Kim

I to my

ven, and k

bone of my

o flesh o

calf is dre

have greater z

igs will be

to the st

rodig

slept till they reached the next halting-stage. It was a very short march,

the escort. 'Only the devils and the E

a Monkey, or a Boy. No man knows wha

the old story how the Devil played with the boys

r. Insensibly, too, 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 woman, had

thou?' he cal

ch, and all this'-Kim waved h

e and a discerning woman. But

s.' Kim spoke as m

red, looping up the well-worn rosary, 'of stone. On that I

pudme hum's of his devotion; grateful for t

There was no purpose in his wanderings, except that the buil

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 th

soldiers!' said

nd I go out alone together. But I

t when they are drunk.

came forward uncertainly. They were the advance-party of a regiment on the march, sent out, as usual, to mark the

ed the mango-grove

rees, I take it, an' the rest of us can stay outside

in the distance, and the rough an

ag in here, t

onderstruck. 'This is a great and terrib

ontentedly, pulled it up again, conferred with his companion, wh

oming short and sharp between his teeth. T

st at Umballa! Remember what he said. First come two-ferashes-to make all t

aid the lama. 'It is the wo

Bull-the Red Bull on the g

nary camp marking-flag; but the regiment, always punctilious in matters of millinery, had charged it with the regi

a. 'Certainly it is thy Bull. Certainly,

t? "The sign over against the Bull is the sign of War

device that flamed like a ruby in the dusk. 'The pr

is to

Let u

ould at last strike through the tree-trunks, across the grove, filling it with mealy gol

lama. 'One beat

the still air, resembled the beating of an ar

He knew the sound of a regimen

vy, dusty column crawled in sight

your cond

you what

in the Mul

go Por

the shrill-t

uldere

d-we marc

Phoen

ed to Du

s and th

tly they

d-marched-ma

gan G

re route-marching with their baggage. The rippling column swung into the leve

sorcery!' s

ched a huge tent in silence, ran up yet eight or nine more by the side of it, unearthed cooking-pots, pans, and bundles, which

d, as the fires twinkled and white officers wi

,' said Kim, his eyes still on the flag. He had never before watched

haplain's mettle; and to abash him Bennett had marched step by step with the men that day. The black dress, gold cross on the watch-chain, the hairless face, and the soft, black wideawake hat would have mar

y by tone. 'But I considered the countenance of that priest and I think he is learn

will eat now, and-and I do not think they are good to beg from. Let us go back to the resti

lady's retinue set their meal before them; so none br

but thou, O Holy One, must wait a little way off, because thy feet

e talk? Walk slowly. The road is

as the lama made some sort of protest, 'remember this is my Search-the Search for my Red Bull. The sign in the Sta

iently in a little hollow of the ground not a hundred yards fro

ore city on a moonlight night, using every little patch and corner of darkness to discomfit his pursuer, is not likely to be checked by a line of well-trained soldiers. He paid them the compliment of crawling between a

uld be therefore the man to consult in the matter. On the other hand, remembering sober-faced padres whom he had avoided in Lahore city, the 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 World, crammed to th

ere on the line of march-stood a golden bull fashioned from old-time loot of the Summer Palace at Pekin-a red-gold bull w

is right shoulder-blade. Kim flinched under the leather, and, rolling sideways, brought down the Chaplain, who, ever 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 Benn

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 scullion, and at the same time k

it me. Is it lost?

nny, saw-cut English of the nati

sort of heathen charm. Why-why, do you speak Englis

like a terrier at a lifted stick. 'Oh, give it

ng to the tent door, called aloud.

arily, I should have chastised him and let him go, because I believe him to be a thief. But it seems he talks

was noticeable that whenever the Church of England dealt with a human problem she was very likely to call in the Church of Rome

look at his charm. No, it's not a sca

right to open it?

have hit me kicks all over my body. No

clearance-certificate, and Kim's baptismal certificate. On this last O'Hara-with some confused idea that he was doing wonders for

r Victor, passing all over to Mr Benne

They are mine, and

ett. 'He probably brought them on purpose

his company, then. There's the makings of a gay

ope

kness! Kimball O'Hara! And his son! But then he's a native, and I saw Kimb

I was a li

d the front of Kim's upper garment. 'You see, B

im

Kimb

ill you let

t el

Rishti ke. That is

that-"R

t was the Regim

-oh, I

y father told me. My

ived w

course he is

abrupt way of p

injustice. He is certainly white, though evidently neglected

Kim,' continued Father Victor, 'no one is going to hurt you. Drink th

ter a whipping. But he had received no stripes; the amulet was evidently working in his favour, and it looked as though the Umballa horoscope and the few words that he cou

oman, she kept kabarri shop near where the hire-carriages are.' Kim

r mo

nodded) 'because he was in good-standing. What do you call that?' (again Bennett nodded). 'My father told me that. He said, too, and also the Brahmi

ittle liar,' mu

what a country!' murmured F

ield, and 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 Bull, but I went away and I came again when it was dark. I wanted to see the Bull again, and

orld do you make of that?' said Bennett. "

wers of Darkness. It's very much what his father would have done if h

'I will show you him if you come. He is

er Victor could say, as Bennett marched

e lama where

d knows what comes next. They will not hurt you. Come to the fat priest's tent with this thin m

their ignorance,' the lama returned.

