who follow
the Way must permit not the fire of any desire or attachmentfor
that is all Illusion. As says . . .' He quoted an oldold Chinese
textbacked it with anotherand reinforced these with a third. 'I
stepped aside from the Waymy chela. It was no fault of thine. I
delighted in the sight of lifethe new people upon the roadsand
in thy joy at seeing these things. I was pleased with thee who
should have considered my Search and my Search alone. Now I am
sorrowful because thou art taken away and my River is far from me.
It is the Law which I have broken!'

'Powers of Darkness below!' said Father Victorwhowise in the
confessionalheard the pain in every sentence.

'I see now that the sign of the Red Bull was a sign for me as well
as for thee. All Desire is red - and evil. I will do penance and
find my River alone.'

'At least go back to the Kulu woman' said Kim'otherwise thou
wilt be lost upon the roads. She will feed thee till I run back to
thee.'

The lama waved a hand to show that the matter was finally settled
in his mind.

'Now' - his tone altered as he turned to Kim- 'what will they do
with thee? At least I mayacquiring meritwipe out past ill.'

'Make me a Sahib - so they think. The day after tomorrow I return.
Do not grieve.'

'Of what sort? Such an one as this or that man?' He pointed to
Father Victor. 'Such an one as those I saw this evening men wearing
swords and stamping heavily?'

'Maybe.'


'That is not well. These men follow desire and come to emptiness.
Thou must not be of their sort.'

'The Umballa priest said that my Star was War' Kim interjected. 'I
will ask these fools - but there is truly no need. I will run away
this nightfor all I wanted to see the new things.'

Kim put two or three questions in English to Father Victor
translating the replies to the lama.

Then: 'He saysYou take him from me and you cannot say what you
will make him.He saysTell me before I go, for it is not a
small thing to make a child.'

'You will be sent to a school. Later onwe shall see. KimballI
suppose you'd like to be a soldier?'

'Gorah-log [white-folk]. No-ah! No-ah!' Kim shook his head
violently. There was nothing in his composition to which drill and
routine appealed. 'I will not be a soldier.'

'You will be what you're told to be' said Bennett; 'and you should
be grateful that we're going to help you.'

Kim smiled compassionately. If these men lay under the delusion
that he would do anything that he did not fancyso much the
better.

Another long silence followed. Bennett fidgeted with impatience
and suggested calling a sentry to evict the fakir.

'Do they give or sell learning among the Sahibs? Ask them' said
the lamaand Kim interpreted.

'They say that money is paid to the teacher - but that money the
Regiment will give ... What need? It is only for a night.'

'And - the more money is paid the better learning is given?' The
lama disregarded Kim's plans for an early flight. 'It is no wrong
to pay for learning. To help the ignorant to wisdom is always a
merit.' The rosary clicked furiously as an abacus. Then he faced
his oppressors.

'Ask them for how much money do they give a wise and suitable
teaching? And in what city is that teaching given?'

'Well'said Father Victor in Englishwhen Kim had translated
'that depends. The Regiment would pay for you all the time you are
at the Military Orphanage; or you might go on the Punjab Masonic
Orphanage's list (not that he or you 'ud understand what that
means); but the best schooling a boy can get in India isof
courseat St Xavier's in Partibus at Lucknow.' This took some time
to interpretfor Bennett wished to cut it short.

'He wants to know how much?' said Kim placidly.

'Two or three hundred rupees a year.' Father Victor was long past
any sense of amazement. Bennettimpatientdid not understand.

'He says: "Write that name and the money upon a paper and give it
him." And he says you must write your name belowbecause he is
going to write a letter in some days to you. He says you are a good
man. He says the other man is a fool. He is going away.'


The lama rose suddenly. 'I follow my Search' he criedand was
gone.

'He'll run slap into the sentries' cried Father Victorjumping up
as the lama stalked out; 'but I can't leave the boy.' Kim made
swift motion to followbut checked himself. There was no sound of
challenge outside. The lama had disappeared.

Kim settled himself composedly on the Chaplain's cot. At least the
lama had promised that he would stay with the Raiput woman from
Kuluand the rest was of the smallest importance. It pleased him
that the two padres were so evidently excited. They talked long in
undertonesFather Victor urging some scheme on Mr Bennettwho
seemed incredulous. All this was very new and fascinatingbut Kim
felt sleepy. They called men into the tent - one of them certainly
was the Colonelas his father had prophesied - and they asked him
an infinity of questionschiefly about the woman who looked after
himall of which Kim answered truthfully. They did not seem to
think the woman a good guardian.

After allthis was the newest of his experiences. Sooner or later
if he chosehe could escape into greatgreyformless India
beyond tents and padres and colonels. Meantimeif the Sahibs were
to be impressedhe would do his best to impress them. He too was a
white man.

After much talk that he could not comprehendthey handed him over
to a sergeantwho had strict instructions not to let him escape.
The Regiment would go on to Umballaand Kim would be sent up
partly at the expense of the Lodge and in part by subscriptionto
a place called Sanawar.

'It's miraculous past all whoopingColonel' said Father Victor
when he had talked without a break for ten minutes. 'His Buddhist
friend has levanted after taking my name and address. I can't quite
make out whether he'll pay for the boy's education or whether he is
preparing some sort of witchcraft on his own account.' Then to Kim:
'You'll live to be grateful to your friend the Red Bull yet. We'll
make a man of you at Sanawar - even at the price o' making you a
Protestant.'

'Certainly - most certainly' said Bennett.

'But you will not go to Sanawar' said Kim.

'But we will go to Sanawarlittle man. That's the order of the
Commander-in-Chiefwho's a trifle more important than O'Hara's
son.'

'You will not go to Sanawar. You will go to thee War.'

There was a shout of laughter from the full tent.

'When you know your own Regiment a trifle better you won't confuse
the line of march with line of battleKim. We hope to go to "thee
War" sometime.'

'OahI know all thatt.' Kim drew his bow again at a venture. If
they were not going to the warat least they did not know what he
knew of the talk in the veranda at Umballa.

'I know you are not at thee war now; but I tell you that as soon as
you get to Umballa you will be sent to the war - the new war. It is


a war of eight thousand menbesides the guns.'

'That's explicit. D'you add prophecy to your other gifts? Take him
alongsergeant. Take up a suit for him from the Drumsan' take
care he doesn't slip through your fingers. Who says the age of
miracles is gone by? I think I'll go to bed. My poor mind's
weakening.'

At the far end of the campsilent as a wild animalan hour later
sat Kimnewly washed all overin a horrible stuff suit that
rasped his arms and legs.

'A most amazin' young bird' said the sergeant. 'He turns up in
charge of a yellow-headed buck-Brahmin priestwith his father's
Lodge certificates round his necktalkin' God knows what all of a
red bull. The buck-Brahmin evaporates without explanationsan' the
bhoy sets cross-legged on the Chaplain's bed prophesyin' bloody war
to the men at large. Injia's a wild land for a God-fearin' man.
I'll just tie his leg to the tent-pole in case he'll go through the
roof What did ye say about the war?'

'Eight thousand menbesides guns' said Kim. 'Very soon you will
see.'

'You're a consolin' little imp. Lie down between the Drums an' go
to bye-bye. Those two boys will watch your slumbers.'

Chapter 6

Now I remember comrades -
Old playmates on new seas -
Whenas we traded orpiment
Among the savages.
Ten thousand leagues to southward
And thirty years removed -
They knew not noble Valdez
But me they knew and loved.


Song of Diego Valdez.


Very early in the morning the white tents came down and disappeared
as the Mavericks took a side-road to Umballa. It did not skirt the
resting-placeand Kimtrudging beside a baggage-cart under fire
of comments from soldiers' wiveswas not so confident as
overnight. He discovered that he was closely watched - Father
Victor on the one sideand Mr Bennett on the other.


In the forenoon the column checked. A camel-orderly handed the
Colonel a letter. He read itand spoke to a Major. Half a mile in
the rearKim heard a hoarse and joyful clamour rolling down on him
through the thick dust. Then someone beat him on the backcrying:
'Tell us how ye knewye little limb of Satan? Father dearsee if
ye can make him tell.'


A pony ranged alongsideand he was hauled on to the priest's
saddlebow.


'Nowmy sonyour prophecy of last night has come true. Our orders



are to entrain at Umballa for the Front tomorrow.'

'What is thatt?' said Kimfor 'front' and 'entrain' were newish
words to him.

'We are going to "thee War as you called it.'

'Of course you are going to thee War. I said last night.'

'Ye did; but, Powers o' Darkness, how did ye know?'

Kim's eyes sparkled. He shut his lips, nodded his head, and looked
unspeakable things. The Chaplain moved on through the dust, and
privates, sergeants, and subalterns called one another's attention
to the boy. The Colonel, at the head of the column, stared at him
curiously. 'It was probably some bazar rumour.' he said; 'but even
then -' He referred to the paper in his hand. 'Hang it all, the
thing was only decided within the last forty-eight hours.'

Are there many more like you in India?' said Father Victor, 'or are
you by way o' being a lusus naturae?'

'Now I have told you,' said the boy, 'will you let me go back to my
old man? If he has not stayed with that woman from Kulu, I am
afraid he will die.'

'By what I saw of him he's as well able to take care of himself as
you. No. Ye've brought us luck, an' we're goin' to make a man of
you. I'll take ye back to your baggage-cart and ye'll come to me
this evening.'

For the rest of the day Kim found himself an object of
distinguished consideration among a few hundred white men. The
story of his appearance in camp, the discovery of his parentage,
and his prophecy, had lost nothing in the telling. A big, shapeless
white woman on a pile of bedding asked him mysteriously whether he
thought her husband would come back from the war. Kim reflected
gravely, and said that he would, and the woman gave him food. In
many respects, this big procession that played music at intervals this
crowd that talked and laughed so easily - resembled a festival
in Lahore city. So far, there was no sign of hard work, and he
resolved to lend the spectacle his patronage. At evening there came
out to meet them bands of music, and played the Mavericks into camp
near Umballa railway station. That was an interesting night. Men of
other regiments came to visit the Mavericks. The Mavericks went
visiting on their own account. Their pickets hurried forth to bring
them back, met pickets of strange regiments on the same duty; and,
after a while, the bugles blew madly for more pickets with officers
to control the tumult. The Mavericks had a reputation for
liveliness to live up to. But they fell in on the platform next
morning in perfect shape and condition; and Kim, left behind with
the sick, women, and boys, found himself shouting farewells
excitedly as the trains drew away. Life as a Sahib was amusing so
far; but he touched it with a cautious hand. Then they marched him
back in charge of a drummer-boy to empty, lime-washed barracks,
whose floors were covered with rubbish and string and paper, and
whose ceilings gave back his lonely footfall. Native-fashion, he
curled himself up on a stripped cot and went to sleep. An angry man
stumped down the veranda, woke him up, and said he was a
schoolmaster. This was enough for Kim, and he retired into his
shell. He could just puzzle out the various English Police notices
in Lahore city, because they affected his comfort; and among the
many guests of the woman who looked after him had been a queer
German who painted scenery for the Parsee travelling theatre. He


told Kim that he had been 'on the barricades in 'Forty-eight,' and
therefore - at least that was how it struck Kim - he would teach
the boy to write in return for food. Kim had been kicked as far as
single letters, but did not think well of them.

'I do not know anything. Go away!' said Kim, scenting evil.
Hereupon the man caught him by the ear, dragged him to a room in a
far-off wing where a dozen drummer-boys were sitting on forms, and
told him to be still if he could do nothing else. This he managed
very successfully. The man explained something or other with white
lines on a black board for at least half an hour, and Kim continued
his interrupted nap. He much disapproved of the present aspect of
affairs, for this was the very school and discipline he had spent
two-thirds of his young life in avoiding. Suddenly a beautiful idea
occurred to him, and he wondered that he had not thought of it
before.

The man dismissed them, and first to spring through the veranda
into the open sunshine was Kim.

' 'Ere, you! 'Alt! Stop!' said a high voice at his heels. 'I've got
to look after you. My orders are not to let you out of my sight.
Where are you goin'?'

It was the drummer-boy who had been hanging round him all the
forenoon - a fat and freckled person of about fourteen, and Kim
loathed him from the soles of his boots to his cap-ribbons.

'To the bazar - to get sweets - for you,' said Kim, after thought.

'Well, the bazar's out o' bounds. If we go there we'll get a
dressing-down. You come back.'

'How near can we go?' Kim did not know what bounds meant, but he
wished to be polite - for the present.

' 'Ow near? 'Ow far, you mean! We can go as far as that tree down
the road.'

'Then I will go there.'

'All right. I ain't goin'. It's too 'ot. I can watch you from 'ere.
It's no good your runnin' away. If you did, they'd spot you by your
clothes. That's regimental stuff you're wearin'. There ain't a
picket in Umballa wouldn't 'ead you back quicker than you started
out.'

This did not impress Kim as much as the knowledge that his raiment
would tire him out if he tried to run. He slouched to the tree at
the corner of a bare road leading towards the bazar, and eyed the
natives passing. Most of them were barrack-servants of the lowest
caste. Kim hailed a sweeper, who promptly retorted with a piece of
unnecessary insolence, in the natural belief that the European boy
could not follow it. The low, quick answer undeceived him. Kim put
his fettered soul into it, thankful for the late chance to abuse
somebody in the tongue he knew best. 'And now, go to the nearest
letter-writer in the bazar and tell him to come here. I would write
a letter.'

'But - but what manner of white man's son art thou to need a bazar
letter-writer? Is there not a schoolmaster in the barracks?'

'Ay; and Hell is full of the same sort. Do my order, you - you Od!
Thy mother was married under a basket! Servant of Lal Beg' (Kim


knew the God of the sweepers), 'run on my business or we will talk
again.'

The sweeper shuffled off in haste. 'There is a white boy by the
barracks waiting under a tree who is not a white boy,' he stammered
to the first bazar letter-writer he came across. 'He needs thee.'

'Will he pay?' said the spruce scribe, gathering up his desk
and pens and sealing-wax all in order.

'I do not know. He is not like other boys. Go and see. It is
well worth.'

Kim danced with impatience when the slim young Kayeth hove in
sight. As soon as his voice could carry he cursed him volubly.

'First I will take my pay,' the letter-writer said. 'Bad words have
made the price higher. But who art thou, dressed in that fashion,
to speak in this fashion?'

'Aha! That is in the letter which thou shalt write. Never was such
a tale. But I am in no haste. Another writer will serve me. Umballa
city is as full of them as is Lahore.'

'Four annas,' said the writer, sitting down and spreading his cloth
in the shade of a deserted barrack-wing.

Mechanically Kim squatted beside him squatted as only the natives
can - in spite of the abominable clinging trousers.

The writer regarded him sideways.

'That is the price to ask of Sahibs,' said Kim. 'Now fix me a true
one.'

'An anna and a half. How do I know, having written the letter, that
thou wilt not run away?'

I must not go beyond this tree, and there is also the stamp to be
considered.'

'I get no commission on the price of the stamp. Once more, what
manner of white boy art thou?'

'That shall be said in the letter, which is to Mahbub Ali, the
horse-dealer in the Kashmir Serai, at Lahore. He is my friend.'

'Wonder on wonder!' murmured the letter-writer, dipping a reed in
the inkstand. 'To be written in Hindi?'

'Assuredly. To Mahbub Ali then. Begin! I have come down with the
old man as far as Umballa in the train. At Umballa I carried the
news of the bay mare's pedigree.' After what he had seen in the
garden, he was not going to write of white stallions.

'Slower a little. What has a bay mare to do . . . Is it Mahbub Ali,
the great dealer?'

'Who else? I have been in his service. Take more ink. Again. As the
order was, so I did it. We then went on foot towards Benares, but
on the third day we found a certain regiment. Is that down?'

'Ay, pulton,''' murmured the writer, all ears.


'I went into their camp and was caught, and by means of the charm
about my neck, which thou kno west, it was established that I was
the son of some man in the regiment: according to the prophecy of
the Red Bull, which thou knowest was common talk of our bazar.' Kim
waited for this shaft to sink into the letter-writer's heart,
cleared his throat, and continued: 'A priest clothed me and gave me
a new name . . . One priest, however, was a fool. The clothes are
very heavy, but I am a Sahib and my heart is heavy too. They send
me to a school and beat me. I do not like the air and water here.
Come then and help me, Mahbub Ali, or send me some money, for I
have not sufficient to pay the writer who writes this.

' Who writes this." It is my own fault that I was tricked. Thou
art as clever as Husain Bux that forged the Treasury stamps at
Nucklao. But what a tale! What a tale! Is it true by any chance?'

'It does not profit to tell lies to Mahbub Ali. It is better to
help his friends by lending them a stamp. When the money comes I
will repay.'

The writer grunted doubtfullybut took a stamp out of his desk
sealed the letterhanded it over to Kimand departed. Mahbub
Ali's was a name of power in Umballa.

'That is the way to win a good account with the Gods' Kim shouted
after him.

'Pay me twice over when the money comes' the man cried over his
shoulder.

'What was you bukkin' to that nigger about?' said the drummer-boy
when Kim returned to the veranda. 'I was watch-in' you.'

'I was only talkin' to him.'

'You talk the same as a niggerdon't you?'

'No-ah! No-ah! I onlee speak a little. What shall we do now?'

'The bugles'll go for dinner in arf a minute. My Gawd! I wish I'd
gone up to the Front with the Regiment. It's awful doin' nothin'
but school down 'ere. Don't you 'ate it?'

'Oah yess!'

I'd run away if I knew where to go tobutas the men sayin this
bloomin' Injia you're only a prisoner at large. You can't desert
without bein' took back at once. I'm fair sick of it.'

'You have been in Be - England?'

'W'yI only come out last troopin' season with my mother. I should
think I 'ave been in England. What a ignorant little beggar you
are! You was brought up in the gutterwasn't you?'

'Oah yess. Tell me something about England. My father he came from
there.'

Though he would not say soKim of course disbelieved every word
the drummer-boy spoke about the Liverpool suburb which was his
England. It passed the heavy time till dinner - a most unappetizing
meal served to the boys and a few invalids in a corner of a
barrack-room. But that he had written to Mahbub AliKim would have
been almost depressed. The indifference of native crowds he was


used to; but this strong loneliness among white men preyed on him.
He was grateful whenin the course of the afternoona big soldier
took him over to Father Victorwho lived in another wing across
another dusty parade-ground. The priest was reading an English
letter written in purple ink. He looked at Kim more curiously than
ever.

'An' how do you like itmy sonas far as you've gone? Not much
eh? It must be hard - very hard on a wild animal. Listen now. I've
an amazin' epistle from your friend.'

'Where is he? Is he well? Oah! If he knows to write me lettersit
is all right.'

'You're fond of him then?'

'Of course I am fond of him. He was fond of me.'

'It seems so by the look of this. He can't write Englishcan he?'

'Oah no. Not that I knowbut of course he found a letter-writer
who can write English verree welland so he wrote. I do hope you
understand.'

'That accounts for it. D'you know anything about his money
affairs?' Kim's face showed that he did not.

'How can I tell?'

'That's what I'm askin'. Now listen if you can make head or tail o'
this. We'll skip the first part . . . It's written from Jagadhir
Road . . . "Sitting on wayside in grave meditationtrusting to be
favoured with your Honour's applause of present stepwhich
recommend your Honour to execute for Almighty God's sake. Education
is greatest blessing if of best sorts. Otherwise no earthly use."
Faiththe old man's hit the bull's-eye that time! "If your Honour
condescending giving my boy best educations Xavier" (I suppose
that's St Xavier's in Partibus) "in terms of our conversation dated
in your tent 15th instant" (a business-like touch there!) "then
Almighty God blessing your Honour's succeedings to third an' fourth
generation and" - now listen! -"confide in your Honour's humble
servant for adequate remuneration per hoondi per annum three
hundred rupees a year to one expensive education St Xavier
Lucknowand allow small time to forward same per hoondi sent to
any part of India as your Honour shall address yourself This
servant of your Honour has presently no place to lay crown of his
headbut going to Benares by train on account of persecution of
old woman talking so much and unanxious residing Saharunpore in any
domestic capacity." Now what in the world does that mean?'

'She has asked him to be her puro - her clergyman - at Saharunpore
I think. He would not do that on account of his River. She did
talk.'

'It's clear to youis it? It beats me altogether. "So going to
Benareswhere will find address and forward rupees for boy who is
apple of eyeand for Almighty God's sake execute this education
and your petitioner as in duty bound shall ever awfully pray.
Written by Sobrao SataiFailed Entrance Allahabad Universityfor
Venerable Teshoo Lama the priest of Such-zen looking for a River
address care of Tirthankars' TempleBenares. P. M. -Please note
boy is apple of eyeand rupees shall be sent per hoondi three
hundred per annum. For God Almighty's sake." Nowis that ravin'
lunacy or a business proposition? I ask youbecause I'm fairly at


my wits' end.'

'He says he will give me three hundred rupees a year? So he will
give me them.'

'Ohthat's the way you look at itis it?'

'Of course. If he says so!'

The priest whistled; then he addressed Kim as an equal.'I don't
believe it; but we'll see. You were goin' off today to the
Military Orphanage at Sanawarwhere the Regiment would keep you
till you were old enough to enlist. Ye'd be brought up to the
Church of England. Bennett arranged for that. On the other handif
ye go to St Xavier's ye'll get a better education an - an can have
the religion. D'ye see my dilemma? Kim saw nothing save a vision
of the lama going south in a train with none to beg for him.

'Like most peopleI'm going to temporize. If your friend sends the
money from Benares - Powers of Darkness belowwhere's a streetbeggar
to raise three hundred rupees? - ye'll go down to Lucknow
and I'll pay your farebecause I can't touch the subscriptionmoney
if I intendas I doto make ye a Catholic. If he doesn't
ye'll go to the Military Orphanage at the Regiment's expense. I'll
allow him three days' gracethough I don't believe it at all. Even
thenif he fails in his payments later on . . . but it's beyond
me. We can only walk one step at a time in this worldpraise God!
An' they sent Bennett to the Front an' left me behind. Bennett
can't expect everything.'

'Oah yess' said Kim vaguely.

The priest leaned forward. 'I'd give a month's pay to find what's
goin' on inside that little round head of yours.'

'There is nothing' said Kimand scratched it. He was wondering
whether Mahbub Ali would send him as much as a whole rupee. Then he
could pay the letter-writer and write letters to the lama at
Benares. Perhaps Mahbub Ali would visit him next time he came south
with horses. Surely he must know that Kim's delivery of the letter
to the officer at Umballa had caused the great war which the men
and boys had discussed so loudly over the barrack dinner-tables.
But if Mahbub Ali did not know thisit would be very unsafe to
tell him so. Mahbub Ali was hard upon boys who knewor thought
they knewtoo much.

'Welltill I get further news' - Father Victor's voice interrupted
the reverie. 'Ye can run along now and play with the other boys.
They'll teach ye something - but I don't think ye'll like it.'

The day dragged to its weary end. When he wished to sleep he was
instructed how to fold up his clothes and set out his boots; the
other boys deriding. Bugles waked him in the dawn; the schoolmaster
caught him after breakfastthrust a page of meaningless characters
under his nosegave them senseless names and whacked him without
reason. Kim meditated poisoning him with opium borrowed from a
barrack-sweeperbut reflected thatas they all ate at one table
in public (this was peculiarly revolting to Kimwho preferred to
turn his back on the world at meals)the stroke might be dangerous.
Then he attempted running off to the village where the priest had tried
to drug the lama--the village where the old soldier lived. But far-seeing
sentries at every exit headed back the little scarlet figure.
Trousers and jacket crippled body and mind alike dangerous. Then he
attempted running off to the village where the priest had tried to


so he abandoned the project and fell backOriental-fashionon
time and chance. Three days of torment passed in the bigechoing
white rooms. He walked out of affernoons under escort of the
drummer-boyand all he heard from his companions were the few
useless words which seemed to make two-thirds of the white man's
abuse. Kim knew and despised them all long ago. The boy resented
his silence and lack of interest by beating himas was only
natural. He did not care for any of the bazars which were in
bounds. He styled all natives 'niggers'; yet servants and sweepers
called him abominable names to his faceandmisled by their
deferential attitudehe never understood. This somewhat consoled
Kim for the beatings.

On the morning of the fourth day a judgement overtook that drummer.
They had gone out together towards Umballa racecourse. He returned
aloneweepingwith news that young O'Harato whom he had been
doing nothing in particularhad hailed a scarlet-bearded nigger on
horseback; that the nigger had then and there laid into him with a
peculiarly adhesive quirtpicked up young O'Haraand borne him
off at full gallop. These tidings came to Father Victorand he
drew down his long upper lip. He was already sufficiently startled
by a letter from the Temple of the Tirthankars at Benares
enclosing a native banker's note of hand for three hundred rupees
and an amazing prayer to 'Almighty God'. The lama would have been
more annoyed than the priest had he known how the bazar letterwriter
had translated his phrase 'to acquire merit

'Powers of Darkness below!' Father Victor fumbled with the note.
'An' now he's off with another of his peep-o'-day friends. I don't
know whether it will be a greater relief to me to get him back or
to have him lost. He's beyond my comprehension. How the Divil yes
he's the man I mean -can a street-beggar raise money to
educate white boys?'

Three miles offon Umballa racecourseMahbub Alireining a grey
Kabuli stallion with Kim in front of himwas saying:

'ButLittle Friend of all the Worldthere is my honour and
reputation to be considered. All the officer-Sahibs in all the
regimentsand all Umballaknow Mahbub Ali. Men saw me pick thee
up and chastise that boy. We are seen now from far across this
plain. How can I take thee awayor account for thy disappearing if
I set thee down and let thee run off into the crops? They would put
me in jail. Be patient. Once a Sahibalways a Sahib. When thou art
a man - who knows? - thou wilt be grateful to Mahbub Ali.'

'Take me beyond their sentries where I can change this red. Give me
money and I will go to Benares and be with my lama again. I do not
want to be a Sahiband remember I did deliver that message.'

The stallion bounded wildly. Mahbub Ali had incautiously driven
home the sharp-edged stirrup. (He was not the new sort of fluent
horse-dealer who wears English boots and spurs.) Kim drew his own
conclusions from that betrayal.

'That was a small matter. It lay on the straight road to Benares. I
and the Sahib have by this time forgotten it. I send so many
letters and messages to men who ask questions about horsesI
cannot well remember one from the other. Was it some matter of a
bay mare that Peters Sahib wished the pedigree of?'

Kim saw the trap at once. If he had said 'bay mare' Mahbub would
have known by his very readiness to fall in with the amendment that
the boy suspected something. Kim replied therefore:


'Bay mare. No. I do not forget my messages thus. It was a white
stallion.'

'Ayso it was. A white Arab stallion. But thou didst write "bay
mare" to me.'

'Who cares to tell truth to a letter-writer?' Kim answeredfeeling
Mahbub's palm on his heart.

'Hi! Mahbubyou old villainpull up!' cried a voiceand an
Englishman raced alongside on a little polo-pony. 'I've been
chasing you half over the country. That Kabuli of yours can go. For
saleI suppose?'

'I have some young stuff coming on made by Heaven for the delicate
and difficult polo-game. He has no equal. He - '

'Plays polo and waits at table. Yes. We know all that. What the
deuce have you got there?'

'A. boy' said Mahbub gravely. 'He was being beaten by another boy.
His father was once a white soldier in the big war. The boy was a
child in Lahore city. He played with my horses when he was a babe.
Now I think they will make him a soldier. He has been newly caught
by his father's Regiment that went up to the war last week. But I
do not think he wants to be a soldier. I take him for a ride. Tell
me where thy barracks are and I will set thee there.'

'Let me go. I can find the barracks alone.'

'And if thou runnest away who will say it is not my fault?'

'He'll run back to his dinner. Where has he to run to?' the
Englishman asked.

'He was born in the land. He has friends. He goes where he chooses.
He is a chabuk sawai [a sharp chap]. It needs only to change his
clothingand in a twinkling he would be a low-caste Hindu boy.'

'The deuce he would!' The Englishman looked critically at the boy
as Mahbub headed towards the barracks. Kim ground his teeth. Mahbub
was mocking himas faithless Afghans will; for he went on:

'They will send him to a school and put heavy boots on his feet and
swaddle him in these clothes. Then he will forget all he knows.
Nowwhich of the barracks is thine?'

Kim pointed - he could not speak - to Father Victor's wingall
staring white near by.

'Perhaps he will make a good soldier' said Mahbub reflectively.

'He will make a good orderly at least. I sent him to deliver a
message once from Lahore. A message concerning the pedigree of a
white stallion.'

Here was deadly insult on deadlier injury - and the Sahib to whom
he had so craftily given that war-waking letter heard it all. Kim
beheld Mahbub Ali frying in flame for his treacherybut for
himself he saw one long grey vista of barracksschoolsand
barracks again. He gazed imploringly at the clear-cut face in which
there was no glimmer of recognition; but even at this extremity it
never occurred to him to throw himself on the white man's mercy or


to denounce the Afghan. And Mahbub stared deliberately at the
Englishmanwho stared as deliberately at Kimquivering and
tongue-tied.

'My horse is well trained' said the dealer. 'Others would have
kickedSahib.'

'Ah' said the Englishman at lastrubbing his pony's damp withers
with his whip-butt. 'Who makes the boy a soldier?'

'He says the Regiment that found himand especially the Padre-
sahib of that regiment.

'There is the Padre!' Kim choked as bare-headed Father Victor
sailed down upon them from the veranda.

'Powers O' Darkness belowO'Hara! How many more mixed friends do
you keep in Asia?' he criedas Kim slid down and stood helplessly
before him.

'Good morningPadre' the Englishman said cheerily. 'I know you by
reputation well enough. Meant to have come over and called before
this. I'm Creighton.'

'Of the Ethnological Survey?' said Father Victor. The Englishman
nodded. 'FaithI'm glad to meet ye then; an' I owe you some thanks
for bringing back the boy.'

'No thanks to mePadre. Besidesthe boy wasn't going away. You
don't know old Mahbub Ali.' The horse-dealer sat impassive in the
sunlight. 'You will when you have been in the station a month. He
sells us all our crocks. That boy is rather a curiosity. Can you
tell me anything about him?'

'Can I tell you?' puffed Father Victor. 'You'll be the one man that
could help me in my quandaries. Tell you! Powers o' DarknessI'm
bursting to tell someone who knows something o' the native!'

A groom came round the corner. Colonel Creighton raised his voice
speaking in Urdu. 'Very goodMahbub Alibut what is the use of
telling me all those stories about the pony? Not one pice more than
three hundred and fifty rupees will I give.'

'The Sahib is a little hot and angry after riding' the horsedealer
returnedwith the leer of a privileged jester. 'Presently
he will see my horse's points more clearly. I will wait till he has
finished his talk with the Padre. I will wait under that tree.'

'Confound you!' The Colonel laughed. 'That comes of looking at one
of Mahbub's horses. He's a regular old leechPadre. Waitthenif
thou hast so much time to spareMahbub. Now I'm at your service
Padre. Where is the boy? Ohhe's gone off to collogue with Mahbub.
Queer sort of boy. Might I ask you to send my mare round under
cover?'

He dropped into a chair which commanded a clear view of Kim and
Mahbub Ali in conference beneath the tree. The Padre went indoors
for cheroots.

Creighton heard Kim say bitterly: 'Trust a Brahmin before a snake
and a snake before an harlotand an harlot before a PathanMahbub
Ali.'

'That is all one.' The great red beard wagged solemnly. 'Children


should not see a carpet on the loom till the pattern is made plain.
Believe meFriend of all the WorldI do thee great service. They
will not make a soldier of thee.'

'You crafty old sinner!' thought Creighton. 'But you're not far
wrong. That boy mustn't be wasted if he is as advertised.'

'Excuse me half a minute' cried the Padre from within'but I'm
gettin' the documents in the case.

'If through me the favour of this bold and wise Colonel Sahib comes
to theeand thou art raised to honourwhat thanks wilt thou give
Mahbub Ali when thou art a man?'

'Naynay! I begged thee to let me take the Road againwhere I
should have been safe; and thou hast sold me back to the English.
What will they give thee for blood-money?'

'A cheerful young demon!' The Colonel bit his cigarand turned
politely to Father Victor.

'What are the letters that the fat priest is waving before the
Colonel? Stand behind the stallion as though looking at my bridle!'
said Mahbub Ali.

'A letter from my lama which he wrote from Jagadhir Roadsaying
that he will pay three hundred rupees by the year for my
schooling.'

'Oho! Is old Red Hat of that sort? At which school?'

'God knows. I think in Nucklao.'

'Yes. There is a big school there for the sons of Sahibs - and
half-Sahibs. I have seen it when I sell horses there. So the lama
also loved the Friend of all the World?'

'Ay; and he did not tell liesor return me to captivity.'

'Small wonder the Padre does not know how to unravel the thread.
How fast he talks to the Colonel Sahib!' Mahbub Ali chuckled. 'By
Allah!' the keen eyes swept the veranda for an Instant - 'thy lama
has sent what to me looks like a note of hand. I have had some few
dealings in hoondis. The Colonel Sahib is looking at it.'

'What good is all this to me?' said Kim wearily. 'Thou wilt go
awayand they will return me to those empty rooms where there is
no good place to sleep and where the boys beat me.'

'I do not think that. Have patiencechild. All Pathans are not
faithless - except in horseflesh.'

Five - ten- fifteen minutes passedFather Victor talking
energetically or asking questions which the Colonel answered.

'Now I've told you everything that I know about the boy from
beginnin to end; and it's a blessed relief to me. Did ye ever hear
the like?'

'At any ratethe old man has sent the money. Gobind Sahai's notes
of hand are good from here to China' said the Colonel. 'The more
one knows about natives the less can one say what they will or
won't do.'


'That's consolin' - from the head of the Ethnological Survey. It's
this mixture of Red Bulls and Rivers of Healing (poor heathenGod
help him!) an' notes of hand and Masonic certificates. Are you a
Masonby any chance?'

'By JoveI amnow I come to think of it. That's an additional
reason' said the Colonel absently.

'I'm glad ye see a reason in it. But as I saidit's the mixture
o' things that's beyond me. An' his prophesyin' to our Colonel
sitting on my bed with his little shimmy torn open showing his
white skin; an' the prophecy comin' true! They'll cure all that
nonsense at St Xavier'seh?'

'Sprinkle him with holy water' the Colonel laughed.

'On my wordI fancy I ought to sometimes. But I'm hoping he'll be
brought up as a good Catholic. All that troubles me is what'll
happen if the old beggar-man -'

'Lamalamamy dear sir; and some of them are gentlemen in their
own country

'The lamathenfails to pay next year. He's a fine business head
to plan on the spur of the momentbut he's bound to die some day.
An' takin' a heathen's money to give a child a Christian education
-'

'But he said explicitly what he wanted. As soon as he knew the boy
was white he seems to have made his arrangements accordingly. I'd
give a month's pay to hear how he explained it all at the
Tirthankars' Temple at Benares. Look herePadreI don't pretend
to know much about nativesbut if he says he'll payhe'll pay dead
or alive. I meanhis heirs will assume the debt. My advice to
you issend the boy down to Lucknow. If your Anglican Chaplain
thinks you've stolen a march on him -'

Bad luck to Bennett! He was sent to the Front instead O' me.
Doughty certified me medically unfit. I'll excommunicate Doughty if
he comes back alive! Surely Bennett ought to be content with -

'Gloryleaving you the religion. Quite so! As a matter of fact I
don't think Bennett will mind. Put the blame on me. I - er strongly
recommend sending the boy to St Xavier's. He can go down
on pass as a soldier's orphanso the railway fare will be saved.
You can buy him an outfit from the Regimental subscription. The
Lodge will be saved the expense of his educationand that will put
the Lodge in a good temper. It's perfectly easy. I've got to go
down to Lucknow next week. I'll look after the boy on the way give
him in charge of my servantsand so on.'

'You're a good man.

'Not in the least. Don't make that mistake. The lama has sent us
money for a definite end. We can't very well return it. We shall
have to do as he says. Wellthat's settledisn't it? Shall we say
thatTuesday nextyou'll hand him over to me at the night train
south? That's only three days. He can't do much harm in three
days.'

'It's a weight off my mindbut - this thing here?' - he
waved the note of hand - 'I don't know Gobind Sahai: or his bank
which may be a hole in a wall.'


'You've never been a subaltern in debt. I'll cash it if you
likeand send you the vouchers in proper order.'

'But with all your own work too! It's askin' -'

'It's not the least trouble indeed. You seeas an
ethnologistthe thing's very interesting to me. I'd like to make a
note of it for some Government work that I'm doing. The
transformation of a regimental badge like your Red Bull into a sort
of fetish that the boy follows is very interesting.'

'But I can't thank you enough.'

'There's one thing you can do. All we Ethnological men are as
jealous as jackdaws of one another's discoveries. They're of no
interest to anyone but ourselvesof coursebut you know what
book-collectors are like. Welldon't say a worddirectly or
indirectlyabout the Asiatic side of the boy's character - his
adventures and his prophecyand so on. I'll worm them out of the
boy later on and - you see?'

'I do. Ye'll make a wonderful account of it. Never a word will I
say to anyone till I see it in print.'

'Thank you. That goes straight to an ethnologist's heart. WellI
must be getting back to my breakfast. Good Heavens! Old Mabbub here
still?' He raised his voiceand the horse-dealer came out from
under the shadow of the tree'Wellwhat is it?'

'As regards that young horse' said Mahbub'I say that when a colt
is born to be a polo-ponyclosely following the ball without
teaching - when such a colt knows the game by divination - then I
say it is a great wrong to break that colt to a heavy cartSahib!'

'So say I alsoMahbub. The colt will be entered for polo only.
(These fellows think of nothing in the world but horsesPadre.)
I'll see you tomorrowMahbubif you've anything likely for sale.'

The dealer salutedhorseman-fashionwith a sweep of the off hand.
'Be patient a littleFriend of all the World' he whispered to
the agonized Kim. 'Thy fortune is made. In a little while thou
goest to Nucklaoand - here is something to pay the letter-writer.
I shall see thee againI thinkmany times' and he cantered off
down the road.

'Listen to me' said the Colonel from the verandaspeaking in the
vernacular. 'In three days thou wilt go with me to Lucknowseeing
and hearing new things all the while. Therefore sit still for three
days and do not run away. Thou wilt go to school at Lucknow.'

'Shall I meet my Holy One there?' Kim whimpered.

'At least Lucknow is nearer to Benares than Umballa. It may be thou
wilt go under my protection. Mahbub Ali knows thisand he will be
angry if thou returnest to the Road now. Remember - much has been
told me which I do not forget.'

'I will wait' said Kim'but the boys will beat me.'

Then the bugles blew for dinner.


Chapter 7


Unto whose use the pregnant suns are poised
With idiot moons and stars retracing stars?
Creep thou betweene -thy coming's all unnoised.
Heaven hath her highas Earth her baserwars.
Heir to these tumultsthis affrightthat fraye
(By Adam'sfathers'ownsin bound alway);
Peer updraw out thy horoscope and say
Which planet mends thy threadbare fate or mars?


Sir John Christie.


In the afternoon the red-faced schoolmaster told Kim that he had
been 'struck off the strength'which conveyed no meaning to him
till he was ordered to go away and play. Then he ran to the bazar
and found the young letter-writer to whom he owed a stamp.


'Now I pay' said Kim royally'and now I need another letter to be
written.'


'Mahbub Ali is in Umballa' said the writer jauntily. He wasby
virtue of his officea bureau of general misinformation.


'This is not to Mahbubbut to a priest. Take thy pen and write
quickly. To Teshoo La mathe Holy One from Bhotiyal seeking for a
Riverwho is now in the Temple of the Tirthankars at Benares. Take
more ink! In three days I am to go down to Nucklao to the school at
Nucklao. The name of the school is Xavier. I do not know where that
school isbut it is at Nucklao.'


'But I know Nucklao' the writer interrupted. 'I know the school.'


'Tell him where it isand I give half an anna.'


The reed pen scratched busily. 'He cannot mistake.' The man lifted
his head. 'Who watches us across the street?'


Kim looked up hurriedly and saw Colonel Creighton in tennis-
flannels.


'Ohthat is some Sahib who knows the fat priest in the barracks.
He is beckoning me.'


'What dost thou?' said the Colonelwhen Kim trotted up.


'I -I am not running away. I send a letter to my Holy One at
Benares.'


'I had not thought of that. Hast thou said that I take thee to
Lucknow?'


'NayI have not. Read the letterif there be a doubt.'


'Then why hast thou left out my name in writing to that Holy One?'
The Colonel smiled a queer smile. Kim took his courage in both
hands.


'It was said once to me that it is inexpedient to write the names
of strangers concerned in any matterbecause by the naming of



names many good plans are brought to confusion.'

'Thou hast been well taught' the Colonel repliedand Kim flushed.
'I have left my cheroot-case in the Padre's veranda. Bring it to my
house this even.'

'Where is the house?' said Kim. His quick wit told him that he was
being tested in some fashion or anotherand he stood on guard.

'Ask anyone in the big bazar.' The Colonel walked on.

'He has forgotten his cheroot-case' said Kimreturning. 'I must
bring it to him this evening. That is all my letter exceptthrice
overCome to me! Come to me! Come to me! Now I will pay for a
stamp and put it in the post. He rose to goand as an afterthought
asked: 'Who is that angry-faced Sahib who lost the cheroot-case?'

'Ohhe is only Creighton Sahib - a very foolish Sahibwho is a
Colonel Sahib without a regiment.'

'What is his business?'

'God knows. He is always buying horses which he cannot rideand
asking riddles about the works of God - such as plants and stones
and the customs of people. The dealers call him the father of
foolsbecause he is so easily cheated about a horse. Mahbub Ali
says he is madder than most other Sahibs.'

'Oh!' said Kimand departed. His training had given him some small
knowledge of characterand he argued that fools are not given
information which leads to calling out eight thousand men besides
guns. The Commander-in-Chief of all India does not talkas Kim had
heard him talkto fools. Nor would Mahbub Ali's tone have changed
as it did every time he mentioned the Colonel's nameif the
Colonel had been a fool. Consequently - and this set Kim to
skipping - there was a mystery somewhereand Mahbub Ali probably
spied for the Colonel much as Kim had spied for Mahbub. Andlike
the horse-dealerthe Colonel evidently respected people who did
not show themselves to be too clever.

He rejoiced that he had not betrayed his knowledge of the Colonel's
house; and whenon his return to barrackshe discovered that no
cheroot-case had been left behindhe beamed with delight. Here was
a man after his own heart - a tortuous and indirect person playing
a hidden game. Wellif he could be a foolso could Kim.

He showed nothing of his mind when Father Victorfor three long
morningsdiscoursed to him of an entirely new set of Gods and
Godlings - notably of a Goddess called Marywhohe gatheredwas
one with Bibi Miriam of Mahbub Ali's theology. He betrayed no
emotion whenafter the lectureFather Victor dragged him from
shop to shop buying articles of outfitnor when envious drummerboys
kicked him because he was going to a superior school did he
complainbut awaited the play of circumstances with an interested
soul. Father Victorgood mantook him to the stationput him
into an empty second-class next to Colonel Creighton's firstand
bade him farewell with genuine feeling.

'They'll make a man o' youO'Haraat St Xavier's - a white man
an'I hopea good man. They know all about your comin'an' the
Colonel will see that ye're not lost or mislaid anywhere on the
road. I've given you a notion of religious matters- at least I
hope so- and you'll rememberwhen they ask you your religion


that you're a Cath'lic. Better say Roman Cath'lictho' I'm not
fond of the word.'

Kim lit a rank cigarette - he had been careful to buy a stock in
the bazar - and lay down to think. This solitary passage was verv
different from that joyful down-journey in the third-class with the
lama. 'Sahibs get little pleasure of travel' he reflected.

'Hai mai! I go from one place to another as it might be a kickball.
It is my Kismet. No man can escape his Kismet. But I am to pray to
Bibi Miriamand I am a Sahib.' He looked at his boots ruefully.
'No; I am Kim. This is the great worldand I am only Kim. Who is
Kim?' He considered his own identitya thing he had never done
beforetill his head swam. He was one insignificant person in all
this roaring whirl of Indiagoing southward to he knew not what
fate.

Presently the Colonel sent for himand talked for a long time. So
far as Kim could gatherhe was to be diligent and enter the Survey
of India as a chain-man. If he were very goodand passed the
proper examinationshe would be earning thirty rupees a month at
seventeen years oldand Colonel Creighton would see that he found
suitable employment.

Kim pretended at first to understand perhaps one word in three of
this talk. Then the Colonelseeing his mistaketurned to fluent
and picturesque Urdu and Kim was contented. No man could be a fool
who knew the language so intimatelywho moved so gently and
silentlyand whose eyes were so different from the dull fat eyes
of other Sahibs.

'Yesand thou must learn how to make pictures of roads and
mountains and rivers to carry these pictures in thine eye till a
suitable time comes to set them upon paper. Perhaps some daywhen
thou art a chain-manI may say to thee when we are working
together: "Go across those hills and see what lies beyond." Then
one will say: "There are bad people living in those hills who will
slay the chain-man if he be seen to look like a Sahib." What then?'

Kim thought. Would it be safe to return the Colonel's lead?

'I would tell what that other man had said.'

'But if I answered: "I will give thee a hundred rupees for
knowledge of what is behind those hills - for a picture of a river
and a little news of what the people say in the villages there"?'

'How can I tell? I am only a boy. Wait till I am a man.' Then
seeing the Colonel's brow cloudedhe went on: 'But I think I
should in a few days earn the hundred rupees.'

'By what road?'

Kim shook his head resolutely. 'If I said how I would earn them
another man might hear and forestall me. It is not good to sell
knowledge for nothing.'

'Tell now.' The Colonel held up a rupee. Kim's hand half reached
towards itand dropped.

'NaySahib; nay. I know the price that will be paid for the
answerbut I do not know why the question is asked.'

'Take it for a giftthen' said Creightontossing it over. 'There


is a good spirit in thee. Do not let it be blunted at St Xavier's.
There are many boys there who despise the black men.'

'Their mothers were bazar-women' said Kim. He knew well there is
no hatred like that of the half-caste for his brother-in-law.

'True; but thou art a Sahib and the son of a Sahib. Thereforedo
not at any time be led to contemn the black men. I have known boys
newly entered into the service of the Government who feigned not to
understand the talk or the customs of black men. Their pay was cut
for ignorance. There is no sin so great as ignorance. Remember
this.'

Several times in the course of the long twenty-four hours' run
south did the Colonel send for Kimalways developing this latter
text.

'We be all on one lead-ropethen' said Kim at last'the Colonel
Mahbub Aliand I - when I become a chain-man. He will use me as
Mahbub Ali employed meI think. That is goodif it allows me to
return to the Road again. This clothing grows no easier by wear.'

When they came to the crowded Lucknow station there was no sign of
the lama. He swallowed his disappointmentwhile the Colonel
bundled him into a ticca-gharri with his neat belongings and
despatched him alone to St Xavier's.

'I do not say farewellbecause we shall meet again' he cried.
'Againand many timesif thou art one of good spirit. But thou
art not yet tried.'

'Not when I brought thee' - Kim actually dared to use the tum of
equals - 'a white stallion's pedigree that night?'

'Much is gained by forgettinglittle brother' said the Colonel
with a look that pierced through Kim's shoulder-blades as he

scuttled into the carriage.

It took him nearly five minutes to recover. Then he sniffed the new
air appreciatively. 'A rich city' he said. 'Richer than Lahore.
How good the bazars must be! Coachmandrive me a little through
the bazars here.'

'My order is to take thee to the school.' The driver used the
'thou'which is rudeness when applied to a white man. In the
clearest and most fluent vernacular Kim pointed out his error
climbed on to the box-seatandperfect understanding established
drove for a couple of hours up and downestimatingcomparingand
enjoying. There is no city - except Bombaythe queen of all - more
beautiful in her garish style than Lucknowwhether you see her
from the bridge over the riveror from the top of the Imambara
looking down on the gilt umbrellas of the Chutter Munziland the
trees in which the town is bedded. Kings have adorned her with
fantastic buildingsendowed her with charitiescrammed her with
pensionersand drenched her with blood. She is the centre of all
idlenessintrigueand luxuryand shares with Delhi the claim to
talk the only pure Urdu.

'A fair city - a beautiful city.' The driveras a Lucknow manwas
pleased with the complimentand told Kim many astounding things
where an English guide would have talked of the Mutiny.

'Now we will go to the school' said Kim at last. The great old
school of St Xavier's in Partibusblock on block of low white


buildingsstands in vast grounds over against the Gumti River' at
some distance from the city.

'What like of folk are they within?' said Kim.

'Young Sahibs - all devils. But to speak truthand I drive many of
them to and fro from the railway stationI have never seen one
that had in him the making of a more perfect devil than thou - this
young Sahib whom I am now driving.'

Naturallyfor he was never trained to consider them in any way
improperKim had passed the time of day with one or two frivolous
ladies at upper windows in a certain streetand naturallyin the
exchange of complimentshad acquitted himself well. He was about
to acknowledge the driver's last insolencewhen his eye -it was
growing dusk - caught a figure sitting by one of the white plaster
gate-pillars in the long sweep of wall.

'Stop!' he cried. 'Stay here. I do not go to the school at once.'

'But what is to pay me for this coming and re-coming?' said the
driver petulantly. 'Is the boy mad? Last time it was a dancinggirl.
This time it is a priest.'

Kim was in the road headlongpatting the dusty feet beneath the
dirty yellow robe.

'I have waited here a day and a half' the lama's level voice
began. 'NayI had a disciple with me. He that was my friend at the
Temple of the Tirthankars gave me a guide for this journey. I came
from Benares in the te-rainwhen thy letter was given me. YesI
am well fed. I need nothing.'

'But why didst thou not stay with the Kulu womanO Holy One? In
what way didst thou get to Benares? My heart has been heavy since
we parted.'

'The woman wearied me by constant flux of talk and requiring charms
for children. I separated myself from that companypermitting her
to acquire merit by gifts. She is at least a woman of open hands
and I made a promise to return to her house if need arose. Then
perceiving myself alone in this great and terrible worldI
bethought me of the te-rain to Benareswhere I knew one abode in
the Tirthankars' Temple who was a Seekereven as I.'

'Ah! Thy River' said Kim. 'I had forgotten the River.'

'So soonmy chela? I have never forgotten it. But when I had left
thee it seemed better that I should go to the Temple and take
counselforlook youIndia is very largeand it may be that
wise men before ussome two or threehave left a record of the
place of our River. There is debate in the Temple of the
Tirthankars on this matter; some saying one thingand some
another. They are courteous folk.'

'So be it; but what dost thou do now?'

'I acquire merit in that I help theemy chelato wisdom. The
priest of that body of men who serve the Red Bull wrote me that all
should be as I desired for thee. I sent the money to suffice for
one yearand then I cameas thou seest meto watch for thee
going up into the Gates of Learning. A day and a half have I waited
not because I was led by any affection towards thee - that is no
part of the Way - butas they said at the Tirthankars' Temple


becausemoney having been paid for learningit was right that I
should oversee the end of the matter. They resolved my doubts most
clearly. I had a fear thatperhapsI came because I wished to see
thee - misguided by the Red Mist of affection. It is not so . . .
MoreoverI am troubled by a dream.'

'But surelyHoly Onethou hast not forgotten the Road and all
that befell on it. Surely it was a little to see me that thou didst
come?'

'The horses are coldand it is past their feeding-time' whined
the driver.

'Go to Jehannum and abide there with thy reputationless aunt!' Kim
snarled over his shoulder. 'I am all alone in this land; I know not
where I go nor what shall befall me. My heart was in that letter I
sent thee. Except for Mahbub Aliand he is a PathanI have no
friend save theeHoly One. Do not altogether go away.'

'I have considered that also' the lama repliedin a shaking
voice. 'It is manifest that from time to time I shall acquire merit
if before that I have not found my River - by assuring myself
that thy feet are set on wisdom. What they will teach thee I do
not knowbut the priest wrote me that no son of a Sahib in all
India will be better taught than thou. So from time to time
thereforeI will come again. Maybe thou wilt be such a Sahib as he
who gave me these spectacles' - the lama wiped them elaborately '
in the Wonder House at Lahore. That is my hopefor he was a
Fountain of Wisdom - wiser than many abbots .... Againmaybe thou
wilt forget me and our meetings.'

'If I eat thy bread' cried Kim passionately'how shall I ever
forget thee?' 'No - no.' He put the boy aside. 'I must go back to
Benares. From time to timenow that I know the customs of letterwriters
in this landI will send thee a letterand from time to
time I will come and see thee.'

'But whither shall I send my letters?' wailed Kimclutching at the
robeall forgetful that he was a Sahib.

'To the Temple of the Tirthankars at Benares. That is the place I
have chosen till I find my River. Do not weep; forlook youall
Desire is Illusion and a new binding upon the Wheel. Go up to the
Gates of Learning. Let me see thee go . .. Dost thou love me? Then
goor my heart cracks .. . I will come again. Surely I will come
again.

The lama watched the ticca-gharri rumble into the compoundand
strode offsnuffing between each long stride.

'The Gates of Learning' shut with a clang.

The country born and bred boy has his own manners and customs
which do not resemble those of any other land; and his teachers
approach him by roads which an English master would not understand.
Thereforeyou would scarcely be interested in Kim's experiences as
a St Xavier's boy among two or three hundred precocious youths
most of whom had never seen the sea. He suffered the usual
penalties for breaking out of bounds when there was cholera in the
city. This was before he had learned to write fair Englishand so
was obliged to find a bazar letter-writer. He wasof course
indicted for smoking and for the use of abuse more full-flavoured
than even St Xavier's had ever heard. He learned to wash himself
with the Levitical scrupulosity of the native-bornwho in his


heart considers the Englishman rather dirty. He played the usual
tricks on the patient coolies pulling the punkahs in the sleepingrooms
where the boys threshed through the hot nights telling tales
till the dawn; and quietly he measured himself against his selfreliant
mates.

They were sons of subordinate officials in the RailwayTelegraph
and Canal Services; of warrant-officerssometimes retired and
sometimes acting as commanders-in-chief to a feudatory Rajah's
army; of captains of the Indian Marine Government pensioners
plantersPresidency shopkeepersand missionaries. A few were
cadets of the old Eurasian houses that have taken strong root in
Dhurrumtollah - PereirasDe Souzasand D'Silvas. Their parents
could well have educated them in Englandbut they loved the school
that had served their own youthand generation followed sallowhued
generation at St Xavier's. Their homes ranged from Howrah of
the railway people to abandoned cantonments like Monghyr and
Chunar; lost tea-gardens Shillong-way; villages where their fathers
were large landholders in Oudh or the Deccan; Mission-stations a
week from the nearest railway line; seaports a thousand miles
southfacing the brazen Indian surf; and cinchona-plantations
south of all. The mere story of their adventureswhich to them
were no adventureson their road to and from school would have
crisped a Western boy's hair. They were used to jogging off alone
through a hundred miles of junglewhere there was always the
delightful chance of being delayed by tigers; but they would no
more have bathed in the English Channel in an English August than
their brothers across the world would have lain still while a
leopard snuffed at their palanquin. There were boys of fifteen who
had spent a day and a half on an islet in the middle of a flooded
rivertaking chargeas by rightof a camp of frantic pilgrims
returning from a shrine. There were seniors who had requisitioned a
chance-met Rajah's elephantin the name of St Francis Xavierwhen
the Rains once blotted out the cart-track that led to their
father's estateand had all but lost the huge beast in a
quicksand. There was a boy whohe saidand none doubtedhad
helped his father to beat off with rifles from the veranda a rush
of Akas in the days when those head-hunters were bold against
lonely plantations.

And every tale was told in the evenpassionless voice of the
native-bornmixed with quaint reflectionsborrowed unconsciously
from native foster-mothersand turns of speech that showed they
had been that instant translated from the vernacular. Kim watched
listenedand approved. This was not insipidsingle-word talk of
drummer-boys. It dealt with a life he knew and in part understood.
The atmosphere suited himand he throve by inches. They gave him a
white drill suit as the weather warmedand he rejoiced in the newfound
bodily comforts as he rejoiced to use his sharpened mind over
the tasks they set him. His quickness would have delighted an
English master; but at St Xavier's they know the first rush of
minds developed by sun and surroundingsas they know the halfcollapse
that sets in at twenty-two or twenty-three.

None the less he remembered to hold himself lowly. When tales were
told of hot nightsKim did not sweep the board with his
reminiscences; for St Xavier's looks down on boys who 'go native
all-together.' One must never forget that one is a Sahiband that
some daywhen examinations are passedone will command natives.
Kim made a note of thisfor he began to understand where
examinations led.

Then came the holidays from August to October - the long holidays
imposed by the heat and the Rains. Kim was informed that he would


go north to some station in the hills behind Umballawhere Father
Victor would arrange for him.

'A barrack-school?' said Kimwho had asked many questions and
thought more.

'YesI suppose so' said the master. 'It will not do you any harm
to keep you out of mischief. You can go up with young De Castro as
far as Delhi.'

Kim considered it in every possible light. He had been diligent
even as the Colonel advised. A boy's holiday was his own property of
so much the talk of his companions had advised him- and a
barrack-school would be torment after St Xavier's. Moreover - this
was magic worth anything else - he could write. In three months he
had discovered how men can speak to each other without a third
partyat the cost of half an anna and a little knowledge. No word
had come from the lamabut there remained the Road. Kim yearned
for the caress of soft mud squishing up between the toesas his
mouth watered for mutton stewed with butter and cabbagesfor rice
speckled with strong scented cardamomsfor the saffron-tinted
ricegarlic and onionsand the forbidden greasy sweetmeats of the
bazars. They would feed him raw beef on a platter at the barrackschool
and he must smoke by stealth. But againhe was a Sahib and
was at St Xavier'sand that pig Mahbub Ali ... Nohe would not
test Mahbub's hospitality - and yet ... He thought

it out alone in the dormitoryand came to the conclusion he had
been unjust to Mahbub.

The school was empty; nearly all the masters had gone away; Colonel
Creighton 's railway pass lay in his handand Kim puffed himself
that he had not spent Colonel Creighton 's or Mahbub's money in
riotous living. He was still lord of two rupees seven annas. His
new bullock-trunkmarked 'K. O'H.'and bedding-roll lay in the
empty sleeping-room. 'Sahibs are always tied to their baggage'
said Kimnodding at them. 'You will stay here' He went out into
the warm rainsmiling sinfullyand sought a certain house whose
outside he had noted down some time before. . .

'Arre'! Dost thou know what manner of women we be in this quarter?
Ohshame!'

'Was I born yesterday?' Kim squatted native-fashion on the cushions
of that upper room. 'A little dyestuff and three yards of cloth to
help out a jest. Is it much to ask?'

'Who is she? Thou art full youngas Sahibs gofor this devilry.'

'Ohshe? She is the daughter of a certain schoolmaster of a
regiment in the cantonments. He has beaten me twice because I
went over their wall in these clothes. Now I would go as a
gardener's boy. Old men are very jealous.'

'That is true. Hold thy face still while I dab on the juice.'

'Not too blackNaikan. I would not appear to her as a hubshi
[nigger).'

'Ohlove makes nought of these things. And how old is she?'

'Twelve yearsI think' said the shameless Kim. 'Spread it also on
the breast. It may be her father will tear my clothes off meand
if I am piebald -' he laughed.


The girl worked busilydabbing a twist of cloth into a little
saucer of brown dye that holds longer than any walnut-juice.

'Now send out and get me a cloth for the turban. Woe is memy head
is all unshaved! And he will surely knock off my turban.'

'I am not a barberbut I will make shift. Thou wast born to be a
breaker of hearts! All this disguise for one evening? Rememberthe
stuff does not wash away.' She shook with laughter till her
bracelets and anklets jingled. 'But who is to pay me for this?
Huneefa herself could not have given thee better stuff.'

'Trust in the Godsmy sister' said Kim gravelyscrewing his face
round as the stain dried. 'Besideshast thou ever helped to paint
a Sahib thus before?'

'Never indeed. But a jest is not money.'

'It is worth much more.'

'Childthou art beyond all dispute the most shameless son of
Shaitan that I have ever known to take up a poor girl's time with
this playand then to say: "Is not the jest enough?" Thou wilt go
very far in this world.' She gave the dancing-girls' salutation in
mockery.

'All one. Make haste and rough-cut my head.' Kim shifted from foot
to foothis eyes ablaze with mirth as he thought of the fat days
before him. He gave the girl four annasand ran down the stairs in
the likeness of a low-caste Hindu boy -perfect in every detail. A
cookshop was his next point of callwhere he feasted in
extravagance and greasy luxury.

On Lucknow station platform he watched young De Castroall covered
with prickly-heatget into a second-class compartment. Kim
patronized a thirdand was the life and soul of it. He explained
to the company that he was assistant to a juggler who had left him
behind sick with feverand that he would pick up his master at
Umballa. As the occupants of the carriage changedhe varied this
taleor adorned it with all the shoots of a budding fancythe
more rampant for being held off native speech so long. In all India
that night was no human being so joyful as Kim. At Umballa he got
out and headed eastwardplashing over the sodden fields to the
village where the old soldier lived.

About this time Colonel Creighton at Simla was advised from Lucknow
by wire that young O'Hara had disappeared. Mahbub Ali was in town
selling horsesand to him the Colonel confided the affair one
morning cantering round Annandale racecourse.

'Ohthat is nothing' said the horse-dealer. 'Men are like horses.
At certain times they need saltand if that salt is not in the
mangers they will lick it up from the earth. He has gone back to
the Road again for a while. The madrissak wearied him. I knew it
would. Another timeI will take him upon the Road myself. Do not
be troubledCreighton Sahib. It is as though a polo-ponybreaking
looseran out to learn the game alone.'

'Then he is not deadthink you?'

'Fever might kill him. I do not fear for the boy otherwise. A
monkey does not fall among trees.'


Next morningon the same courseMahbub's stallion ranged
alongside the Colonel.

'It is as I had thought' said the horse-dealer. 'He has come
through Umballa at leastand there he has written a letter to me
having learned in the bazar that I was here.'

'Read' said the Colonelwith a sigh of relief. It was absurd that
a man of his position should take an interest in a little countrybred
vagabond; but the Colonel remembered the conversation in the
trainand often in the past few months had caught himself thinking
of the queersilentself-possessed boy. His evasionof course
was the height of insolencebut it argued some resource and nerve.

Mahbub's eyes twinkled as he reined out into the centre of the
cramped little plainwhere none could come near unseen.

'"The Friend of the Starswho is the Friend of all the World-"'

'What is this?'

'A name we give him in Lahore city. "The Friend of all the World
takes leave to go to his own places. He will come back upon the
appointed day. Let the box and the bedding-roll be sent for; and if
there has been a faultlet the Hand of Friendship turn aside the
Whip of Calamity." There is yet a little morebut-'

'No matterread.'

'"Certain things are not known to those who eat with forks. It is
better to eat with both hands for a while. Speak soft words to
those who do not understand this that the return may be
propitious." Now the manner in which that was cast isof course
the work of the letter-writerbut see how wisely the boy has
devised the matter of it so that no hint is given except to those
who know!'

'Is this the Hand of Friendship to avert the Whip of Calamity?'
laughed the Colonel.

'See how wise is the boy. He would go back to the Road againas I
said. Not knowing yet thy trade -'

'I am not at all sure of that' the Colonel muttered.

'He turns to me to make a peace between you. Is he not wise? He
says he will return. He is but perfecting his knowledge. Think
Sahib! He has been three months at the school. And he is not
mouthed to that bit. For my partI rejoice. The pony learns the
game.'

'Aybut another time he must not go alone.'

'Why? He went alone before he came under the Colonel Sahib's
protection. When he comes to the Great Game he must go alone alone
and at peril of his head. Thenif he spitsor sneezesor
sits down other than as the people do whom he watcheshe may be
slain. Why hinder him now? Remember how the Persians say: The
jackal that lives in the wilds of Mazanderan can only be caught by

the hounds of Mazanderan.'

'True. It is trueMahbub Ali. And if he comes to no harmI do not
desire anything better. But it is great insolence on his part.'


'He does not tell meevenwhither he goes' said Mahbub. 'He is
no fool. When his time is accomplished he will come to me. It is
time the healer of pearls took him in hand. He ripens too quickly -
as Sahibs reckon.'


This prophecy was fulfilled to the letter a month later. Mahbub had
gone down to Umballa to bring up a fresh consignment of horsesand
Kim met him on the Kalka road at dusk riding alonebegged an alms
of himwas sworn atand replied in English. There was nobody
within earshot to hear Mahbub's gasp of amazement.


'Oho! And where hast thou been?' 'Up and down - down and up.'


'Come under a treeout of the wetand tell.' 'I stayed for a
while with an old man near Umballa; anon with a household of my
acquaintance in Umballa. With one of these I went as far as Delhi
to the southward. That is a wondrous city. Then I drove a bullock
for a teli [an oilman] coming north; but I heard of a great feast
forward in Patialaand thither went I in the company of a
firework-maker. It was a great feast' (Kim rubbed his stomach). 'I
saw Rajahsand elephants with gold and silver trappings; and they
lit all the fireworks at oncewhereby eleven men were killedmy
fire-work-maker among themand I was blown across a tent but took
no harm. Then I came back to the rel with a Sikh horsemanto whom
I was groom for my bread; and so here.'


'Shabash!' said Mahbub Ali.


'But what does the Colonel Sahib say? I do not wish to be beaten.


'The Hand of Friendship has averted the Whip of Calamity; but
another timewhen thou takest the Road it will be with me. This is
too early.'


'Late enough for me. I have learned to read and to write English a
little at the madrissah. I shall soon be altogether a Sahib.'


'Hear him!' laughed Mahbublooking at the little drenched figure
dancing in the wet. 'Salaam - Sahib' and he saluted ironically.
'Wellart tired of the Roador wilt thou come on to Umballa with
me and work back with the horses?'


'I come with theeMahbub Ali.'


Chapter 8


Something I owe to the soil that grew -
More to the life that fed -
But most to Allah Who gave me two
Separate sides to my head.


I would go without shirts or shoes
Friendstobacco or bread
Sooner than for an instant lose
Either side of my head.'


The Two-Sided Man.



'Then in God's name take blue for red' said Mahbuballuding to
the Hindu colour of Kim's disreputable turban.

Kim countered with the old proverb'I will change my faith and my
beddingbut thou must pay for it.'

The dealer laughed till he nearly fell from his horse. At a shop on
the outskirts of the city the change was madeand Kim stood up
externally at leasta Mohammedan.

Mahbub hired a room over against the railway stationsent for a
cooked meal of the finest with the almond-curd sweet-meats
[balushai we call it] and fine-chopped Lucknow tobacco.

'This is better than some other meat that I ate with the Sikh'
said Kimgrinning as he squatted'and assuredly they give no such
victuals at my madrissah.'

'I have a desire to hear of that same madrissah.' Mahbub stuffed
himself with great boluses of spiced mutton fried in fat with
cabbage and golden-brown onions. 'But tell me firstaltogether and
truthfullythe manner of thy escape. ForO Friend of all the
World' -he loosed his cracking belt - 'I do not think it is
often that a Sahib and the son of a Sahib runs away from there.'

'How should they? They do not know the land. It was nothing' said
Kimand began his tale. When he came to the disguisement and the
interview with the girl in the bazarMahbub Ali's gravity went
from him. He laughed aloud and beat his hand on his thigh.

'Shabash! Shabash! Ohwell donelittle one! What will the healer
of turquoises say to this? Nowslowlylet us hear what befell
afterwards - step by stepomitting nothing.'

Step by step thenKim told his adventures between coughs as the
full-flavoured tobacco caught his lungs.

'I said' growled Mahbub Ali to himself'I said it was the pony
breaking out to play polo. The fruit is ripe already -except that
he must learn his distances and his pacingsand his rods and his
compasses. Listen now. I have turned aside the Colonel's whip from
thy skinand that is no small service.'

'True.' Kim pulled serenely. 'That is true.'

'But it is not to be thought that this running out and in is any
way good.'

'It was my holidayHajji. I was a slave for many weeks. Why should
I not run away when the school was shut? Looktoohow Iliving
upon my friends or working for my breadas I did with the Sikh
have saved the Colonel Sahib a great expense.'

Mahbub's lips twitched under his well-pruned Mohammedan moustache.

'What are a few rupees' - the Pathan threw out his open hand
carelessly - 'to the Colonel Sahib? He spends them for a purpose
not in any way for love of thee.'

'That' said Kim slowly'I knew a very long time ago.'

'Who told?'

'The Colonel Sahib himself. Not in those many wordsbut plainly


enough for one who is not altogether a mud-head. Yeahe told me in
the te-rain when we went down to Lucknow.'

'Be it so. Then I will tell thee moreFriend of all the World
though in the telling I lend thee my head.'

'It was forfeit to me' said Kimwith deep relish'in Umballa
when thou didst pick me up on the horse after the drummer-boy beat
me.'

'Speak a little plainer. All the world may tell lies save thou and

I. For equally is thy life forfeit to me if I chose to raise my
finger here.'
'And this is known to me also' said Kimreadjusting the live
charcoal-ball on the weed. 'It is a very sure tie between us.
Indeedthy hold is surer even than mine; for who would miss a boy
beaten to deathorit may bethrown into a well by the roadside?
Most people here and in Simla and across the passes behind the
Hills wouldon the other handsay: "What has come to Mahbub Ali?"
if he were found dead among his horses. Surelytoothe Colonel
Sahib would make inquiries. But again'-Kim's face puckered with
cunning- 'he would not make overlong inquirylest people should
ask: "What has this Colonel Sahib to do with that horse-dealer?"
But I - if I lived -

'As thou wouldst surely die -

'Maybe; but I sayif I livedIand I alonewould know that one
had come by nightas a common thief perhapsto Mahbub Ali's
bulkhead in the seraiand there had slain himeither before or
after that thief had made a full search into his saddlebags and
between the soles of his slippers. Is that news to tell to the
Colonelor would he say to me - (I have not forgotten when he sent
me back for a cigar-case that he had not left behind him) - "What
is Mahbub Ali to me?"?'

Up went a gout of heavy smoke. There was a long pause: then Mahbub
Ali spoke in admiration: 'And with these things on thy minddost
thou lie down and rise again among all the Sahibs' little sons at
the madrissah and meekly take instruction from thy teachers?'

'It is an order' said Kim blandly. 'Who am I to dispute an order?'

'A most finished Son of Eblis' said Mahbub Ali. 'But what is this
tale of the thief and the search?'

'That which I saw' said Kim'the night that my lama and I lay
next thy place in the Kashmir Seral. The door was left unlocked
which I think is not thy customMahbub. He came in as one assured
that thou wouldst not soon return. My eye was against a knot-hole
in the plank. He searched as it were for something - not a rugnot
stirrupsnor a bridlenor brass pots- something little and most
carefully hid. Else why did he prick with an iron between the soles
of thy slippers?'

'Ha!' Mahbub Ali smiled gently. 'And seeing these thingswhat tale
didst thou fashion to thyselfWell of the Truth?'

'None. I put my hand upon my amuletwhich lies always next to my
skinandremembering the pedigree of a white stallion that I had
bitten out of a piece of Mussalmani breadI went away to Umballa
perceiving that a heavy trust was laid upon me. At that hourhad I
chosenthy head was forfeit. It needed only to say to that manI


have here a paper concerning a horse which I cannot read.And
then?' Kim peered at Mahbub under his eyebrows.

'Then thou wouldst have drunk water twice - perhaps thrice
afterwards. I do not think more than thrice' said Mahbub simply.

'It is true. I thought of that a littlebut most I thought that I
loved theeMahbub. Therefore I went to Umballaas thou knowest
but (and this thou dost not know) I lay hid in the garden-grass to
see what Colonel Creighton Sahib might do upon reading the white
stallion's pedigree.'

'And what did he?' for Kim had bitten off the conversation.

'Dost thou give news for loveor dost thou sell it?' Kim asked.

'I sell and - I buy.' Mahbub took a four-anna piece out of his belt
and held it up.

'Eight!' said Kimmechanically following the huckster instinct of
the East.

Mahbub laughedand put away the coin. It is too easy to deal in
that marketFriend of all the World. Tell me for love. Our lives
lie in each other's hand.'

'Very good. I saw the Jang-i-Lat Sahib [the Commander-in-Chief]
come to a big dinner. I saw him in Creighton Sahib's office. I saw
the two read the white stallion's pedigree. I heard the very orders
given for the opening of a great war.'

'Hah!' Mahbub nodded with deepest eyes afire. 'The game is well
played. That war is done nowand the evilwe hopenipped before
the flower- thanks to me - and thee. What didst thou later?'

'I made the news as it were a hook to catch me victual and honour
among the villagers in a village whose priest drugged my lama. But
I bore away the old man's purseand the Brahmin found nothing. So
next morning he was angry. Ho! Ho! And I also used the news when I
fell into the hands of that white Regiment with their Bull!'

'That was foolishness.' Mahbub scowled. 'News is not meant to be
thrown about like dung-cakesbut used sparingly - like bhang.'

'So I think nowand moreoverit did me no sort of good. But that
was very long ago' he made as to brush it all away with a thin
brown hand - 'and since thenand especially in the nights under
the punkah at the madrissahI have thought very greatly.'

'Is it permitted to ask whither the Heaven-born's thought might
have led?' said Mahbubwith an elaborate sarcasmsmoothing his
scarlet beard.

'It is permitted' said Kimand threw back the very tone. 'They
say at Nucklao that no Sahib must tell a black man that he has made
a fault.'

Mahbub's hand shot into his bosomfor to call a Pathan a 'black
man' [kala admi] is a blood-insult. Then he remembered and laughed.
'SpeakSahib. Thy black man hears.'

'But' said Kim'I am not a Sahiband I say I made a fault to
curse theeMahbub Alion that day at Umballa when I thought I was
betrayed by a Pathan. I was senseless; for I was but newly caught


and I wished to kill that low-caste drummer-boy. I say nowHajji
that it was well done; and I see my road all clear before me to a
good service. I will stay in the madrissah till I am ripe.'

'Well said. Especially are distances and numbers and the manner of
using compasses to be learned in that game. One waits in the Hills
above to show thee.'

'I will learn their teaching upon a condition - that my time is
given to me without question when the madrissah is shut. Ask that
for me of the Colonel.'

'But why not ask the Colonel in the Sahibs' tongue?'

'The Colonel is the servant of the Government. He is sent hither
and yon at a wordand must consider his own advancement. (See how
much I have already learned at Nucklao!) Moreoverthe Colonel I
know since three months only. I have known one Mahbub Ali for six
years. So! To the madrissah I will go. At the madrissah I will
learn. In the madrissah I will be a Sahib. But when the madrissah
is shutthen must I be free and go among my people. Otherwise I
die!'

'And who are thy peopleFriend of all the World?'

'This great and beautiful land' said Kimwaving his paw round the
little clay-walled room where the oil-lamp in its niche burned
heavily through the tobacco-smoke. 'AndfurtherI would see my
lama again. AndfurtherI need money.'

'That is the need of everyone' said Mahbub ruefully. 'I will give
thee eight annasfor much money is not picked out of horses'
hoovesand it must suffice for many days. As to all the restI am
well pleasedand no further talk is needed. Make haste to learn
and in three yearsor it may be lessthou wilt be an aid - even
to me.'

'Have I been such a hindrance till now?' said Kimwith a boy's
giggle.

'Do not give answers' Mahbub grunted. 'Thou art my new horse-boy.
Go and bed among my men. They are near the north end of the
stationwith the horses.'

'They will beat me to the south end of the station if I come
without authority.'

Mahbub felt in his beltwetted his thumb on a cake of Chinese ink
and dabbed the impression on a piece of soft native paper. From
Balkh to Bombay men know that rough-ridged print with the old scar
running diagonally across it.

'That is enough to show my headman. I come in the morning.'

'By which road?' said Kim.

'By the road from the city. There is but oneand then we return to
Creighton Sahib. I have saved thee a beating.'

'Allah! What is a beating when the very head is loose on the
shoulders?'

Kim slid out quietly into the nightwalked half round the house
keeping close to the wallsand headed away from the station for a


mile or so. Thenfetching a wide compasshe worked back at
leisurefor he needed time to invent a story if any of Mahbub's
retainers asked questions.

They were camped on a piece of waste ground beside the railway
andbeing nativeshad notof courseunloaded the two trucks in
which Mahbub's animals stood among a consignment of country-breds
bought by the Bombay tram-company. The headmana broken-down
consumptive-looking Mohammedanpromptly challenged Kimbut was
pacified at sight of Mahbub's sign-manual.

'The Hajji has of his favour given me service' said Kim testily.
'If this be doubtedwait till he comes in the morning. Meantimea
place by the fire.'

Followed the usual aimless babble that every low-caste native must
raise on every occasion. It died downand Kim lay out behind the
little knot of Mahbub's followersalmost under the wheels of a
horse-trucka borrowed blanket for covering. Now a bed among
brickbats and ballast-refuse on a damp nightbetween overcrowded
horses and unwashed Baltiswould not appeal to many white boys;
but Kim was utterly happy. Change of sceneserviceand
surroundings were the breath of his little nostrilsand thinking
of the neat white cots of St Xavier's all arow under the punkah
gave him joy as keen as the repetition of the multiplication-table
in English.

'I am very old' he thought sleepily. 'Every month I become a year
more old. I was very youngand a fool to bootwhen I took
Mahbub's message to Umballa. Even when I was with that white
Regiment I was very young and small and had no wisdom. But now I
learn every dayand in three years the Colonel will take me out of
the madrissah and let me go upon the Road with Mahbub hunting for
horses' pedigreesor maybe I shall go by myself; or maybe I shall
find the lama and go with him. Yes; that is best. To walk again as
a chela with my lama when he comes back to Benares.' The thoughts
came more slowly and disconnectedly. He was plunging into a
beautiful dreamland when his ears caught a whisperthin and sharp
above the monotonous babble round the fire. It came from behind the
iron-skinned horse-truck.

'He is not herethen?'

'Where should he be but roystering in the city. Who looks for a rat
in a frog-pond? Come away. He is not our man.'

'He must not go back beyond the Passes a second time. It is the
order.'

'Hire some woman to drug him. It is a few rupees onlyand there is
no evidence.'

'Except the woman. It must be more certain; and remember the price
upon his head.'

'Aybut the police have a long armand we are far from the
Border. If it were in Peshawurnow!'

'Yes - in Peshawur' the second voice sneered. 'Peshawurfull of
his blood-kin - full of bolt-holes and women behind whose clothes
he will hide. YesPeshawur or Jehannum would suit us equally
well.'

'Then what is the plan?'


'O foolhave I not told it a hundred times? Wait till he comes to
lie downand then one sure shot. The trucks are between us and
pursuit. We have but to run back over the lines and go our way.
They will not see whence the shot came. Wait here at least till the
dawn. What manner of fakir art thouto shiver at a little
watching?'

'Oho!' thought Kimbehind close-shut eyes. 'Once again it is
Mahbub. Indeed a white stallion's pedigree is not a good thing to
peddle to Sahibs! Or maybe Mahbub has been selling other news. Now
what is to doKim? I know not where Mahbub housesand if he comes
here before the dawn they will shoot him. That would be no profit
for theeKim. And this is not a matter for the police. That would
be no profit for Mahbub; and' - he giggled almost aloud - 'I do not
remember any lesson at Nucklao which will help me. Allah! Here is
Kim and yonder are they. FirstthenKim must wake and go awayso
that they shall not suspect. A bad dream wakes a man - thus -

He threw the blanket off his faceand raised himself suddenly with
the terriblebubblingmeaningless yell of the Asiatic roused by
nightmare.

'Urr-urr-urr-urr! Ya-la-la-la-la! Narain! The churel! The churel!'

A churel is the peculiarly malignant ghost of a woman who has died
in child-bed. She haunts lonely roadsher feet are turned
backwards on the anklesand she leads men to torment.

Louder rose Kim's quavering howltill at last he leaped to his
feet and staggered off sleepilywhile the camp cursed him for
waking them. Some twenty yards farther up the line he lay down
againtaking care that the whisperers should hear his grunts and
groans as he recomposed himself. After a few minutes he rolled
towards the road and stole away into the thick darkness.

He paddled along swiftly till he came to a culvertand dropped
behind ithis chin on a level with the coping-stone. Here he could
command all the night-traffichimself unseen.

Two or three carts passedjingling out to the suburbs; a coughing
policeman and a hurrying foot-passenger or two who sang to keep off
evil spirits. Then rapped the shod feet of a horse.

'Ah! This is more like Mahbub' thought Kimas the beast shied at
the little head above the culvert.

'Ohe'Mahbub Ali' he whispered'have a care!'

The horse was reined back almost on its haunchesand forced
towards the culvert.

'Never again' said Mahbub'will I take a shod horse for nightwork.
They pick up all the bones and nails in the city.' He stooped
to lift its forefootand that brought his head within a foot of
Kim's. Down - keep down' he muttered. 'The night is full of
eyes.'

'Two men wait thy coming behind the horse-trucks. They will shoot
thee at thy lying downbecause there is a price on thy head. I
heardsleeping near the horses.'

'Didst thou see them? . .. Hold stillSire of Devils!' This
furiously to the horse.


'No.'

'Was one dressed belike as a fakir?'

'One said to the otherWhat manner of fakir art thou, to shiver
at a little watching?'

'Good. Go back to the camp and lie down. I do not die tonight.'

Mahbub wheeled his horse and vanished. Kim tore back down the ditch
till he reached a point opposite his second resting-placeslipped
across the road like a weaseland re-coiled himself in the
blanket.

'At least Mahbub knows' he thought contentedly. 'And certainly he
spoke as one expecting it. I do not think those two men will profit
by tonight's watch.'

An hour passedandwith the best will in the world to keep awake
all nighthe slept deeply. Now and again a night train roared
along the metals within twenty feet of him; but he had all the
Oriental's indifference to mere noiseand it did not even weave a
dream through his slumber.

Mahbub was anything but asleep. It annoyed him vehemently that
people outside his tribe and unaffected by his casual amours should
pursue him for the life. His first and natural impulse was to cross
the line lower downwork up againandcatching his well-wishers
from behindsummarily slay them. Herehe reflected with sorrow
another branch of the Governmenttotally unconnected with Colonel
Creightonmight demand explanations which would be hard to supply;
and he knew that south of the Border a perfectly ridiculous fuss is
made about a corpse or so. He had not been troubled in this way
since he sent Kim to Umballa with the messageand hoped that
suspicion had been finally diverted.

Then a most brilliant notion struck him.

'The English do eternally tell the truth' he said'therefore we
of this country are eternally made foolish. By AllahI will tell
the truth to an Englishman! Of what use is the Government police if
a poor Kabuli be robbed of his horses in their very trucks. This is
as bad as Peshawur! I should lay a complaint at the station. Better
stillsome young Sahib on the Railway! They are zealousand if
they catch thieves it is remembered to their honour.'

He tied up his horse outside the stationand strode on to the
platform.

'HulloMahbub Ali' said a young Assistant District Traffic
Superintendent who was waiting to go down the line - a talltowhaired
horsey youth in dingy white linen. 'What are you doing
here? Selling weeds - eh?'

'No; I am not troubled for my horses. I come to look for Lutuf
Ullah. I have a truck-load up the line. Could anyone take them out
without the Railway's knowledge?'

'Shouldn't think soMahbub. You can claim against us if they do.'

'I have seen two men crouching under the wheels of one of the
trucks nearly all night. Fakirs do not steal horsesso I gave them
no more thought. I would find Lutuf Ullahmy partner.'


'The deuce you did? And you didn't bother your head about it? 'Pon
my wordit's just almost as well that I met you. What were they
likeeh?'

'They were only fakirs. They will no more than take a little grain
perhapsfrom one of the trucks. There are many up the line. The
State will never miss the dole. I came here seeking for my partner
Lutuf Ullah

'Never mind your partner. Where are your horse-trucks?'

'A little to this side of the farthest place where they make lamps
for the trains.'

'The signal-box! Yes.'

'And upon the rail nearest to the road upon the right-hand side looking
up the line thus. But as regards Lutuf Ullah - a tall man
with a broken noseand a Persian greyhound Aie!'

The boy had hurried off to wake up a young and enthusiastic
policeman; foras he saidthe Railway had suffered much from
depredations in the goods-yard. Mahbub Ali chuckled in his dyed
beard.

'They will walk in their bootsmaking a noiseand then they will
wonder why there are no fakirs. They are very clever boys--Barton
Sahib and Young Sahib.'

He waited idly for a few minutesexpecting to see them hurry up
the line girt for action. A light engine slid through the station
and he caught a glimpse of young Barton in the cab.

'I did that child an injustice. He is not altogether a fool' said
Mahbub Ali. 'To take a fire-carriage for a thief is a new game!'

When Mahbub Ali came to his camp in the dawnno one thought it
worth while to tell him any news of the night. No oneat least
but one small horseboynewly advanced to the great man's service
whom Mahbub called to his tiny tent to assist in some packing.

'It is all known to me' whispered Kimbending above saddlebags.
'Two Sahibs came up on a te-train. I was running to and fro in the
dark on this side of the trucks as the te-train moved up and down
slowly. They fell upon two men sitting under this truck - Hajji
what shall I do with this lump of tobacco? Wrap it in paper and put
it under the salt-bag? Yes - and struck them down. But one man
struck at a Sahib with a fakir's buck's horn' (Kim meant the
conjoined black-buck hornswhich are a fakir's sole temporal
weapon) - 'the blood came. So the other Sahibfirst smiting his
own man senselesssmote the stabber with a short gun which had
rolled from the first man's hand. They all raged as though mad
together.'

Mahbub smiled with heavenly resignation. 'No! That is not so much
dewanee [madnessor a case for the civil court - the word can be
punned upon both ways] as nizamut [a criminal case]. A gunsayest
thou? Ten good years in jail.'

'Then they both lay stillbut I think they were nearly dead when
they were put on the te-train. Their heads moved thus. And there is
much blood on the line. Come and see?'


'I have seen blood before. Jail is the sure place - and assuredly
they will give false namesand assuredly no man will find them for
a long time. They were unfriends of mine. Thy fate and mine seem on
one string. What a tale for the healer of pearls! Now swiftly with
the saddle-bags and the cooking-platter. We will take out the
horses and away to Simla.'

Swiftly - as Orientals understand speed - with long explanations
with abuse and windy talkcarelesslyamid a hundred checks for
little things forgottenthe untidy camp broke up and led the halfdozen
stiff and fretful horses along the Kalka road in the fresh of
the rain-swept dawn. Kimregarded as Mahbub Ali's favourite by all
who wished to stand well with the Pathanwas not called upon to
work. They strolled on by the easiest of stageshalting every few
hours at a wayside shelter. Very many Sahibs travel along the Kalka
road; andas Mahbub Ali saysevery young Sahib must needs esteem
himself a judge of a horseandthough he be over head in debt to
the money-lendermust make as if to buy. That was the reason that
Sahib after Sahibrolling along in a stage-carriagewould stop
and open talk. Some would even descend from their vehicles and feel
the horses' legs; asking inane questionsorthrough sheer
ignorance of the vernaculargrossly insulting the imperturbable
trader.