hurches as a Churchman, and sat down by the open charcoal brazier. The ye

uninterest of the creed that lumps nine-ten

What gift has the Red Bull brought?

taring uneasily at Father Victor, and Kim, for his o

or his confederate,' Bennett began. 'We cannot allow an English boy-Assuming that

e,' said Father Victor; 'but we might as well tell the old m

the Oriental mind. Now, Kimball, I wish yo

rt of the next few se

o looks like a camel says t

t h

b, and 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 o

didst come to me when I was faint and bewildered. Tell t

hem. They laugh, and t

saying?' ask

is last was a reminiscence of some talk with a Eurasian clerk in the Canal Department, but it only drew a smile, w

Victor, not without feeling,

is own mind from the vernacular to his clumsy English. 'Oah, it was made by our Lord God Buddha, you know, and if you wash there you are washed away from all your

d Bennett. Kim obeyed

blasphemy!' cried t

good deal to be able to talk the vernacular. A river that wa

o go away and look for it aga

, Kim, if you were not a soldier's son. Tell him that the Regiment will take care of you and make you as

play on his credulity

re of a miracle. Consider the chances against it, Bennett. This one boy in all India, and our Regiment of all others on the line

, to whom he might as well

he worst it will be but a few meals eaten away from thee. Then I will slip away and follow down the road to Saharunpore. Therefore, Holy One, keep with that Kulu woman-on no account stray far from her cart till I come again. Past question, my sign is of War and of armed men. See how they have given me wine to drink and set

Bennett, feeling in his trouser-pocket. 'We can inv

the lad,' said Father Victor, hal

s rosary and pulled his h

an he w

, you do not know one little word of what he says, and I think if you talk he will perhaps give

a look in Bennett's eye that promised ill for Ki

h with pain. 'But no white man knows the land and the custo

r two. Remember, I can change swiftly. It will all be as it w

nd time thou wast a Hindu. What shall the third incarnation be?' He chuckled drearily

ld I know that the Red Bull wo

sly rattled the rosary. Kim squatted beside

he images in the Wonder House.' The lama's experience of white men was limited. He seemed to be repeating a less

a night and a d

saw Kim edging towards the doo

Lahore was more courteous than the thin one here. This boy will be taken from me. They will m

r now any more. He says, Why have you no disciples, and

Father Victor foun

will walk away quietly and not steal. We will look for that River like before I was caught.

ork you ever did for yourse

ma intently. 'He can't take the boy away with him, and yet he's a good man-I'm sure

full minutes. Then the lama raised his head, and

le years. But those who follow the Way must permit not the fire of any desire or attachment, for that is all Illusion. As says ...' He quoted an old, old Chinese text, backed it with another, and reinforced these with a third. 'I stepped aside from the Way, my chela. It was no fault of thine. I

er Victor, who, wise in the confessio

n for me as well as for thee. All Desire is red-an

m, 'otherwise thou wilt be lost upon the road

how that the matter was fi

m,-'what will they do with thee? At least

hink. The day after tomorr

ointed to Father Victor. 'Such an one as those I saw

ay

low desire and come to emptiness

ed. 'I will ask these fools-but there is truly no need. I wil

n English to Father Victor, tran

say what you will make him." He says, "Tell me before

er on, we shall see. Kimball, I su

ad violently. There was nothing in his composition to wh

' said Bennett; 'and you should be g

under the delusion that he would do anythin

fidgeted with impatience, and suggest

among the Sahibs? Ask them,' sa

her-but that money the Regiment will giv

for an early flight. 'It is no wrong to pay for learning. To help the ignorant to wisdom i

give a wise and suitable teaching? An

y 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

ow how much?' s

r Victor was long past any sense of amazeme

you must write your name below, because he is going to write a letter in some days t

'I follow my Search,'

stalked out; 'but I can't leave the boy.' Kim made swift motion to follow, but c

ently excited. They talked long in undertones, Father Victor urging some scheme on Mr Bennett, who seemed incredulous. All this was very new and fascinating, but Kim felt sleepy. They called men into the tent-one of them certainl

cape into great, grey, formless India, beyond tents and padres and colonels. Meantime, if th

t instructions not to let him escape. The Regiment would go on to Umballa, and Kim would be sen

aking 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 accou

st certainly,

not go to Sana

's the order of the Commander-in-Chief, who'

o Sanawar. You wil

t of laughter fr

you won't confuse the line of march with line of

re. If they were not going to the war, at least they did n

soon as you get to Umballa you will be sent to the war-the n

up a suit for him from the Drums, an' take care he doesn't slip through your fingers. W

, an hour later sat Kim, newly washed all over, in

kin' God knows what all of a red bull. The buck-Brahmin evaporates without explanations, an' the bhoy sets cross-legged on the Chaplain's bed prophesyin' bloody war to

sides guns,' said Kim.

n between the Drums an' go to bye-bye.