'When first I dealt with Sahibsand that was when Colonel Soady
Sahib was Governor of Fort Abazai and flooded the Commissioner's
camping-ground for spite' Mahbub confided to Kim as the boy filled
his pipe under a tree'I did not know how greatly they were fools
and this made me wroth. As thus -and he told Kim a tale of an
expressionmisused in all innocencethat doubled Kim up with
mirth. 'Now I seehowever' - he exhaled smoke slowly - 'that it
is with them as with all men - in certain matters they are wise
and in others most foolish. Very foolish it is to use the wrong
word to a stranger; for though the heart may be clean of offence
how is the stranger to know that? He is more like to search truth
with a dagger.'

'True. True talk' said Kim solemnly. 'Fools speak of a cat when a
woman is brought to bedfor instance. I have heard them.'

'Thereforein one situate as thou artit particularly behoves
thee to remember this with both kinds of faces. Among Sahibsnever
forgetting thou art a Sahib; among the folk of Hindalways
remembering thou art -' He pausedwith a puzzled smile.

'What am I? MussalmanHinduJainor Buddhist? That is a hard
knot.'

'Thou art beyond question an unbelieverand therefore thou wilt be
damned. So says my Law - or I think it does. But thou art also my
Little Friend of all the Worldand I love thee. So says my heart.
This matter of creeds is like horseflesh. The wise man knows horses
are good - that there is a profit to be made from all; and for
myself- but that I am a good Sunni and hate the men of Tirah - I
could believe the same of all the Faiths. Now manifestly a
Kathiawar mare taken from the sands of her birthplace and removed
to the west of Bengal founders - nor is even a Balkh stallion (and
there are no better horses than those of Balkhwere they not so
heavy in the shoulder) of any account in the great Northern deserts
beside the snow-camels I have seen. Therefore I say in my heart the
Faiths are like the horses. Each has merit in its own country.'

'But my lama said altogether a different thing.'


'Ohhe is an old dreamer of dreams from Bhotiyal. My heart is a
little angryFriend of all the Worldthat thou shouldst see such
worth in a man so little known.'

'It is trueHajji; but that worth do I seeand to him my heart is
drawn.'

'And his to thineI hear. Hearts are like horses. They come and
they go against bit or spur. Shout Gul Sher Khan yonder to drive in
that bay stallion's pickets more firmly. We do not want a horsefight
at every resting-stageand the dun and the black will be
locked in a little . . . Now hear me. Is it necessary to the
comfort of thy heart to see that lama?'

'It is one part of my bond' said Kim. 'If I do not see himand if
he is taken from meI will go out of that madrissah in Nucklao
andand - once gonewho is to find me again?'

'It is true. Never was colt held on a lighter heel-rope than thou.'
Mahbub nodded his head.

'Do not be afraid.' Kim spoke as though he could have evanished on
the moment. 'My lama has said that he will come to see me at the
madrissah -

'A beggar and his bowl in the presence of those young Sa -'

'Not all!' Kim cut in with a snort. 'Their eyes are blued and their
nails are blackened with low-caste bloodmany of them. Sons of
mehteranees - brothers-in-law to the bhungi [sweeper].'

We need not follow the rest of the pedigree; but Kim made his
little point clearly and without heatchewing a piece of sugarcane
the while.

'Friend of all the World' said Mahbubpushing over the pipe for
the boy to clean'I have met many menwomenand boysand not a
few Sahibs. I have never in all my days met such an imp as thou
art.'

'And why? When I always tell thee the truth.'

'Perhaps the very reasonfor this is a world of danger to honest
men.' Mahbub Ali hauled himself off the groundgirt in his belt
and went over to the horses.

'Or sell it?'

There was that in the tone that made Mahbub halt and turn. 'What
new devilry?'

'Eight annasand I will tell' said Kimgrinning. 'It touches thy
peace.'

'O Shaitan!' Mahbub gave the money.

'Rememberest thou the little business of the thieves in the dark
down yonder at Umballa?'

'Seeing they sought my lifeI have not altogether forgotten. Why?'

'Rememberest thou the Kashmir Serai?'

'I will twist thy ears in a moment - Sahib.'


'No need - Pathan. Onlythe second fakirwhom the Sahibs beat
senselesswas the man who came to search thy bulkhead at Lahore. I
saw his face as they helped him on the engine. The very same man.'

'Why didst thou not tell before?'

'Ohhe will go to jailand be safe for some years. There is no
need to tell more than is necessary at any one time. BesidesI did
not then need money for sweetmeats.'

'Allah kerim!' said Mahbub Ah. 'Wilt thou some day sell my head for
a few sweetmeats if the fit takes thee?'

Kim will remember till he dies that longlazy journey from
Umballathrough Kalka and the Pinjore Gardens near byup to
Simla. A sudden spate in the Gugger River swept down one horse
(the most valuablebe sure)and nearly drowned Kim among the
dancing boulders. Farther up the road the horses were stampeded by
a Government elephantand being in high condition of grass food
it cost a day and a half to get them together again. Then they met
Sikandar Khan coming down with a few unsaleable screws - remnants
of his string -and Mahbubwho has more of horse-coping in his
little fingernail than Sikandar Khan in all his tentsmust needs
buy two of the worstand that meant eight hours' laborious
diplomacy and untold tobacco. But it was all pure delight - the
wandering roadclimbingdippingand sweeping about the growing
spurs; the flush of the morning laid along the distant snows; the
branched cactitier upon tier on the stony hillsides; the voices
of a thousand water-channels; the chatter of the monkeys; the
solemn deodarsclimbing one after another with down-drooped
branches; the vista of the Plains rolled out far beneath them; the
incessant twanging of the tonga-horns and the wild rush of the led
horses when a tonga swung round a curve; the halts for prayers
(Mahbub was very religious in dry-washings and bellowings when time
did not press); the evening conferences by the halting-placeswhen
camels and bullocks chewed solemnly together and the stolid drivers
told the news of the Road - all these things lifted Kim's heart to
song within him.

'Butwhen the singing and dancing is done' said Mahbub Ali
'comes the Colonel Sahib'sand that is not so sweet.'

'A fair land - a most beautiful land is this of Hind - and the land
of the Five Rivers is fairer than all' Kim half chanted. 'Into it
I will go again if Mahbub Ali or the Colonel lift hand or foot
against me. Once gonewho shall find me? LookHajjiis yonder
the city of Simla? Allahwhat a city!'

'My father's brotherand he was an old man when Mackerson Sahib's
well was new at Peshawurcould recall when there were but two
houses in it.

He led the horses below the main road into the lower Simla bazar the
crowded rabbit-warren that climbs up from the valley to the
Town Hall at an angle of forty-five. A man who knows his way there
can defy all the police of India's summer capitalso cunningly
does veranda communicate with verandaalley-way with alley-way
and bolt-hole with bolt-hole. Here live those who minister to the
wants of the glad city - jhampanis who pull the pretty ladies'
'rickshaws by night and gamble till the dawn; grocersoil-sellers
curio-vendorsfirewood-dealerspriestspickpocketsand native
employees of the Government. Here are discussed by courtesans the
things which are supposed to be profoundest secrets of the India


Council; and here gather all the sub-sub-agents of half the Native
States. HeretooMahbub Ali rented a roommuch more securely
locked than his bulkhead at Lahorein the house of a Mohammedan
cattle-dealer. It was a place of miraclestoofor there went in
at twilight a Mohammedan horseboyand there came out an hour later
a Eurasian lad - the Lucknow girl's dye was of the best - in badly-
fitting shop-clothes.


'I have spoken with Creighton Sahib' quoth Mahbub Aliand a
second time has the Hand of Friendship averted the Whip of
Calamity. He says that thou hast altogether wasted sixty days upon
the Roadand it is too latethereforeto send thee to any Hill-
school.'


'I have said that my holidays are my own. I do not go to school
twice over. That is one part of my bond.'


'The Colonel Sahib is not yet aware of that contract. Thou art to
lodge in Lurgan Sahib's house till it is time to go again to
Nucklao.'


'I had sooner lodge with theeMahbub.'


'Thou dost not know the honour. Lurgan Sahib himself asked for
thee. Thou wilt go up the hill and along the road atopand there
thou must forget for a while that thou hast ever seen or spoken to
meMahbub Aliwho sells horses to Creighton Sahibwhom thou dost
not know. Remember this order.'


Kim nodded. 'Good' said he'and who is Lurgan Sahib? Nay' - he
caught Mahbub's sword-keen glance - 'indeed I have never heard his
name. Is he by chance - he lowered his voice -'one of us?'


'What talk is this of usSahib?' Mahbub Ali returnedin the tone
he used towards Europeans. 'I am a Pathan; thou art a Sahib and the
son of a Sahib. Lurgan Sahib has a shop among the European shops.
All Simla knows it. Ask there ... andFriend of all the Worldhe
is one to be obeyed to the last wink of his eyelashes. Men say he
does magicbut that should not touch thee. Go up the hill and ask.
Here begins the Great Game.'


Chapter 9


S' doaks was son of Yelth the wise -
Chief of the Raven clan.
Itswoot the Bear had him in care
To make him a medicine-man.


He was quick and quicker to learn -
Bold and bolder to dare:
He danced the dread Kloo-Kwallie Dance
To tickle Itswoot the Bear!


Oregon Legend


Kim flung himself whole-heartedly upon the next turn of the wheel.
He would be a Sahib again for a while. In that ideaso soon as he



had reached the broad road under Simla Town Hallhe cast about for
one to impress. A Hindu childsome ten years oldsquatted under a
lamp-post.

Where is Mr Lurgan's house?' demanded Kim.

'I do not understand English' was the answerand Kim shifted his
speech accordingly.

'I will show.'

Together they set off through the mysterious duskfull of the
noises of a city below the hillsideand the breath of a cool wind
in deodar-crowned Jakkoshouldering the stars. The house-lights
scattered on every levelmadeas it werea double firmament.
Some were fixedothers belonged to the 'rickshaws of the careless
open-spoken English folkgoing out to dinner.

'It is here' said Kim's guideand halted in a veranda flush with
the main road. No door stayed thembut a curtain of beaded reeds
that split up the lamplight beyond.

'He is come' said the boyin a voice little louder than a sigh
and vanished. Kim felt sure that the boy had been posted to guide
him from the firstbutputting a bold face on itparted the
curtain. A black-bearded manwith a green shade over his eyessat
at a tableandone by onewith shortwhite handspicked up
globules of light from a tray before himthreaded them on a
glancing silken stringand hummed to himself the while. Kim was
conscious that beyond the circle of light the room was full of
things that smelt like all the temples of all the East. A whiff of
muska puff of sandal-woodand a breath of sickly jessamine-oil
caught his opened nostrils.

'I am here' said Kim at lastspeaking in the vernacular: the
smells made him forget that he was to be a Sahib

'Seventy-nineeightyeighty-one' the man counted to himself
stringing pearl after pearl so quickly that Kim could scarcely
follow his fingers. He slid off the green shade and looked fixedly
at Kim for a full half-minute. The pupils of the eye dilated and
closed to pin-pricksas if at will. There was a fakir by the
Taksali Gate who had just this gift and made money by it
especially when cursing silly women. Kim stared with interest. His
disreputable friend could further twitch his earsalmost like a
goatand Kim was disappointed that this new man could not imitate
him.

'Do not be afraid' said Lurgan Sahib suddenly.

'Why should I fear?'

'Thou wilt sleep here tonightand stay with me till it is time to
go again to Nucklao. It is an order.'

'It is an order' Kim repeated. 'But where shall I sleep?'

'Herein this room.' Lurgan Sahib waved his hand towards the
darkness behind him.

'So be it' said Kim composedly. 'Now?'

He nodded and held the lamp above his head. As the light swept
themthere leaped out from the walls a collection of Tibetan


devil-dance maskshanging above the fiend-embroidered draperies of
those ghastly functions - horned masksscowling masksand masks
of idiotic terror. In a cornera Japanese warriormailed and
plumedmenaced him with a halberdand a score of lances and
khandas and kuttars gave back the unsteady gleam. But what
interested Kim more than all these things - he had seen devil-dance
masks at the Lahore Museum - was a glimpse of the soft-eyed Hindu
child who had left him in the doorwaysitting cross-legged under
the table of pearls with a little smile on his scarlet lips.

'I think that Lurgan Sahib wishes to make me afraid. And I am sure
that that devil's brat below the table wishes to see me afraid.
This place' he said aloud'is like a Wonder House. Where is my
bed?'

Lurgan Sahib pointed to a native quilt in a corner by the loathsome
maskspicked up the lampand left the room black.

'Was that Lurgan Sahib?' Kim asked as he cuddled down. No answer.
He could hear the Hindu boy breathinghoweverandguided by the
soundcrawled across the floorand cuffed into the darkness
crying: 'Give answerdevil! Is this the way to lie to a Sahib?'

From the darkness he fancied he could hear the echo of a chuckle.
It could not be his soft-fleshed companionbecause he was weeping.
So Kim lifted up his voice and called aloud:

'Lurgan Sahib! O Lurgan Sahib! Is it an order that thy servant does
not speak to me?'

'It is an order.' The voice came from behind him and he started.

'Very good. But remember' he mutteredas he resought the quilt
'I will beat thee in the morning. I do not love Hindus.'

That was no cheerful night; the room being overfull of voices and
music. Kim was waked twice by someone calling his name. The second
time he set out in searchand ended by bruising his nose against a
box that certainly spoke with a human tonguebut in no sort of
human accent. It seemed to end in a tin trumpet and to be joined by
wires to a smaller box on the floor - so farat leastas he could
judge by touch. And the voicevery hard and whirringcame out of
the trumpet. Kim rubbed his nose and grew furiousthinkingas
usualin Hindi.

'This with a beggar from the bazar might be goodbut - I am a
Sahib and the son of a Sahib andwhichis twice as much more
besidea student of Nucklao. Yess' (here he turned to English)
'a boy of St Xavier's. Damn Mr Lurgan's eyes! - It is some sort of
machinery like a sewing-machine. Ohit is a great cheek of him we
are not frightened that way at Lucknow - No!' Then in Hindi:
'But what does he gain? He is only a trader - I am in his
shop. But Creighton Sahib is a Colonel - and I think Creighton
Sahib gave orders that it should be done. How I will beat that
Hindu in the morning! What is this?'

The trumpet-box was pouring out a string of the most elaborate
abuse that even Kim had ever heardin a high uninterested voice
that for a moment lifted the short hairs of his neck. When the vile
thing drew breathKim was reassured by the softsewing-machinelike
whirr.

'Chup! [Be still)' he criedand again he heard a chuckle that


decided him. 'Chup - or I break your head.'

The box took no heed. Kim wrenched at the tin trumpet and something
lifted with a click. He had evidently raised a lid. If there were a
devil insidenow was its timefor - he sniffed -thus did the
sewing-machines of the bazar smell. He would clean that shaitan. He
slipped off his jacketand plunged it into the box's mouth.
Something long and round bent under the pressurethere was a whirr
and the voice stopped - as voices must if you ram a thrice-doubled
coat on to the wax cylinder and into the works of an expensive
phonograph. Kim finished his slumbers with a serene mind.

In the morning he was aware of Lurgan Sahib looking down on him.

'Oah!' said Kimfirmly resolved to cling to his Sahib-dom. 'There
was a box in the night that gave me bad talk. So I stopped it. Was
it your box?'

The man held out his hand.

'Shake handsO'Hara' he said. 'Yesit was my box. I keep such
things because my friends the Rajahs like them. That one is broken
but it was cheap at the price. Yesmy friendsthe Kingsare very
fond of toys - and so am I sometimes.'

Kim looked him over out of the corners of his eyes. He was a Sahib
in that he wore Sahib's clothes; the accent of his Urduthe
intonation of his Englishshowed that he was anything but a Sahib.
He seemed to understand what moved in Kim's mind ere the boy opened
his mouthand he took no pains to explain himself as did Father
Victor or the Lucknow masters. Sweetest of all - he treated Kim as
an equal on the Asiatic side.

'I am sorry you cannot beat my boy this morning. He says he will
kill you with a knife or poison. He is jealousso I have put him
in the corner and I shall not speak to him today. He has just tried
to kill me. You must help me with the breakfast. He is almost too
jealous to trustjust now.'

Now a genuine imported Sahib from England would have made a great
to-do over this tale. Lurgan Sahib stated it as simply as Mahbub
Ali was used to record his little affairs in the North.

The back veranda of the shop was built out over the sheer hillside
and they looked down into their neighbours' chimney-potsas is the
custom of Simla. But even more than the purely Persian meal cooked
by Lurgan Sahib with his own handsthe shop fascinated Kim. The
Lahore Museum was largerbut here were more wonders - ghostdaggers
and prayer-wheels from Tibet; turquoise and raw amber
necklaces; green jade bangles; curiously packed incense-sticks in
jars crusted over with raw garnets; the devil-masks of overnight
and a wall full of peacock-blue draperies; gilt figures of Buddha
and little portable lacquer altars; Russian samovars with
turquoises on the lid; egg-shell china sets in quaint octagonal
cane boxes; yellow ivory crucifixes - from Japan of all places in
the worldso Lurgan Sahib said; carpets in dusty balessmelling
atrociouslypushed back behind torn and rotten screens of
geometrical work; Persian water-jugs for the hands after meals;
dull copper incense-burners neither Chinese nor Persianwith
friezes of fantastic devils running round them; tarnished silver
belts that knotted like raw hide; hairpins of jadeivoryand
plasma; arms of all sorts and kindsand a thousand other oddments
were casedor piledor merely thrown into the roomleaving a
clear space only round the rickety deal tablewhere Lurgan Sahib


worked.

'Those things are nothing' said his hostfollowing Kim's glance.
'I buy them because they are prettyand sometimes I sell - if I
like the buyer's look. My work is on the table - some of it.'

It blazed in the morning light - all red and blue and green
flashespicked out with the vicious blue-white spurt of a diamond
here and there. Kim opened his eyes.

'Ohthey are quite wellthose stones. It will not hurt them to
take the sun. Besidesthey are cheap. But with sick stones it is
very different.' He piled Kim's plate anew. 'There is no one but me
can doctor a sick pearl and re-blue turquoises. I grant you opals any
fool can cure an opal - but for a sick pearl there is only me.
Suppose I were to die! Then there would be no one ... Oh no! You
cannot do anything with jewels. It will be quite enough if you
understand a little about the Turquoise - some day.'

He moved to the end of the veranda to refill the heavyporous clay
water-jug from the filter.

'Do you want drink?'

Kim nodded. Lurgan Sahibfifteen feet offlaid one hand on the
jar. Next instantit stood at Kim's elbowfull to within half an
inch of the brim - the white cloth only showingby a small
wrinklewhere it had slid into place.

'Wah!' said Kim in most utter amazement. 'That is magic.' Lurgan
Sahib's smile showed that the compliment had gone home.

'Throw it back.'

'It will break.'

'I saythrow it back.'

Kim pitched it at random. It fell short and crashed into fifty
pieceswhile the water dripped through the rough veranda boarding.

'I said it would break.'

'All one. Look at it. Look at the largest piece.'

That lay with a sparkle of water in its curveas it were a star on
the floor. Kim looked intently. Lurgan Sahib laid one hand gently
on the nape of his neckstroked it twice or thriceand whispered:
'Look! It shall come to life againpiece by piece. First the big
piece shall join itself to two others on the right and the left on
the right and the left. Look!'

To save his lifeKim could not have turned his head. The light
touch held him as in a viceand his blood tingled pleasantly
through him. There was one large piece of the jar where there had
been threeand above them the shadowy outline of the entire
vessel. He could see the veranda through itbut it was thickening
and darkening with each beat of his pulse. Yet the jar - how slowly
the thoughts came! - the jar had been smashed before his eyes.
Another wave of prickling fire raced down his neckas Lurgan Sahib
moved his hand.

'Look! It is coming into shape' said Lurgan Sahib.


So far Kim had been thinking in Hindibut a tremor came on him
and with an effort like that of a swimmer before sharkswho hurls
himself half out of the waterhis mind leaped up from a darkness
that was swallowing it and took refuge in - the multiplicationtable
in English!

'Look! It is coming into shape' whispered Lurgan Sahib.

The jar had been smashed - yesssmashed - not the native wordhe
would not think of that - but smashed - into fifty piecesand
twice three was sixand thrice three was nineand four times
three was twelve. He clung desperately to the repetition. The
shadow-outline of the jar cleared like a mist after rubbing eyes.
There were the broken shards; there was the spilt water drying in
the sunand through the cracks of the veranda showedall ribbed
the white house-wall below - and thrice twelve was thirty-six!

'Look! Is it coming into shape?' asked Lurgan Sahib.

'But it is smashed - smashed' he gasped - Lurgan Sahib had been
muttering softly for the last half-minute. Kim wrenched his head
aside. 'Look! Dekho! It is there as it was there.'

'It is there as it was there' said Lurganwatching Kim closely
while the boy rubbed his neck. 'But you are the first of many who
has ever seen it so.' He wiped his broad forehead.

'Was that more magic?' Kim asked suspiciously. The tingle had gone
from his veins; he felt unusually wide awake.

'Nothat was not magic. It was only to see if there was - a flaw
in a jewel. Sometimes very fine jewels will fly all to pieces if a
man holds them in his handand knows the proper way. That is why
one must be careful before one sets them. Tell medid you see the
shape of the pot?'

'For a little time. It began to grow like a flower from the
ground.'

'And then what did you do? I meanhow did you think?'

'Oah! I knew it was brokenand soI thinkthat was what I
thought - and it was broken.'

'Hm! Has anyone ever done that same sort of magic to you before?'

'If it was' said Kim 'do you think I should let it again? I should
run away.'

'And now you are not afraid - eh?'

'Not now.'

Lurgan Sahib looked at him more closely than ever. 'I shall ask
Mahbub Ali - not nowbut some day later' he muttered. 'I am
pleased with you - yes; and I am pleased with you - no. You are the
first that ever saved himself. I wish I knew what it was that ...
But you are right. You should not tell that - not even to me.'

He turned into the dusky gloom of the shopand sat down at the
tablerubbing his hands softly. A smallhusky sob came from
behind a pile of carpets. It was the Hindu child obediently facing
towards the wall. His thin shoulders worked with grief.


'Ah! He is jealousso jealous. I wonder if he will try to poison
me again in my breakfastand make me cook it twice.

'Kubbee - kubbee nahin [Never - never. No!]'came the broken
answer.

'And whether he will kill this other boy?'

'Kubbee - kubbee nahin.'

'What do you think he will do?' He turned suddenly on Kim.

'Oah! I do not know. Let him goperhaps. Why did he want to poison
you?'

'Because he is so fond of me. Suppose you were fond of someoneand
you saw someone comeand the man you were fond of was more pleased
with him than he was with youwhat would you do?'

Kim thought. Lurgan repeated the sentence slowly in the vernacular.
'I should not poison that man' said Kim reflectively'but I
should beat that boy - if that boy was fond of my man. But firstI
would ask that boy if it were true.'

'Ah! He thinks everyone must be fond of me.'

'Then I think he is a fool.'

'Hearest thou?' said Lurgan Sahib to the shaking shoulders. 'The
Sahib's son thinks thou art a little fool. Come outand next time
thy heart is troubleddo not try white arsenic quite so openly.
Surely the Devil Dasim was lord of our table-cloth that day! It
might have made me illchildand then a stranger would have
guarded the jewels. Come!'

The childheavy-eyed with much weepingcrept out from behind the
bale and flung himself passionately at Lurgan Sahib's feetwith an
extravagance of remorse that impressed even Kim.

'I will look into the ink-pools - I will faithfully guard the
jewels! Ohmy Father and my Mothersend him away!' He indicated
Kim with a backward jerk of his bare heel.

'Not yet - not yet. In a little while he will go away again. But
now he is at school - at a new madrissah - and thou shalt be his
teacher. Play the Play of the Jewels against him. I will keep
tally.'

The child dried his tears at onceand dashed to the back of the
shopwhence he returned with a copper tray.

'Give me!' he said to Lurgan Sahib. 'Let them come from thy hand
for he may say that I knew them before.'

'Gently - gently' the man repliedand from a drawer under the
table dealt a half-handful of clattering trifles into the tray.

'Now' said the childwaving an old newspaper. 'Look on them as
long as thou wiltstranger. Count andif need behandle. One
look is enough for me.' He turned his back proudly.

'But what is the game?'


'When thou hast counted and handled and art sure that thou canst
remember them allI cover them with this paperand thou must tell
over the tally to Lurgan Sahib. I will write mine.'

'Oah!' The instinct of competition waked in his breast. He bent
over the tray. There were but fifteen stones on it. 'That is easy'
he said after a minute. The child slipped the paper over the
winking jewels and scribbled in a native account-book.

'There are under that paper five blue stones - one bigone
smallerand three small' said Kimall in haste. 'There are four
green stonesand one with a hole in it; there is one yellow stone
that I can see throughand one like a pipe-stem. There are two red
stonesand - and - I made the count fifteenbut two I have
forgotten. No! Give me time. One was of ivorylittle and brownish;
and - and - give me time...'

'One - two' - Lurgan Sahib counted him out up to ten. Kim shook his
head.

'Hear my count!' the child burst intrilling with laughter.
'Firstare two flawed sapphires - one of two ruttees and one of
four as I should judge. The four-ruttee sapphire is chipped at the
edge. There is one Turkestan turquoiseplain with black veinsand
there are two inscribed - one with a Name of God in giltand the
other being cracked acrossfor it came out of an old ringI
cannot read. We have now all five blue stones. Four flawed emeralds
there arebut one is drilled in two placesand one is a little
carven-'

'Their weights?' said Lurgan Sahib impassively.

'Three - five - five - and four ruttees as I judge it. There is one
piece of old greenish pipe amberand a cut topaz from Europe.
There is one ruby of Burmaof two rutteeswithout a flawand
there is a balas-rubyflawedof two ruttees. There is a carved
ivory from China representing a rat sucking an egg; and there is
last - ah ha! - a ball of crystal as big as a bean set on a gold
leaf.'

He clapped his hands at the close.

'He is thy master' said Lurgan Sahibsmiling.

'Huh! He knew the names of the stones' said Kimflushing. 'Try
again! With common things such as he and I both know.'

They heaped the tray again with odds and ends gathered from the
shopand even the kitchenand every time the child wontill Kim
marvelled.

'Bind my eyes - let me feel once with my fingersand even then I
will leave thee opened-eyed behind' he challenged.

Kim stamped with vexation when the lad made his boast good.

'If it were men - or horses' he said'I could do better. This
playing with tweezers and knives and scissors is too little.'

'Learn first - teach later' said Lurgan Sahib. 'Is he thy master?'

'Truly. But how is it done?'

'By doing it many times over till it is done perfectly - for it is


worth doing.'

The Hindu boyin highest featheractually patted Kim on the back.

'Do not despair' he said. 'I myself will teach thee.'

'And I will see that thou art well taught' said Lurgan Sahib
still speaking in the vernacular'for except my boy here - it was
foolish of him to buy so much white arsenic whenif he had asked
I could have given it - except my boy here I have not in a long
time met with one better worth teaching. And there are ten days
more ere thou canst return to Lucknao where they teach nothing - at
the long price. We shallI thinkbe friends.'

They were a most mad ten daysbut Kim enjoyed himself too much to
reflect on their craziness. In the morning they played the Jewel
Game - sometimes with veritable stonessometimes with piles of
swords and daggerssometimes with photo-graphs of natives. Through
the afternoons he and the Hindu boy would mount guard in the shop
sitting dumb behind a carpet-bale or a screen and watching Mr
Lurgan's many and very curious visitors. There were small Rajahs
escorts coughing in the verandawho came to buy curiosities - such
as phonographs and mechanical toys. There were ladies in search of
necklacesand menit seemed to Kim - but his mind may have been
vitiated by early training - in search of the ladies; natives from
independent and feudatory Courts whose ostensible business was the
repair of broken necklaces - rivers of light poured out upon the
table - but whose true end seemed to be to raise money for angry
Maharanees or young Rajahs. There were Babus to whom Lurgan Sahib
talked with austerity and authoritybut at the end of each
interview he gave them money in coined silver and currency notes.
There were occasional gatherings of long-coated theatrical natives
who discussed metaphysics in English and Bengalito Mr Lurgan's
great edification. He was always interested in religions. At the
end of the dayKim and the Hindu boy - whose name varied at
Lurgan's pleasure - were expected to give a detailed account of all
that they had seen and heard - their view of each man's character
as shown in his facetalkand mannerand their notions of his
real errand. After dinnerLurgan Sahib's fancy turned more to what
might be called dressing-upin which game he took a most informing
interest. He could paint faces to a marvel; with a brush-dab here
and a line there changing them past recognition. The shop was full
of all manner of dresses and turbansand Kim was apparelled
variously as a young Mohammedan of good familyan oilmanand once

-which was a joyous evening - as the son of an Oudh landholder in
the fullest of full dress. Lurgan Sahib had a hawk's eye to detect
the least flaw in the make-up; and lying on a worn teak-wood couch
would explain by the half-hour together how such and such a caste
talkedor walkedor coughedor spator sneezedandsince
'hows' matter little in this worldthe 'why' of everything. The
Hindu child played this game clumsily. That little mindkeen as an
icicle where tally of jewels was concernedcould not temper itself
to enter another's soul; but a demon in Kim woke up and sang with
joy as he put on the changing dressesand changed speech and
gesture therewith.
Carried away by enthusiasmhe volunteered to show Lurgan Sahib one
evening how the disciples of a certain caste of fakirold Lahore
acquaintancesbegged doles by the roadside; and what sort of
language he would use to an Englishmanto a Punjabi farmer going
to a fairand to a woman without a veil. Lurgan Sahib laughed
immenselyand begged Kim to stay as he wasimmobile for half an
hour - cross-leggedash-smearedand wild-eyedin the back room.
At the end of that time entered a hulkingobese Babu whose


stockinged legs shook with fatand Kim opened on him with a shower
of wayside chaff. Lurgan Sahib - this annoyed Kim - watched the
Babu and not the play.

'I think' said the Babu heavilylighting a cigarette'I am of
opeenion that it is most extraordinary and effeecient performance.
Except that you had told me I should have opined that- that- that
you were pulling my legs. How soon can he become approximately
effeecient chain-man? Because then I shall indent for him.'

'That is what he must learn at Lucknow.'

'Then order him to be jolly-dam'-quick. Good-nightLurgan.' The
Babu swung out with the gait of a bogged cow.

When they were telling over the day's list of visitorsLurgan
Sahib asked Kim who he thought the man might be.

'God knows!' said Kim cheerily. The tone might almost have deceived
Mahbub Alibut it failed entirely with the healer of sick pearls.

'That is true. GodHe knows; but I wish to know what you think.'

Kim glanced sideways at his companionwhose eye had a way of
compelling truth.

'I - I think he will want me when I come from the schoolbut' confidentially
as Lurgan Sahib nodded approval - 'I do not
understand how he can wear many dresses and talk many tongues.'

'Thou wilt understand many things later. He is a writer of tales
for a certain Colonel. His honour is great only in Simlaand it is
noticeable that he has no namebut only a number and a letter that
is a custom among us.'

'And is there a price upon his head too - as upon Mah - all the
others?'

'Not yet; but if a boy rose up who is now sitting here and went look
the door is open! - as far as a certain house with a redpainted
verandabehind that which was the old theatre in the Lower
Bazarand whispered through the shutters: "Hurree Chunder
Mookerjee bore the bad news of last month"that boy might take
away a belt full of rupees.'

'How many?' said Kim promptly.

'Five hundred - a thousand - as many as he might ask for.'

'Good. And for how long might such a boy live after the news was
told?' He smiled merrily at Lurgan's Sahib's very beard.

'Ah! That is to be well thought of. Perhaps if he were very clever
he might live out the day - but not the night. By no means the
night.'

'Then what is the Babu's pay if so much is put upon his head?'

'Eighty - perhaps a hundred - perhaps a hundred and fifty rupees;
but the pay is the least part of the work. From time to time
God causes men to be born - and thou art one of them -who have a
lust to go abroad at the risk of their lives and discover news today
it may be of far-off thingstomorrow of some hidden mountain
and the next day of some near-by men who have done a foolishness


against the State. These souls are very few; and of these fewnot
more than ten are of the best. Among these ten I count the Babu
and that is curious. How greatthereforeand desirable must be a
business that brazens the heart of a Bengali!'

'True. But the days go slowly for me. I am yet a boyand it is only
within two months I learned to write Angrezi. Even now I cannot
read it well. And there are yet years and years and long years
before I can be even a chain-man.'

'Have patienceFriend of all the World' - Kim started at the title.
'Would I had a few of the years that so irk thee. I have proved thee
in several small ways. This will not be forgotten when I make my
report to the Colonel Sahib.' Thenchanging suddenly into English
with a deep laugh:

'By Jove! O'HaraI think there is a great deal in you; but you must
not become proud and you must not talk. You must go back to Lucknow
and be a good little boy and mind your bookas the English sayand
perhapsnext holidays if you careyou can come back to me!' Kim's
face fell. 'OhI mean if you like. I know where you want to go.'

Four days later a seat was booked for Kim and his small trunk at the
rear of a Kalka tonga. His companion was the whale-like Babuwho
with a fringed shawl wrapped round his headand his fat openworkstockinged
left leg tucked under himshivered and grunted in the
morning chill.

'How comes it that this man is one of us?' thought Kim considering
the jelly back as they jolted down the road; and the reflection
threw him into most pleasant day-dreams. Lurgan Sahib had given him
five rupees - a splendid sum - as well as the assurance of his
protection if he worked. Unlike MahbubLurgan Sahib had spoken most
explicitly of the reward that would follow obedienceand Kim was
content. If onlylike the Babuhe could enjoy the dignity of a
letter and a number - and a price upon his head! Some day he would
be all that and more. Some day he might be almost as great as Mahbub
Ali! The housetops of his search should be half India; he would
follow Kings and Ministersas in the old days he had followed
vakils and lawyers' touts across Lahore city for Mahbub Ali's sake.
Meantimethere was the presentand not at all unpleasantfact of
St Xavier's immediately before him. There would be new boys to
condescend toand there would be tales of holiday adventures to
hear. Young Martinson of the tea-planter at Manipurhad boasted
that he would go to warwith a rifleagainst the head-hunters.

That might bebut it was certain young Martin had not been blown
half across the forecourt of a Patiala palace by an explosion of
fireworks; nor had he... Kim fell to telling himself the story of
his own adventures through the last three months. He could paralyse
St Xavier's - even the biggest boys who shaved - with the recital
were that permitted. But it wasof courseout of the question.
There would be a price upon his head in good timeas Lurgan Sahib
had assured him; and if he talked foolishly nownot only would that
price never be setbut Colonel Creighton would cast him off - and
he would be left to the wrath of Lurgan Sahib and Mahbub Ali - for
the short space of life that would remain to him.

'So I should lose Delhi for the sake of a fish' was his proverbial
philosophy. It behoved him to forget his holidays (there would
always remain the fun of inventing imaginary adventures) andas
Lurgan Sahib had saidto work. Of all the boys hurrying back to St
Xavier'sfrom Sukkur in the sands to Galle beneath the palmsnone
was so filled with virtue as Kimball O'Harajiggeting down to


Umballa behind Hurree Chunder Mookerjeewhose name on the books of
one section of the Ethnological Survey was R.17.

And if additional spur were neededthe Babu supplied it. After a
huge meal at Kalkahe spoke uninterruptedly. Was Kim going to
school? Then hean M A of Calcutta Universitywould explain the
advantages of education. There were marks to be gained by due
attention to Latin and Wordsworth's Excursion (all this was Greek to
Kim). Frenchtoo was vitaland the best was to be picked up in
Chandernagore a few miles from Calcutta. Also a man might go faras
he himself had doneby strict attention to plays called Lear and
Julius Caesarboth much in demand by examiners. Lear was not so
full of historical allusions as Julius Caesar; the book cost four
annasbut could be bought second-hand in Bow Bazar for two. Still
more important than Wordsworthor the eminent authorsBurke and
Harewas the art and science of mensuration. A boy who had passed
his examination in these branches - for whichby the waythere
were no cram-books - couldby merely marching over a country with a
compass and a level and a straight eyecarry away a picture of that
country which might be sold for large sums in coined silver. But as
it was occasionally inexpedient to carry about measuring-chains a
boy would do well to know the precise length of his own foot-pace
so that when he was deprived of what Hurree Chunder called
adventitious aids' he might still tread his distances. To keep count
of thousands of pacesHurree Chunder's experience had shown him
nothing more valuable than a rosary of eighty-one or a hundred and
eight beadsfor 'it was divisible and sub-divisible into many
multiples and sub-multiples'. Through the volleying drifts of
EnglishKim caught the general trend of the talkand it interested
him very much. Here was a new craft that a man could tuck away in
his head and by the look of the large wide world unfolding itself
before himit seemed that the more a man knew the better for him.

Said the Babu when he had talked for an hour and a half 'I hope some
day to enjoy your offeecial acquaintance. Ad interimif I may be
pardoned that expressionI shall give you this betel-boxwhich is
highly valuable article and cost me two rupees only four years ago.'
It was a cheapheart-shaped brass thing with three compartments for
carrying the eternal betel-nutlime and pan-leaf; but it was filled
with little tabloid-bottles. 'That is reward of merit for your
performance in character of that holy man. You seeyou are so young
you think you will last for ever and not take care of your body. It
is great nuisance to go sick in the middle of business. I am fond of
drugs myselfand they are handy to cure poor people too. These are
good Departmental drugs - quinine and so on. I give it you for
souvenir. Now good-bye. I have urgent private business here by the
roadside.'

He slipped out noiselessly as a caton the Umballa roadhailed a
passing cart and jingled awaywhile Kimtongue-tiedtwiddled the
brass betel-box in his hands.

The record of a boy's education interests few save his parentsand
as you knowKim was an orphan. It is written in the books of St
Xavier's in Partibus that a report of Kim's progress was forwarded
at the end of each term to Colonel Creighton and to Father Victor
from whose hands duly came the money for his schooling. It is
further recorded in the same books that he showed a great aptitude
for mathematical studies as well as map-makingand carried away a
prize (The Life of Lord Lawrencetree-calftwo vols.nine rupees
eight annas) for proficiency therein; and the same term played in St
Xavier's eleven against the Alighur Mohammedan Collegehis age
being fourteen years and ten months. He was also re-vaccinated (from
which we may assume that there had been another epidemic of smallpox


at Lucknow) about the same time. Pencil notes on the edge of an old
muster-roll record that he was punished several times for
'conversing with improper persons'and it seems that he was once
sentenced to heavy pains for 'absenting himself for a day in the
company of a street beggar'. That was when he got over the gate and
pleaded with the lama through a whole day down the banks of the
Gumti to accompany him on the Road next holidays - for one month for
a little week; and the lama set his face as a flint against it
averring that the time had not yet come. Kim's businesssaid the
old man as they ate cakes togetherwas to get all the wisdom of the
Sahibs and then he would see. The Hand of Friendship must in some
way have averted the Whip of Calamityfor six weeks later Kim seems
to have passed an examination in elementary surveying 'with great
credit'his age being fifteen years and eight months. From this
date the record is silent. His name does not appear in the year's
batch of those who entered for the subordinate Survey of Indiabut
against it stand the words 'removed on appointment.

Several times in those three yearscast up at the Temple of the
Tirthankars in Benares the lamaa little thinner and a shade
yellowerif that were possiblebut gentle and untainted as ever.
Sometimes it was from the South that he came - from south of
Tuticorinwhence the wonderful fire-boats go to Ceylon where are
priests who know Pali; sometimes it was from the wet green West and
the thousand cotton-factory chimneys that ring Bombay; and once from
the Northwhere he had doubled back eight hundred miles to talk for
a day with the Keeper of the Images in the Wonder House. He would
stride to his cell in the coolcut marble - the priests of the
Temple were good to the old man- wash off the dust of travelmake
prayerand depart for Lucknowwell accustomed now to the way of
the railin a third-class carriage. Returningit was noticeable
as his friend the Seeker pointed out to the head-priestthat he
ceased for a while to mourn the loss of his Riveror to draw
wondrous pictures of the Wheel of Lifebut preferred to talk of the
beauty and wisdom of a certain mysterious chela whom no man of the
Temple had ever seen. Yeshe had followed the traces of the Blessed
Feet throughout all India. (The Curator has still in his possession
a most marvellous account of his wanderings and meditations.) There
remained nothing more in life but to find the River of the Arrow.
Yet it was shown to him in dreams that it was a matter not to be
undertaken with any hope of success unless that seeker had with him
the one chela appointed to bring the event to a happy issueand
versed in great wisdom - such wisdom as white-haired Keepers of
Images possess. For example (here came out the snuff-gourdand the
kindly Jain priests made haste to be silent):

'Long and long agowhen Devadatta was King of Benares -let all
listen to theTataka! - an elephant was captured for a time by the
king's hunters and ere he broke freeberinged with a grievous
legiron. This he strove to remove with hate and frenzy in his heart
and hurrying up and down the forestsbesought his brother-elephants
to wrench it asunder. One by onewith their strong trunksthey
tried and failed. At the last they gave it as their opinion that the
ring was not to be broken by any bestial power. And in a thicket
new-bornwet with moisture of birthlay a day-old calf of the herd
whose mother had died. The fettered elephantforgetting his own
agonysaid: "If I do not help this suckling it will perish under
our feet." So he stood above the young thingmaking his legs
buttresses against the uneasily moving herd; and he begged milk of a
virtuous cowand the calf throveand the ringed elephant was the
calf's guide and defence. Now the days of an elephant - let all
listen to the Tataka! - are thirty-five years to his full strength
and through thirty-five Rains the ringed elephant befriended the
youngerand all the while the fetter ate into the flesh.


'Then one day the young elephant saw the half-buried ironand
turning to the elder said: "What is this?" "It is even my sorrow
said he who had befriended him. Then that other put out his trunk
and in the twinkling of an eyelash abolished the ring, saying: The
appointed time has come." So the virtuous elephant who had waited
temperately and done kind acts was relievedat the appointed time
by the very calf whom he had turned aside to cherish - let all
listen to the Tataka! for the Elephant was Anandaand the Calf
that broke the ring was none other than The Lord Himself...'

Then he would shake his head benignlyand over the ever-clicking
rosary point out how free that elephant-calf was from the sin of
pride. He was as humble as a chela whoseeing his master sitting in
the dust outside the Gates of Learningover-leapt the gates (though
they were locked) and took his master to his heart in the presence
of the proud-stomached city. Rich would be the reward of such a
master and such a chela when the time came for them to seek freedom
together!

So did the lama speakcoming and going across India as softly as a
bat. A sharp-tongued old woman in a house among the fruit-trees
behind Saharunpore honoured him as the woman honoured the prophet
but his chamber was by no means upon the wall. In an apartment of
the forecourt overlooked by cooing doves he would sitwhile she
laid aside her useless veil and chattered of spirits and fiends of
Kuluof grandchildren unbornand of the free-tongued brat who had
talked to her in the resting-place. Oncetoohe strayed alone from
the Grand Trunk Road below Umballa to the very village whose priest
had tried to drug him; but the kind Heaven that guards lamas sent
him at twilight through the cropsabsorbed and unsuspiciousto the
Rissaldar's door. Here was like to have been a grave
misunderstandingfor the old soldier asked him why the Friend of
the Stars had gone that way only six days before.

'That may not be' said the lama. 'He has gone back to his own
people.'

'He sat in that corner telling a hundred merry tales five nights
ago' his host insisted. 'Truehe vanished somewhat suddenly in the
dawn after foolish talk with my granddaughter. He grows apacebut
he is the same Friend of the Stars as brought me true word of the
war. Have ye parted?'

'Yes - and no' the lama replied. 'We - we have not altogether
partedbut the time is not ripe that we should take the Road
together. He acquires wisdom in another place. We must wait.'

'All one - but if it were not the boy how did he come to speak so
continually of thee?'

'And what said he?' asked the lama eagerly.

'Sweet words - an hundred thousand - that thou art his father and
mother and such all. Pity that he does not take the Qpeen's service.
He is fearless.'

This news amazed the lamawho did not then know how religiously Kim
kept to the contract made with Mahbub Aliand perforce ratified by
Colonel Creighton...

'There is no holding the young pony from the game' said the horsedealer
when the Colonel pointed out that vagabonding over India in
holiday time was absurd. 'If permission be refused to go and come as


he chooseshe will make light of the refusal. Then who is to catch
him? Colonel Sahibonly once in a thousand years is a horse born so
well fitted for the game as this our colt. And we need men.'


Chapter 10


Your tiercel's too long at hackSire. He's no eyass
But a passage-hawk that footed ere we caught him
Dangerously free o' the air. Faith! were he mine
(As mine's the glove he binds to for his tirings)
I'd fly him with a make-hawk. He's in yarak
Plumed to the very point - so mannedso weathered ...
Give him the firmament God made him for
And what shall take the air of him?


Gow's Watch


Lurgan Sahib did not use as direct speechbut his advice tallied
with Mahbub's; and the upshot was good for Kim. He knew better now
than to leave Lucknow city in native garband if Mahbub were
anywhere within reach of a letterit was to Mahbub's camp he
headedand made his change under the Pathan's wary eye. Could
the little Survey paint-box that he used for map-tinting in term-
time have found a tongue to tell of holiday doingshe might have
been expelled. Once Mahbub and he went together as far as the
beautiful city of Bombaywith three truckloads of tram-horsesand
Mahbub nearly melted when Kim proposed a sail in a dhow across the
Indian Ocean to buy Gulf Arabswhichhe understood from a hanger-
on of the dealer Abdul Rahmanfetched better prices than mere
Kabulis.


He dipped his hand into the dish with that great trader when Mahbub
and a few co-religionists were invited to a big Haj dinner. They
came back by way of Karachi by seawhen Kim took his first
experience of sea-sickness sitting on the fore-hatch of a coasting-
steamerwell persuaded he had been poisoned. The Babu's famous
drug-box proved uselessthough Kim had restocked it at Bombay.
Mahbub had business at Quettaand there Kimas Mahbub admitted
earned his keepand perhaps a little overby spending four curious
days as scullion in the house of a fat Commissariat sergeantfrom
whose office-boxin an auspicious momenthe removed a little
vellum ledger which he copied out - it seemed to deal entirely with
cattle and camel sales - by moonlightlying behind an outhouseall
through one hot night. Then he returned the ledger to its place
andat Mahbub's wordleft that service unpaidrejoining him six
miles down the roadthe clean copy in his bosom.


'That soldier is a small fish' Mahbub Ali explained'but in time
we shall catch the larger one. He only sells oxen at two prices -
one for himself and one for the Government which I do not think is
a sin.'


'Why could not I take away the little book and be done with it?'


Then he would have been frightenedand he would have told his
master. Then we should missperhapsa great number of new rifles
which seek their way up from Quetta to the North. The Game is so



large that one sees but a little at a time.'

'Oho!' said Kimand held his tongue. That was in the monsoon
holidaysafter he had taken the prize for mathematics. The
Christmas holidays he spent - deducting ten days for private
amusements - with Lurgan Sahibwhere he sat for the most part in
front of a roaring wood-fire - Jakko road was four feet deep in snow
that year - and - the small Hindu had gone away to be married helped
Lurgan to thread pearls. He made Kim learn whole chapters of
the Koran by hearttill he could deliver them with the very roll
and cadence of a mullah. Moreoverhe told Kim the names and
properties of many native drugsas well as the runes proper to
recite when you administer them. And in the evenings he wrote charms
on parchment - elaborate pentagrams crowned with the names of devils

-Murraand Awan the Companion of Kings - all fantastically written
in the corners. More to the pointhe advised Kim as to the care of
his own bodythe cure of fever-fitsand simple remedies of the
Road. A week before it was time to go downColonel Creighton Sahib
-this was unfair - sent Kim a written examination paper that
concerned itself solely with rods and chains and links and angles.
Next holidays he was out with Mahbuband hereby the wayhe
nearly died of thirstplodding through the sand on a camel to the
mysterious city of Bikanirwhere the wells are four hundred feet
deepand lined throughout with camel-bone. It was not an amusing
trip from Kim's point of viewbecause - in defiance of the contract

-the Colonel ordered him to make a map of that wildwalled city;
and since Mohammedan horse-boys and pipe-tenders are not expected to
drag Survey-chains round the capital of an independent Native State
Kim was forced to pace all his distances by means of a bead rosary.
He used the compass for bearings as occasion served - after dark
chieflywhen the camels had been fed - and by the help of his
little Survey paint-box of six colour-cakes and three brusheshe
achieved something not remotely unlike the city of Jeysulmir. Mahbub
laughed a great dealand advised him to make up a written report as
well; and in the back of the big account-book that lay under the
flap of Mahbub's pet saddle Kim fell to work..
'It must hold everything that thou hast seen or touched or
considered. Write as though the Jung-i-Lat Sahib himself had come by
stealth with a vast army outsetting to war.'

'How great an army?'

'Ohhalf a lakh of men.'

'Folly! Remember how few and bad were the wells in the sand. Not a
thousand thirsty men could come near by here.'

'Then write that down - also all the old breaches in the walls and
whence the firewood is cut - and what is the temper and disposition
of the King. I stay here till all my horses are sold. I will hire a
room by the gatewayand thou shalt be my accountant. There is a
good lock to the door.'

The report in its unmistakable St Xavier's running scriptand the
brownyellowand lake-daubed mapwas on hand a few years ago (a
careless clerk filed it with the rough notes of E's second Seistan
survey)but by now the pencil characters must be almost illegible.
Kim translated itsweating under the light of an oil-lampto
Mahbubthe second day of their return-journey.

The Pathan rose and stooped over his dappled saddle-bags.


'I knew it would be worthy a dress of honourand so I made one
ready' he saidsmiling. 'Were I Amir of Afghanistan (and some day
we may see him)I would fill thy mouth with gold.' He laid the
garments formally at Kim's feet. There was a gold-embroidered
Peshawur turban-caprising to a coneand a big turban-cloth ending
in a broad fringe of gold. There was a Delhi embroidered waistcoat
to slip over a milky white shirtfastening to the rightample and
flowing; green pyjamas with twisted silk waist-string; and that
nothing might be lackingrussia-leather slipperssmelling
divinelywith arrogantly curled tips.

'Upon a Wednesdayand in the morningto put on new clothes is
auspicious' said Mahbub solemnly. 'But we must not forget the
wicked folk in the world. So!'

He capped all the splendourthat was taking Kim's delighted breath
awaywith a mother-of-pearlnickel-platedself-extracting .450
revolver.

'I had thought of a smaller borebut reflected that this takes
Government bullets. A man can always come by those - especially
across the Border. Stand up and let me look.' He clapped Kim on the
shoulder. 'May you never be tiredPathan! Ohthe hearts to be
broken! Ohthe eyes under the eyelasheslooking sideways!'

Kim turned aboutpointed his toesstretchedand felt mechanically
for the moustache that was just beginning. Then he stooped towards
Mahbub's feet to make proper acknowledgment with flutteringquickpatting
hands; his heart too full for words. Mahbub forestalled and
embraced him.

'My sonsaid he'what need of words between us? But is not the
little gun a delight? All six cartridges come out at one twist. It
is borne in the bosom next the skinwhichas it werekeeps it
oiled. Never put it elsewhereand please Godthou shalt some day
kill a man with it.'

'Hai mai!' said Kim ruefully. 'If a Sahib kills a man he is hanged
in the jail.'

'True: but one pace beyond the Bordermen are wiser. Put it away;
but fill it first. Of what use is a gun unfed?'

'When I go back to the madrissah I must return it. They do not allow
little guns. Thou wilt keep it for me?'

'SonI am wearied of that madrissahwhere they take the best years
of a man to teach him what he can only learn upon the Road. The
folly of the Sahibs has neither top nor bottom. No matter. Maybe thy
written report shall save thee further bondage; and God He knows we
need men more and more in the Game.'

They marchedjaw-bound against blowing sandacross the salt desert
to Jodhpurwhere Mahbub and his handsome nephew Habib Ullah did
much trading; and then sorrowfullyin European clotheswhich he
was fast outgrowingKim went second-class to St Xavier's. Three
weeks laterColonel Creightonpricing Tibetan ghost-daggers at
Lurgan's shopfaced Mahbub Ali openly mutinous. Lurgan Sahib
operated as support in reserve.

'The pony is made - finished - mouthed and pacedSahib! From now
onday by dayhe will lose his manners if he is kept at tricks.


Drop the rein on his back and let go' said the horse-dealer. 'We
need him.'

'But he is so youngMahbub - not more than sixteen - is he?'

'When I was fifteenI had shot my man and begot my manSahib.'

'You impenitent old heathen!' Creighton turned to Lurgan. The black
beard nodded assent to the wisdom of the Afghan's dyed scarlet.

'I should have used him long ago' said Lurgan. 'The younger the
better. That is why I always have my really valuable jewels watched
by a child. You sent him to me to try. I tried him in every way: he
is the only boy I could not make to see things.'

'In the crystal - in the ink-pool?' demanded Mahbub.

'No. Under my handas I told you. That has never happened before.
It means that he is strong enough - but you think it skittles
Colonel Creighton - to make anyone do anything he wants. And that is
three years ago. I have taught him a good deal sinceColonel
Creighton. I think you waste him now.'

'Hmm! Maybe you're right. Butas you knowthere is no Survey work
for him at present.'

'Let him out let him go' Mahbub interrupted. 'Who expects any colt
to carry heavy weight at first? Let him run with the caravans - like
our white camel-colts - for luck. I would take him myselfbut -

'There is a little business where he would be most useful - in the
South' said Lurganwith peculiar suavitydropping his heavy blued
eyelids.

'E.23 has that in hand' said Creighton quickly. 'He must not go down
there. Besideshe knows no Turki.'

'Only tell him the shape and the smell of the letters we want and he
will bring them back' Lurgan insisted.

'No. That is a man's job' said Creighton.

It was a wry-necked matter of unauthorized and incendiary
correspondence between a person who claimed to be the ultimate
authority in all matters of the Mohammedan religion throughout the
worldand a younger member of a royal house who had been brought to
book for kidnapping women within British territory. The Moslem
Archbishop had been emphatic and over-arrogant; the young prince was
merely sulky at the curtailment of his privilegesbut there was no
need he should continue a correspondence which might some day
compromise him. One letter indeed had been procuredbut the finder
was later found dead by the roadside in the habit of an Arab trader
as E.23taking up the workduly reported.

These factsand a few others not to be publishedmade both Mahbub
and Creighton shake their heads.

'Let him go out with his Red Lama' said the horse-dealer with
visible effort. 'He is fond of the old man. He can learn his paces
by the rosary at least.'

'I have had some dealings with the old man - by letter' said
Colonel Creightonsmiling to himself. 'Whither goes he?'


'Up and down the landas he has these three years. He seeks a River
of Healing. God's curse upon all -' Mahbub checked himself. 'He beds
down at the Temple of the Tirthankars or at Buddh Gaya when he is in
from the Road. Then he goes to see the boy at the madrissahas we
know for the boy was punished for it twice or thrice. He is quite
madbut a peaceful man. I have met him. The Babu also has had
dealings with him. We have watched him for three years. Red Lamas
are not so common in Hind that one loses track.'

'Babus are very curious' said Lurgan meditatively. 'Do you know
what Hurree Babu really wants? He wants to be made a member of the
Royal Society by taking ethnological notes. I tell youI tell him
about the lama everything which Mahbub and the boy have told me.
Hurree Babu goes down to Benares - at his own expenseI think.'

'I don't' said Creighton briefly. He had paid Hurree's travelling
expensesout of a most lively curiosity to learn what the lama
might be.

'And he applies to the lama for information on lamaismand devildances
and spells and charmsseveral times in these few years.
Holy Virgin! I could have told him all that yeears ago. I think
Hurree Babu is getting too old for the Road. He likes better to
collect manners and customs information. Yeshe wants to be an FRS.

'Hurree thinks well of the boydoesn't he?'

'Ohvery indeed - we have had some pleasant evenings at my little
place - but I think it would be waste to throw him away with Hurree
on the Ethnological side.'

'Not for a first experience. How does that strike youMahbub? Let
the boy run with the lama for six months. After that we can see. He
will get experience.'

'He has it alreadySahib - as a fish controls the water he swims
in. But for every reason it will be well to loose him from the
school.'

'Very goodthen' said Creightonhalf to himself. 'He can go with
the lamaand if Hurree Babu cares to keep an eye on them so much
the better. He won't lead the boy into any danger as Mahbub would.
Curious - his wish to be an F R S. Very humantoo. He is best on
the Ethnological side - Hurree.'

No money and no preferment would have drawn Creighton from his work
on the Indian Surveybut deep in his heart also lay the ambition to
write 'F R S' after his name. Honours of a sort he knew could be
obtained by ingenuity and the help of friendsbutto the best of
his beliefnothing save work -papers representing a life of it took
a man into the Society which he had bombarded for years with
monographs on strange Asiatic cults and unknown customs. Nine men
out of ten would flee from a Royal Society soiree in extremity of
boredom; but Creighton was the tenthand at times his soul yearned
for the crowded rooms in easy London where silver-hairedbaldheaded
gentlemen who know nothing of the Army move among
spectroscopic experimentsthe lesser plants of the frozen tundras
electric flight-measuring machinesand apparatus for slicing into
fractional millimetres the left eye of the female mosquito. By all
right and reasonit was the Royal Geographical that should have
appealed to himbut men are as chancy as children in their choice
of playthings. So Creighton smiledand thought the better of Hurree
Babumoved by like desire.


He dropped the ghost-dagger and looked up at Mahbub.

'How soon can we get the colt from the stable?' said the horsedealer
reading his eyes.

'Hmm! If I withdraw him by order now - what will he dothink you? I
have never before assisted at the teaching of such an one.'

'He will come to me' said Mahbub promptly. 'Lurgan Sahib and I will
prepare him for the Road.'

'So be itthen. For six months he shall run at his choice. But who
will be his sponsor?'

Lurgan slightly inclined his head. 'He will not tell anythingif
that is what you are afraid ofColonel Creighton.'

'It's only a boyafter all.'

'Ye-es; but firsthe has nothing to tell; and secondlyhe knows
what would happen. Alsohe is very fond of Mahbuband of me a
little.'

'Will he draw pay?' demanded the practical horse-dealer.

'Food and water allowance only. Twenty rupees a month.'

One advantage of the Secret Service is that it has no worrying
audit. That Service is ludicrously starvedof coursebut the funds
are administered by a few men who do not call for vouchers or
present itemized accounts. Mahbub's eyes lighted with almost a
Sikh's love of money. Even Lurgan's impassive face changed. He
considered the years to come when Kim would have been entered and
made to the Great Game that never ceases day and nightthroughout
India. He foresaw honour and credit in the mouths of a chosen few
coming to him from his pupil. Lurgan Sahib had made E.23 what E.23 was
out of a bewilderedimpertinentlyinglittle North-West Province
man.

But the joy of these masters was pale and smoky beside the joy of
Kim when St Xavier's Head called him asidewith word that Colonel
Creighton had sent for him.

'I understandO'Harathat he has found you a place as an assistant
chain-man in the Canal Department: that comes of taking up
mathematics. It is great luck for youfor you are only sixteen; but
of course you understand that you do not become pukka [permanent]
till you have passed the autumn examination. So you must not think
you are going out into the world to enjoy yourselfor that your
fortune is made. There is a great deal of hard work before you.
Onlyif you succeed in becoming pukkayou can riseyou knowto
four hundred and fifty a month.' Whereat the Principal gave him much
good advice as to his conductand his mannersand his morals; and
othershis elderswho had not been wafted into billetstalked as
only Anglo-Indian lads canof favouritism and corruption. Indeed
young Cazaletwhose father was a pensioner at Chunarhinted very
broadly that Colonel Creighton's interest in Kim was directly
paternal; and Kiminstead of retaliatingdid not even use
language. He was thinking of the immense fun to comeof Mahbub's
letter of the day beforeall neatly written in Englishmaking
appointment for that afternoon in a house the very name of which
would have crisped the Principal's hair with horror...

Said Kim to Mahbub in Lucknow railway station that eveningabove


the luggage-scales: 'I feared lest at the lastthe roof would fall
upon me and cheat me. It is indeed all finishedO my father?'

Mahbub snapped his fingers to show the utterness of that endand
his eyes blazed like red coals.

'Then where is the pistol that I may wear it?'

'Softly! A half-yearto run without heel-ropes. I begged that much
from Colonel Creighton Sahib. At twenty rupees a month. Old Red Hat
knows that thou art coming.'

'I will pay thee dustoorie [commission] on my pay for three months'
said Kim gravely. 'Yeatwo rupees a month. But first we must get
rid of these.' He plucked his thin linen trousers and dragged at his
collar. 'I have brought with me all that I need on the Road. My
trunk has gone up to Lurgan Sahib's.'

'Who sends his salaams to thee - Sahib.'

'Lurgan Sahib is a very clever man. But what dost thou do?'

'I go North againupon the Great Game. What else? Is thy mind still
set on following old Red Hat?'

'Do not forget he made me that I am - though he did not know it.
Year by yearhe sent the money that taught me.'

'I would have done as much - had it struck my thick head' Mahbub
growled. 'Come away. The lamps are lit nowand none will mark thee
in the bazar. We go to Huneefa's house.'

On the way thitherMahbub gave him much the same sort of advice as
his mother gave to Lemueland curiously enoughMahbub was exact to
point out how Huneefa and her likes destroyed kings.

'And I remember' he quoted maliciously'one who saidTrust a
snake before an harlot, and an harlot before a Pathan, Mahbub Ali.
Nowexcepting as to Pathansof whom I am oneall that is true.
Most true is it in the Great Gamefor it is by means of women that
all plans come to ruin and we lie out in the dawning with our
throats cut. So it happened to such a one.' He gave the reddest
particulars.

'Then why -?' Kim paused before a filthy staircase that climbed to
the warm darkness of an upper chamberin the ward that is behind
Azim Ullah's tobacco-shop. Those who know it call it The Birdcage it
is so full of whisperings and whistlings and chirrupings.

The roomwith its dirty cushions and half-smoked hookahssmelt
abominably of stale tobacco. In one corner lay a huge and shapeless
woman clad in greenish gauzesand deckedbrownoseearneck
wristarmwaistand ankle with heavy native jewellery. When she
turned it was like the clashing of copper pots. A lean cat in the
balcony outside the window mewed hungrily. Kim checkedbewildered
at the door-curtain.

'Is that the new stuffMahbub?' said Huneefa lazilyscarce
troubling to remove the mouthpiece from her lips. 'O Buktanoos!' like
most of her kindshe swore by the Djinns - 'O Buktanoos! He is
very good to look upon.'

'That is part of the selling of the horse' Mahbub explained to Kim
who laughed.


'I have heard that talk since my Sixth Day' he repliedsquatting
by the light. 'Whither does it lead?'

'To protection. Tonight we change thy colour. This sleeping under
roofs has blanched thee like an almond. But Huneefa has the secret
of a colour that catches. No painting of a day or two. Alsowe
fortify thee against the chances of the Road. That is my gift to
theemy son. Take out all metals on thee and lay them here. Make
readyHuneefa.'

Kim dragged forth his compassSurvey paint-boxand the new-filled
medicine-box. They had all accompanied his travelsand boylike he
valued them immensely.

The woman rose slowly and moved with her hands a little spread
before her. Then Kim saw that she was blind. 'Nono' she muttered
'the Pathan speaks truth - my colour does not go in a week or a
monthand those whom I protect are under strong guard.'

'When one is far off and aloneit would not be well to grow
blotched and leprous of a sudden' said Mahbub. 'When thou wast with
me I could oversee the matter. Besidesa Pathan is a fair-skin.
Strip to the waist now and look how thou art whitened.' Huneefa felt
her way back from an inner room. 'It is no mattershe cannot see.'
He took a pewter bowl from her ringed hand.

The dye-stuff showed blue and gummy. Kim experimented on the back of
his wristwith a dab of cotton-wool; but Huneefa heard him.

'Nono' she cried'the thing is not done thusbut with the
proper ceremonies. The colouring is the least part. I give thee the
full protection of the Road.'

'Tadoo? [magic]'said Kimwith a half start. He did not like the
whitesightless eyes. Mahbub's hand on his neck bowed him to the
floornose within an inch of the boards.

'Be still. No harm comes to theemy son. I am thy sacrifice!'

He could not see what the woman was aboutbut heard the dish-clash
of her jewellery for many minutes. A match lit up the darkness; he
caught the well-known purr and fizzle of grains of incense. Then the
room filled with smoke - heavy aromaticand stupefying. Through
growing drowse he heard the names of devils - of ZulbazanSon of
Ebliswho lives in bazars and paraosmaking all the sudden lewd
wickedness of wayside halts; of Dulhaninvisible about mosques
the dweller among the slippers of the faithfulwho hinders folk
from their prayers; and MusbootLord of lies and panic. Huneefa
now whispering in his earnow talking as from an immense distance
touched him with horrible soft fingersbut Mahbub's grip never
shifted from his neck tillrelaxing with a sighthe boy lost his
senses.

'Allah! How he fought! We should never have done it but for the
drugs. That was his white bloodI take it' said Mahbub testily.
'Go on with the dawut [invocation]. Give him full Protection.'

'O Hearer! Thou that hearest with earsbe present. ListenO
Hearer!' Huneefa moanedher dead eyes turned to the west. The dark
room filled with moanings and snortings.

From the outer balconya ponderous figure raised a round bullet
head and coughed nervously.


'Do not interrupt this ventriloquial necromancissmy friend' it
said in English. 'I opine that it is very disturbing to youbut no
enlightened observer is jolly-well upset.'

'..........I will lay a plot for their ruin! O Prophetbear with
the unbelievers. Let them alone awhile!' Huneefa's faceturned to
the northwardworked horriblyand it was as though voices from the
ceiling answered her.

Hurree Babu returned to his note-bookbalanced on the window-sill
but his hand shook. Huneefain some sort of drugged ecstasy
wrenched herself to and fro as she sat cross-legged by Kim's still
headand called upon devil after devilin the ancient order of the
ritualbinding them to avoid the boy's every action.

'With Him are the keys of the Secret Things! None knoweth them
besides Himself He knoweth that which is in the dry land and in the
sea!' Again broke out the unearthly whistling responses.

'I - I apprehend it is not at all malignant in its operation?' said
the Babuwatching the throat-muscles quiver and jerk as Huneefa
spoke with tongues. 'It - it is not likely that she has killed the
boy? If soI decline to be witness at the trial .....What was the
last hypothetical devil mentioned?'

'Babuji' said Mahbub in the vernacular. 'I have no regard for the
devils of Hindbut the Sons of Eblis are far otherwiseand whether
they be jumalee [well-affected] or jullalee [terrible) they love not
Kafirs.'

'Then you think I had better go?' said Hurree Babuhalf rising.
'They areof coursedematerialized phenomena. Spencer says '

Huneefa's crisis passedas these things mustin a paroxysm of
howlingwith a touch of froth at the lips. She lay spent and
motionless beside Kimand the crazy voices ceased.

'Wah! That work is done. May the boy be better for it; and Huneefa
is surely a mistress of dawut. Help haul her asideBabu. Do not be
afraid.'

'How am I to fear the absolutely non-existent?' said Hurree Babu
talking English to reassure himself. It is an awful thing still to
dread the magic that you contemptuously investigate -to collect
folk-lore for the Royal Society with a lively belief in all Powers
of Darkness.

Mahbub chuckled. He had been out with Hurree on the Road ere now.
'Let us finish the colouring' said he. 'The boy is well protected
if - if the Lords of the Air have ears to hear. I am a Sufi [freethinker)
but when one can get blind-sides of a womana stallion
or a devilwhy go round to invite a kick? Set him upon the way
Babuand see that old Red Hat does not lead him beyond our reach. I
must get back to my horses.'

'All raight' said Hurree Babu. 'He is at present curious
spectacle.'

About third cockcrowKim woke after a sleep of thousands of years.
Huneefain her cornersnored heavilybut Mahbub was gone.

'I hope you were not frightened' said an oily voice at his elbow.
'I superintended entire operationwhich was most interesting from


ethnological point of view. It was high-class dawut.'

'Huh!' said Kimrecognizing Hurree Babuwho smiled ingratiatingly.

'And also I had honour to bring down from Lurgan your present
costume. I am not in the habit offeecially of carrying such gauds to
subordinatesbut' - he giggled - 'your case is noted as exceptional
on the books. I hope Mr Lurgan will note my action.'

Kim yawned and stretched himself. It was good to turn and twist
within loose clothes once again.

'What is this?' He looked curiously at the heavy duffle-stuff loaded
with the scents of the far North.

'Oho! That is inconspicuous dress of chela attached to service of
lamaistic lama. Complete in every particular' said Hurree Babu
rolling into the balcony to clean his teeth at a goglet. 'I am of
opeenion it is not your old gentleman's precise releegionbut
rather sub-variant of same. I have contributed rejected notes To
Whom It May Concern: Asiatic Quarterly Review on these subjects. Now
it is curious that the old gentleman himself is totally devoid of
releegiosity. He is not a dam' particular.'

'Do you know him?'

Hurree Babu held up his hand to show he was engaged in the
prescribed rites that accompany tooth-cleaning and such things among
decently bred Bengalis. Then he recited in English an Arya-Somaj
prayer of a theistical natureand stuffed his mouth with pan and
betel.

'Oah yes. I have met him several times at Benaresand also at Buddh
Gayato interrogate him on releegious points and devil-worship. He
is pure agnostic - same as me.'

Huneefa stirred in her sleepand Hurree Babu jumped nervously to
the copper incense-burnerall black and discoloured in morninglight
rubbed a finger in the accumulated lamp-blackand drew it
diagonally across his face.

'Who has died in thy house?' asked Kim in the vernacular.

'None. But she may have the Evil Eye - that sorceress' the Babu
replied.

'What dost thou do nowthen?'

'I will set thee on thy way to Benaresif thou goest thitherand
tell thee what must be known by Us.'

'I go. At what hour runs the te-rain?' He rose to his feetlooked
round the desolate chamber and at the yellow-wax face of Huneefa as
the low sun stole across the floor. 'Is there money to be paid that
witch?'

'No. She has charmed thee against all devils and all dangers in the
name of her devils. It was Mahbub's desire.' In English: 'He is
highly obsoleteI thinkto indulge in such supersteetion. Whyit
is all ventriloquy. Belly-speak - eh?'

Kim snapped his fingers mechanically to avert whatever evil -
Mahbubhe knewmeditated none - might have crept in through
Huneefa's ministrations; and Hurree giggled once more. But as he


crossed the room he was careful not to step in Huneefa's blotched
squat shadow on the boards. Witches -when their time is on them can
lay hold of the heels of a man's soul if he does that.

'Now you must well listen' said the Babu when they were in the
fresh air. 'Part of these ceremonies which we witnessed they include
supply of effeecient amulet to those of our Department. If you feel
in your neck you will find one small silver amuletverree cheap.
That is ours. Do you understand?'

'Oah yeshawa-dilli [a heart-lifter]' said Kimfeeling at his
neck.

'Huneefa she makes them for two rupees twelve annas with - ohall
sorts of exorcisms. They are quite commonexcept they are partially
black enameland there is a paper inside each one full of names of
local saints and such things. Thatt is Huneefa's look-outyou see?
Huneefa makes them onlee for usbut in case she does notwhen we
get them we put inbefore issueone small piece of turquoise. Mr
Lurgan he gives them. There is no other source of supply; but it was
me invented all this. It is strictly unoffeecial of coursebut
convenient for subordinates. Colonel Creighton he does not know. He
is European. The turquoise is wrapped in the paper . . . Yesthat
is road to railway station . . . Now suppose you go with the lama
or with meI hopesome dayor with Mahbub. Suppose we get into a
dam'-tight place. I am a fearful man - most fearful - but I tell you
I have been in dam'-tight places more than hairs on my head. You
say: "I am Son of the Charm." Verree good.'

'I do not understand quite. We must not be heard talking English
here.'

'That is all raight. I am only Babu showing off my English to you.
All we Babus talk English to show off;' said Hurreeflinging his
shoulder-cloth jauntily. 'As I was about to saySon of the Charm
means that you may be member of the Sat Bhai - the Seven Brothers
which is Hindi and Tantric. It is popularly supposed to be extinct
Societybut I have written notes to show it is still extant. You
seeit is all my invention. Verree good. Sat Bhai has many members
and perhaps before they jolly-well-cut-your-throat they may give you
just a chance of life. That is usefulanyhow. And moreoverthese
foolish natives - if they are not too excited - they always stop to
think before they kill a man who says he belongs to any speecific
organization. You see? You say then when you are in tight placeI
am Son of the Charmand you get - perhaps - ah -your second wind.
That is only in extreme instancesor to open negotiations with a
stranger. Can you quite see? Verree good. But suppose nowIor any
one of the Departmentcome to you dressed quite different. You
would not know me at all unless I chooseI bet you. Some day I will
prove it. I come as Ladakhi trader - ohanything - and I say to
you: "You want to buy precious stones?" You say: "Do I look like a
man who buys precious stones?" Then I say: "Even verree poor man can
buy a turquoise or tarkeean." '

'That is kichree - vegetable curry' said Kim.

'Of course it is. You say: "Let me see the tarkeean." Then I say:
It was cooked by a woman, and perhaps it is bad for your caste.
Then you say: "There is no caste when men go to - look for
tarkeean." You stop a little between those wordsto - look. That
is thee whole secret. The little stop before the words.'

Kim repeated the test-sentence.


'That is all right. Then I will show you my turquoise if there is
timeand then you know who I amand then we exchange views and
documents and those-all things. And so it is with any other man of
us. We talk sometimes about turquoises and sometimes about tarkeean
but always with that little stop in the words. It is verree easy.
FirstSon of the Charmif you are in a tight place. Perhaps that
may help you - perhaps not. Then what I have told you about the
tarkeeanif you want to transact offeecial business with a strange
man. Of courseat presentyou have no offeecial business. You are

-ah ha! - supernumerary on probation. Quite unique specimen. If you
were Asiatic of birth you might be employed right off; but this
half-year of leave is to make you de~Englishizedyou see? The lama
he expects youbecause I have demi-offeecially informed him you
have passed all your examinationsand will soon obtain Government
appointment. Oh ho! You are on acting-allowanceyou see: so if you
are called upon to help Sons of the Charm mind you jolly-well try.
Now I shall say good-byemy dear fellowand I hope you - ah - will
come out top-side all raight.'
Hurree Babu stepped back a pace or two into the crowd at the
entrance of Lucknow station and -- was gone. Kim drew a deep breath
and hugged himself all over. The nickel-plated revolver he could
feel in the bosom of his sad-coloured robethe amulet was on his
neck; begging-gourdrosaryand ghost-dagger (Mr Lurgan had
forgotten nothing) were all to handwith medicinepaint-boxand
compassand in a worn old purse-belt embroidered with porcupine-
quill patterns lay a month's pay. Kings could be no richer. He
bought sweetmeats in a leaf-cup from a Hindu traderand ate them
with glad rapture till a policeman ordered him off the steps.


Chapter ll


Give the man who is not made
To his trade
Swords to fling and catch again
Coins to ring and snatch again
Men to harm and cure again
Snakes to charm and lure again -
He'll be hurt by his own blade
By his serpents disobeyed
By his clumsiness bewrayed'
By the people mocked to scorn -
So 'tis not with juggler born!
Pinch of dust or withered flower
Chance-flung fruit or borrowed staff
Serve his need and shore his power
Bind the spellor loose the laugh!
But a man whoetc.


The Juggler's Songop. 15

Followed a sudden natural reaction.

'Now am I alone all alone' he thought. 'In all India is no one so
alone as I! If I die todaywho shall bring the news -and to whom?
If I live and God is goodthere will be a price upon my headfor I
am a Son of the Charm - IKim.'


A very few white peoplebut many Asiaticscan throw themselves
into a mazement as it were by repeating their own names over and
over again to themselvesletting the mind go free upon speculation
as to what is called personal identity. When one grows olderthe
powerusuallydepartsbut while it lasts it may descend upon a man
at any moment.

'Who is Kim - Kim - Kim?'

He squatted in a corner of the clanging waiting-roomrapt from all
other thoughts; hands folded in lapand pupils contracted to pinpoints.
In a minute - in another half-second - he felt he would
arrive at the solution of the tremendous puzzle; but hereas always
happenshis mind dropped away from those heights with a rush of a
wounded birdand passing his hand before his eyeshe shook his
head.

A long-haired Hindu bairagi [holy man]who had just bought a
tickethalted before him at that moment and stared intently.

'I also have lost it' he said sadly. 'It is one of the Gates to the
Waybut for me it has been shut many years.'

'What is the talk?' said Kimabashed.

'Thou wast wondering there in thy spirit what manner of thing thy
soul might be. The seizure came of a sudden. I know. Who should know
but I? Whither goest thou?'

'Toward Kashi [Benares].'

'There are no Gods there. I have proved them. I go to Prayag
[Allahabad] for the fifth time - seeking the Road to Enlightenment.
Of what faith art thou?'

'I too am a Seeker' said Kimusing one of the lama's pet words.
'Though'-he forgot his Northern dress for the moment - 'though
Allah alone knoweth what I seek.'

The old fellow slipped the bairagi's crutch under his armpit and sat
down on a patch of ruddy leopard's skin as Kim rose at the call for
the Benares train.

'Go in hopelittle brother' he said. 'It is a long road to the
feet of the One; but thither do we all travel.'

Kim did not feel so lonely after thisand ere he had sat out twenty
miles in the crowded compartmentwas cheering his neighbours with a
string of most wonderful yarns about his own and his master's
magical gifts.

Benares struck him as a peculiarly filthy citythough it was
pleasant to find how his cloth was respected. At least one-third of

the population prays eternally to some group or other of the many
million deitiesand so reveres every sort of holy man. Kim was
guided to the Temple of the Tirthankarsabout a mile outside the
citynear Sarnathby a chance-met Punjabi farmer - a Kamboh from
Jullundur-way who had appealed in vain to every God of his homestead
to cure his small sonand was trying Benares as a last resort.

'Thou art from the North?' he askedshouldering through the press
of the narrowstinking streets much like his own pet bull at home.

'AyI know the Punjab. My mother was a pahareenbut my father came


from Amritzar - by Jandiala' said Kimoiling his ready tongue for
the needs of the Road.

'Jandiala - Jullundur? Oho! Then we be neighbours in some sortas
it were.' He nodded tenderly to the wailing child in his arms. 'Whom
dost thou serve?'

'A most holy man at the Temple of the Tirthankers.'

'They are all most holy and - most greedy' said the Jat with
bitterness. 'I have walked the pillars and trodden the temples till
my feet are flayedand the child is no whit better. And the mother
being sick too ... Hushthenlittle one ... We changed his name
when the fever came. We put him into girl's clothes. There was
nothing we did not doexcept - I said to his mother when she
bundled me off to Benares -she should have come with me - I said
Sakhi Sarwar Sultan would serve us best. We know His generositybut
these down-country Gods are strangers.'

The child turned on the cushion of the huge corded arms and looked
at Kim through heavy eyelids.

'And was it all worthless?' Kim askedwith easy interest.

'All worthless - all worthless' said the childlips cracking with
fever.

'The Gods have given him a good mindat least' said the father
proudly. 'To think he should have listened so cleverly. Yonder is
thy Temple. Now I am a poor man - many priests have dealt with me but
my son is my sonand if a gift to thy master can cure him - I
am at my very wits' end.'

Kim considered for a whiletingling with pride. Three years ago he
would have made prompt profit on the situation and gone his way
without a thought; but nowthe very respect the Jat paid him proved
that he was a man. Moreoverhe had tasted fever once or twice
alreadyand knew enough to recognize starvation when he saw it.

'Call him forth and I will give him a bond on my best yokeso that
the child is cured.'

Kim halted at the carved outer door of the temple. A white-clad
Oswal banker from Ajmirhis sins of usury new wiped outasked
him what he did.

'I am chela to Teshoo Lamaan Holy One from Bhotiyal -within there.
He bade me come. I wait. Tell him.'

'Do not forget the child' cried the importunate Jat over his
shoulderand then bellowed in Punjabi; 'O Holy One - O disciple of
the Holy One - O Gods above all the Worlds -behold affliction
sitting at the gate!' That cry is so common in Benares that the
passers never turned their heads.

The Oswalat peace with mankindcarried the message into the
darkness behind himand the easyuncounted Eastern minutes slid
by; for the lama was asleep in his celland no priest would wake
him. When the click of his rosary again broke the hush of the inner
court where the calm images of the Arhats standa novice whispered
'Thy chela is here' and the old man strode forthforgetting the
end of that prayer.

Hardly had the tall figure shown in the doorway than the Jat ran


before himandlifting up the childcried: 'Look upon thisHoly
One; and if the Gods willhe lives - he lives!'

He fumbled in his waist-belt and drew out a small silver coin.

'What is now?' The lama's eyes turned to Kim. It was noticeable he
spoke far clearer Urdu than long agounder ZamZammah; but
father would allow no private talk.

'It is no more than a fever' said Kim. 'The child is not well fed.'

'He sickens at everythingand his mother is not here.'

'If it be permittedI may cureHoly One.'

'What! Have they made thee a healer? Wait here' said the lamaand
he sat down by the Jat upon the lowest step of the templewhile
Kimlooking out of the corner of his eyesslowly opened the little
betel-box. He had dreamed dreams at school of returning to the lama
as a Sahib - of chaffing the old man before he revealed himself boy's
dreams all. There was more drama in this abstractedbrowpuckered
search through the tabloid-bottleswith a pause here and
there for thought and a muttered invocation between whiles. Quinine
he had in tabletsand dark brown meat-lozenges - beef most
probablybut that was not his business. The little thing would not
eatbut it sucked at a lozenge greedilyand said it liked the salt
taste.

'Take then these six.' Kim handed them to the man. 'Praise the Gods
and boil three in milk; other three in water. After he has drunk the
milk give him this' (it was the half of a quinine pill)'and wrap
him warm. Give him the water of the other threeand the other half
of this white pill when he wakes. Meantimehere is another brown
medicine that he may suck at on the way home.'

'Godswhat wisdom!' said the Kambohsnatching.

It was as much as Kim could remember of his own treatment in a bout
of autumn malaria - if you except the patter that he added to
impress the lama.

'Now go! Come again in the morning.'

'But the price - the price' said the Jatand threw back his sturdy
shoulders. 'My son is my son. Now that he will be whole againhow
shall I go back to his mother and say I took help by the wayside and
did not even give a bowl of curds in return?'

'They are alikethese Jats' said Kim softly. 'The Jat stood on his
dunghill and the King's elephants went by. "O driver said he,
what will you sell those little donkeys for?"'

The Jat burst into a roar of laughterstifled with apologies to the
lama. 'It is the saying of my own country the very talk of it. So
are we Jats all. I will come tomorrow with the child; and the
blessing of the Gods of the Homesteads - who are good little Gods be
on you both ... Nowsonwe grow strong again. Do not spit it
outlittle Princeling! King of my Heartdo not spit it outand we
shall be strong menwrestlers and club-wieldersby morning.'

He moved awaycrooning and mumbling. The lama turned to Kimand
all the loving old soul of him looked out through his narrow eyes.

'To heal the sick is to acquire merit; but first one gets knowledge.


That was wisely doneO Friend of all the World.'

'I was made wise by theeHoly One' said Kimforgetting the little
play just ended; forgetting St Xavier's; forgetting his white blood;
forgetting even the Great Game as he stoopedMohammedan-fashionto
touch his master's feet in the dust of the Jain temple. 'My teaching
I owe to thee. I have eaten thy bread three years. My time is
finished. I am loosed from the schools. I come to thee.'

'Herein is my reward. Enter! Enter! And is all well?' They passed to
the inner courtwhere the afternoon sun sloped golden across.
'Stand that I may see. So!' He peered critically. 'It is no longer a
childbut a manripened in wisdomwalking as a physician. I did
well - I did well when I gave thee up to the armed men on that black
night. Dost thou remember our first day under Zam-Zammah?'

'Ay' said Kim. 'Dost thou remember when I leapt off the carriage
the first day I went to -'

'The Gates of Learning? Truly. And the day that we ate the cakes
together at the back of the river by Nucklao. Aha! Many times hast
thou begged for mebut that day I begged for thee.'

'Good reason' quoth Kim. 'I was then a scholar in the Gates of
Learningand attired as a Sahib. Do not forgetHoly One' he went
on playfully. 'I am still a Sahib - by thy favour.'

'True. And a Sahib in most high esteem. Come to my cellchela.'

'How is that known to thee?'

The lama smiled. 'First by means of letters from the kindly priest
whom we met in the camp of armed men; but he is now gone to his own
countryand I sent the money to his brother.' Colonel Creighton
who had succeeded to the trusteeship when Father Victor went to
England with the Maverickswas hardly the Chaplain's brother. 'But
I do not well understand Sahibs' letters. They must be interpreted
to me. I chose a surer way. Many times when I returned from my
Search to this Templewhich has always been a nest to methere
came one seeking Enlightenment - a man from Leh - that had beenhe
saida Hindubut wearied of all those Gods.' The lama pointed to
the Arhats.

'A fat man?' said Kima twinkle in his eye.

'Very fat; but I perceived in a little his mind was wholly given up
to useless things - such as devils and charms and the form and
fashion of our tea-drinkings in the monasteriesand by what road we
initiated the novices. A man abounding in questions; but he was a
friend of thinechela. He told me that thou wast on the road to
much honour as a scribe. And I see thou art a physician.'

'Yesthat am I - a scribewhen I am a Sahibbut it is set aside
when I come as thy disciple. I have accomplished the years appointed
for a Sahib.'

'As it were a novice?' said the lamanodding his head. 'Art thou
freed from the schools? I would not have thee unripe.'

'I am all free. In due time I take service under the Government as a
scribe -'

'Not as a warrior. That is well.'


'But first I come to wander with thee. Therefore I am here. Who
begs for theethese days?' he went on quickly. The ice was thin.

'Very often I beg myself; butas thou knowestI am seldom here
except when I come to look again at my disciple. From one end to
another of Hind have I travelled afoot and in the te-rain. A great
and a wonderful land! But herewhen I put inis as though I were
in mv own Bhotiyal.'

He looked round the little clean cell complacently. A low cushion
gave him a seaton which he had disposed himself in the crosslegged
attitude of the Bodhisat emerging from meditation; a black
teak-wood tablenot twenty inches highset with copper tea-cups
was before him. In one corner stood a tiny altaralso of heavily
carved teakbearing a copper-gilt image of the seated Buddha and
fronted by a lampan incense-holderand a pair of copper flowerpots.


'The Keeper of the Images in the Wonder House acquired merit by
giving me these a year since' he saidfollowing Kim's eye. 'When
one is far from one's own land such things carry remembrance; and we
must reverence the Lord for that He showed the Way. See!' He pointed
to a curiously-built mound of coloured rice crowned with a fantastic
metal ornament. 'When I was Abbot in my own place - before I came to
better knowledge I made that offering daily. It is the Sacrifice of
the Universe to the Lord. Thus do we of Bhotiyal offer all the world
daily to the Excellent Law. And I do it even nowthough I know that
the Excellent One is beyond all pinchings and pattings.' He snuffed
from his gourd.

'It is well doneHoly One' Kim murmuredsinking at ease on the
cushionsvery happy and rather tired.

'And also' the old man chuckled'I write pictures of the Wheel of
Life. Three days to a picture. I was busied on it - or it may be I
shut my eyes a little - when they brought word of thee. It is good
to have thee here: I will show thee my art - not for pride's sake
but because thou must learn. The Sahibs have not all this world's
wisdom.'

He drew from under the table a sheet of strangely scented yellow
Chinese paperthe brushesand slab of Indian ink. In cleanest
severest outline he had traced the Great Wheel with its six spokes
whose centre is the conjoined HogSnakeand Dove (Ignorance
Angerand Lust)and whose compartments are all the Heavens and
Hellsand all the chances of human life. Men say that the Bodhisat
Himself first drew it with grains of rice upon dustto teach His
disciples the cause of things. Many ages have crystallized it into a
most wonderful convention crowded with hundreds of little figures
whose every line carries a meaning. Few can translate the pictureparable;
there are not twenty in all the world who can draw it
surely without a copy: of those who can both draw and expound are
but three.

'I have a little learned to draw' said Kim. 'But this is a marvel
beyond marvels.'

'I have written it for many years' said the lama. 'Time was when I
could write it all between one lamp-lighting and the next. I will
teach thee the art - after due preparation; and I will show thee the
meaning of the Wheel.'

'We take the Roadthen?'


'The Road and our Search. I was but waiting for thee. It was made
plain to me in a hundred dreams - notably one that came upon the
night of the day that the Gates of Learning first shut that without
thee I should never find my River. Again and againas thou knowest
I put this from mefearing an illusion. Therefore I would not take
thee with me that day at Lucknowwhen we ate the cakes. I would not
take thee till the. time was ripe and auspicious. From the Hills to
the Seafrom the Sea to the Hills have I gonebut it was vain.
Then I remembered the Tataka.'

He told Kim the story of the elephant with the leg-ironas he had
told it so often to the Jam priests.

'Further testimony is not needed' he ended serenely. 'Thou wast
sent for an aid. That aid removedmy Search came to naught.
Therefore we will go out again togetherand our Search sure.'

'Whither go we?'

'What mattersFriend of all the World? The SearchI sayis sure.
If need bethe River will break from the ground before us. I
acquired merit when I sent thee to the Gates of Learningand gave
thee the jewel that is Wisdom. Thou didst returnI saw even nowa
follower of Sakyamunithe Physicianwhose altars are many in
Bhotiyal. It is sufficient. We are togetherand all things are as
they were - Friend of all the World -Friend of the Stars - my
chela!'

Then they talked of matters secular; but it was noticeable that the
lama never demanded any details of life at St Xavier'snor showed
the faintest curiosity as to the manners and customs of Sahibs. His
mind moved all in the pastand he revived every step of their
wonderful first journey togetherrubbing his hands and chuckling
till it pleased him to curl himself up into the sudden sleep of old
age.

Kim watched the last dusty sunshine fade out of the courtand
played with his ghost-dagger and rosary. The clamour of Benares
oldest of all earth's cities awake before the Godsday and night

beat round the walls as the sea's roar round a breakwater. Now and
againa Jain priest crossed the courtwith some small offering to
the imagesand swept the path about him lest by chance he should
take the life of a living thing. A lamp twinkledand there followed
the sound of a prayer. Kim watched the stars as they rose one after
another in the stillsticky darktill he fell asleep at the foot
of the altar. That night he dreamed in Hindustaniwith never an
English word...

'Holy Onethere is the child to whom we gave the medicine' he
saidabout three o'clock in the morningwhen the lamaalso waking
from dreamswould have fared forth on pilgrimage. 'The Jat will be
here at the light.'

'I am well answered. In my haste I would have done a wrong.' He sat
down on the cushions and returned to his rosary. 'Surely old folk
are as children' he said pathetically. 'They desire a matter behold
it must be done at onceor they fret and weep! Many times
when I was upon the Road I have been ready to stamp with my feet at
the hindrance of an ox-cart in the wayor a mere cloud of dust.
It was not so when I was a man - a long time ago. None the less it
is wrongful -'

'But thou art indeed oldHoly One.'


'The thing was done. A Cause was put out into the worldandold or
youngsick or soundknowing or unknowingwho can rein in the
effect of that Cause? Does the Wheel hang still if a child spin it or
a drunkard? Chelathis is a great and a terrible world.'

'I think it good' Kim yawned. 'What is there to eat? I have not
eaten since yesterday even.'

'I had forgotten thy need. Yonder is good Bhotiyal tea and cold
rice.'

'We cannot walk far on such stuff.' Kim felt all the European's lust
for flesh-meatwhich is not accessible in a Jain temple. Yet
instead of going out at once with the begging-bowlhe stayed his
stomach on slabs of cold rice till the full dawn. It brought the
farmervolublestuttering with gratitude.

'In the night the fever broke and the sweat camehe cried. 'Feel
here - his skin is fresh and new! He esteemed the salt lozengesand
took milk with greed.' He drew the cloth from the child's faceand
it smiled sleepily at Kim. A little knot of Jain priestssilent
but all-observantgathered by the temple door. They knewand Kim
knew that they knewhow the old lama had met his disciple. Being
courteous folkthey had not obtruded themselves overnight by
presencewordor gesture. Wherefore Kim repaid them as the sun
rose.

'Thank the Gods of the Jainsbrother' he saidnot knowing how
those Gods were named. 'The fever is indeed broken.'

'Look! See!' The lama beamed in the background upon his hosts of
three years. 'Was there ever such a chela? He follows our Lord the
Healer.'

Now the Jains officially recognize all the Gods of the Hindu creed
as well as the Lingam and the Snake. They wear the Brahminical
thread; they adhere to every claim of Hindu caste-law. Butbecause
they knew and loved the lamabecause he was an old manbecause he
sought the Waybecause he was their guestand because he collogued
long of nights with the head-priest - as free-thinking a
metaphysician as ever split one hair into seventy - they murmured
assent.

'Remember' - Kim bent over the child -. 'this trouble may come
again.

'Not if thou hast the proper spell' said the father.

'But in a little while we go away.'

'True' said the lama to all the Jains. 'We go now together upon the
Search whereof I have often spoken. I waited till my chela was ripe.
Behold him! We go North. Never again shall I look upon this place of
my restO people of good will.'

'But I am not a beggar.' The cultivator rose to his feetclutching
the child.

'Be still. Do not trouble the Holy One' a priest cried.

'Go' Kim whispered. 'Meet us again under the big railway bridge
and for the sake of all the Gods of our Punjabbring food - curry
pulsecakes fried in fatand sweetmeats. Specially sweetmeats. Be
swift!'


The pallor of hunger suited Kim very well as he stoodtall and
slimin his sand-colouredsweeping robesone hand on his rosary
and the other in the attitude of benedictionfaithfully copied from
the lama. An English observer might have said that he looked rather
like the young saint of a stained-glass windowwhereas he was but a
growing lad faint with emptiness.

Long and formal were the farewellsthrice ended and thrice renewed.

The Seeker - he who had invited the lama to that haven from faraway
Tibeta silver-facedhairless ascetic -took no part in it
but meditatedas alwaysalone among the images. The others were
very human; pressing small comforts upon the old man - a betel-box
a fine new iron pencasea food-bagand such-like - warning him
against the dangers of the world withoutand prophesying a happy
end to the Search. Meantime Kimlonelier than eversquatted on the
stepsand swore to himself in the language of St Xavier's.

'But it is my own fault' he concluded. 'With MahbubI ate Mahbub's
breador Lurgan Sahib's. At St Xavier'sthree meals a day. Here I
must jolly-well look out for myself. BesidesI am not in good
training. How I could eat a plate of beef now! ... Is it finished
Holy One?'

The lamaboth hands raisedintoned a final blessing in ornate
Chinese. 'I must lean on thy shoulder' said heas the temple gates
closed. 'We grow stiffI think.'

The weight of a six-foot man is not light to steady through miles of
crowded streetsand Kimloaded down with bundles and packages for
the waywas glad to reach the shadow of the railway bridge.

'Here we eat' he said resolutelyas the Kambohblue-robed and
smilinghove in sighta basket in one hand and the child in the
other.

'Fall toHoly Ones!' he cried from fifty yards. (They were by the
shoal under the first bridge-spanout of sight of hungry priests.)
'Rice and good currycakes all warm and well scented with hing
[asafoetida]curds and sugar. King of my fields' -this to the
small son - 'let us show these holy men that we Jats of Jullundur
can pay a service . . . I had heard the Jains would eat nothing that
they had not cookedbut truly' - he looked away politely over the
broad river - 'where there is no eye there is no caste.'

'And we' said Kimturning his back and heaping a leafplatter for
the lama'are beyond all castes.'

They gorged themselves on the good food in silence. Nor till he had
licked the last of the sticky sweetstuff from his little finger did
Kim note that the Kamboh too was girt for travel.

'If our roads lie together' he said roughly'I go with thee. One
does not often find a worker of miraclesand the child is still
weak. But I am not altogether a reed.' He picked up his lathi - a
five-foot male-bamboo ringed with bands of polished iron - and
flourished it in the air. 'The Jats are called quarrel-somebut
that is not true. Except when we are crossedwe are like our own
buffaloes.'

'So be it' said Kim. 'A good stick is a good reason.'

The lama gazed placidly up-streamwhere in longsmudged
perspective the ceaseless columns of smoke go up from the burning



ghats by the river. Now and againdespite all municipal
regulationsthe fragment of a half-burned body bobbed by on the
full current.

'But for thee' said the Kamboh to Kimdrawing the child into his
hairy breast'I might today have gone thither - with this one. The
priests tell us that Benares is holy - which none doubt - and
desirable to die in. But I do not know their Godsand they ask for
money; and when one has done one worship a shaved-head vows it is of
none effect except one do another. Wash here! Wash there! Pour
drinklaveand scatter flowers -but always pay the priests. No
the Punjab for meand the soil of the Jullundur-doab for the best
soil in it.

'I have said many times - in the TempleI think - that if need be
the River will open at our feet. We will therefore go North' said
the lamarising. 'I remember a pleasant placeset about with
fruit-treeswhere one can walk in meditation - and the air is
cooler there. It comes from the Hills and the snow of the Hills.'

'What is the name?' said Kim.

'How should I know? Didst thou not - nothat was after the Army
rose out of the earth and took thee away. I abode there in
meditation in a room against the dovecot - except when she talked
eternally.'

'Oho! the woman from Kulu. That is by Saharunpore.' Kim laughed.

'How does the spirit move thy master? Does he go afootfor the sake
of past sins?' the Jat demanded cautiously. 'It is a far cry to
Delhi.'

'No' said Kim. 'I will beg a tikkut for the te-rain.' One does not
own to the possession of money in India.

'Thenin the name of the Godslet us take the fire-carriage. My
son is best in his mother's arms. The Government has brought on us
many taxesbut it gives us one good thing - the te-rain that joins
friends and unites the anxious. A wonderful matter is the te-rain.'

They all piled into it a couple of hours laterand slept through
the heat of the day. The Kamboh plied Kim with ten thousand
questions as to the lama's walk and work in lifeand received some
curious answers. Kim was content to be where he wasto look out
upon the flat North-Western landscapeand to talk to the
changing mob of fellow-passengers. Even todaytickets and ticketclipping
are dark oppression to Indian rustics. They do not
understand whywhen they have paid for a magic piece of paper
strangers should punch great pieces out of the charm. Solong and
furious are the debates between travellers and Eurasian ticketcollectors.
Kim assisted at two or three with grave advicemeant to
darken counsel and to show off his wisdom before the lama and the
admiring Kamboh. But at Somna Road the Fates sent him a matter to
think upon. There tumbled into the compartmentas the train was
moving offa meanlean little person - a Mahrattaso far as Kim
could judge by the cock of the tight turban. His face was cuthis
muslin upper-garment was badly tornand one leg was bandaged. He
told them that a country-cart had upset and nearlv slain him: he
was going to Delhiwhere his son lived. Kim watched him closely.
Ifas he assertedhe had been rolled over and over on the earth
there should have been signs of gravel-rash on the skin. But all his
injuries seemed clean cutsand a mere fall from a cart could not
cast a man into such extremity of terror. Aswith shaking fingers


he knotted up the torn cloth about his neck he laid bare an amulet
of the kind called a keeper-up of the heart. Nowamulets are common
enoughbut they are not generally strung on square-plaited copper
wireand still fewer amulets bear black enamel on silver. There
were none except the Kamboh and the lama in the compartmentwhich
luckilywas of an old type with solid ends. Kim made as to scratch
in his bosomand thereby lifted his own amulet. The Mahratta's face
changed altogether at the sightand he disposed the amulet fairly on
his breast.

'Yes' he went on to the Kamboh'I was in hasteand the cart
driven by a bastardbound its wheel in a water-cutand besides the
harm done to me there was lost a full dish of tarkeean. I was not a
Son of the Charm [a lucky man] that day.'

'That was a great loss' said the Kambohwithdrawing interest. His
experience of Benares had made him suspicious.

'Who cooked it?' said Kim.

'A woman.' The Mahratta raised his eyes.

'But all women can cook tarkeean' said the Kamboh. 'It is a good
curryas I know.'

'Oh yesit is a good curry' said the Mahratta.

'And cheap' said Kim. 'But what about caste?'

'Ohthere is no caste where men go to - look for tarkeean' the
Mahratta repliedin the prescribed cadence. 'Of whose service art
thou?'

'Of the service of this Holy One.' Kim pointed to the happydrowsy
lamawho woke with a jerk at the well-loved word.

'Ahhe was sent from Heaven to aid me. He is called the Friend of
all the World. He is also called the Friend of the Stars. He walks
as a physician - his time being ripe. Great is his wisdom.'

'And a Son of the Charm' said Kim under his breathas the Kamboh
made haste to prepare a pipe lest the Mahratta should beg.

'And who is that?' the Mahratta askedglancing sideways nervously.

'One whose child I - we have curedwho lies under great debt to us.
Sit by the windowman from Jullundur. Here is a sick one.'

'Humph! I have no desire to mix with chance-met wastrels. My ears
are not long. I am not a woman wishing to overhear secrets.' The Jat
slid himself heavily into a far corner.

'Art thou anything of a healer? I am ten leagues deep in calamity'
cried the Mahrattapicking up the cue.

'This man is cut and bruised all over. I go about to cure him' Kim
retorted. 'None interfered between thy babe and me.'

'I am rebuked' said the Kamboh meekly. 'I am thy debtor for the
life of my son. Thou art a miracle-worker - I know it.'

'Show me the cuts.' Kim bent over the Mahratta's neckhis heart
nearly choking him; for this was the Great Game with a vengeance.
'Nowtell thy tale swiftlybrotherwhile I say a charm.'


'I come from the Southwhere my work lay. One of us they slew by
the roadside. Hast thou heard?' Kim shook his head. Heof course
knew nothing of E's predecessorslain down South in the habit of an
Arab trader. 'Having found a certain letter which I was sent to
seekI came away. I escaped from the city and ran to Mhow. So sure
was I that none knewI did not change my face. At Mhow a woman
brought charge against me of theft of jewellery in that city which I
had left. Then I saw the cry was out against me. I ran from Mhow by
nightbribing the policewho had been bribed to hand me over
without question to my enemies in the South. Then I lay in old
Chitor city a weeka penitent in a templebut I could not get rid
of the letter which was my charge. I buried it under the Queen's
Stoneat Chitorin the place known to us all.'

Kim did not knowbut not for worlds would he have broken the
thread.

'At Chitorlook youI was all in Kings' country; for Kotah to the
east is beyond the Queen's lawand east again lie Jaipur and
Gwalior. Neither love spiesand there is no justice. I was hunted
like a wet jackal; but I broke through at Bandakuiwhere I heard
there was a charge against me of murder in the city I had left - of
the murder of a boy. They have both the corpse and the witnesses
waiting.'

'But cannot the Government protect?'

'We of the Game are beyond protection. If we diewe die. Our names
are blotted from the book. That is all. At Bandakuiwhere lives one
of UsI thought to slip the scent by changing my faceand so made
me a Mahratta. Then I came to Agraand would have turned back to
Chitor to recover the letter. So sure I was I had slipped them.
Therefore I did not send a tar [telegram] to any one saying where
the letter lay. I wished the credit of it all.'

Kim nodded. He understood that feeling well.

'But at Agrawalking in the streetsa man cried a debt against me
and approaching with many witnesseswould hale me to the courts
then and there. Ohthey are clever in the South! He recognized me
as his agent for cotton. May he burn in Hell for it!'

'And wast thou?'

'O fool! I was the man they sought for the matter of the letter! I
ran into the Fleshers' Ward and came out by the House of the Jew
who feared a riot and pushed me forth. I came afoot to Somna Road I
had only money for my tikkut to Delhi - and therewhile I lay in
a ditch with a feverone sprang out of the bushes and beat me and
cut me and searched me from head to foot. Within earshot of the terain
it was!'

'Why did he not slay thee out of hand?'

'They are not so foolish. If I am taken in Delhi at the instance of
lawyersupon a proven charge of murdermy body is handed over to
the State that desires it. I go back guardedand then - I die
slowly for an example to the rest of Us. The South is not my
country. I run in circles - like a goat with one eye. I have not
eaten for two days. I am marked' - he touched the filthy bandage on
his leg - 'so that they will know me at Delhi.'

'Thou art safe in the te-rainat least.'


'Live a year at the Great Game and tell me that again! The wires
will be out against me at Delhidescribing every tear and rag upon
me. Twenty - a hundredif need be - will have seen me slay that
boy. And thou art useless!'

Kim knew enough of native methods of attack not to doubt that the
case would be deadly complete - even to the corpse. The Mahratta
twitched his fingers with pain from time to time. The Kamboh in his
corner glared sullenly; the lama was busy over his beads; and Kim
fumbling doctor-fashion at the man's neckthought out his plan
between invocations.

'Hast thou a charm to change my shape? Else I am dead. Five - ten
minutes aloneif I had not been so pressedand I might -'

'Is he cured yetmiracle-worker?' said the Kamboh jealously. 'Thou
hast chanted long enough.'

'Nay. There is no cure for his hurtsas I seeexcept he sit for
three days in the habit of a bairagi.' This is a common penance
often imposed on a fat trader by his spiritual teacher.

'One priest always goes about to make another priest' was the
retort. Like most grossly superstitious folkthe Kamboh could not
keep his tongue from deriding his Church.

'Will thy son be a priestthen? It is time he took more of my
quinine.'

'We Jats are all buffaloes' said the Kambohsoftening anew.

Kim rubbed a finger-tip of bitterness on the child's trusting little
lips. 'I have asked for nothing' he said sternly to the father
'except food. Dost thou grudge me that? I go to heal another man.
Have I thy leave - Prince?'

Up flew the man's huge paws in supplication. 'Nay - nay. Do not mock
me thus.'

'It pleases me to cure this sick one. Thou shalt acquire merit by
aiding. What colour ash is there in thy pipe-bowl? White. That is
auspicious. Was there raw turmeric among thy foodstuffs?'

'I - I -'

'Open thy bundle!'

It was the usual collection of small oddments: bits of clothquack
medicinescheap fairingsa clothful of atta - greyishroughground
native flour - twists of down-country tobaccotawdry pipestems
and a packet of curry-stuffall wrapped in. a quilt. Kim
turned it over with the air of a wise warlockmuttering a
Mohammedan invocation.

'This is wisdom I learned from the Sahibs' he whispered to the
lama; and herewhen one thinks of his training at Lurgan'she
spoke no more than the truth. 'There is a great evil in this man's
fortuneas shown by the Starswhich - which troubles him. Shall I
take it away?'

'Friend of the Starsthou hast done well in all things. Let it be
at thy pleasure. Is it another healing?'


'Quick! Be quick!' gasped the Mahratta. 'The train may stop.'

'A healing against the shadow of death' said Kimmixing the
Kamboh's flour with the mingled charcoal and tobacco ash in the redearth
bowl of the pipe. Ewithout a wordslipped off his turban
and shook down his long black hair.

'That is my food - priest' the jat growled.

'A buffalo in the temple! Hast thou dared to look even thus far?'
said Kim. 'I must do mysteries before fools; but have a care for
thine eyes. Is there a film before them already? I save the babe
and for return thou - ohshameless!' The man flinched at the direct
gazefor Kim was wholly in earnest.

'Shall I curse theeor shall I -' He picked up the outer cloth of
the bundle and threw it over the bowed head. 'Dare so much as to
think a wish to seeand - and - even I cannot save thee. Sit!

Be dumb!'

'I am blind - dumb. Forbear to curse! Co - comechild; we will
play a game of hiding. Do notfor my sakelook from under the
cloth.'

'I see hope' said E23. 'What is thy scheme?'

'This comes next' said Kimplucking the thin body-shirt. E23
hesitatedwith all a North-West man's dislike of baring his body.

'What is caste to a cut throat?' said Kimrending it to the waist.
'We must make thee a yellow Saddhu all over. Strip -strip
swiftlyand shake thy hair over thine eyes while I scatter the ash.
Nowa caste-mark on thy forehead.' He drew from his bosom the
little Survey paint-box and a cake of crimson lake.

'Art thou only a beginner?' said E23labouring literally for the
dear lifeas he slid out of his body-wrappings and stood clear in
the loin-cloth while Kim splashed in a noble caste-mark on the ashsmeared
brow.

'But two days entered to the Gamebrother' Kim replied. 'Smear
more ash on the bosom.'

'Hast thou met - a physician of sick pearls?' He switched out his
longtight-rolled turban-cloth andwith swiftest handsrolled it
over and under about his loins into the intricate devices of a
Saddhu's cincture.

'Hah! Dost thou know his touchthen? He was my teacher for a
while. We must bar thy legs. Ash cures wounds. Smear it again.'

'I was his pride oncebut thou art almost better. The Gods are
kind to us! Give me that.'

It was a tin box of opium pills among the rubbish of the Jat's
bundle. E23 gulped down a half handful. 'They are good against
hungerfearand chill. And they make the eyes red too' he
explained. 'Now I shall have heart to play the Game. We lack only
a Saddhu's tongs. What of the old clothes?'

Kim rolled them smalland stuffed them into the slack folds of his
tunic. With a yellow-ochre paint cake he smeared the legs and the


breastgreat streaks against the background of flourashand
turmeric.

'The blood on them is enough to hang theebrother.'

'Maybe; but no need to throw them out of the window ... It is
finished.' His voice thrilled with a boy's pure delight in the Game.
'Turn and lookO jat!'

'The Gods protect us' said the hooded Kambohemerging like a
buffalo from the reeds. 'But - whither went the Mahratta? What hast
thou done?'

Kim had been trained by Lurgan Sahib; E23by virtue of his
businesswas no bad actor. In place of the tremulousshrinking
trader there lolled against the corner an all but nakedashsmeared
ochre-barreddusty-haired Saddhuhis swollen eyes - opium
takes quick effect on an empty stomach - luminous with insolence and
bestial lusthis legs crossed under himKim's brown rosary round
his neckand a scant yard of wornflowered chintz on his
shoulders. The child buried his face in his amazed father's arms.

'Look upPrinceling! We travel with warlocksbut they will not
hurt thee. Ohdo not cry ... What is the sense of curing a child
one day and killing him with fright the next?'

'The child will be fortunate all his life. He has seen a great
healing. When I was a child I made clay men and horses.'

'I have made them too. Sir Banashe comes in the night and makes
them all alive at the back of our kitchen-midden' piped the child.

'And so thou art not frightened at anything. EhPrince?'

'I was frightened because my father was frightened. I felt his arms
shake.'

'Ohchicken-man!' said Kimand even the abashed Jat laughed. 'I
have done a healing on this poor trader. He must forsake his gains
and his account-booksand sit by the wayside three nights to
overcome the malignity of his enemies. The Stars are against him.'

'The fewer money-lenders the bettersay I; butSaddhu or no
Saddhuhe should pay for my stuff on his shoulders.'

'So? But that is thy child on thy shoulder - given over to the
burning-ghat not two days ago. There remains one thing more. I did
this charm in thy presence because need was great. I changed his
shape and his soul. None the lessifby any chanceO man from
Jullundurthou rememberest what thou hast seeneither among the
elders sitting under the village treeor in thine own houseor in
company of thy priest when he blesses thy cattlea murrain will
come among the buffaloesand a fire in thy thatchand rats in the
corn-binsand the curse of our Gods upon thy fields that they may
be barren before thy feet and after thy ploughshare.' This was part
of an old curse picked up from a fakir by the Taksali Gate in the
days of Kim's innocence. It lost nothing by repetition.

'CeaseHoly One! In mercycease!' cried the Jat. 'Do not curse
the household. I saw nothing! I heard nothing! I am thy cow!' and
he made to grab at Kim's bare foot beating rhythmically on the
carriage floor. 'But since thou hast been permitted to aid me in the
matter of a pinch of flour and a little opium and such trifles as I
have honoured by using in my artso will the Gods return a


blessing' and he gave it at lengthto the man's immense relief. It
was one that he had learned from Lurgan Sahib.


The lama stared through his spectacles as he had not stared at the
business of disguisement. 'Friend of the Stars' he said at last
'thou hast acquired great wisdom. Beware that it do not give birth
to pride. No man having the Law before his eyes speaks hastily of
any matter which he has seen or encountered.'


'No - no - noindeed' cried the farmerfearful lest the master
should be minded to improve on the pupil. E23with relaxed mouth
gave himself up to the opium that is meattobaccoand medicine to
the spent Asiatic.


Soin a silence of awe and great miscomprehensionthey slid into
Delhi about lamp-lighting time.


Chapter 12


Who hath desired the Sea - the sight of salt-water unbounded?
The heave and the halt and the hurl and the crash of the comber
wind-hounded?
The sleek-barrelled swell before storm - greyfoamlessenormous
and growing?
Stark calm on the lap of the Line - or the crazy-eyed hurricane
blowing?
His Sea in no showing the same - his Sea and the same 'neath all
showing -
His Sea that his being fulfils?
So and no otherwise - so and no otherwise hill-men desire their
Hills!


The Sea and the Hills.


'I have found my heart again' said E23under cover of the
platform's tumult. 'Hunger and fear make men dazedor I might have
thought of this escape before. I was right. They come to hunt for
me. Thou hast saved my head.'


A group of yellow-trousered Punjab policemenheaded by a hot and
perspiring young Englishmanparted the crowd about the carriages.
Behind theminconspicuous as a catambled a small fat person who
looked like a lawyer's tout.


'See the young Sahib reading from a paper. My description is in his
hand' said E23. 'Thev go carriage by carriagelike fisher-folk
netting a pool.'


When the procession reached their compartmentE23 was counting his
beads with a steady jerk of the wrist; while Kim jeered at him for
being so drugged as to have lost the ringed fire-tongs which are the
Saddhu's distinguishing mark. The lamadeep in meditationstared
straight before him; and the farmerglancing furtivelygathered up
his belongings.


'Nothing here but a parcel of holy-bolies' said the Englishman
aloudand passed on amid a ripple of uneasiness; for native police



mean extortion to the native all India over.

'The trouble now' whispered E23'lies in sending a wire as to the
place where I hid that letter I was sent to find. I cannot go to the
tar-office in this guise.'

'Is it not enough I have saved thy neck?'

'Not if the work be left unfinished. Did never the healer of sick
pearls tell thee so? Comes another Sahib! Ah!'

This was a tallishsallowish District Superintendent of Police belt
helmetpolished spurs and all - strutting and twirling his
dark moustache.

'What fools are these Police Sahibs!' said Kim genially.

E23 glanced up under his eyelids. 'It is well said' he muttered in
a changed voice. 'I go to drink water. Keep my place.'

He blundered out almost into the Englishman's armsand was badworded
in clumsy Urdu.

'Tum mut? You drunk? You mustn't bang about as though Delhi
station belonged to youmy friend.'

E23not moving a muscle of his countenanceanswered with a stream
of the filthiest abuseat which Kim naturally rejoiced. It reminded
him of the drummer-boys and the barrack- sweepers at Umballa in the
terrible time of his first schooling.

'My good fool' the Englishman drawled. 'Nickle-jao! Go back to
your carriage.'

Step by stepwithdrawing deferentially and dropping his voicethe
yellow Saddhu clomb back to the carriagecursing the D.S.P. to
remotest posterityby - here Kim almost jumped - by the curse of
the Queen's Stoneby the writing under the Queen's Stoneand by an
assortment of Gods "with whollynew names.

'I don't know what you're saving' - the Englishman flushed angrily

-'but it's some piece of blasted impertinence. Come out of that!'
E23affecting to misunderstandgravely produced his ticketwhich
the Englishman wrenched angrily from his hand.

'Ohzoolum! What oppression!' growled the Jat from his corner.
'All for the sake of a jest too.' He had been grinning at the
freedom of the Saddhu's tongue. 'Thy charms do not work well today
Holy One!'

The Saddhu followed the policemanfawning and supplicating. The
ruck of passengersbusywith their babies andtheir bundleshad
not noticed the affair. Kim slipped outbehind him; for it flashed
through his head that he had heardthis angrystupid Sahib
discoursing loud personalities to an oldlady near Umballa three
years ago.

'It is well'the Saddhu whisperedjammed in the calling
shoutingbewildered press - a Persian greyhound between his feet
and a cageful of yelling hawks under charge of a Rajput falconer in
the small of his back. 'He has gone now to send word of the letter
which I hid. Thev told me he was in Peshawur. I might have known
that he is like the crocodile - always at the other ford. He has


saved me from present calamitybut I owe my life to thee.'

'Is he also one of Us?' Kim ducked under a Mewar camel-driver's
greasy armpit and cannoned off a covey of jabbering Sikh matrons.

'Not less than the greatest. We are both fortunate! I will make
report to him of what thou hast done. I am safe under his
protection.'

He bored through the edge of the crowd besieging the carriagesand
squatted by the bench near the telegraph-office.

'Returnor they take thy place! Have no fear for the workbrother
- or my life. Thou hast given me breathing-spaceand Strickland
Sahib has pulled me to land. We may work together at the Game yet.
Farewell!'

Kim hurried to his carriage: elatedbewilderedbut a little
nettled in that he had no key to the secrets about him.

'I am only a beginner at the Gamethat is sure. I could not have
leaped into safety as did the Saddhu. He knew it was darkest under
the lamp. I could not have thought to tell news under pretence of
cursing ... and how clever was the Sahib! No matterI savcd the
life of one ... Where is the Kamboh goneHoly One?' he whispered
as he took his seat in the now crowded compartment.

'A fear gripped him' the lama repliedwith a touch of tender
malice. 'He saw thee change the Mahratta to a Saddhu in the
twinkling of an eyeas a protection against evil. That shook him.
Then he saw the Saddhu fall sheer into the hands of the polis - all
the effect of thy art. Then he gathered up his son and fled; for he
said that thou didst change a quiet trader into an impudent bandier
of words with the Sahibsand he feared a like fate. Where is the
Saddhu?'

'With the polis' said Kim . . . 'Yet I saved the Kamboh's child.'

The lama snuffed blandly.

'Ahchelasee how thou art overtaken! Thou didst cure the
Kamboh's child solely to acquire merit. But thou didst put a spell
on the Mahratta with prideful workings - I watched thee - and with
sidelong glances to bewilder an old old man and a foolish farmer:
whence calamity and suspicion.'

Kim controlled himself with an effort beyond his years. Not more
than any other youngster did he like to eat dirt or to be misjudged
but he saw himself in a cleft stick. The train rolled out of Delhi
into the night.

'It is true' he murmured. 'Where I have offended thee I have done
wrong.'

'It is morechela. Thou hast loosed an Act upon the worldand as
a stone thrown into a pool so spread the consequences thou canst not
tell how far.'

This ignorance was well both for Kim's vanity and for the lama's
peace of mindwhen we think that there was then being handed in at
Simla a code-wire reporting the arrival of E23 at Delhiandmore
importantthe whereabouts of a letter he had been commissioned to abstract.
Incidentallyan over-zealous policeman had arrestedon
charge of murder done in a far southern Statea horribly indignant


Ajmir cotton-brokerwho was explaining himself to a Mr Strickland
on Delhi platformwhile E23 was paddling through byways into the
locked heart of Delhi city. In two hours several telegrams had
reached the angry minister of a southern State reporting that all
trace of a somewhat bruised Mahratta had been lost; and by the time
the leisurely train halted at Saharunpore the last ripple of the
stone Kim had helped to heave was lapping against the steps of a
mosque in far-away Roum - where it disturbed a pious man at prayers.

The lama made his in ample form near the dewy bougainvillea-trellis
near the platformcheered by the clear sunshine and the presence of
his disciple. 'We will put these things behind us' he said
indicating the brazen engine and the gleaming track. 'The jolting of
the te-rain - though a wonderful thing - has turned my bones to
water. We will use clean air henceforward.'

'Let us go to the Kulu woman's house' said Kimand stepped forth
cheerily under the bundles. Early morning Saharunpore-way is clean
and well scented. He thought of the other mornings at St Xavier's
and it topped his already thrice-heaped contentment.

'Where is this new haste born from? Wise men do not run about like
chickens in the sun. We have come hundreds upon hundreds of koss
alreadyandtill nowI have scarcely been alone with thee an
instant. How canst thou receive instruction all jostled of crowds?
How can Iwhelmed by a flux of talkmeditate upon the Way?'

'Her tongue grows no shorter with the yearsthen?' the disciple
smiled.

'Nor her desire for charms. I remember once when I spoke of the
Wheel of Life' - the lama fumbled in his bosom for his latest copy '
she was only curious about the devils that besiege children. She
shall acquire merit by entertaining us - in a little while - at an
after-occasion - softlysoftly. Now we will wander loose-foot
waiting upon the Chain of Things. The Search is sure.'

So they travelled very easily across and among the broad bloomful
fruit-gardens - by way of AminabadSahaigungeAkrola of the Ford
and little Phulesa - the line of the Siwaliks always to the north
and behind them again the snows. After longsweet sleep under the
dry stars came the lordlyleisurely passage through a waking
village - begging-bowl held forth in silencebut eyes roving in
defiance of the Law from sky's edge to sky's edge. Then would Kim
return soft-footed through the soft dust to his master under the
shadow of a mango-tree or the thinner shade of a white Doon siris
to eat and drink at ease. At mid-dayafter talk and a little
wayfaringthey slept; meeting the world refreshed when the air was
cooler. Night found them adventuring into new territory - some
chosen village spied three hours before across the fat landand
much discussed upon the road.

There they told their tale - a new one each evening so far as Kim
was concerned - and there were they made welcomeeither by priest
or headmanafter the custom of the kindly East.

When the shadows shortened and the lama leaned more heavily upon
Kimthere was always the Wheel of Life to draw forthto hold flat
under wiped stonesand with a long straw to expound cycle by cycle.
Here sat the Gods on high - and they were dreams of dreams. Here was
our Heaven and the world of the demi-Gods - horsemen fighting among
the hills. Here were the agonies done upon the beastssouls
ascending or descending the ladder and therefore not to be
interfered with. Here were the Hellshot and coldand the abodes


of tormented ghosts. Let the chela study the troubles that come from
over-eating - bloated stomach and burning bowels. Obedientlythen
with bowed head and brown finger alert to follow the pointerdid
the chela study; but when they came to the Human Worldbusy and
profitlessthat is just above the Hellshis mind was distracted;
for by the roadside trundled the very Wheel itselfeating
drinkingtradingmarryingand quarrelling - all warmly alive.
Often the lama made the living pictures the matter of his text
bidding Kim - too ready - note how the flesh takes a thousand
shapesdesirable or detestable as men reckonbut in truth of no
account either way; and how the stupid spiritbond-slave to the
Hogthe Doveand the Serpent - lusting after betel-nuta new yoke
of oxenwomenor the favour of kings - is bound to follow the body
through all the Heavens and all the Hellsand strictly round again.
Sometimes a woman or a poor manwatching the ritual - it was
nothing less - when the great yellow chart was unfoldedwould throw
a few flowers or a handful of cowries upon its edge. It sufficed
these humble ones that they had met a Holy One who might be moved to
remember them in his prayers.

'Cure them if they are sick' said the lamawhen Kim's sporting
instincts woke. 'Cure them if they have feverbut by no means work
charms. Remember what befell the Mahratta.'

'Then all Doing is evil?' Kim repliedlying out under a big tree at
the fork of the Doon roadwatching the little ants run over his
hand.

'To abstain from action is well - except to acquire merit.'

'At the Gates of Learning we were taught that to abstain from action
was unbefitting a Sahib. And I am a Sahib.'

'Friend of all the World' - the lama looked directly at Kim - 'I am
an old man - pleased with shows as are children. To those who
follow the Way there is neither black nor whiteHind nor Bhotiyal.
We be all souls seeking escape. No matter what thy wisdom learned
among Sahibswhen we come to my River thou wilt be freed from all
illusion - at my side. Hai! My bones ache for that Riveras they
ached in the te-rain; but my spirit sits above my boneswaiting.
The Search is sure!'

'I am answered. Is it permitted to ask a question?'

The lama inclined his stately head.

'I ate thy bread for three years - as thou knowest. Holy One
whence came -?'

'There is much wealthas men count itin Bhotiyal' the lama
returned with composure. 'In my own place I have the illusion of
honour. I ask for that I need. I am not concerned with the account.
That is for my monastery. Ai! The black high seats in the
monasteryand novices all in order!'

And he told storiestracing with a finger in the dustof the
immense and sumptuous ritual of avalanche-guarded cathedrals; of
processions and devil-dances; of the changing of monks and nuns into
swine; of holy cities fifteen thousand feet in the air; of intrigue
between monastery and monastery; of voices among the hillsand of
that mysterious mirage that dances on dry snow. He spoke even of
Lhassa and of the Dalai Lamawhom he had seen and adored.

Each longperfect day rose behind Kim for a barrier to cut him off


from his race and his mother-tongue. He slipped back to thinking
and dreaming in the vernacularand mechanically followed the lama's
ceremonial observances at eatingdrinkingand the like. The old
man's mind turned more and more to his monastery as his eyes turned
to the steadfast snows. His River troubled him nothing. Now and
againindeedhe would gaze long and long at a tuft or a twig
expectinghe saidthe earth to cleave and deliver its blessing;
but he was content to be with his discipleat ease in the temperate
wind that comes down from the Doon. This was not Ceylonnor Buddh
Gayanor Bombaynor some grass-tangled ruins that he seemed to
have stumbled upon two years ago. He spoke of those places as a
scholar removed from vanityas a Seeker walking in humilityas an
old manwise and temperateillumining knowledge with brilliant
insight. Bit by bitdisconnectedlyeach tale called up by some
wayside thinghe spoke of all his wanderings up and down Hind; till
Kimwho had loved him without reasonnow loved him for fifty good
reasons. So they enjoyed themselves in high felicityabstaining
as the Rule demandsfrom evil wordscovetous desires; not overeating
not lying on high bedsnor wearing rich clothes. Their
stomachs told them the timeand the people brought them their food
as the saying is. They were lords of the villages of Aminabad
SahaigungeAkrola of the Fordand little Phulesawhere Kim gave
the soulless woman a blessing.

But news travels fast in Indiaand too soon shuffled across the
crop-landbearing a basket of fruits with a box of Kabul grapes and
gilt orangesa white-whiskered servitor - a leandry Oorya begging
them to bring the honour of their presence to his mistress
distressed in her mind that the lama had neglected her so long.

'Now do I remember' - the lama spoke as though it were a wholly new
proposition. 'She is virtuousbut an inordinate talker.'

Kim was sitting on the edge of a cow's mangertelling stories to a
village smith's children.

'She will only ask for another son for her daughter. I have not
forgotten her' he said. 'Let her acquire merit. Send word that we
will come.'

They covered eleven miles through the fields in two daysand were
overwhelmed with attentions at the end; for the old lady held a fine
tradition of hospitalityto which she forced her son-in-lawwho
was under the thumb of his women-folk and bought peace by borrowing
of the money-lender. Age had not weakened her tongue or her memory
and from a discreetly barred upper windowin the hearing of not
less than a dozen servantsshe paid Kim compliments that would have
flung European audiences into unclean dismay.

'But thou art still the shameless beggar-brat of the parao' she
shrilled. 'I have not forgotten thee. Wash ye and eat. The father of
my daughter's son is gone away awhile. So we poor women are dumb and
useless.'

For proofshe harangued the entire household unsparingly till food
and drink were brought; and in the evening - the smoke-scented
eveningcopper-dun and turquoise across the fields - it pleased her
to order her palanquin to be set down in the untidy forecourt by
smoky torchlight; and therebehind not too closely drawn curtains
she gossiped.

'Had the Holy One come aloneI should have received him otherwise;
but with this roguewho can be too careful?'


'Maharanee' said Kimchoosing as always the amplest title'is it
my fault that none other than a Sahib - a polis-Sahib - called the
Maharanee whose face he -' 'Chutt! That was on the pilgrimage.
When we travel - thou knowest the proverb.'

'Called the Maharanee a Breaker of Hearts and a Dispenser of
Delights?'

'To remember that! It was true. So he did. That was in the time of
the bloom of my beauty.' She chuckled like a contented parrot above
the sugar lump. 'Now tell me of thy goings and comings - as much as
may be without shame. How many maidsand whose wiveshang upon
thine eyelashes? Ye hail from Benares? I would have gone there again
this yearbut my daughter - we have only two sons. Phaii! Such is
the effect of these low plains. Now in Kulu men are elephants. But I
would ask thy Holy One - stand asiderogue - a charm against most
lamentable windy colics that in mango-time overtake my daughter's
eldest. Two years back he gave me a powerful spell.'

'OhHoly One!' said Kimbubbling with mirth at the lama's rueful
face.

'It is true. I gave her one against wind.'

'Teeth - teeth - teeth' snapped the old woman.

'Cure them if they are sick,' Kim quoted relishingly'but by no
means work charms. Remember what befell the Mahratta.'

'That was two Rains ago; she wearied me with her continual
importunity.' The lama groaned as the Unjust judge had groaned
before him. 'Thus it comes - take notemy chela - that even those
who would follow the Way are thrust aside by idle women. Three days
throughwhen the child was sickshe talked to me.'

'Arre! and to whom else should I talk? The boy's mother knew
nothingand the father - in the nights of the cold weather it was "
Pray to the Gods said he, forsooth, and turning over, snored!'

'I gave her the charm. What is an old man to do?'

'To abstain from action is well - except to acquire merit."'

'Ah chelaif thou desertest meI am all alone.'

'He found his milk-teeth easily at any rate' said the old lady.
'But all priests are alike.'

Kim coughed severely. Being younghe did not approve of her
flippancy. 'To importune the wise out of season is to invite
calamitv.'

'There is a talking mynah' - the thrust came back with the wellremembered
snap of the jewelled fore-finger - 'over the stables
which has picked up the very tone of the family priest. Maybe I
forget honour to my guestsbut if ye had seen him double his fists
into his bellywhich was like a half-grown gourdand cry: "Here is
the pain!" ye would forgive. I am half minded to take the hakim's
medicine. He sells it cheapand certainly it makes him fat as
Shiv's own bull. He does not deny remediesbut I doubted for the
child because of the in-auspicious colour of the bottles.'

The lamaunder cover of the monologuehad faded out into the
darkness towards the room prepared.


'Thou hast angered himbelike' said Kim.

'Not he. He is weariedand I forgotbeing a grandmother. (None
but a grandmother should ever oversee a child. Mothers are only fit
for bearing.) Tomorrowwhen he sees how my daughter's son is grown
he will write the charm. Thentoohe can judge of the new hakim's
drugs.'

'Who is the hakimMaharanee?'

'A wandereras thou artbut a most sober Bengali from Dacca - a
master of medicine. He relieved me of an oppression after meat by
means of a small pill that wrought like a devil unchained. He
travels about nowvending preparations of great value. He has even
papersprinted in Angrezitelling what things he has done for
weak-backed men and slack women. He has been here four days; but
hearing ye were coming (hakims and priests are snake and tiger the
world over) he hasas I take itgone to cover.'

While she drew breath after this volleythe ancient servant
sitting unrebuked on the edge of the torchlightmuttered: 'This
house is a cattle-poundas it werefor all charlatans and priests.
Let the boy stop eating mangoes ... but who can argue with
a grandmother?' He raised his voice respectfully: 'Sahibathe hakim
sleeps after his meat. He is in the quarters behind the dovecote'

Kim bristled like an expectant terrier. To outface and down- talk a
Calcutta-taught Bengalia voluble Dacca drug-vendorwould be a
good game. It was not seemly that the lamaand incidentally
himselfshould be thrown aside for such an one. He knew those
curious bastard English advertisements at the backs of native
newspapers. St Xavier's boys sometimes brought them in by stealth to
snigger over among their mates; for the language of the grateful
patient recounting his symptoms is most simple and revealing. The
Ooryanot unanxious to play off one parasite against the other
slunk away towards the dovecote

'Yes' said Kimwith measured scorn. 'Their stock-in-trade is a
little coloured water and a very great shamelessness. Their prey are
broken-down kings and overfed Bengalis. Their profit is in children

-who are not born.' The old lady chuckled. 'Do not be envious.
Charms are bettereh? I never gainsaid it. See that thy Holy One
writes me a good amulet by the morning.'
'None but the ignorant deny' - a thickheavy voice boomed through
the darknessas a figure came to rest squatting - 'None but the
ignorant deny the value of charms. None but the ignorant deny the
value of medicines.'

'A rat found a piece of turmeric. Said he: "I will open a grocer's
shop' Kim retorted.

Battle was fairly joined now, and they heard the old lady stiffen to
attention.

'The priest's son knows the names of his nurse and three Gods. Says
he: Hear meor I will curse you by the three million Great Ones."'
Decidedly this invisible had an arrow or two in his quiver. He went
on: 'I am but a teacher of the alphabet. I have learned all the
wisdom of the Sahibs.'

'The Sahibs never grow old. They dance and they play like children
when they are grandfathers. A strong-backed breed' piped the voice


inside the palanquin.

'I havetooour drugs which loosen humours of the head in hot and
angry men. Sina well compounded when the moon stands in the proper
House; yellow earths I have - arplan from China that makes a man
renew his youth and astonish his household; saffron from Kashmir
and the best salep of Kabul. Many people have died before -'

'That I surely believe' said Kim.

'They knew the value of my drugs. I do not give my sick the mere
ink in which a charm is writtenbut hot and rending drugs which
descend and wrestle with the evil.'

'Very mightily they do so' sighed the old lady.

The voice launched into an immense tale of misfortune and
bankruptcystudded with plentiful petitions to the Government. 'But
for my fatewhich overrules allI had been now in Government
employ. I bear a degree from the great school at Calcutta - whither
maybethe son of this House shall go.'

'He shall indeed. If our neighbour's brat can in a few years be
made an F A' (First Arts - she used the English wordof which she
had heard so often)'how much more shall children clever as some
that I know bear away prizes at rich Calcutta.'

'Never' said the voice'have I seen such a child! Born in an
auspicious hourand - but for that colic whichalas! turning into
black cholersmay carry him off like a pigeon - destined to many
yearshe is enviable.'

'Hai mai!' said the old lady. 'To praise children is inauspicious
or I could listen to this talk. But the back of the house is
unguardedand even in this soft air men think themselves to be men
and women we know ... The child's father is away tooand I must be
chowkedar [watchman] in my old age. Up! Up! Take up the palanquin.
Let the hakim and the young priest settle between them whether
charms or medicine most avail. Ho! worthless peoplefetch tobacco
for the guestsand - round the homestead go I!'

The palanquin reeled offfollowed by straggling torches and a horde
of dogs. Twenty villages knew the Sahiba - her failingsher tongue
and her large charity. Twenty villages cheated her after immemorial
custombut no man would have stolen or robbed within her
jurisdiction for any gift under heaven. None the lessshe made
great parade of her formal inspectionsthe riot of which could be
heard half-way to Mussoorie.

Kim relaxedas one augur must when he meets another. The hakim
still squattingslid over his hookah with a friendly footand Kim
pulled at the good weed. The hangers-on expected grave professional
debateand perhaps a little free doctoring.

'To discuss medicine before the ignorant is of one piece with
teaching the peacock to sing' said the hakim.

'True courtesy' Kim echoed'is very often inattention.'

Thesebe it understoodwere company-mannersdesigned to impress.

'Hi! I have an ulcer on my leg' cried a scullion. 'Look at it!'

'Get hence! Remove!' said the hakim. 'Is it the habit of the place


to pester honoured guests? Ye crowd in like buffaloes.'

'If the Sahiba knew -' Kim began.

'Ai! Ai! Come away. They are meat for our mistress. When her young
Shaitan's colics are cured perhaps we poor people may be suffered to
-'

'The mistress fed thy wife when thou wast in jail for breaking the
money-lender's head. Who speaks against her?' The old servitor
curled his white moustaches savagely in the young moonlight. 'I am
responsible for the honour of this house. Go!' and he drove the
underlings before him.

Said the hakimhardly more than shaping the words with his lips:
'How do you doMister O'Hara? I am jolly glad to see you again.'

Kim's hand clenched about the pipe-stem. Anywhere on the open road
perhapshe would not have been astonished; but herein this quiet
backwater of lifehe was not prepared for Hurree Babu. It annoyed
himtoothat he had been hoodwinked.

'Ah ha! I told you at Lucknow - resurgam - I shall rise again and
you shall not know me. How much did you bet - eh?'

He chewed leisurely upon a few cardamom seedsbut he breathed
uneasily.

'But why come hereBabuji?'

'Ah! Thatt is the questionas Shakespeare hath it. I come to
congratulate you on your extraordinary effeecient performance at
Delhi. Oah! I tell you we are all proud of you. It was verree
neat and handy. Our mutual friendhe is old friend of mine. He has
been in some dam'-tight places. Now he will be in some more. He
told me; I tell Mr Lurgan; and he is pleased you graduate so nicely.
All the Department is pleased.'

For the first time in his lifeKim thrilled to the clean pride (it
can be a deadly pitfallnone the less) of Departmental praise ensnaring
praise from an equal of work appreciated by fellowworkers.
Earth has nothing on the same plane to compare with it.
Butcried the Oriental in himBabus do not travel far to retail
compliments.

'Tell thy taleBabu' he said authoritatively.

'Oahit is nothing. Onlee I was at Simla when the wire came in
about what our mutual friend said he had hiddenand old Creighton '
He looked to see how Kim would take this piece of audacity.

'The Colonel Sahib' the boy from St Xavier's corrected. 'Of
course. He found me at a loose stringand I had to go down to
Chitor to find that beastly letter. I do not like the South - too
much railway travel; but I drew good travelling allowance. Ha! Ha! I
meet our mutual at Delhi on the way back. He lies quiett just now
and says Saddhu-disguise suits him to the ground. Wellthere I
hear what you have done so wellso quicklyupon the instantaneous
spur of the moment. I tell our mutual you take the bally bunby
Jove! It was splendid. I come to tell you so.'

'Umm!'

The frogs were busy in the ditchesand the moon slid to her


setting. Some happy servant had gone out to commune with the night
and to beat upon a drum. Kim's next sentence was in the vernacular.

'How didst thou follow us?'

'Oah. Thatt was nothing. I know from our mutual friend you go to
Saharunpore. So I come on. Red Lamas are not inconspicuous persons.
I buy myself my drug-boxand I am very good doctor really. I go to
Akrola of the Fordand hear all about youand I talk here and talk
there. All the common people know what you do. I knew when the
hospitable old lady sent the dooli. They have great recollections of
the old lama's visits here. I know old ladies cannot keep their
hands from medicines. So I am a doctorand - you hear my talk? I
think it is verree good. My wordMister O'Harathey know about
you and the lama for fifty miles - the common people. So I come. Do
you mind?'

'Babuji' said Kimlooking up at the broadgrinning face'I am a
Sahib.'

'My dear Mister O'Hara

'And I hope to play the Great Game.'

'You are subordinate to me departmentally at present.'

'Then why talk like an ape in a tree? Men do not come after one from
Simla and change their dressfor the sake of a few sweet words. I
am not a child. Talk Hindi and let us get to the yolk of the egg.
Thou art here - speaking not one word of truth in ten. Why art thou
here? Give a straight answer.'

'That is so verree disconcerting of the EuropeansMister O'Hara.
you should know a heap better at your time of life.'

'But I want to know' said Kimlaughing. 'If it is the GameI may
help. How can I do anything if you bukh [babble] all round the
shop?'

Hurree Babu reached for the pipeand sucked it till it guggled
again.

'Now I will speak vernacular. You sit tightMister O'Hara . . . It
concerns the pedigree of a white stallion.'

'Still? That was finished long ago.'

'When everyone is dead the Great Game is finished. Not before.
Listen to me till the end. There were Five Kings who prepared a
sudden war three years agowhen thou wast given the stallion's
pedigree by Mahbub Ali. Upon thembecause of that newsand ere
they were readyfell our Army.'

'Ay - eight thousand men with guns. I remember that night.'

'But the war was not pushed. That is the Government custom. The
troops were recalled because the Government believed the Five Kings
were cowed; and it is not cheap to feed men among the high Passes.
HilaS and Bunar - Rajahs with guns - undertook for a price to guard
the Passes against all coming from the North. They protested both
fear and friendship.' He broke off with a giggle into English: "Of
courseI tell you this unoffeecialiv to elucidate political
situationMister O'Hara. OffeeciallyI am debarred from
criticizing any action of superiors. Now I go on. - This pleased the


Governmentanxious to avoid expenseand a bond was made for so
many rupees a month that Hilas and Bunar should guard the Passes as
soon as the State's troops were withdrawn. At that time - it was
after we two met - Iwho had been selling tea in Lehbecame a
clerk of accounts in the Army. When the troops were withdrawnI
was left behind to pay the coolies who made new roads in the Hills.
This road-making was part of the bond between BunarHilasand the
Government.'

'So? And then?'

'I tell youit was jolly-beastly cold up there tooafter summer'
said Hurree Babu confidentially. 'I was afraid these Bunar men would
cut my throat every night for thee pay-chest. My native sepoy-guard
they laughed at me! By Jove! I was such a fearful man. Nevar mind
thatt. I go on colloquially ... I send word many times that these
two Kings were sold to the North; and Mahbub Aliwho was yet
farther Northamply confirmed it. Nothing was done. Only my feet
were frozenand a toe dropped off. I sent word that the roads for
which I was paying money to the diggers were being made for the feet
of strangers and enemies.'

'For?'

'For the Russians. The thing was an open jest among the coolies.
Then I was called down to tell what I knew by speech of tongue.
Mahbub came South too. See the end! Over the Passes this year after
snow-melting' - he shivered afresh - come two strangers under cover
of shooting wild goats. They bear gunsbut they bear also chains
and levels and compasses.'

'Oho! The thing gets clearer.'

'They are well received by Hilas and Bunar. They make great
promises; they speak as the mouthpiece of a Kaisar with gifts. Up
the valleysdown the valleys go theysayingHere is a place to
build a breastwork; here can ye pitch a fort. Here can ye hold the
road against an army- the very roads for which I paid out the
rupees monthly. The Government knows'but does nothing. The three
other Kingswho were not paid for guarding the Passestell them by
runner of the bad faith of Bunar and Hilas. When all the evil is
donelook you - when these two strangers with the levels and the
compasses make the Five Kings to believe that a great army will
sweep the Passes tomorrow or the next day - Hill-people are all
fools - comes the order to meHurree BabuGo North and see what
those strangers do.I say to Creighton SahibThis is not a
lawsuit, that we go about to collect evidence.'Hurree returned to
his English with a jerk: "'By Jove I said, why the dooce do you
not issue demi-offeecial orders to some brave man to poison them
for an example? It isif you permit the observationmost
reprehensible laxity on your part." And Colonel Creightonhe
laughed at me! It is all your beastly English pride. You think no
one dare conspire! That is all tommy-rott.'

Kim smoked slowlyrevolving the businessso far as he understood
itin his quick mind.

'Then thou goest forth to follow the strangers?'

'No. To meet them. They are coming in to Simla to send down their
horns and heads to be dressed at Calcutta. They are exclusively
sporting gentlemenand they are allowed special faceelities by the
Government. Of coursewe always do that. It is our British pride.'


'Then what is to fear from them?'

'By Jovethey are not black people. I can do all sorts of things
with black peopleof course. They are Russiansand highly
unscrupulous people. I - I do not want to consort with them without
a witness.'

'Will they kill thee?'

'Oahthatt is nothing. I am good enough Herbert SpencerianI
trustto meet little thing like deathwhich is all in my fateyou
know. But - but they may beat me.'

'Why?'

Hurree Babu snapped his fingers with irritation. 'Of course I shall
affeeliate myself to their camp in supernumerary capacity as perhaps
interpreteror person mentally impotent and hungreeor some such
thing. And then I must pick up what I canI suppose. That is as
easy for me as playing Mister Doctor to the old lady. Onlee - onlee

-you seeMister O'HaraI am unfortunately Asiaticwhich is
serious detriment in some respects. And all-so I am Bengali - a
fearful man.'
'God made the Hare and the Bengali. What shame?' said Kimquoting
the proverb.

'It was process of EvolutionI thinkfrom Primal Necessitybut
the fact remains in all the cui bono. I amohawfully fearful! - I
remember once they wanted to cut off my head on the road to Lhassa.
(NoI have never reached to Lhassa.) I sat down and criedMister
O'Haraanticipating Chinese tortures. I do not suppose these two
gentlemen will torture mebut I like to provide for possible
contingency with European assistance in emergency.' He coughed and
spat out the cardamoms. 'It is purely unoffeecial indentto which
you can say "NoBabu". If you have no pressing engagement with your
old man - perhaps you might divert him; perhaps I can seduce his
fancies - I should like you to keep in Departmental touch with me
till I find those sporting coves. I have great opeenion of you
since I met my friend at Delhi. And also I will embody your name in
my offeecial report when matter is finally adjudicated. It will be
a great feather in your cap. That is why I come really.

'Humph! The end of the taleI thinkis true; but what of the
fore-part?'

'About the Five Kings? Oah! there is ever so much truth in it. A
lots more than you would suppose' said Hurree earnestly. 'You come

-eh? I go from here straight into the Doon. It is verree verdant
and painted meads. I shall go to Mussoorie to good old Munsoorie
Paharas the gentlemen and ladies say. Then by Rampur into Chini.
That is the only way they can come. I do not like waiting in the
coldbut we must wait for them. I want to walk with them to Simla.
You seeone Russian is a Frenchmanand I know my French pretty
well. I have friends in Chandernagore.'
'He would certainly rejoice to see the Hills again' said Kim
meditatively. 'All his speech these ten days past has been of little
else. If we go together -'

'Oah! We can be quite strangers on the roadif your lama prefers. I
shall just be four or five miles ahead. There is no hurry for Hurree

-that is an Europe punha! ha! - and you come after. There is
plenty of time; they will plot and survey and mapof course. I

shall go tomorrowand you the next dayif you choose. Eh? You go
think on it till morning. By Joveit is near morning now.' He
yawned ponderouslyand with never a civil word lumbered off to his
sleeping-place. But Kim slept littleand his thoughts ran in
Hindustani:

'Well is the Game called great! I was four days a scullion at
Quettawaiting on the wife of the man whose book I stole. And that
was part of the Great Game! From the South - God knows how far came
up the Mahrattaplaying the Great Game in fear of his life.
Now I shall go far and far into the North playing the Great Game.
Trulyit runs like a shuttle throughout all Hind. And my share and
my joy' - he smiled to the darkness-'I owe to the lama here. Also to
Mahbub Ali - also to Creighton Sahibbut chiefly to the Holy One.
He is right - a great and a wonderful world - and I am Kim - Kim -
Kim - alone - one person - in the middle of it all. But I will see
these strangers with their levels and chains . . .'

'What was the upshot of last night's babble?' said the lamaafter
his orisons

'There came a strolling seller of drugs - a hanger-on of the
Sahiba's. Him I abolished by arguments and prayersproving that
our charms are worthier than his coloured waters.'

'Alasmy charms! Is the virtuous woman still bent upon a new one?'

'Very strictly.'

'Then it must be writtenor she will deafen me with her clamour.'
He fumbled at his pencase.

'In the Plains' said Kim'are always too many people. In the
Hillsas I understandthere are fewer.'

'Oh! the Hillsand the snows upon the Hills.' The lami tore off a
tiny square of paper fit to go in an amulet. 'But what dost thou
know of the Hills?'

'They are very close.' Kim thrust open the door and looked at the
longpeaceful line of the Himalayas flushed in morning- gold.
'Except in the dress of a SahibI have never set foot among them.'

The lama snuffed the wind wistfully.

'If we go North' - Kim put the question to the waking sunrise '
would not much mid-day heat be avoided by walking among the lower
hills at least? ... Is the charm madeHoly One?'

'I have written the names of seven silly devils - not one of whom is
worth a grain of dust in the eye. Thus do foolish women drag us
from the Way!'

Hurree Babu came out from behind the dovecote washing his teeth with
ostentatious ritual. Full-fleshedheavy-haunchedbull-neckedand
deep-voicedhe did not look like 'a fearful man'. Kim signed
almost imperceptibly that matters were in good trainand when the
morning toilet was overHurree Babuin flowery speechcame to do
honour to the lama. They ateof courseapartand afterwards the
old ladymore or less veiled behind a windowreturned to the vital
business of green-mango colics in the young. The lama's knowledge of
medicine "wasof coursesympathetic only. He believed that the
dung of a black horsemixed with sulphurand carried in a snakeskin
was a sound remedy for cholera; but the symbolism interested


him far more than the science. Hurree Babu deferred to these views
with enchanting politenessso that the lama called him a courteous
physician. Hurree Babu replied that he was no more than an inexpert
dabbler in the mysteries; but at least - he thanked the Gods
therefore - he knew when he sat in the presence of a master. He
himself had been taught by the Sahibswho do not consider expense
in the lordly halls of Calcutta; butas he was ever first to
acknowledgethere lay a wisdom behind earthly wisdom - the high and
lonely lore of meditation. Kim looked on with envy. The Hurree Babu
of his knowledge - oilyeffusiveand nervous - was gone; gone
toowas the brazen drug-vendor of overnight. There remained polished
politeattentive - a soberlearned son of experience and
adversitygathering wisdom from the lama's lips. The old lady
confided to Kim that these rare levels were beyond her. She liked
charms with plenty of ink that one could wash off in waterswallow
and be done with. Else what was the use of the Gods? She liked men
and womenand she spoke of them - of kinglets she had known in the
past; of her own youth and beauty; of the depredations of leopards
and the eccentricities of love Asiatic; of the incidence of
taxationrack-rentingfuneral ceremoniesher son-in-law (this by
allusioneasy to be followed)the care of the youngand the age's
lack of decency. And Kimas interested in the life of this world as
she soon to leave itsquatted with his feet under the hem of his
robedrinking all inwhile the lama demolished one after another
every theory of body-curing put forward by Hurree Babu.

At noon the Babu strapped up his brass-bound drug-boxtook his
patent-leather shoes of ceremony in one handa gay blue-and-white
umbrella in the otherand set off northwards to the Doonwherehe
saidhe was in demand among the lesser kings of those parts.

'We will go in the cool of the eveningchela' said the lama. 'That
doctorlearned in physic and courtesyaffirms that the people
among these lower hills are devoutgenerousand much in need of a
teacher. In a very short time - so says the hakim - we come to cool
air and the smell of pines.'

'Ye go to the Hills? And by Kulu road? Ohthrice happy!' shrilled
the old lady. 'But that I am a little pressed with the care of the
homestead I would take palanquin ... but that would be shameless
and my reputation would be cracked. Ho! Ho! I know the road - every
march of the road I know. Ye will find charity throughout - it is
not denied to the well-looking. I will give orders for provision. A
servant to set you forth upon your journey? No ... Then I will at
least cook ye good food.'

'What a woman is the Sahiba!' said the white-bearded Ooryawhen a
tumult rose by the kitchen quarters. 'She has never forgotten a
friend: she has never forgotten an enemy in all her years. And her
cookery - wah!' He rubbed his slim stomach.

There were cakesthere were sweetmeatsthere was cold fowl stewed
to rags with rice and prunes - enough to burden Kim like a mule.

'I am old and useless' she said. 'None now love me - and none
respect - but there are few to compare with me when I call on the
Gods and squat to my cooking-pots. Come againO people of good
will. Holy One and disciplecome again. The room is always
prepared; the welcome is always ready ... See the women do not
follow thy chela too openly. I know the women of Kulu. Take heed
chelalest he run away when he smells his Hills again ... Hai! Do
not tilt the rice-bag upside down ... Bless the householdHoly One
and forgive thy servant her stupidities.'


She wiped her red old eyes on a corner of her veiland clucked
throatily.

'Women talk' said the lama at last'but that is a woman's
infirmity. I gave her a charm. She is upon the Wheel and wholly
given over to the shows of this lifebut none the lesschelashe
is virtuouskindlyhospitable - of a whole and zealous heart. Who
shall say she does not acquire merit?'

'Not IHoly One' said Kimreslinging the bountiful provision on
his shoulders. 'In my mind - behind my eyes - I have tried to
picture such an one altogether freed from the Wheel - desiring
nothingcausing nothing - a nunas it were'

'AndO imp?' The lama almost laughed aloud.

'I cannot make the picture.'

'Nor I. But there are manymany millions of lives before her. She
will get wisdom a littleit may bein each one.'

'And will she forget how to make stews with saffron upon that road?'

'Thy mind is set on things unworthy. But she has skill. I am
refreshed all over. When we reach the lower hills I shall be yet
stronger. The hakim spoke truly to me this morn when he said a
breath from the snows blows away twenty years from the life of a
man. We will go up into the Hills - the high hills - up to the
sound of snow-waters and the sound of the trees - for a little
while. The hakim said that at any time we may return to the Plains
for we do no more than skirt the pleasant places. The hakim is full
of learning; but he is in no way proud. I spoke to him - when thou
wast talking to the Sahiba - of a certain dizziness that lays hold
upon the back of my neck in the nightand he said it rose from
excessive heat - to be cured by cool air. Upon considerationI
marvelled that I had not thought of such a simple remedy.'

'Didst thou tell him of thy Search?' said Kima little jealously.
He preferred to sway the lama by his own speech - not through the
wiles of Hurree Babu.

'Assuredly. I told him of my dreamand of the manner by which I had
acquired merit by causing thee to be taught wisdom.'

'Thou didst not say I was a Sahib?'

'What need? I have told thee many times we be but two souls seeking
escape. He said - and he is just herein - that the River of Healing
will break forth even as I dreamed - at my feetif need be. Having
found the Wayseest thouthat shall free me from the Wheelneed I
trouble to find a way about the mere fields of earth - which are
illusion? That were senseless. I have my dreamsnight upon night
repeated; I have Jataka; and I have theeFriend of all the World.
It was written in thy horoscope that a Red Bull on a green field - I
have not forgotten - should bring thee to honour. Who but I saw that
prophecy accomplished? IndeedI was the instrument. Thou shalt find
me my Riverbeing in return the instrument. The Search is sure!'

He set his ivory-yellow faceserene and untroubledtowards the
beckoning Hills; his shadow shouldering far before him in the dust.


Chapter 13

Who hath desired the Sea - the immense and contemptuous surges?
The shudderthe stumblethe swerve ere the star-stabbing bowsprit
merges -
The orderly clouds of the Trades and the ridged roaring
sapphire thereunder -
Unheralded cliff-lurking flaws and the head-sails' low-volleying
thunder?
His Sea in no wonder the same - his Sea and the same in each wonder
-
His Sea that his being fulfils?
So and no otherwise - so and no otherwise hill-men desire their
hills!

The Sea and the Hills.

'Who goes to the hills goes to his mother.'

They had crossed the Siwaliks and the half-tropical Doonleft
Mussoorie behind themand headed north along the narrow hill-roads.
Day after day they struck deeper into the huddled mountainsand day
after day Kim watched the lama return to a man's strength. Among the
terraces of the Doon he had leaned on the boy's shoulderready to
profit by wayside halts. Under the great ramp to Mussoorie he drew
himself together as an old hunter faces a well-remembered bankand
where he should have sunk exhausted swung his long draperies about
himdrew a deep double-lungful of the diamond airand walked as
only a hillman can. Kimplains-bred and plains-fedsweated and
panted astonished. 'This is my country' said the lama. 'Beside
Such-zenthis is flatter than a rice-field'; and with steady
driving strokes from the loins he strode upwards. But it was on the
steep downhill marchesthree thousand feet in three hoursthat he
went utterly away from Kimwhose back ached with holding backand
whose big toe was nigh cut off by his grass sandal-string. Through
the speckled shadow of the great deodar-forests; through oak
feathered and plumed with ferns; birchilexrhododendronand
pineout on to the bare hillsides' slippery sunburnt grassand
back into the woodlands' coolth againtill oak gave way to bamboo
and palm of the valleythe lama swung untiring.

Glancing back in the twilight at the huge ridges behind him and the
faintthin line of the road whereby they had comehe would lay
outwith a hillman's generous breadth of visionfresh marches for
the morrow; orhalting in the neck of some uplifted pass that gave
on Spiti and Kuluwould stretch out his hands yearningly towards
the high snows of the horizon. In the dawns they flared windy-red
above stark blueas Kedar- nath and Badrinath - kings of that
wilderness - took the first sunlight. All day long they lay like
molten silver under the sunand at evening put on their jewels
again. At first they breathed temperately upon the travellerswinds
good to meet when one crawled over some gigantic hog's-back; but in
a few daysat a height of nine or ten thousand feetthose breezes
bit; and Kim kindly allowed a village of hillmen to acquire merit by
giving him a rough blanket-coat. The lama was mildly surprised that
anyone should object to the knife-edged breezes which had cut the
years off his shoulders.

'These are but the lower hillschela. There is no cold till we come
to the true Hills.'


'Air and water are goodand the people are devout enoughbut the
food is very bad' Kim growled; 'and we walk as though we were mad or
English. It freezes at nighttoo.'

'A littlemaybe; but only enough to make old bones rejoice in the
sun. We must not always delight in soft beds and rich food.'

'We might at least keep to the road.'

Kim had all a plainsman's affection for the well-trodden tracknot
six feet widethat snaked among the mountains; but the lamabeing
Tibetancould not refrain from short cuts over spurs and the rims
of gravel-strewn slopes. As he explained to his limping disciplea
man bred among mountains can prophesy the course of a mountain-road
and though low-lying clouds might be a hindrance to a short-cutting
strangerthey made no earthly difference to a thoughtful man. Thus
after long hours of what would be reckoned very fair mountaineering
in civilized countriesthey would pant over a saddle-backsidle
past a few landslipsand drop through forest at an angle of fortyfive
onto the road again. Along their track lay the villages of the
hillfolk - mud and earth hutstimbers now and then rudely carved
with an axe - clinging like swallows' nests against the steeps
huddled on tiny flats half-way down a three-thousand-foot glissade;
jammed into a corner between cliffs that funnelled and focused every
wandering blast; orfor the sake of summer pasturecowering down
on a neck that in winter would be ten feet deep in snow. And the
people - the sallowgreasyduffle- clad peoplewith short bare
legs and faces almost Esquimaux - would flock out and adore. The
Plains - kindly and gentle - had treated the lama as a holy man
among holy men. But the Hills worshipped him as one in the
confidence of all their devils. Theirs was an almost obliterated
Buddhismoverlaid with a nature-worship fantastic as their own
landscapeselaborate as the terracing of their tiny fields; but
they recognized the big hatthe clicking rosaryand the rare
Chinese texts for great authority; and they respected the man
beneath the hat.

'We saw thee come down over the black Breasts of Eua' said a Betah
who gave them cheesesour milkand stone-hard bread one evening.
'We do not use that often - except when calving cows stray in
summer. There is a sudden wind among those stones that casts men
down on the stillest day. But what should such folk care for the
Devil of Eua!'

Then did Kimaching in every fibredizzy with looking down
footsore with cramping desperate toes into inadequate cranniestake
joy in the day's march - such joy as a boy of St Xavier's who had
won the quarter-mile on the flat might take in the praises of his
friends. The hills sweated the ghi and sugar suet off his bones;
the dry airtaken sobbingly at the head of cruel passesfirmed and
built out his upper ribs; and the tilted levels put new hard muscles
into calf and thigh.

They meditated often on the Wheel of Life - the more so sinceas
the lama saidthey were freed from its visible temptations. Except
the grey eagle and an occasional far-seen bear grubbing and rooting
on the hillside; a vision of a furious painted leopard met at dawn
in a still valley devouring a goat; and now and again a brightcoloured
birdthey were alone with the winds and the grass singing
under the wind. The women of the smoky huts over whose roofs the
two walked as they descended the mountainswere unlovely and
uncleanwives of many husbandsand afflicted with goitre. The men
were woodcutters when they were not farmers - meekand of an


incredible simplicity. But that suitable discourse might not fail
Fate sent themovertaking and overtaken upon the roadthe
courteous Dacca physicianwho paid for his food in ointments good
for goitre and counsels that restore peace between men and women. He
seemed to know these hills as well as he knew the hill dialectsand
gave the lama the lie of the land towards Ladakh and Tibet. He said
they could return to the Plains at any moment. Meantimefor such as
loved mountainsyonder road might amuse. This was not all revealed
in a breathbut at evening encounters on the stone threshingfloors
whenpatients disposed ofthe doctor would smoke and the
lama snuffwhile Kim watched the wee cows grazing on the housetops
or threw his soul after his eyes across the deep blue gulfs between
range and range. And there were talks apart in the dark woodswhen
the doctor would seek herbsand Kimas budding physicianmust
accompany him.

'You seeMister O'HaraI do not know what the deuce-an'- all I
shall do when I find our sporting friends; but if you will kindly
keep within sight of my umbrellawhich is fine fixed point for
cadastral surveyI shall feel much better.'

Kim looked out across the jungle of peaks. 'This is not my country
hakim. EasierI thinkto find one louse in a bear-skin.'

'Oahthatt is my strong points. There is no hurry for Hurree. They
were at Leh not so long ago. They said they had come down from the
Karakorum with their heads and horns and all. I am onlee afraid they
will have sent back all their letters and compromising things from
Leh into Russian territoree. Of course they will walk away as far to
the East as possible - just to show that they were never among the
Western States. You do not know the Hills?' He scratched with a twig
on the earth. 'Look! They should have come in by Srinagar or
Abbottabad. Thatt is their short road - down the river by Bunji and
Astor. But they have made mischief in the West. So' - he drew a
furrow from left to right - 'they march and they march away East to
Leh (ah! it is cold there)and down the Indus to Hanle (I know that
road)and then downyou seeto Bushahr and Chini valley. That is
ascertained by process of eliminationand also by asking questions
from people that I cure so well. Our friends have been a long time
playing about and producing impressions. So they are well known from
far off. You will see me catch them somewhere in Chini valley.
Please keep your eye on the umbrella.'

It nodded like a wind-blown harebell down the valleys and round the
mountain sidesand in due time the lama and Kimwho steered by
compasswould overhaul itvending ointments and powders at
eventide. 'We came by such and such a way!' The lama would throw a
careless finger backward at the ridgesand the umbrella would
expend itself in compliments.

They crossed a snowy pass in cold moonlightwhen the lamamildly
chaffing Kimwent through up to his kneeslike a Bactrian camel the
snow-bredshag-haired sort that came into the Kashmir Serai.
They dipped across beds of light snow and snow-powdered shalewhere
they took refuge from a gale in a camp of Tibetans hurrying down
tiny sheepeach laden with a bag of borax. They came out upon
grassy shoulders still snow-speckledand through forestto grass
anew. For all their marchingsKedarnath and Badrinath were not
impressed; and it was only after days of travel that Kimuplifted
upon some insignificant ten-thousand-foot hummockcould see that a
shoulder-knot or horn of the two great lords had - ever so slightly

-changed outline.
At last they entered a world within a world - a valley of leagues


where the high hills were fashioned of a mere rubble and refuse from
off the knees of the mountains. Here one day's march carried them no
fartherit seemedthan a dreamer's clogged pace bears him in a
nightmare. They skirted a shoulder painfully for hoursand
beholdit was but an outlying boss in an outlying buttress of the
main pile! A rounded meadow revealed itselfwhen they had reached
itfor a vast tableland running far into the valley. Three days
laterit was a dim fold in the earth to southward.

'Surely the Gods live here!' said Kimbeaten down by the silence
and the appalling sweep and dispersal of the cloud-shadows after
rain. 'This is no place for men!'

'Long and long ago' said the lamaas to himself'it was asked of
the Lord whether the world were everlasting. o this the Excellent
One returned no answer ... When I was in Ceylona wise Seeker
confirmed that from the gospel which is written in Pali. Certainly
since we know the way to Freedomthe question were unprofitable
but - lookand know illusionchela! These- are the true Hills!
They are like my hills by Suchzen. Never were such hills!'

Above themstill enormously above themearth towered away towards
the snow-linewhere from east to west across hundreds of miles
ruled as with a rulerthe last of the bold birches stopped. Above
thatin scarps and blocks upheavedthe rocks strove to fight their
heads above the white smother. Above these againchangeless since
the world's beginningbut changing to every mood of sun and cloud
lay out the eternal snow. They could see blots and blurs on its face
where storm and wandering wullie-wa got up to dance. Below themas
they stoodthe forest slid away in a sheet of blue-green for mile
upon mile; below the forest was a village in its sprinkle of
terraced fields and steep grazing-grounds. Below the village they
knewthough a thunderstorm worried and growled there for the
momenta pitch of twelve or fifteen hundred feet gave to the moist
valley where the streams gather that are the mothers of young
Sutluj.

As usualthe lama had led Kim by cow-track and by-roadfar from
the main route along which Hurree Babuthat 'fearful man'had
bucketed three days before through a storm to which nine Englishmen
out of ten would have given full right of way. Hurree was no gameshot
- the snick of a trigger made him change colour - butas he
himself would have saidhe was 'fairly effeecient stalker'and he
had raked the huge valley with a pair of cheap binoculars to some
purpose. Moreoverthe white of worn canvas tents against green
carries far. Hurree Babu had seen all he wanted to see when he sat
on the threshing-floor of Ziglaurtwenty miles away as the eagle
fliesand forty by road - that is to saytwo small dots which one
day were just below the snow-lineand the next had moved downward
perhaps six inches on the hillside. Once cleaned out and set to the
workhis fat bare legs could cover a surprising amount of ground
and this was the reason whywhile Kim and the lama lay in a leaky
hut at Ziglaur till the storm should be over-pastan oilywetbut
always smiling Bengalitalking the best of English with the vilest
of phraseswas ingratiating himself with two sodden and rather
rheumatic foreigners. He had arrivedrevolving many wild schemes
on the heels of a thunderstorm which had split a pine over against
their campand so convinced a dozen or two forcibly impressed
baggage-coolies the day was inauspicious for farther travel that
with one accord they had thrown down their loads and jibbed. They
were subjects of a Hill Rajah who farmed out their servicesas is
the customfor his private gain; andto add to their personal
distressesthe strange Sahibs had already threatened them with
rifles. The most of them knew rifles and Sahibs of old: they were


trackers and shikarris of the Northern valleyskeen after bear and
wild goat; but they had never been thus treated in their lives. So
the forest took them to her bosomandfor all oaths and clamour
refused to restore. There was no need to feign madness or - the Babu
had thought of another means of securing a welcome. He wrung out his
wet clothesslipped on his patent-leather shoesopened the blueand-
white umbrellaand with mincing gait and a heart beating
against his tonsils appeared as 'agent for His Royal Highnessthe
Rajah of Rampurgentlemen. What can I do for youplease?'

The gentlemen were delighted. One was visibly Frenchthe other
Russianbut they spoke English not much inferior to the Babu's.
They begged his kind offices. Their native servants had gone sick at
Leh. They had hurried on because they were anxious to bring the
spoils of the chase to Simla ere the skins grew moth-eaten. They
bore a general letter of introduction (the Babu salaamed to it
orientally) to all Government officials. Nothey had not met any
other shooting-parties en route. They did for themselves. They had
plenty of supplies. They only wished to push on as soon as might be.
At this he waylaid a cowering hillman among the treesand after
three minutes' talk and a little silver (one cannot be economical
upon State servicethough Hurree's heart bled at the waste) the
eleven coolies and the three hangers-on reappeared. At least the
Babu would be a witness to their oppression.

'My royal masterhe will be much annoyedbut these people are
onlee common people and grossly ignorant. If your honours will
kindly overlook unfortunate affairI shall be much pleased. In a
little while rain will stop and we can then proceed. You have been
shootingeh? That is fine performance!'

He skipped nimbly from one kilta to the nextmaking pretence to
adjust each conical basket. The Englishman is notas a rule
familiar with the Asiaticbut he would not strike across the wrist
a kindly Babu who had accidentally upset a kilta with a red oilskin
top. On the other handhe would not press drink upon a Babu were
he never so friendlynor would he invite him to meat. The
strangers did all these thingsand asked many questions - about
women mostly - to which Hurree returned gay and unstudied answers.
They gave him a glass of whitish fluid like to ginand then more;
and in a little time his gravity departed from him. He became
thickly treasonousand spoke in terms of sweeping indecency of a
Government which had forced upon him a white man's education and
neglected to supply him with a white man's salary. He babbled tales
of oppression and wrong till the tears ran down his cheeks for the
miseries of his land. Then he staggered offsinging love-songs of
Lower Bengaland collapsed upon a wet tree-trunk. Never was so
unfortunate a product of English rule in India more unhappily thrust
upon aliens.

'They are all just of that pattern' said one sportsman to the other
in French. 'When we get into India proper thou wilt see. I should
like to visit his Rajah. One might speak the good word there. It is
possible that he has heard of us and wishes to signify his goodwill.'


'We have not time. We must get into Simla as soon as may be' his
companion replied. 'For my own partI wish our reports had been
sent back from Hilasor even Leh.'

'The English post is better and safer. Remember we are given all
facilities - and Name of God! - they give them to us too! Is it
unbelievable stupidity?'


'It is pride - pride that deserves and will receive punishment.'

'Yes! To fight a fellow-Continental in our game is something. There
is a risk attachedbut these people - bah! It is too easy.'

'Pride - all pridemy friend.'

'Now what the deuce is good of Chandernagore being so close to
Calcutta and all' said Hurreesnoring open-mouthed on the sodden
moss'if I cannot understand their French? They talk so
particularly fast! It would have been much better to cut their
beastly throats.'

When he presented himself again he was racked with a headache penitent
and volubly afraid that in his drunkenness he might have
been indiscreet. He loved the British Government - it was the source
of all prosperity and honourand his master at Rampur held the very
same opinion. Upon this the men began to deride him and to quote
past wordstill step by stepwith deprecating smirksoily grins
and leers of infinite cunningthe poor Babu was beaten out of his
defences and forced to speak - truth. When Lurgan was told the tale
laterhe mourned aloud that he could not have been in the place of
the stubborninattentive coolieswho with grass mats over their
heads and the raindrops puddling in their footprintswaited on the
wea- ther. All the Sahibs of their acquaintance - rough-clad men
joyously returning year after year to their chosen gullies - had
servants and cooks and orderliesvery often hillmen. These Sahibs
travelled without any retinue. Therefore they were poor Sahibsand
ignorant; for no Sahib in his senses would follow a Bengali's
advice. But the Bengaliappearing from somewherehad given them
moneyand could make shift with their dialect. Used to
comprehensive ill-treatment from their own colourthey suspected a
trap somewhereand stood by to run if occasion offered.

Then through the new-washed airsteaming with delicious earthsmells
the Babu led the way down the slopes - walking ahead of the
coolies in pride; walking behind the foreigners in humility. His
thoughts were many and various. The least of them would have
interested his companions beyond words. But he was an agreeable
guideever keen to point out the beauties of his royal master's
domain. He peopled the hills with anything thev had a mind to slay thar
ibexor markhorand bear by Elisha's allowance. He
discoursed of botany and ethnology with unimpeachable inaccuracy
and his store of local legends - he had been a trusted agent of the
State for fifteen yearsremember - was inexhaustible.

'Decidedly this fellow is an original' said the taller of the two
foreigners. 'He is like the nightmare of a Viennese courier.'

'He represents in little India in transition - the monstrous
hybridism of East and West' the Russian replied. 'It is we who can
deal with Orientals.'

'He has lost his own country and has not acquired any other. But he
has a most complete hatred of his conquerors. Listen. He confided to
me last night' said the other.

Under the striped umbrella Hurree Babu was straining ear and brain
to follow the quick-poured Frenchand keeping both eyes on a kilta
full of maps and documents - an extra-large one with a double red
oil-skin cover. He did not wish to steal anything. He only desired
to know what to stealandincidentallyhow to get away when he
had stolen it. He thanked all the Gods of Hindustanand Herbert
Spencerthat there remained some valuables to steal.


On the second dav the road rose steeply to a grass spur above the
forest; and it was hereabout sunsetthat they came across an aged
lama - but they called him a bonze - sitting cross-legged above a
mysterious chart held down by stoneswhich he was explaining to a
young manevidently a neophyteof singularthough unwashen
beauty. The striped umbrella had been sighted half a march awayand
Kim had suggested a halt till it came up to them.

'Ha!' said Hurree Baburesourceful as Puss-in-Boots. 'That is
eminent local holy man. Probably subject of my royal master.'

'What is he doing? It is very curious.'

'He is expounding holy picture - all hand-worked.'

The two men stood bareheaded in the wash of the afternoon sunlight
low across the gold-coloured grass. The sullen cooliesglad of the
checkhalted and slid down their loads.

'Look!' said the Frenchman. 'It is like a picture for the birth of a
religion - the first teacher and the first disciple. Is he a
Buddhist?'

'Of some debased kind' the other answered. 'There are no true
Buddhists among the Hills. But look at the folds of the drapery.
Look at his eyes - how insolent! Why does this make one feel that we
are so young a people?' The speaker struck passionately at a tall
weed. 'We have nowhere left our mark yet. Nowhere! Thatdo you
understandis what disquiets me.' He scowled at the placid face
and the monumental calm of the pose.

'Have patience. We shall make your mark together - we and you young
people. Meantimedraw his picture.'

The Babu advanced loftily; his back out of all keeping with his
deferential speechor his wink towards Kim.

'Holy Onethese be Sahibs. My medicines cured one of a fluxand I
go into Simla to oversee his recovery. They wish to see thy picture
-'

'To heal the sick is always good. This is the Wheel of Life' said
the lama'the same I showed thee in the hut at Ziglaur when the
rain fell.'

'And to hear thee expound it.'

The lama's eyes lighted at the prospect of new listeners. 'To
expound the Most Excellent Way is good. Have they any knowledge of
Hindisuch as had the Keeper of Images?'

'A littlemaybe.'

Hereatsimply as a child engrossed with a new gamethe lama threw
back his head and began the full-throated invocation of the Doctor
of Divinity ere he opens the full doctrine. The strangers leaned on
their alpenstocks and listened. Kimsquatting humblywatched the
red sunlight on their facesand the blend and parting of their long
shadows. They wore un-English leggings and curious girt-in belts
that reminded him hazily of the pictures in a book in St Xavier's
library "The Adventures of a Young Naturalist in Mexico" was its
name. Yesthey looked very like the wonderful M. Sumichrast of that
taleand very unlike the 'highly unscrupulous folk' of Hurree


Babu's imagining. The cooliesearth-coloured and mutecrouched
reverently some twenty or thirty yards awayand the Babuthe slack
of his thin gear snapping like a marking-flag in the chill breeze
stood by with an air of happy proprietorship.

'These are the men' Hurree whisperedas the ritual went on and the
two whites followed the grass-blade sweeping from Hell to Heaven and
back again. 'All their books are in the large kilta with the reddish
top - books and reports and maps - and I have seen a King's letter
that either Hilas or Bunar has written. They guard it most
carefully. They have sent nothing back from Hilas or Leh. That is
sure.'

'Who is with them?'

'Only the beegar-coolies. They have no servants. They are so close
they cook their own food.'

'But what am I to do?'

'Wait and see. Only if any chance comes to me thou wilt know where
to seek for the papers.'

'This were better in Mahbub Ali's hands than a Bengali's' said Kim
scornfully.

'There are more ways of getting to a sweetheart than butting down a
wall.'

'See here the Hell appointed for avarice and greed. Flanked upon the
one side by Desire and on the other by Weariness.' The lama warmed
to his workand one of the strangers sketched him in the quickfading
light.

'That is enough' the man said at last brusquely. 'I cannot
understand himbut I want that picture. He is a better artist than

I. Ask him if he will sell it.'
'He says "Nosar' the Babu replied. The lama, of course, would no
more have parted with his chart to a casual wayfarer than an
archbishop would pawn the holy vessels of his cathedral. All Tibet
is full of cheap reproductions of the Wheel; but the lama was an
artist, as well as a wealthy Abbot in his own place.

'Perhaps in three days, or four, or ten, if I perceive that the
Sahib is a Seeker and of good understanding, I may myself draw him
another. But this was used for the initiation of a novice. Tell him
so, hakim.'

'He wishes it now - for money.'

The lama shook his head slowly and began to fold up the Wheel. The
Russian, on his side, saw no more than an unclean old man haggling
over a dirty piece of paper. He drew out a handful of rupees, and
snatched half-jestingly at the chart, which tore in the lama's grip.
A low murmur of horror went up from the coolies - some of whom were
Spiti men and, by their lights, good Buddhists. The lama rose at the
insult; his hand went to the heavy iron pencase that is the priest's
weapon, and the Babu danced in agony.

'Now you see - you see why I wanted witnesses. They are highly
unscrupulous people. Oh, sar! sar! You must not hit holyman!'

'Chela! He has defiled the Written Word!'


It was too late. Before Kim could ward him off, the Russian struck
the old man full on the face. Next instant he was rolling over and
over downhill with Kim at his throat. The blow had waked every
unknown Irish devil in the boy's blood, and the sudden fall of his
enemy did the rest. The lama dropped to his knees, half-stunned; the
coolies under their loads fled up the hill as fast as plainsmen run
aross the level. They had seen sacrilege unspeakable, and it behoved
them to get away before the Gods and devils of the hills took
vengeance. The Frenchman ran towards the lama, fumbling at his
revolver with some notion of making him a hostage for his companion.
A shower of cutting stones - hillmen are very straight shots - drove
him away, and a coolie from Ao-chung snatched the lama into the
stampede. All came about as swiftly as the sudden mountain-darkness.

'They have taken the baggage and all the guns,' yelled the
Frenchman, firing blindly into the twilight.

'All right, sar! All right! Don't shoot. I go to rescue,' and
Hurree, pounding down the slope, cast himself bodily upon the
delighted and astonished Kim, who was banging his breathless foe's
head against a boulder.

'Go back to the coolies,' whispered the Babu in his ear. 'They have
the baggage. The papers are in the kilta with the red top, but look
through all. Take their papers, and specially the murasla [King's
letter]. Go! The other man comes!'

Kim tore uphill. A revolver-bullet rang on a rock by his side, and
he cowered partridge-wise.

'If you shoot,' shouted Hurree, 'they will descend and annihilate
us. I have rescued the gentleman, sar. This is particularly
dangerous.'

'By Jove!' Kim was thinking hard in English. 'This is dam'-tight
place, but I think it is self-defence.' He felt in his bosom for
Mahbub's gift, and uncertainly - save for a few practice shots in
the Bikanir desert, he had never used the little gun -pulled the
trigger.

'What did I say, sar!' The Babu seemed to be in tears. 'Come down
here and assist to resuscitate. We are all up a tree, I tell you.'

The shots ceased. There was a sound of stumbling feet, and Kim
hurried upward through the gloom, swearing like a cat - or a
country-bred.

'Did they wound thee, chela?' called the lama above him.

'No. And thou?' He dived into a clump of stunted firs.

'Unhurt. Come away. We go with these folk to Shamlegh-under-the-
Snow.'

'But not before we have done justice,' a voice cried. 'I have got
the Sahibs' guns - all four. Let us go down.'

'He struck the Holy One - we saw it! Our cattle will be barren- our
wives will cease to bear! The snows will slide upon us as we go home
... Atop of all other oppression too!'

The little fir-clump filled with clamouring coolies - panicstricken,
and in their terror capable of anything. The man from


Ao-chung clicked the breech-bolt of his gun impatiently, and made as
to go downhill.

'Wait a little, Holy One; they cannot go far. Wait till I return,'
said he.

'It is this person who has suffered wrong,' said the lama, his hand
over his brow.

'For that very reason,' was the reply.

'If this person overlooks it, your hands are clean. Moreover, ye
acquire merit by obedience.'

'Wait, and we will all go to Shamlegh together,' the man insisted.

For a moment, for just so long as it needs to stuff a cartridge into
a breech-loader, the lama hesitated. Then he rose to his feet, and
laid a finger on the man's shoulder.

'Hast thou heard? I say there shall be no killing - I who was Abbot
of Such-zen. Is it any lust of thine to be re-born as a rat,or a
snake under the eaves - a worm in the belly of the most mean beast?
Is it thy wish to -'

The man from Ao-chung fell to his knees, for the voice boomed like a
Tibetan devil-gong.

'Ai! ai!' cried the Spiti men.'Do not curse us - do not curse him.
It was but his zeal, Holy One! . . . Put down the rifle, fool!'

'Anger on anger! Evil on evil! There will be no killing. Let the
priest-beaters go in bondage to their own acts. Just and sure is the
Wheel, swerving not a hair! They will be born many times - in
torment.' His head drooped, and he leaned heavily on Kim's shoulder.

'I have come near to great evil, chela,' he whispered in that dead
hush under the pines. 'I was tempted to loose the bullet; and truly,
in Tibet there would have been a heavy and a slow death for them ...
He struck me across the face ... upon the flesh ...' He slid to the
ground, breathing heavily, and Kim could hear the over-driven heart
bump and check.

'Have they hurt him to the death?' said the Ao-chung man, while the
others stood mute.

Kim knelt over the body in deadly fear. 'Nay,' he cried
passionately, 'this is only a weakness.' Then he remembered that he
was a white man, with a white man's camp-fittings at his service.
'Open the kiltas! The Sahibs may have a medicine.'

'Oho! Then I know it,' said the Ao-chung man with a laugh. 'Not for
five years was I Yankling Sahib's shikarri without knowing that
medicine. I too have tasted it. Behold!'

He drew from his breast a bottle of cheap whisky - such as is sold
to explorers at Leh - and cleverly forced a little between the
lama's teeth.

'So I did when Yankling Sahib twisted his foot beyond Astor. Aha! I
have already looked into their baskets - but we will make fair
division at Shamlegh. Give him a little more. It is good medicine.
Feel! His heart goes better now. Lay his head down and rub a little
on the chest. If he had waited quietly while I accounted for the


Sahibs this would never have come. But perhaps the Sahibs may chase
us here. Then it would not be wrong to shoot them with their own
guns, heh?'

'One is paid, I think, already,' said Kim between his teeth. 'I
kicked him in the groin as we went downhill. Would I had killed
him!'

'It is well to be brave when one does not live in Rampur,' said one
whose hut lay within a few miles of the Rajah's rickety palace. 'If
we get a bad name among the Sahibs, none will employ us as shikarris
any more.'

'Oh, but these are not Angrezi Sahibs - not merry-minded men like
Fostum Sahib or Yankling Sahib. They are foreigners - they cannot
speak Angrezi as do Sahibs.'

Here the lama coughed and sat up, groping for the rosary.

'There shall be no killing,' he murmured. 'Just is the Wheel! Evil
on evil -'

'Nay, Holy One. We are all here.' The Ao-chung man timidly patted
his feet. 'Except by thy order, no one shall be slain. Rest awhile.
We will make a little camp here, and later, as the moon rises, we go
to Shamlegh-under-the-Snow.'

'After a blow, ' said a Spiti man sententiously, 'it is best to
sleep.'

'There is, as it were, a dizziness at the back of my neck, and a
pinching in it. Let me lay my head on thy lap, chela. I am an old
man, but not free from passion . . . We must think of the Cause of
Things.'

'Give him a blanket. We dare not light a fire lest the Sahibs see.'

'Better get away to Shamlegh. None will follow us to Shamlegh.'

This was the nervous Rampur man.

'I have been Fostum Sahib's shikarri, and I am Yankling Sahib's
shikarri. I should have been with Yankling Sahib now but for this
cursed beegar [the corvee]. Let two men watch below with the guns
lest the Sahibs do more foolishness. I shall not leave this Holy
One.'

They sat down a little apart from the lama, and, after listening
awhile, passed round a water-pipe whose receiver was an old Day and
Martin blacking-bottle. The glow of the red charcoal as it went from
hand to hand lit up the narrow, blinking eyes, the high Chinese
cheek-bones, and the bull-throats that melted away into the dark
duffle folds round the shoulders. They looked like kobolds from some
magic mine - gnomes of the hills in conclave. And while they talked,
the voices of the snow-waters round them diminished one by one as
the night- frost choked and clogged the runnels.'

'How he stood up against us!' said a Spiti man admiring. 'I remember
an old ibex, out Ladakh-way, that Dupont Sahib missed on a shouldershot,
seven seasons back, standing up just like him. Dupont Sahib
was a good shikarri.'

'Not as good as Yankling Sahib.' The Ao-chung man took a pull at the
whisky-bottle and passed it over. 'Now hear me - unless any other


man thinks he knows more.'

The challenge was not taken up.

'We go to Shamlegh when the moon rises. There we will fairly divide
the baggage between us. I am content with this new little rifle and
all its cartridges.'

'Are the bears only bad on thy holding? said a mate, sucking at the
pipe.

'No; but musk-pods are worth six rupees apiece now, and thy women
can have the canvas of the tents and some of the cooking-gear. We
will do all that at Shamlegh before dawn. Then we all go our ways,
remembering that we have never seen or taken service with these
Sahibs, who may, indeed, say that we have stolen their baggage.'

'That is well for thee, but what will our Rajah say?'

'Who is to tell him? Those Sahibs, who cannot speak our talk, or
the Babu, who for his own ends gave us money? Will he lead an army
against us? What evidence will remain? That we do not need we shall
throw on Shamlegh-midden, where no man has yet set foot.'

'Who is at Shamlegh this summer?' The place was only a grazing centre
of three or four huts.

'The Woman of Shamlegh. She has no love for Sahibs, as we know. The
others can be pleased with little presents; and here is enough for
us all.' He patted the fat sides of the nearest basket.

'But - but -'

'I have said they are not true Sahibs. All their skins and heads
were bought in the bazar at Leh. I know the marks. I showed them to
ye last march.'

'True. They were all bought skins and heads. Some had even the moth
in them.'

That was a shrewd argument, and the Ao-chung man knew his fellows.

'If the worst comes to the worst, I shall tell Yankling Sahib, who
is a man of a merry mind, and he will laugh. We are not doing any
wrong to any Sahibs whom we know. They are priest-beaters. They
frightened us. We fled! Who knows where we dropped the baggage? Do
ye think Yankling Sahib will permit down-country police to wander
all over the hills, disturbing his game? It is a far cry from Simla
to Chini, and farther from Shamlegh to Shamlegh-midden.'

'So be it, but I carry the big kilta. The basket with the red top
that the Sahibs pack themselves every morning.'

'Thus it is proved,' said the Shamlegh man adroitly, 'that they are
Sahibs of no account. Who ever heard of Fostum Sahib, or Yankling
Sahib, or even the little Peel Sahib that sits up of nights to shoot
serow - I say, who, ever heard of these Sahibs coming into the hills
without a down-country cook, and a bearer, and - and all manner of
well-paid, high-handed and oppressive folk in their tail? How can
they make trouble? What of the kilta?'

'Nothing, but that it is full of the Written Word - books and papers
in which they wrote, and strange instruments, as of worship.'


'Shamlegh-midden will take them all.'

'True! But how if we insult the Sahibs' Gods thereby! I do not like
to handle the Written Word in that fashion. And their brass idols
are beyond my comprehension. It is no plunder for simple hill-folk.'

'The old man still sleeps. Hst! We will ask his chela.' The Ao-chung
man refreshed himself, and swelled with pride of leadership.

'We have here,' he whispered, 'a kilta whose nature we do not know.'

'But I do,' said Kim cautiously. The lama drew breath in natural,
easy sleep, and Kim had been thinking of Hurree's last words. As a
player of the Great Game, he was disposed just then to reverence the
Babu. 'It is a kilta with a red top full of very wonderful things,
not to be handled by fools.'

'I said it; I said it,' cried the bearer of that burden. 'Thinkest
thou it will betray us?'

'Not if it be given to me. I can draw out its magic. Otherwise it
will do great harm.'

'A priest always takes his share.' Whisky was demoralizing the Aochung
man.

'It is no matter to me.' Kim answered, with the craft of his mothercountry.
'Share it among you, and see what comes!'

'Not I. I was only jesting. Give the order. There is more than
enough for us all. We go our way from Shamlegh in the dawn.'

They arranged and re-arranged their artless little plans for another
hour, while Kim shivered with cold and pride. The humour of the
situation tickled the Irish and the Oriental in his soul. Here were
the emissaries of the dread Power of the North, very possibly as
great in their own land as Mahbub or Colonel Creighton, suddenly
smitten helpless. One of them, he privately knew, would be lame for
a time. They had made promises to Kings. Tonight they lay out
somewhere below him, chartless, foodless, tentless, gunless - except
for Hurree Babu, guideless. And this collapse of their Great Game
(Kim wondered to whom they would report it), this panicky bolt into
the night, had come about through no craft of Hurree's or
contrivance of Kim's, but simply, beautifully, and inevitably as the
capture of Mahbub's fakir-friends by the zealous young policeman at

Umballa.

'They are there - with nothing; and, by Jove, it is cold! I am here
with all their things. Oh, they will be angry! I am sorry for Hurree
Babu.'

Kim might have saved his pity, for though at that moment the Bengali
suffered acutely in the flesh, his soul was puffed and lofty. A mile
down the hill, on the edge of the pine-forest, two half-frozen men one
powerfully sick at intervals - were varying mutual
recriminations with the most poignant abuse of the Babu, who seemed
distraught with terror. They demanded a plan of action. He
explained that they were very lucky to be alive; that their coolies,
if not then stalking them, had passed beyond recall; that the Rajah,
his master, was ninety miles away, and, so far from lending them
money and a retinue for the Simla journey, would surely cast them
into prison if he heard that they had hit a priest. He enlarged on
this sin and its consequences till they bade him change the subject.
Their one hope, said he, was unostentatious flight from village to


village till they reached civilization; and, for the hundredth time
dissolved in tears, he demanded of the high stars why the Sahibs
'had beaten holy man'.


Ten steps would have taken Hurree into the creaking gloom utterly
beyond their reach - to the shelter and food of the nearest village,
where glib-tongued doctors were scarce. But he preferred to endure
cold, belly-pinch, bad words, and occasional blows in the company of
his honoured employers. Crouched against a tree-trunk, he sniffed
dolefully.


'And have you thought,' said the uninjured man hotly, 'what sort of
spectacle we shall present wandering through these hills among these
aborigines?'


Hurree Babu had thought of little else for some hours, but the
remark was not to his address.


'We cannot wander! I can hardly walk,' groaned Kim's victim.


'Perhaps the holy man will be merciful in loving-kindness, sar,
otherwise -'


'I promise myself a peculiar pleasure in emptying my revolver into
that young bonze when next we meet,' was the unchristian answer.


'Revolvers! Vengeance! Bonzes!' Hurree crouched lower. The war was
breaking out afresh. 'Have you no consideration for our loss? The
baggage! The baggage!' He could hear the speaker literally dancing
on the grass. 'Everything we bore! Everything we have secured! Our
gains! Eight months' work! Do you know what that means? Decidedly
it is we who can deal with Orientals!" Ohyou have done well.'


They fell to it in several tonguesand Hurree smiled. Kim was with
the kiltasand in the kiltas lay eight months of good diplomacy.
There was no means of communicating with the boybut he could be
trusted. For the restHurree could so stage-manage the journey
through the hills that HilasBunarand four hundred miles of hill-
roads should tell the tale for a generation. Men who cannot control
their own coolies are little respected in the Hillsand the hillman
has a very keen sense of humour.


'If I had done it myself' thought Hurree'it would not have been
better; andby Jovenow I think of itof course I arranged it
myself. How quick I have been! Just when I ran downhill I thought
it! Thee outrage was accidentalbut onlee me could have worked it -
ah - for all it was dam'-well worth. Consider the moral effect upon
these ignorant peoples! No treaties - no papers - no written
documents at all - and me to interpret for them. How I shall laugh
with the Colonel! I wish I had their papers also: but you cannot
occupy two places in space simultaneously. Thatt is axiomatic.'


Chapter 14


My brother kneels (so saith Kabir)
To stone and brass in heathen wise
But in my brother's voice I hear
My own unanswered agonies.
His God is as his Fates assign -



His prayer is all the world's - and mine.

The Prayer.

At moonrise the cautious coolies got under way. The lamarefreshed
by his sleep and the spiritneeded no more than Kim's shoulder to
bear him along - a silentswift-striding man. They held the shalesprinkled
grass for an hourswept round the shoulder of an immortal
cliffand climbed into a new country entirely blocked off from all
sight of Chini valley. A huge pasture-ground ran up fan-shaped to
the living snow. At its base was perhaps half an acre of flat land
on which stood a few soil and timber huts. Behind them - forhillfashion
they were perched on the edge of all things - the ground
fell sheer two thousand feet to Shamlegh-middenwhere never yet man
has set foot.

The men made no motion to divide the plunder till they had seen the
lama bedded down in the best room of the placewith Kim shampooing
his feetMohammedan-fashion.

'We will send food' said the Ao-chung man'and the red- topped
kilta. By dawn there will be none to give evidenceone way or the
other. If anything is not needed in the kilta - see here!'

He pointed through the window - opening into space that was filled
with moonlight reflected from the snow - and threw out an empty
whisky-bottle.

'No need to listen for the fall. This is the world's end' he said
and went out. The lama looked fortha hand on either sillwith
eyes that shone like yellow opals. From the enormous pit before him
white peaks lifted themselves yearning to the moonlight. The rest
was as the darkness of interstellar space.

'These' he said slowly'are indeed my Hills. Thus should a man
abideperched above the worldseparated from delightsconsidering
vast matters.'

'Yes; if he has a chela to prepare tea for himand to fold a
blanket for his headand to chase out calving cows.'

A smoky lamp burned in a nichebut the full moonlight beat it down;
and by the mixed lightstooping above the food-bag and cupsKim
moved like a tall ghost.

'Ai! But now I have let the blood coolmy head still beats and
drumsand there is a cord round the back of my neck.'

'No wonder. It was a strong blow. May he who dealt it -'

'But for my own passions there would have been no evil.'

'What evil? Thou hast saved the Sahibs from the death they deserved
a hundred times.'

'The lesson is not well learntchela.' The lama came to rest on a
folded blanketas Kim went forward with his evening routine. 'The
blow was but a shadow upon a shadow. Evil in itself - my legs weary
apace these latter days! - it met evil in me angerrageand a lust
to return evil. These wrought in my bloodwoke tumult in my
stomachand dazzled my ears.' Here he drank scalding block-tea
ceremoniallytaking the hot cup from Kim's hand. 'Had I been
passionlessthe evil blow would have done only bodily evil - a


scaror a bruise - which is illusion. But my mind was not
abstractedfor rushed in straightway a lust to let the Spiti men
kill. In fighting that lustmy soul was torn and wrenched beyond a
thousand blows. Not till I had repeated the Blessings' (he meant the
Buddhist Beatitudes) 'did I achieve calm. But the evil planted in
me by that moment's carelessness works out to its end. Just is the
Wheelswerving not a hair! Learn the lessonchela.'

'It is too high for me' Kim muttered. 'I am still all shaken. I am
glad I hurt the man.'

'I felt thatsleeping upon thy kneesin the wood below. It
disquieted me in my dreams - the evil in thy soul working through to
mine. Yet on the other hand' - he loosed his rosary -'I have
acquired merit by saving two lives - the lives of those that wronged
me. Now I must see into the Cause of Things. The boat of my soul
staggers.'

'Sleepand be strong. That is wisest.'

'I meditate. There is a need greater than thou knowest.'

Till the dawnhour after houras the moonlight paled on the high
peaksand that which had been belted blackness on the sides of the
far hills showed as tender green forestthe lama stared fixedly at
the wall. From time to time he groaned. Outside the barred door
where discomfited kine came to ask for their old stableShamlegh
and the coolies gave itself up to plunder and riotous living. The
Ao-chung man was their leaderand once they had opened the Sahibs'
tinned foods and found that they were very good they dared not turn
back. Shamlegh kitchen-midden took the dunnage.

When Kimafter a night of bad dreamsstole forth to brush his
teeth in the morning chilla fair-coloured woman with turquoisestudded
headgear drew him aside.

'The others have gone. They left thee this kilta as the promise was.
I do not love Sahibsbut thou wilt make us a charm in return for
it. We do not wish little Shamlegh to get a bad name on account of
the - accident. I am the Woman of Shamlegh.' She looked him over
with boldbright eyesunlike the usual furtive glance of
hillwomen.

'Assuredly. But it must be done in secret.'

She raised the heavy kilta like a toy and slung it into her own hut.

'Out and bar the door! Let none come near till it is finished'
said Kim.

'But afterwards - we may talk?'

Kim tilted the kilta on the floor - a cascade of Survey-instruments
booksdiarieslettersmapsand queerly scented native
correspondence. At the very bottom was an embroidered bag covering a
sealedgildedand illuminated document such as one King sends to
another. Kim caught his breath with delightand reviewed the
situation from a Sahib's point of view.

'The books I do not want. Besidesthey are logarithms - SurveyI
suppose.' He laid them aside. 'The letters I do not understandbut
Colonel Creighton will. They must all be kept. The maps - they draw
better maps than me - of course. All the native letters - oho! - and
particularly the murasla.' He sniffed the embroidered bag. 'That


must be from Hilas or Bunarand Hurree Babu spoke truth. By Jove!
It is a fine haul. I wish Hurree could know . . . The rest must go
out of the window.' He fingered a superb prismatic compass and the
shiny top of a theodolite. But after alla Sahib cannot very well
stealand the things might be inconvenient evidence later. He
sorted out every scrap of manuscriptevery mapand the native
letters. They made one softish slab. The three locked ferril-backed

bookswith five worn pocket-bookshe put aside.

'The letters and the murasla I must carry inside my coat and under
my beltand the hand-written books I must put into the food-bag. It
will be very heavy. No. I do not think there is anything more. If
there isthe coolies have thrown it down the khudso thatt is all
right. Now you go too.' He repacked the kilta with all he meant to
loseand hove it up on to the windowsill. A thousand feet below lay
a longlazyround-shouldered bank of mistas yet untouched by the
morning sun. A thousand feet below that was a hundred-year-old pineforest.
He could see the green tops looking like a bed of moss when
a wind-eddy thinned the cloud.

'No! I don't think any one will go after you!'

The wheeling basket vomited its contents as it dropped. The
theodolite hit a jutting cliff-ledge and exploded like a shell; the
booksinkstandspaint-boxescompassesand rulers showed for a
few seconds like a swarm of bees. Then they vanished; andthough
Kimhanging half out of the windowstrained his young earsnever
a sound came up from the gulf.

'Five hundred - a thousand rupees could not buy them' he thought
sorrowfully. 'It was verree wastefulbut I have all their other
stuff - everything they did - I hope. Now how the deuce am I to tell
Hurree Babuand whatt the deuce am I to do? And my old man is sick.
I must tie up the letters in oilskin. That is something to do first

-else they will get all sweated ... And I am all alone!' He bound
them into a neat packetswedging down the stiffsticky oilskin at
the comersfor his roving life had made him as methodical as an old
hunter in matters of the road. Then with double care he packed away
the books at the bottom of the food-bag.
The woman rapped at the door.

'But thou hast made no charm' she saidlooking about.

'There is no need.' Kim had completely overlooked the necessity for
a little patter-talk. The woman laughed at his confusion
irreverently.

'None - for thee. Thou canst cast a spell by the mere winking of an
eye. But think of us poor people when thou art gone. They were all
too drunk last night to hear a woman. Thou art not drunk?'

'I am a priest.' Kim had recovered himselfandthe woman being
aught but unlovelythought best to stand on his office.

'I warned them that the Sahibs will be angry and will make an
inquisition and a report to the Rajah. There is also the Babu with
them. Clerks have long tongues.'

'Is that all thy trouble?' The plan rose fully formed in Kim's mind
and he smiled ravishingly.

'Not all' quoth the womanputting out a hard brown hand all
covered with turquoises set in silver.


'I can finish that in a breath' he went on quickly. 'The Babu is
the very hakim (thou hast heard of him?) who was wandering among the
hills by Ziglaur. I know him.'

'He will tell for the sake of a reward. Sahibs cannot distinguish
one hillman from anotherbut Babus have eyes for men - and women.'

'Carry a word to him from me.'

'There is nothing I would not do for thee.'

He accepted the compliment calmlyas men must in lands where women
make the lovetore a leaf from a note-bookand with a patent
indelible pencil wrote in gross Shikast - the script that bad little
boys use when they write dirt on walls: 'I have everything that they
have written: their pictures of the countryand many letters.
Especially the murasla. Tell me what to do. I am at Shamlegh-underthe-
Snow. The old man is sick.'

Take this to him. It will altogether shut his mouth. He cannot have
gone far.'

'Indeed no. They are still in the forest across the spur. Our
children went to watch them when the light came, and have cried the
news as they moved.'

Kim looked his astonishment; but from the edge of the sheep-pasture
floated a shrill, kite-like trill. A child tending cattle had picked
it up from a brother or sister on the far side of the slope that
commanded Chini valley,

'My husbands are also out there gathering wood.' She drew a handful
of walnuts from her bosom, split one neatly, and began to eat. Kim
affected blank ignorance.

'Dost thou not know the meaning of the walnut -- priest?' she said
coyly, and handed him the half-shells.

'Well thought of.' He slipped the piece of paper between them
quickly. 'Hast thou a little wax to close them on this letter?'

The woman sighed aloud, and Kim relented.

'There is no payment till service has been rendered. Carry this to
the Babu, and say it was sent by the Son of the Charm.'

'Al! Truly! Truly! By a magician - who is like a Sahib.'

'Nay, a Son of the Charm: and ask if there be any answer.'

'But if he offer a rudeness? I - I am afraid.'

Kim laughed. 'He is, I have no doubt, very tired and very hungry.
The Hills make cold bedfellows. Hai, my' - it was on the tip of his
tongue to say Mother, but he turned it to Sister -'thou art a wise
and witty woman. By this time all the villages know what has
befallen the Sahibs - eh?'

'True. News was at Ziglaur by midnight, and by tomorrow should be at
Kotgarh. The villages are both afraid and angry.'

'No need. Tell the villages to feed the Sahibs and pass them on, in
peace. We must get them quietly away from our valleys. To steal is


one thing - to kill another. The Babu will understand, and there
will be no after-complaints. Be swift. I must tend my master when he
wakes.'

'So be it. After service - thou hast said? - comes the reward. I am
the Woman of Shamlegh, and I hold from the Rajah. I am no common
bearer of babes. Shamlegh is thine: hoof and horn and hide, milk and
butter. Take or leave.'

She turned resolutely uphill, her silver necklaces clicking on her
broad breast, to meet the morning sun fifteen hundred feet above
them. This time Kim thought in the vernacular as he waxed down the
oilskin edges of the packets.

'How can a man follow the Way or the Great Game when he is so-always
pestered by women? There was that girl at Akrola of the Ford; and
there was the scullion's wife behind the dovecot - not counting the
others - and now comes this one! When I was a child it was well
enough, but now I am a man and they will not regard me as a man.
Walnuts, indeed! Ho! ho! It is almonds in the Plains!'

He went out to levy on the village - not with a begging-bowl, which
might do for down-country, but in the manner of a prince. Shamlegh's
summer population is only three families - four women and eight or
nine men. They were all full of tinned meats and mixed drinks, from
ammoniated quinine to white vodka, for they had taken their full
share in the overnight loot. The neat Continental tents had been cut
up and shared long ago, and there were patent aluminium saucepans
abroad.

But they considered the lama's presence a perfect safeguard against
all consequences, and impenitently brought Kim of their best - even
to a drink of chang - the barley-beer that comes from Ladakh-way.
Then they thawed out in the sun, and sat with their legs hanging
over infinite abysses, chattering, laughing, and smoking. They
judged India and its Government solely from their experience of
wandering Sahibs who had employed them or their friends as
shikarris. Kim heard tales of shots missed upon ibex, serow, or
markhor, by Sahibs twenty years in their graves - every detail
lighted from behind like twigs on tree-tops seen against lightning.
They told him of their little diseases, and, more important, the
diseases of their tiny, sure-footed cattle; of trips as far as
Kotgarh, where the strange missionaries live, and beyond even to
marvellous Simla, where the streets are paved with silver, and
anyone, look you, can get service with the Sahibs, who ride about in
two-wheeled carts and spend money with a spade. Presently, grave
and aloof, walking very heavily, the lama joined himself to the
chatter under the eaves, and they gave him great room. The thin air
refreshed him, and he sat on the edge of precipices with the best of
them, and, when talk languished, flung pebbles into the void. Thirty
miles away, as the eagle flies, lay the next range, seamed and
channelled and pitted with little patches of brush - forests, each a
day's dark march. Behind the village, Shamlegh hill itself cut off
all view to southward. It was like sitting in a swallow's nest
under the eaves of the roof of the world.

From time to time the lama stretched out his hand, and with a little
low-voiced prompting would point out the road to Spiti and north
across the Parungla.

'Beyond, where the hills lie thickest, lies De-ch'en' (he meant
Han-le'), 'the great Monastery. s'Tag-stan-ras-ch'en built it,and of
him there runs this tale.' Whereupon he told it: a fantastic piled
narrative of bewitchment and miracles that set Shamlegh a-gasping.


Turning west a little, he speered for the green hills of Kulu, and
sought Kailung under the glaciers.'For thither came I in the old,
old days. From Leh I came, over the Baralachi.'

'Yes, yes; we know it,' said the far-faring people of Shamlegh.

'And I slept two nights with the priests of Kailung. These are the
Hills of my delight! Shadows blessed above all other shadows! There
my eyes opened on this world; there my eyes were opened to this
world; there I found Enlightenment; and there I girt my loins for my
Search. Out of the Hills I came - the high Hills and the strong
winds. Oh, just is the Wheel!' He blessed them in detail - the great
glaciers, the naked rocks, the piled moraines and tumbled shale; dry
upland, hidden salt-lake, age-old timber and fruitful water-shot
valley one after the other, as a dying man blesses his folk; and Kim
marvelled at his passion.

'Yes - yes. There is no place like our Hills,' said the people of
Shamlegh. And they fell to wondering how a man could live in the hot
terrible Plains where the cattle run as big as elephants, unfit to
plough on a hillside; where village touches village, they had heard,
for a hundred miles; where folk went about stealing in gangs, and
what the robbers spared the Police carried utterly away.

So the still forenoon wore through, and at the end of it Kim's
messenger dropped from the steep pasture as unbreathed as when she
had set out.

'I sent a word to the hakim,' Kim explained, while she made
reverence.

'He joined himself to the idolaters? Nay, I remember he did a
healing upon one of them. He has acquired merit, though the healed
employed his strength for evil. Just is the Wheel! What of the
hakim?'

'I feared that thou hadst been bruised and - and I knew he was
wise.' Kim took the waxed walnut-shell and read in English on the
back of his note: Your favour received. Cannot get away from present
company at present, but shall take them into Simla. After which,
hope to rejoin you. Inexpedient to follow angry gentlemen. Return by
same road you came, and will overtake. Highly gratified about
correspondence due to my forethought. 'He says, Holy One, that he
will escape from the idolaters, and will return to us. Shall we wait
awhile at Shamlegh, then?'

The lama looked long and lovingly upon the hills and shook his head.

'That may not be, chela. From my bones outward I do desire it, but
it is forbidden. I have seen the Cause of Things.'

'Why? When the Hills give thee back thy strength day by day?
Remember we were weak and fainting down below there in the Doon.'

'I became strong to do evil and to forget. A brawler and a
swashbuckler upon the hillsides was I.' Kim bit back a smile. 'Just
and perfect is the Wheel, swerving not a hair. When I was a man - a
long time ago - I did pilgrimage to Guru Ch'wan among the poplars'
(he pointed Bhotanwards), 'where they keep the Sacred Horse.'

'Quiet, be quiet!' said Shamlegh, all arow. 'He speaks of Jam-linnin-
k'or, the Horse That Can Go Round The World In a Day.'

'I speak to my chela only,' said the lama, in gentle reproof, and


they scattered like frost on south eaves of a morning. 'I did not
seek truth in those days, but the talk of doctrine. All illusion! I
drank the beer and ate the bread of Guru Ch'wan. Next day one said:
We go out to fight Sangor Gutok down the valley to discover" (mark
again how Lust is tied to Anger!) "which Abbot shall bear rule in
the valley and take the profit of the prayers they print at Sangor
Gutok." I wentand we fought a day.'

'But howHoly One?'

'With our long pencases as I could have shown . . . I saywe
fought under the poplarsboth Abbots and all the monksand one
laid open my forehead to the bone. See!' He tilted back his cap and
showed a puckered silvery scar. 'Just and perfect is the Wheel!
Yesterday the scar itchedand after fifty years I recalled how it
was dealt and the face of him who dealt it; dwelling a little in
illusion. Followed that which thou didst see - strife and stupidity.
Just is the Wheel! The idolater's blow fell upon the scar. Then I
was shaken in my soul: my soul was darkenedand the boat of my soul
rocked upon the waters of illusion. Not till I came to Shamlegh
could I meditate upon the Cause of Thingsor trace the running
grass-roots of Evil. I strove all the long night.'

'But'Holy Onethou art innocent of all evil. May I be thy
sacrifice!'

Kim was genuinely distressed at the old man's sorrowand Mahbub
Ali's phrase slipped out unawares.

'In the dawn' the lama went on more gravelyready rosary clicking
between the slow sentences'came enlightenment. It is here ... I am
an old man . . . hill-bredhill-fednever to sit down among my
Hills. Three years I travelled through Hindbut - can earth be
stronger than Mother Earth? My stupid body yearned to the Hills and
the snows of the Hillsfrom below there. I saidand it is true
my Search is sure. Soat the Kulu woman's house I turned hillward
over-persuaded by myself. There is no blame to the hakim. He following
Desire - foretold that the Hills would make me strong.
They strengthened me to do evilto forget my Search. I delighted in
life and the lust of life. I desired strong slopes to climb. I cast
about to find them. I measured the strength of my bodywhich is
evilagainst the high HillsI made a mock of thee when thy breath
came short under Jamnotri. I jested when thou wouldst not face the
snow of the pass.'

'But what harm? I was afraid. It was just. I am not a hillman; and I
loved thee for thy new strength.'

'More than once I remember' - he rested his cheek dolefully on his
hand - 'I sought thy praise and the hakim's for the mere strength of
my legs. Thus evil followed evil till the cup was full. Just is the
Wheel! All Hind for three years did me all honour. From the Fountain
of Wisdom in the Wonder House to' - he smiled -'a little child
playing by a big gun - the world prepared my road. And why?'

'Because we loved thee. It is only the fever of the blow. I myself
am still sick and shaken.'

'No! It was because I was upon the Way - tuned as are si-nen
[cymbals] to the purpose of the Law. I departed from that ordinance.
The tune was broken: followed the punishment. In my own Hillson
the edge of my own countryin the very place of my evil desire
comes the buffet - here!' (He touched his brow.) 'As a novice is
beaten when he misplaces the cupsso am I beatenwho was Abbot of


Such-zen. No wordlook youbut a blowchela.'

'But the Sahibs did not know theeHoly One?'

'We were well matched. Ignorance and Lust met Ignorance and Lust
upon the roadand they begat Anger. The blow was a sign to mewho
am no better than a strayed yakthat my place is not here. Who can
read the Cause of an act is halfway to Freedom! "Back to the path
says the Blow. The Hills are not for thee. Thou canst not choose
Freedom and go in bondage to the delight of life."'

'Would we had never met that cursed Russian!'

'Our Lord Himself cannot make the Wheel swing backward. And for my
merit that I had acquired I gain yet another sign.' He put his hand
in his bosomand drew forth the Wheel of Life. 'Look! I considered
this after I had meditated. There remains untorn by the idolater no
more than the breadth of my fingernail.'

'I see.'

'So muchthenis the span of my life in this body. I have served
the Wheel all my days. Now the Wheel serves me. But for the merit I
have acquired in guiding thee upon the Waythere would have been
added to me yet another life ere I had found my River. Is it plain
chela?'

Kim stared at the brutally disfigured chart. From left to right
diagonally the rent ran - from the Eleventh House where Desire gives
birth to the Child (as it is drawn by Tibetans) - across the human
and animal worldsto the Fifth House - the empty House of the
Senses. The logic was unanswerable.

'Before our Lord won Enlightenment' - the lama folded all away with
reverence - 'He was tempted. I too have been temptedbut it is
finished. The Arrow fell in the Plains - not in the Hills.
Thereforewhat make we here?'

'Shall we at least wait for the hakim?'

'I know how long I shall live in this body. What can a hakim do?'

'But thou art all sick and shaken. Thou canst not walk.'

'How can I be sick if I see Freedom?' He rose unsteadily to his
feet.

'Then I must get food from the village. Ohthe weary Road!' Kim
felt that he too needed rest.

'That is lawful. Let us eat and go. he Arrow fell in the Plains ...
but I yielded to Desire. Make readychela.'

Kim turned to the woman with the turquoise headgear who had been
idly pitching pebbles over the cliff. She smiled very kindly.

'I found him like a strayed buffalo in a cornfield - the Babu;
snorting and sneezing with cold. He was so hungry that he forgot his
dignity and gave me sweet words. The Sahibs have nothing.' She flung
out an empty palm. 'One is very sick about the stomach. Thy work?'

Kim noddedwith a bright eye.

'I spoke to the Bengali first - and to the people of a near-by


village after. The Sahibs will be given food as they need it - nor
will the people ask money. The plunder is already distributed. The
Babu makes lying speeches to the Sahibs. Why does he not leave
them?'

'Out of the greatness of his heart.'

Was never a Bengali yet had one bigger than a dried walnut. But it
is no matter ... Now as to walnuts. After service comes reward. I
have said the village is thine.'

'It is my loss,' Kim began. 'Even now I had planned desirable things
in my heart which' - there is no need to go through the compliments
proper to these occasions. He sighed deeply . . . 'But my master,
led by a vision -'

'Huh! What can old eyes see except a full begging-bowl?'

'- turns from this village to the Plains again.'

'Bid him stay.'

Kim shook his head. 'I know my Holy One, and his rage if he be
crossed,' he replied impressively. 'His curses shake the Hills.'

'Pity they did not save him from a broken head! I heard that thou
wast the tiger-hearted one who smote the Sahib. Let him dream a
little longer. Stay!'

'Hillwoman,' said Kim, with austerity that could not harden the
outlines of his young oval face, 'these matters are too high for
thee.'

'The Gods be good to us! Since when have men and women been other
than men and women?'

'A priest is a priest. He says he will go upon this hour. I am his
chela, and I go with him. We need food for the Road. He is an
honoured guest in all the villages, but' - he broke into a pure
boy's grin - 'the food here is good. Give me some.'

'What if I do not give it thee? I am the woman of this village.'

'Then I curse thee - a little - not greatly, but enough to
remember.' He could not help smiling.

'Thou hast cursed me already by the down-dropped eyelash and the
uplifted chin. Curses? What should I care for mere words?' She
clenched her hands upon her bosom . . . 'But I would not have thee
to go in anger, thinking hardly of me - a gatherer of cow-dung and
grass at Shamlegh, but still a woman of substance.'

'I think nothing,' said Kim, 'but that I am grieved to go, for I am
very weary; and that we need food. Here is the bag.'

The woman snatched it angrily. 'I was foolish,' said she. 'Who is
thy woman in the Plains? Fair or black? I was fair once. Laughest
thou? Once, long ago, if thou canst believe, a Sahib looked on me
with favour. Once, long ago, I wore European clothes at the Missionhouse
yonder.' She pointed towards Kotgarh. 'Once, long ago. I was
Ker-lis-ti-an and spoke English - as the Sahibs speak it. Yes. My
Sahib said he would return and wed me - yes, wed me. He went away I
had nursed him when he was sick - but he never returned. Then I
saw that the Gods of the Kerlistians lied, and I went back to my own


people . . . I have never set eyes on a Sahib since. (Do not laugh
at me. The fit is past, little priestling.) Thy face and thy walk
and thy fashion of speech put me in mind of my Sahib, though thou
art only a wandering mendicant to whom I give a dole. Curse me? Thou
canst neither curse nor bless!' She set her hands on her hips and
laughed bitterly. 'Thy Gods are lies; thy works are lies; thy words
are lies. There are no Gods under all the Heavens. I know it ... But
for awhile I thought it was my Sahib come back, and he was my God.
Yes, once I made music on a pianno in the Mission-house at Kotgarh.
Now I give alms to priests who are heatthen.' She wound up with the
English word, and tied the mouth of the brimming bag.

'I wait for thee, chela, ' said the lama, leaning against the doorpost.


The woman swept the tall figure with her eyes. 'He walk! He cannot
cover half a mile. Whither would old bones go?'

At this Kim, already perplexed by the lama's collapse and foreseeing
the weight of the bag, fairly lost his temper.

'What is it to thee, woman of ill-omen, where he goes?'

'Nothing - but something to thee, priest with a Sahib's face. Wilt
thou carry him on thy shoulders?'

'I go to the Plains. None must hinder my return. I have wrestled
with my soul till I am strengthless. The stupid body is spent, and
we are far from the Plains.'

'Behold!' she said simply, and drew aside to let Kim see his own
utter helplessness. 'Curse me. Maybe it will give him strength. Make
a charm! Call on thy great God. Thou art a priest.' She turned away.

The lama had squatted limply, still holding by the door-post. One
cannot strike down an old man that he recovers again like a boy in
the night. Weakness bowed him to the earth, but his eyes that hung
on Kim were alive and imploring.

'It is all well,' said Kim. 'It is the thin air that weakens thee.
In a little while we go! It is the mountain-sickness. I too am a
little sick at stomach,' ... and he knelt and comforted with such
poor words as came first to his lips. Then the woman returned, more
erect than ever.

'Thy Gods useless, heh? Try mine. I am the Woman of Shamlegh.' She
hailed hoarsely, and there came out of a cow-pen her two husbands
and three others with a dooli, the rude native litter of the Hills,
that they use for carrying the sick and for visits of state. 'These
cattle' - she did not condescend to look at them - 'are thine for so
long as thou shalt need.'

'But we will not go Simla-way. We will not go near the Sahibs,'
cried the first husband.

'They will not run away as the others did, nor will they steal
baggage. Two I know for weaklings. Stand to the rear-pole, Sonoo and
Taree.' They obeyed swiftly. 'Lower now, and lift in that holy man.
I will see to the village and your virtuous wives till ye return.'

'When will that be?'

'Ask the priests. Do not pester me. Lay the food-bag at the foot, it
balances better so.'


'Oh, Holy One, thy Hills are kinder than our Plains!' cried Kim,
relieved, as the lama tottered to the litter. 'It is a very king's
bed - a place of honour and ease. And we owe it to -'

'A woman of ill-omen. I need thy blessings as much as I do thy
curses. It is my order and none of thine. Lift and away! Here! Hast
thou money for the road?'

She beckoned Kim to her hut, and stooped above a battered English
cash-box under her cot.

'I do not need anything,' said Kim, angered where he should have
been grateful. 'I am already rudely loaded with favours.'

She looked up with a curious smile and laid a hand on his shoulder.
'At least, thank me. I am foul-faced and a hillwoman, but, as thy
talk goes, I have acquired merit. Shall I show thee how the Sahibs
render thanks?' and her hard eyes softened.

'I am but a wandering priest,' said Kim, his eyes lighting in
answer. 'Thou needest neither my blessings nor my curses.'

'Nay. But for one little moment - thou canst overtake the dooli in
ten strides - if thou wast a Sahib, shall I show thee what thou
wouldst do?'


'How if I guess, though?' said Kim, and putting his arm round her
waist, he kissed her on the cheek, adding in English: 'Thank you
verree much, my dear.'

Kissing is practically unknown among Asiatics, which may have been
the reason that she leaned back with wide-open eyes and a face of
panic.

'Next time,' Kim went on, 'you must not be so sure of your heatthen
priests. Now I say good-bye.' He held out his hand English-fashion.
She took it mechanically. 'Good-bye, my dear.'

'Good-bye, and - and' - she was remembering her English words one by
one -'you will come back again? Good-bye, and - thee God bless you.'

Half an hour later, as the creaking litter jolted up the hill path
that leads south-easterly from Shamlegh, Kim saw a tiny figure at
the hut door waving a white rag.

'She has acquired merit beyond all others,' said the lama. 'For to
set a man upon the way to Freedom is half as great as though she had
herself found it.'

'Umm,' said Kim thoughtfully, considering the past. 'It may be that
I have acquired merit also ... At least she did not treat me like a
child.' He hitched the front of his robe, where lay the slab of
documents and maps, re-stowed the precious food-bag at the lama's
feet, laid his hand on the litter's edge, and buckled down to the
slow pace of the grunting husbands.

'These also acquire merit,' said the lama after three miles.

'More than that, they shall be paid in silver,' quoth Kim. The Woman
of Shamlegh had given it to him; and it was only fair, he argued,
that her men should earn it back again.


Chapter 15


I'd not give room for an Emperor -
I'd hold my road for a King.
To the Triple Crown I'd not bow down -
But this is a different thing!
I'll not fight with the Powers of Air -
Sentry, pass him through!
Drawbridge let fall - He's the Lord of us all -
The Dreamer whose dream came true!


The Siege of the Fairies.


Two hundred miles north of Chini, on the blue shale of Ladakh, lies
Yankling Sahib, the merry-minded man, spy-glassing wrathfully across
the ridges for some sign of his pet tracker - a man from Ao-chung.
But that renegade, with a new Mannlicher rifle and two hundred
cartridges, is elsewhere, shooting musk-deer for the market, and
Yankling Sahib will learn next season how very ill he has been.


Up the valleys of Bushahr - the far-beholding eagles of the
Himalayas swerve at his new blue-and-white gored umbrella - hurries
a Bengali, once fat and well-looking, now lean and weather-worn. He
has received the thanks of two foreigners of distinction, piloted
not unskilfully to Mashobra tunnel, which leads to the great and gay
capital of India. It was not his fault that, blanketed by wet mists,
he conveyed them past the telegraph-station and European colony of
Kotgarh. It was not his fault, but that of the Gods, of whom he
discoursed so engagingly, that he led them into the borders of
Nahan, where the Rahah of that State mistook them for deserting
British soldiery. Hurree Babu explained the greatness and glory, in
their own country, of his companions, till the drowsy kinglet
smiled. He explained it to everyone who asked - many times - aloud -
variously. He begged food, arranged accommodation, proved a skilful
leech for an injury of the groin - such a blow as one may receive
rolling down a rock-covered hillside in the dark - and in all things
indispensable. The reason of his friendliness did him credit. With
millions of fellow-serfs, he had learned to look upon Russia as the
great deliverer from the North. He was a fearful man. He had been
afraid that he could not save his illustrious employers from the
anger of an excited peasantry. He himself would just as lief hit a
holy man as not, but ... He was deeply grateful and sincerely
rejoiced that he had done his 'little possible' towards bringing
their venture to - barring the lost baggage - a successful issue, he
had forgotten the blows; denied that any blows had been dealt that
unseemly first night under the pines. He asked neither pension nor
retaining fee, but, if they deemed him worthy, would they write him
a testimonial? It might be useful to him later, if others, their
friends, came over the Passes. He begged them to remember him in
their future greatnesses, for he 'opined subtly' that he, even he,
Mohendro Lal Dutt, MA of Calcutta, had 'done the State some
service'.


They gave him a certificate praising his courtesy, helpfulness, and
unerring skill as a guide. He put it in his waist-belt and sobbed
with emotion; they had endured so many dangers together. He led them
at high noon along crowded Simla Mall to the Alliance Bank of Simla,
where they wished to establish their identity. Thence he vanished
like a dawn-cloud on Jakko.



Behold him, too fine-drawn to sweat, too pressed to vaunt the drugs
in his little brass-bound box, ascending Shamlegh slope, a just man
made perfect. Watch him, all Babudom laid aside, smoking at noon on
a cot, while a woman with turquoise-studded headgear points southeasterly
across the bare grass. Litters, she says, do not travel as
fast as single men, but his birds should now be in the Plains. The
holy man would not stay though Lispeth pressed him. The Babu groans
heavily, girds up his huge loins, and is off again. He does not care
to travel after dusk; but his days' marches - there is none to enter
them in a book - would astonish folk who mock at his race. Kindly
villagers, remembering the Dacca drug-vendor of two months ago, give
him shelter against evil spirits of the wood. He dreams of Bengali
Gods, University text-books of education, and the Royal Society,
London, England. Next dawn the bobbing blue-and-white umbrella goes
forward.

On the edge of the Doon, Mussoorie well behind them and the Plains
spread out in golden dust before, rests a worn litter in which - all
the Hills know it - lies a sick lama who seeks a River for his
healing. Villages have almost come to blows over the honour of
bearing it, for not only has the lama given them blessings, but his
disciple good money - full one-third Sahibs' prices. Twelve miles a
day has the dooli travelled, as the greasy, rubbed pole-ends show,
and by roads that few Sahibs use. Over the Nilang Pass in storm when
the driven snow-dust filled every fold of the impassive lama's
drapery; between the black horns of Raieng where they heard the
whistle of the wild goats through the clouds; pitching and strained
on the shale below; hard-held between shoulder and clenched jaw when
they rounded the hideous curves of the Cut Road under Bhagirati;
swinging and creaking to the steady jog-trot of the descent into the
Valley of the Waters; pressed along the steamy levels of that locked
valley; up, up and out again, to meet the roaring gusts off
Kedarnath; set down of mid-days in the dun gloom of kindly oakforests;
passed from village to village in dawn-chill, when even
devotees may be forgiven for swearing at impatient holy men; or by
torchlight, when the least fearful think of ghosts - the dooli has
reached her last stage. The little hill-folk sweat in the modified
heat of the lower Siwaliks, and gather round the priests for their
blessing and their wage.

'Ye have acquired merit,' says the lama. 'Merit greater than your
knowing. And ye will return to the Hills,' he sighs.

'Surely. The high Hills as soon as may be.' The bearer rubs his
shoulder, drinks water, spits it out again, and readjusts his grass
sandal. Kim - his face is drawn and tired - pays very small silver
from his belt', heaves out the food-bag, crams an oilskin packet they
are holy writings - into his bosom, and helps the lama to his
feet. The peace has come again into the old man's eyes, and he does
not look for the hills to fall down and crush him as he did that
terrible night when they were delayed by the flooded river.

The men pick up the dooli and swing out of sight between the scrub
clumps.

The lama raises a hand toward the rampart of the Himalayas. 'Not
with you, O blessed among all hills, fell the Arrow of Our Lord! And
never shall I breathe your airs again!'

'But thou art ten times the stronger man in this good air,' says
Kim, for to his wearied soul appeal the well-cropped, kindly Plains.
'Here, or hereabouts, fell the Arrow, yes. We will go very softly,
perhaps, a koss a day, for the Search is sure. But the bag weighs


heavy.'

'Ay, our Search is sure. I have come out of great temptation.'

It was never more than a couple of miles a day now, and Kim's
shoulders bore all the weight of it - the burden of an old man, the
burden of the heavy food-bag with the locked books, the load of the
writings on his heart, and the details of the daily routine. He
begged in the dawn, set blankets for the lama's meditation, held the
weary head on his lap through the noonday heats, fanning away the
flies till his wrists ached, begged again in the evenings, and
rubbed the lama's feet, who rewarded him with promise of Freedom today,
tomorrow, or, at furthest, the next day.

'Never was such a chela. I doubt at times whether Ananda more
faithfully nursed Our Lord. And thou art a Sahib? When I was a man a
long time ago - I forgot that. Now I look upon thee often, and
every time I remember that thou art a Sahib. It is strange.'

'Thou hast said there is neither black nor white. Why plague me with
this talk, Holy One? Let me rub the other foot. It vexes me. I am
not a Sahib. I am thy chela, and my head is heavy on my shoulders.'

'Patience a little! We reach Freedom together. Then thou and I, upon
the far bank of the River, will look back upon our lives as in the
Hills we saw our days' marches laid out behind us. Perhaps I was once
a Sahib.'

Was -never a Sahib like theeI swear it.'

'I am certain the Keeper of the Images in the Wonder House was in
past life a very wise Abbot. But even his spectacles do not make my
eyes see. There fall shadows when I would look steadily. No matter we
know the tricks of the poor stupid carcass - shadow changing to
another shadow. I am bound by the illusion of Time and Space. How
far came we today in the flesh?'

'Perhaps half a koss.' (Three quarters of a mileand it was a
weary march.)

'Half a koss. Ha! I went ten thousand thousand in the spirit. How
we are all lapped and swathed and swaddled in these senseless
things.' He looked at his thin blue-veined hand that found the beads
so heavy. 'Chelahast thou never a wish to leave me?'

Kim thought of the oilskin packet and the books in the food- bag. If
someone duly authorized would only take delivery of them the Great
Game might play itself for aught he then cared. He was tired and hot
in his headand a cough that came from the stomach worried him.

'No.' he said almost sternly. 'I am not a dog or a snake to bite
when I have learned to love.'

'Thou art too tender towards me.'

'Not that either. I have moved in one matter without consulting
thee. I have sent a message to the Kulu woman by that woman who gave
us the goat's milk this mornsaying that thou wast a little feeble
and wouldst need a litter. I beat myself in mv mind that I did not
do it when we entered the Doon. We stay in this place till the
litter returns.'

'I am content. She is a woman with a heart of goldas thou sayest
but a talker - something of a talker.'


'She will not weary thee. I have looked to that also. Holy Onemy
heart is very heavy for my many carelessnesses towards thee.' An
hysterical catch rose in his throat. 'I have walked thee too far: I
have not picked good food always for thee; I have not considered the
heat; I have talked to people on the road and left thee alone ... I
have - I have ... Hai mai! But I love thee ... and it is all too
late ... I was a child . . . Ohwhy was I not a man? . . .'
Overborne by strainfatigueand the weight beyond his yearsKim
broke down and sobbed at the lama's feet.

'What a to-do is here!' said the old man gently. 'Thou hast never
stepped a hair's breadth from the Way of Obedience. Neglect me?
ChildI have lived on thy strength as an old tree lives on the lime
of a new wall. Day by daysince Shamlegh downI have stolen
strength from thee. Thereforenot through any sin of thineart
thou weakened. It is the Body - the sillystupid Body - that speaks
now. Not the assured Soul. Be comforted! Know at least the devils
that thou fightest. They are earth-born - children of illusion. We
will go to the woman from Kulu. She shall acquire merit in housing
usand specially in tending me. Thou shalt run free till strength
returns. I had forgotten the stupid Body. If there be any blameI
bear it. But we are too close to the Gates of Deliverance to weigh
blame. I could praise theebut what need? In a little - in a very
little - we shall sit beyond all needs.'

And so he petted and comforted Kim with wise saws and grave texts on
that little-understood beastour Bodywhobeing but a delusion
insists on posing as the Soulto the darkening of the Wayand the
immense multiplication of unnecessary devils.

'Hai! hai! Let us talk of the woman from Kulu. Think you she will
ask another charm for her grandsons? When I was a young mana very
long time agoI was plagued with these vapours - and some others and
I went to an Abbot - a very holy man and a seeker after truth
though then I knew it not. Sit up and listenchild of my soul! My
tale was told. Said he to meChela, know this. There are many lies
in the world, and not a few liars, but there are no liars like our
bodies, except it be the sensations of our bodies.Considering this
I was comfortedand of his great favour he suffered me to drink tea
In his presence. Suffer me now to drink teafor I am thirsty.'

With a laugh across his tearsKim kissed the lama's feetand set
about the tea-making.

'Thou leanest on me in the bodyHoly Onebut I lean on thee for
some other things. Dost know it?'

'I have guessed maybe' and the lama's eyes twinkled. 'We must
change that.'

Sowhen with scufflings and scrapings and a hot air of importance
paddled up nothing less than the Sahiba's pet palanquin sent twenty
mileswith that same grizzled old Oorya servant in chargeand when
they reached the disorderly order of the long white rambling house
behind Saharunporethe lama took his own measures.

Said the Sahiba cheerily from an upper windowafter compliments:
'What is the good of an old woman's advice to an old man? I told
thee - I told theeHoly Oneto keep an eye upon the chela. How
didst thou do it? Never answer me! I know. He has been running among
the women. Look at his eyes - hollow and sunk - and the Betraying
Line from the nose down! He has been sifted out! Fie! Fie! And a
priesttoo!'


Kim looked upover-weary to smileshaking his head in denial.

'Do not jest' said the lama. 'That time is done. We are here upon
great matters. A sickness of soul took me in the Hillsand him a
sickness of the body. Since then I have lived upon his strength eating
him.'

'Children together - young and old' she sniffedbut forbore to
make any new jokes. 'May this present hospitality restore ye! Hold
awhile and I will come to gossip of the high good Hills.'

At evening time - her son-in-law was returnedso she did not need
to go on inspection round the farm - she won to the meat of the
matterexplained low-voicedly by the lama. The two old heads nodded
wisely together. Kim had reeled to a room with a cot in itand was
dozing soddenly. The lama had forbidden him to set blankets or get
food.

'I know - I know. Who but I?' she cackled. 'We who go down to the
burning-ghats clutch at the hands of those coming up from the River
of Life with full water-jars - yesbrimming water-jars. I did the
boy wrong. He lent thee his strength? It is true that the old eat
the young daily. Stands now we must restore him.'

'Thou hast many times acquired merit -'

'My merit. What is it? Old bag of bones making curries for men
who do not ask "Who cooked this?" Now if it were stored up for my
grandson -'

'He that had the belly-pain?'

'To think the Holy One remembers that! I must tell his mother. It is
most singular honour! "He that had the belly-pain" - straightway the
Holy One remembered. She will be proud.'

'My chela is to me as is a son to the unenlightened.'

'Say grandsonrather. Mothers have not the wisdom of our years. If
a child cries they say the heavens are falling. Now a grandmother is
far enough separated from the pain of bearing and the pleasure of
giving the breast to consider whether a cry is wickedness pure or
the wind. And since thou speakest once again of windwhen last the
Holy One was heremaybe I offended in pressing for charms.'

'Sister' said the lamausing that form of address a Buddhist monk
may sometimes employ towards a nun'if charms comfort thee -'

'They are better than ten thousand doctors.'

'I sayif they comfort theeI who was Abbot of Such-zenwill make
as many as thou mayest desire. I have never seen thy face -'

'That even the monkeys who steal our loquats count for again. Hee!
hee!'

'But as he who sleeps there said' - he nodded at the shut door of
the guest-chamber across the forecourt - 'thou hast a heart of gold
... And he is in the spirit my very "grandson" to me'

'Good! I am the Holy One's cow." This was pure Hinduismbut the
lama never heeded. 'I am old. I have borne sons in the body. Oh
once I could please men! Now I can cure them.' He heard her armlets


tinkle as though she bared arms for action. 'I will take over the
boy and dose himand stuff himand make him all whole. Hat! hai'!
We old people know something yet.'

Wherefore when Kimaching in every boneopened his eyesand would
go to the cook-house to get his master's foodhe found strong
coercion about himand a veiled old figure at the doorflanked by
the grizzled manservantwho told him very precisely the things that
he was on no account to do.

'Thou must have? Thou shalt have nothing. What? A locked box in
which to keep holy books? Ohthat is another matter. Heavens
forbid I should come between a priest and his prayers! It shall be
broughtand thou shalt keep the key.'

They pushed the coffer under his cotand Kim shut away Mahbub's
pistolthe oilskin packet of lettersand the locked books and
diarieswith a groan of relief. For some absurd reason their weight
on his shoulders was nothing to their weight on his poor mind. His
neck ached under it of nights.

'Thine is a sickness uncommon in youth these days: since young folk
have given up tending their betters. The remedy is sleepand
certain drugs' said the Sahiba; and he was glad to give himself up
to the blankness that half menaced and half soothed him.

She brewed drinksin some mysterious Asiatic equivalent to the
still-room - drenches that smelt pestilently and tasted worse. She
stood over Kim till they went downand inquired exhaustively after
they had come up. She laid a taboo upon the forecourtand enforced
it by means of an armed man. It is true he was seventy oddthat his
scabbarded sword ceased at the hilt; but he represented the
authority of the Sahibaand loaded wainschattering servants
calvesdogshensand the likefetched a wide compass by those
parts. Best of allwhen the body was clearedshe cut out from the
mass of poor relations that crowded the back of the buildings house-
hold dogswe name them - a cousin's widowskilled in what
Europeanswho know nothing about itcall massage. And the two of
themlaying him east and westthat the mysterious earth-currents
which thrill the clay of our bodies might help and not hindertook
him to pieces all one long afternoon - bone by bonemuscle by
muscleligament by ligamentand lastlynerve by nerve. Kneaded to
irresponsible pulphalf hypnotized by the perpetual flick and
readjustment of the uneasy chudders that veiled their eyesKim slid
ten thousand miles into slumber - thirty-six hours of it - sleep
that soaked like rain after drought.

Then she fed himand the house spun to her clamour. She caused
fowls to be slain; she sent for vegetablesand the soberslowthinking
gardenernigh as old as shesweated for it; she took
spicesand milkand onionwith little fish from the brooks - anon
limes for sherbetsfat quails from the pitsthen chicken-livers
upon a skewerwith sliced ginger between.

'I have seen something of this world' she said over the crowded
trays'and there are but two sorts of women in it -those who take
the strength out of a man and those who put it back. Once I was that
oneand now I am this. Nay - do not play the priestling with me.
Mine was but a jest. If it does not hold good nowit will when thou
takest the road again. Cousin' - this to the poor relationnever
wearied of extolling her patroness's charity -'he is getting a bloom
on the skin of a new-curried horse. Our work is like polishing
jewels to be thrown to a dance-girl - eh?'


Kim sat up and smiled. The terrible weakness had dropped from him
like an old shoe. His tongue itched for free speech againand but a
week back the lightest word clogged it like ashes. The pain in his
neck (he must have caught it from the lama) had gone with the heavy
dengue-aches and the evil taste in the mouth. The two old womena
littlebut not muchmore careful about their veils nowclucked as
merrily as the hens that had entered pecking through the open door.

'Where is my Holy One?' he demanded.

'Hear him! Thy Holy One is well' she snapped viciously. 'Though
that is none of his merit.Knew I a charm to make him wiseI'd
sell my jewels and buy it. To refuse good food that I cooked myself
- and go roving into the fields for two nights on an empty belly and
to tumble into a brook at the end of it - call you that
holiness? Thenwhen he has nearly broken what thou hast left of my
heart with anxietyhe tells me that he has acquired merit. Ohhow
like are all men! Nothat was not it - he tells me that he is freed
from all sin. I could have told him that before he wetted himself
all over. He is well now - this happened a week ago - but burn me
such holiness! A babe of three would do better. Do not fret thyself
for the Holy One. He keeps both eyes on thee when he is not wading
our brooks.'

'I do not remember to have seen him. I remember that the days and
nights passed like bars of white and blackopening and shutting. I
was not sick: I was but tired."

'A lethargy that comes by right some few score years later. But it is
done now.'

'Maharanee' Kim beganbut led by the look in her eyechanged it
to the title of plain love - 'MotherI owe my life to thee. How
shall I make thanks? Ten thousand blessings upon thy house and -'

'The house be unblessed!' (It is impossible to give exactly the old
lady's word.) 'Thank the Gods as a priest if thou wiltbut thank
meif thou carestas a son. Heavens above! Have I shifted thee and
lifted thee and slapped and twisted thy ten toes to find texts flung
at my head? Somewhere a mother must have borne thee to break her
heart. What used thou to her - son?'

'I had no mothermy mother' said Kim. 'She diedthey tell me
when I was young.'

'Hai mai! Then none can say I have robbed her of any right if - when
thou takest the road again and this house is but one of a thousand
used for shelter and forgottenafter an easy-flung blessing. No
matter. I need no blessingsbut - but -' She stamped her foot at
the poor relation. 'Take up the trays to the house. What is the good
of stale food in the roomO woman of ill-omen?'

'I ha - have borne a son in my time toobut he died' whimpered the
bowed sister-figure behind the chudder. 'Thou knowest he died! I
only waited for the order to take away thetray.'

'It is I that am the woman of ill-omen' cried the old lady
penitently. 'We that go down to the chattris [the big umbrellas
above the burning-ghats where the priests take their last dues]
clutch hard at the bearers of the chattis [water-jars - young folk
full of the pride of lifeshe meant; but the pun is clumsy].When
one cannot dance in the festival one must e'en look out of the
windowand grandmothering takes all a woman's time. Thy master
gives me all the charms I now desire for my daughter's eldestby


reason - is it? - that he is wholly free from sin. The hakim is
brought very low these days. He goes about poisoning my servants for
lack of their betters.'

'What hakimmother?'

'That very Dacca man who gave me the pill which rent me in three
pieces. He cast up like a strayed camel a week agovowing that he
and thou had been blood-brothers together up Kulu-wayand feigning
great anxiety for thy health. He was very thin and hungryso I gave
orders to have him stuffed too - him and his anxiety!'

'I would see him if he is here.'

'He eats five times a dayand lances boils for my hinds to save
himself from an apoplexy. He is so full of anxiety for thy health
that he sticks to the cook-house door and stays himself with scraps.
He will keep. We shall never get rid of him.'

'Send him heremother' - the twinkle returned to Kim's eye for a
flash - 'and I will try.'

'I'll send himbut to chase him off is an ill turn. At least he had
the sense to fish the Holy One out of the brook; thusas the Holy
One did not sayacquiring merit.'

'He is a very wise hakim. Send himmother.'

'Priest praising priest? A miracle! If he is any friend of thine (ye
squabbled at your last meeting) I'll hale him here with horse-ropes
and - and give him a caste-dinner afterwardsmy son ... Get up and
see the world! This lying abed is the mother of seventy devils ...
my son! my son!'

She trotted forth to raise a typhoon off the cook-houseand almost
on her shadow rolled in the Baburobed as to the shoulders like a
Roman emperorjowled like Titusbare-headedwith new patentleather
shoesin highest condition of fatexuding joy and
salutations.

'By JoveMister O'Harabut I are jolly-glad to see you. I will
kindly shut the door. It is a pity you are sick. Are you very sick?'

'The papers - the papers from the kilta. The maps and the murasla!'
He held out the key impatiently; for the present need on his soul
was to get rid of the loot.

'You are quite right. That is correct Departmental view to take. You
have got everything?'

'All that was handwritten in the kilta I took. The rest I threw down
the hill.' He could hear the key's grate in the lockthe sticky
pull of the slow-rending oilskinand a quick shuffling of papers.
He had been annoyed out of all reason by the knowledge that they lay
below him through the sick idle days - a burden incommunicable. For
that reason the blood tingled through his bodywhen Hurree
skipping elephantinelyshook hands again.

'This is fine! This is finest! Mister O'Hara! you have - ha! ha!
swiped the whole bag of tricks - locksstocksand barrels. They
told me it was eight months' work gone up the spouts! By Jovehow
they beat me! ... Lookhere is the letter from Hilas!' He intoned a
line or two of Court Persianwhich is the language of authorized
and unauthorized diplomacy. 'Mister Rajah Sahib has just about put


his foot in the holes. He will have to explain offeecially how the
deuce-an'-all he is writing love-letters to the Czar. And they are
very clever maps ... and there is three or four Prime Ministers of
these parts implicated by the correspondence. By Gadsar! The
British Government will change the succession in Hilas and Bunar
and nominate new heirs to the throne. "Trea-son most base" ... but
you do not understand? Eh?'

'Are they in thy hands?' said Kim. It was all he cared for.

'Just you jolly-well bet yourself they are.' He stowed the entire
trove about his bodyas only Orientals can. 'They are going up to
the officetoo. The old lady thinks I am permanent fixture here
but I shall go away with these straight off - immediately. Mr Lurgan
will be proud man. You are offeecially subordinate to mebut I
shall embody your name in my verbal report. It is a pity we are not
allowed written reports. We Bengalis excel in thee exact science.'
He tossed back the key and showed the box empty.

'Good. That is good. I was very tired. My Holy One was sicktoo.
And did he fall into -'

'Oah yess. I am his good friendI tell you. He was behaving very
strange when I came down after youand I thought perhaps he might
have the papers. I followed him on his meditationsand to discuss
ethnological points also. You seeI am verree small person here
nowadaysin comparison with all his charms. By JoveO'Harado you
knowhe is afflicted with infirmity of fits. YessI tell you.
Cataleptictooif not also epileptic. I found him in such a state
under a tree in articulo mortemand he jumped up and walked into a
brook and he was nearly drowned but for me. I pulled him out.'

'Because I was not there!' said Kim. 'He might have died.'

'Yeshe might have diedbut he is dry nowand asserts he has
undergone transfiguration.' The Babu tapped his forehead knowingly.
'I took notes of his statements for Royal Society - in posse. You
must make haste and be quite well and come back to Simlaand I will
tell you all my tale at Lurgan's. It was splendid. The bottoms of
their trousers were quite tornand old Nahan Rajahhe thought they
were European soldiers deserting.'

'Ohthe Russians? How long were they with thee?'

'One was a Frenchman. Ohdays and days and days! Now all the hillpeople
believe all Russians are all beggars. By Jove! they had not
one dam'-thing that I did not get them. And I told the common people
- oahsuch tales and anecdotes! -I will tell you at old Lurgan's
when you come up. We will have - ah - a night out! It is feather in
both our caps! Yessand they gave me a certificate. That is
creaming joke. You should have seen them at the Alliance Bank
identifying themselves! And thank Almighty God you got their papers
so well! You do not laugh verree muchbut you shall laugh when you
are well. Now I will go straight to the railway and get out. You
shall have all sorts of credits for your game. When do you come
along? We are very proud of you though you gave us great frights.
And especially Mahbub.'

'AyMahbub. And where is he?'

'Selling horses in this vi-cinityof course.'

'Here! Why? Speak slowly. There is a thickness in my head still.'


The Babu looked shyly down his nose. 'Wellyou seeI am fearful
manand I do not like responsibility. You were sickyou seeand I
did not know where deuce-an'-all the papers wereand if sohow
many. So when I had come down here I slipped in private wire to
Mahbub - he was at Meerut for races - and I tell him how case
stands. He comes up with his men and he consorts with the lamaand
then he calls me a fooland is very rude -'

'But wherefore - wherefore?'

'That is what I ask. I only suggest that if anyone steals the papers
I should like some good strongbrave men to rob them back again.
You seethey are vitally importantand Mahbub Ali he did not know
where you were.'

'Mahbub Ali to rob the Sahiba's house? Thou art madBabu' said
Kim with indignation.

'I wanted the papers. Suppose she had stole them? It was only
practical suggestionI think. You are not pleasedeh?'

A native proverb - unquotable - showed the blackness of Kim's
disapproval.

'Well' - Hurree shrugged his shoulders - 'there is no accounting
for thee taste. Mahbub was angry too. He has sold horses all about
hereand he says old lady is pukka [thorough] old lady and would
not condescend to such ungentlemanly things. I do not care. I have
got the papersand I was very glad of moral support from Mahbub. I
tell youI am fearful manbutsomehow or otherthe more fearful
I am the more dam'-tight places I get into. So I was glad you came
with me to Chiniand I am glad Mahbub was close by. The old lady
she is sometimes very rude to me and my beautiful pills.'

'Allah be merciful!' said Kim on his elbowrejoicing. 'What a beast
of wonder is a Babu! And that man walked alone - if he did walk with
robbed and angry foreigners!'

'Oahthatt was nothingafter they had done beating me; but if I
lost the papers it was pretty-jolly serious. Mahbub he nearly beat
me tooand he went and consorted with the lama no end. I shall
stick to ethnological investigations henceforwards. Now good-bye
Mister O'Hara. I can catch 4.25 p.m. to Umballa if I am quick. It
will be good times when we all tell thee tale up at Mr Lurgan's. I
shall report you offeecially better. Good-byemy dear fallowand
when next you are under thee emotions please do not use the
Mohammedan terms with the Tibetan dress.'

He shook hands twice - a Babu to his boot-heels - and opened the
door. With the fall of the sunlight upon his still triumphant face
he returned to the humble Dacca quack.

'He robbed them' thought Kimforgetting his own share in the game.
'He tricked them. He lied to them like a Bengali. They give him a
chit [a testimonial]. He makes them a mock at the risk of his life I
never would have gone down to them after the pistol-shots - and
then he says he is a fearful man ... And he is a fearful man. I must
get into the world again.'

At first his legs bent like bad pipe-stemsand the flood and rush
of the sunlit air dazzled him. He squatted by the white wallthe
mind rummaging among the incidents of the long dooli journeythe
lama's weaknessesandnow that the stimulus of talk was removed
his own self-pityof whichlike the sickhe had great store. The


unnerved brain edged away from all the outsideas a raw horseonce
rowelledsidles from the spur. It was enoughamply enoughthat
the spoil of the kilta was away - off his hands - out of his
possession. He tried to think of the lama - to wonder why he had
tumbled into a brook - but the bigness of the worldseen between
the forecourt gatesswept linked thought aside. Then he looked upon
the trees and the broad fieldswith the thatched huts hidden among
crops - looked with strange eyes unable to take up the size and
proportion and use of things - stared for a still half-hour. All
that while he feltthough he could not put it into wordsthat his
soul was out of gear with its surroundings - a cog-wheel
unconnected with any machineryjust like the idle cog-wheel of a
cheap Beheea sugar-crusher laid by in a corner. The breezes fanned
over himthe parrots shrieked at himthe noises of the populated
house behind - squabblesordersand reproofs - hit on dead ears.

'I am Kim. I am Kim. And what is Kim?' His soul repeated it again
and again.

He did not want to cry - had never felt less like crying in his life

-but of a sudden easystupid tears trickled down his noseand
with an almost audible click he felt the wheels of his being lock up
anew on the world without. Things that rode meaningless on the
eyeball an instant before slid into proper proportion. Roads were
meant to be walked uponhouses to belived incattle to be driven
fields to be tilledand men and women to be talked to. They were
all real and true - solidly planted upon the feet - perfectly
comprehensible - clay of his clayneither more nor less. He shook
himself like a dog with a flea in his earand rambled out of the
gate. Said the Sahibato whom watchful eyes reported this move:
'Let him go. I have done my share. Mother Earth must do the rest.
When the Holy One comes back from meditationtell him.'
There stood an empty bullock-cart on a little knoll half a mile
awaywith a young banyan tree behind - a look-outas it were
above some new-ploughed levels; and his eyelidsbathed in soft air
grew heavy as he neared it. The ground was good clean dust - no new
herbage thatlivingis half-way to death alreadybut the hopeful
dust that holds the seeds of all life. He felt it between his toes
patted it with his palmsand joint by jointsighing luxuriously
laid him down full length along in the shadow of the wooden-pinned
cart. And Mother Earth was as faithful as the Sahiba. She breathed
through him to restore the poise he had lost lying so long on a cot
cut off from her good currents. His head lay powerless upon her
breastand his opened hands surrendered to her strength. The manyrooted
tree above himand even the dead manhandled wood beside
knew what he soughtas he himself did not know. Hour upon hour he
lay deeper than sleep.

Towards eveningwhen the dust of returning kine made all the
horizons smokecame the lama and Mahbub Aliboth afootwalking
cautiouslyfor the house had told them where he had gone.

'Allah! What a fool's trick to play in open country!' muttered the
horse-dealer. 'He could be shot a hundred times - but this is not
the Border.'

'And' said the lamarepeating a many-times-told tale'never was
such a chela. Temperatekindlywiseof ungrudging dispositiona
merry heart upon the roadnever forgettinglearnedtruthful
courteous. Great is his reward!'

'I know the boy - as I have said.'


'And he was all those things?'

'Some of them - but I have not yet found a Red Hat's charm for
making him overly truthful. He has certainly been well nursed.'

'The Sahiba is a heart of gold' said the lama earnestly. 'She looks
upon him as her son.'

'Hmph! Half Hind seems that way disposed. I only wished to see that
the boy had come to no harm and was a free agent. As thou knowest
he and I were old friends in the first days of your pilgrimage
together.'

'That is a bond between us.' The lama sat down. 'We are at the end
of the pilgrimage.'

'No thanks to thee thine was not cut off for good and all a week
back. I heard what the Sahiba said to thee when we bore thee up on
the cot.' Mahbub laughedand tugged his newly dyed beard.

'I was meditating upon other matters that tide. It was the hakim
from Dacca broke my meditations.'

'Otherwise' - this was in Pushtu for decency's sake -'thou wouldst
have ended thy meditations upon the sultry side of Hell - being an
unbeliever and an idolater for all thy child's simplicity. But now
Red Hatwhat is to be done?'

'This very night' - the words came slowlyvibrating with triumph '
this very night he will be as free as I am from all taint of sin assured
as I amwhen he quits this bodyof Freedom from the Wheel
of Things. I have a sign' - he laid his hand above the torn chart in
his bosom -'that my time is short; but I shall have safeguarded him
throughout the years. RememberI have reached Knowledgeas I told
thee only three nights back.'

'It must be trueas the Tirah priest said when I stole his cousin's
wifethat I am a Sufi [a free-thinker]; for here I sitI said
Mahbub to himself'drinking in blasphemy unthinkable ... I remember
the tale. On thatthenhe goes to Fannatu l'Adn [the Gardens of
Eden]. But how? Wilt thou slay him or drown him in that wonderful
river from which the Babu dragged thee?'

'I was dragged from no river' said the lama simply. 'Thou hast
forgotten what befell. I found it by Knowledge.'

'Ohay. True' stammered Mahbubdivided between high indignation
and enormous mirth. 'I had forgotten the exact run of what happened.
Thou didst find it knowingly.'

'And to say that I would take life is - not a sinbut a madness
simple. My chela aided me to the River. It is his right to be
cleansed from sin - with me.'

'Ayhe needs cleansing. But afterwardsold man - afterwards?'

'What matter under all the Heavens? He is sure of Nibban enlightened
- as I am.'

'Well said. I had a fear he might mount Mohammed's Horse and fly
away.'

'Nay - he must go forth as a teacher.'


'Aha! Now I see! That is the right gait for the colt. Certainly he
must go forth as a teacher. He is somewhat urgently needed as a
scribe by the Statefor instance.'

'To that end he was prepared. I acquired merit in that I gave alms
for his sake. A good deed does not die. He aided me in my Search. I
aided him in his. Just is the WheelO horse-seller from the North.
Let him be a teacher; let him be a scribe - what matter? He will
have attained Freedom at the end. The rest is illusion.'

'What matter? When I must have him with me beyond Balkh in six
months! I come up with ten lame horses and three strong-backed men thanks
to that chicken of a Babu - to break a sick boy by force out
of an old trot's house. It seems that I stand by while a young Sahib
is hoisted into Allah knows what of an idolater's Heaven by means of
old Red Hat. And I am reckoned something of a player of the Game
myself! But the madman is fond of the boy; and I must be very
reasonably mad too.'

'What is the prayer?' said the lamaas the rough Pushtu rumbled
into the red beard.

'No matter at all; but now I understand that the boysure of
Paradisecan yet enter Government servicemy mind is easier. I
must get to my horses. It grows dark. Do not wake him. I have no
wish to hear him call thee master.'

'But he is my disciple. What else?'

'He has told me.' Mahbub choked down his touch of spleen and rose
laughing. 'I am not altogether of thy faithRed Hat - if so small a
matter concern thee.'

'It is nothingsaid the lama.

'I thought not. Therefore it will not move theesinlessnewwashed
and three parts drowned to bootwhen I call thee a good man

-a very good man. We have talked together some four or five
evenings nowand for all I am a horse-coper I can stillas the
saying issee holiness beyond the legs of a horse. Yeacan see
toohow our Friend of all the World put his hand in thine at the
first. Use him welland suffer him to return to the world as a
teacherwhen thou hast - bathed his legsif that be the proper
medicine for the colt.'
'Why not follow the Way thyselfand so accompany the boy?'

Mahbub stared stupefied at the magnificent insolence of the demand
which across the Border he would have paid with more than a blow.
Then the humour of it touched his worldly soul.

'Softly - softly - one foot at a timeas the lame gelding went over
the Umballa jumps. I may come to Paradise later - I have workings
that way - great motions - and I owe them to thy simplicity. Thou
hast never lied?'

'What need?'

'O Allahhear him! "What need" in this Thy world! Nor ever harmed a
man?'

'Once - with a pencase - before I was wise.'

'So? I think the better of thee. Thy teachings are good. Thou hast


turned one man that I know from the path of strife.' He laughed
immensely. 'He came here open-minded to commit a dacoity [a houserobbery
with violence]. Yesto cutrobkilland carry off what
he desired.'

'A great foolishness!'

'Oh! black shame too. So he thought after he had seen thee - and a
few othersmale and female. So he abandoned it; and now he goes to
beat a big fat Babu man.'

'I do not understand.'

'Allah forbid it! Some men are strong in knowledgeRed Hat. Thy
strength is stronger still. Keep it - I think thou wilt. If the boy
be not a good servantpull his ears off.'

With a hitch of his broad Bokhariot belt the Pathan swaggered off
into the gloamingand the lama came down from his clouds so far as
to look at the broad back.

'That person lacks courtesyand is deceived by the shadow of
appearances. But he spoke well of my chelawho now enters upon his
reward. Let me make the prayer! ... WakeO fortunate above all born
of women. Wake! It is found!'

Kim came up from those deep wellsand the lama attended his yawning
pleasure; duly snapping fingers to head off evil spirits.

'I have slept a hundred years. Where -? Holy Onehast thou been
here long? I went out to look for theebut' - he laughed drowsily '
I slept by the way. I am all well now. Hast thou eaten? Let us go
to the house. It is many days since I tended thee. And the Sahiba
fed thee well? Who shampooed thy legs? What of the weaknesses - the
belly and the neckand the beating in the ears?'

'Gone - all gone. Dost thou not know?'

'I know nothingbut that I have not seen thee in a monkey's age.
Know what?'

'Strange the knowledge did not reach out to theewhen all my
thoughts were theeward.'

'I cannot see the facebut the voice is like a gong. Has the Sahiba
made a young man of thee by her cookery?'

He peered at the cross-legged figureoutlined jet-black against the
lemon-coloured drift of light. So does the stone Bodhisat sit who
looks down upon the patent self-registering turnstiles of the Lahore
Museum.

The lama held his peace. Except for the click of the rosary and a
faint clop-clop of Mahbub's retreating feetthe softsmoky silence
of evening in India wrapped them close.

'Hear me! I bring news.'

'But let us -'

Out shot the long yellow hand compelling silence. Kim tucked his
feet under his robe-edge obediently.

'Hear me! I bring news! The Search is finished. Comes now the Reward


... Thus. When we were among the HillsI lived on thy strength till
the young branch bowed and nigh broke. When we came out of the
HillsI was troubled for thee and for other matters which I held in
my heart. The boat of my soul lacked direction; I could not see into
the Cause of Things. So I gave thee over to the virtuous woman
altogether. I took no food. I drank no water. Still I saw not the
Way. They pressed food upon me and cried at my shut door. So I
removed myself to a hollow under a tree. I took no food. I took no
water. I sat in meditation two days and two nightsabstracting my
mind; inbreathing and outbreathing in the required manner . . . Upon
the second night - so great was my reward - the wise Soul loosed
itself from the silly Body and went free. This I have never before
attainedthough I have stood on the threshold of it. Considerfor
it is a marvel!'

'A marvel indeed. Two days and two nights without food! Where was
the Sahiba?' said Kim under his breath.

'Yeamy Soul went freeandwheeling like an eaglesaw indeed
that there was no Teshoo Lama nor any other soul. As a drop draws to
waterso my Soul drew near to the Great Soul which is beyond all
things. At that pointexalted in contemplationI saw all Hind
from Ceylon in the sea to the Hillsand my own Painted Rocks at
Such-zen; I saw every camp and villageto the leastwhere we have
ever rested. I saw them at one time and in one place; for they were
within the Soul. By this I knew the Soul had passed beyond the
illusion of Time and Space and of Things. By this I knew that I was
free. I saw thee lying in thy cotand I saw thee falling downhill
under the idolater - at one timein one placein my Soulwhich
as I sayhad touched the Great Soul. Also I saw the stupid body of
Teshoo Lama lying downand the hakim from Dacca kneeled beside
shouting in its ear. Then my Soul was all aloneand I saw nothing
for I was all thingshaving reached the Great Soul. And I meditated
a thousand thousand yearspassionlesswell aware of the Causes of
all Things. Then a voice cried: "What shall come to the boy if thou
art dead?" and I was shaken back and forth in myself with pity for
thee; and I said: "I will return to my chelalest he miss the Way."
Upon this my Soulwhich is the Soul of Teshoo Lamawithdrew itself
from the Great Soul with strivings and yearnings and retchings and
agonies not to be told. As the egg from the fishas the fish from
the wateras the water from the cloudas the cloud from the thick
airso put forthso leaped outso drew awayso fumed up the Soul
of Teshoo Lama from the Great Soul. Then a voice cried: "The River!
Take heed to the River!" and I looked down upon all the worldwhich
was as I had seen it before - one in timeone in place - and I saw
plainly the River of the Arrow at my feet. At that hour my Soul was
hampered by some evil or other whereof I was not wholly cleansed
and it lay upon my arms and coiled round my waist; but I put it
asideand I cast forth as an eagle in my flight for the very place
of the River. I pushed aside world upon world for thy sake. I saw
the River below me - the River of the Arrow - anddescendingthe
waters of it closed over me; and behold I was again in the body of
Teshoo Lamabut free from sinand the hakim from Decca bore up my
head in the waters of the River. It is here! It is behind the mangotope
here - even here!'

'Allah kerim! Ohwell that the Babu was by! Wast thou very wet?'

'Why should I regard? I remember the hakim was concerned for the
body of Teshoo Lama. He haled it out of the holy water in his hands
and there came afterwards thy horse-seller from the North with a cot
and menand they put the body on the cot and bore it up to the
Sahiba's house.'


'What said the Sahiba?'

'I was meditating in that bodyand did not hear. So thus the Search
is ended. For the merit that I have acquiredthe River of the Arrow
is here. It broke forth at our feetas I have said. I have found
it. Son of my SoulI have wrenched my Soul back from the Threshold
of Freedom to free thee from all sin - as I am freeand sinless!
Just is the Wheel! Certain is our deliverance! Come!'

He crossed his hands on his lap and smiledas a man may who has won
salvation for himself and his beloved.