Kim

member c

mates on

e traded

the sa

d leagues t

ty years

not nobl

ey knew a

Diego

t skirt the resting-place, and Kim, trudging beside a baggage-cart under fire of comments from soldiers' wives, was not so

f a mile in the rear, Kim heard a hoarse and joyful clamour rolling down on him through the thick dust. Then someone b

and he was hauled on to

ht has come true. Our orders are to ent

for 'front' and 'entrain'

o "thee War," a

going to thee War.

ers o' Darkness,

, 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 baz

dia?' said Father Victor, 'or are y

me go back to my old man? If he has not stayed wi

. No. Ye've brought us luck, an' we're goin' to make a man of you. I'l

ailway 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

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

st to spring through the verand

eels. 'I've got to look after you. My orders are no

forenoon-a fat and freckled person of about fourteen, and Ki

sweets-for you,' sa

ds. If we go there we'll get a

know what bounds meant, but he w

ean! We can go as far as

will g

in' away. If you did, they'd spot you by your clothes. That's regimental stuff you're wear

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 undece

rt thou to need a bazar letter-writer? Is

y mother was married under a basket! Servant of Lal Beg' (Kim knew

arracks waiting under a tree who is not a white boy,' he stammere

ribe, gathering up his desk and p

t like other boys. Go an

young Kayeth hove in sight. As soon as hi

Bad words have made the price higher. But who art tho

was such a tale. But I am in no haste. Another writer wi

ng down and spreading his cloth in t

quatted as only the natives can-in spi

regarded hi

k of Sahibs,' said Kim.

know, having written the lette

tree, and there is also th

ce of the stamp. Once more, wha

s to Mahbub Ali, the horse-dealer in the K

tter-writer, dipping a reed in the

Umballa in the train. At Umballa I carried the news of the bay mare's pedigree.'

bay mare to do ... Is it Ma

the order was, so I did it. We then went on foot towards Benares

murmured the w

mmon 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, b

art as clever as Husain Bux that forged the Treasury stamps at N

It is better to help his friends by lending th

his desk, sealed the letter, handed it over to Kim, and

good account with the Go

the money comes,' the ma

ut?' said the drummer-boy when Kim retur

ly talkin

same as a nigg

ee speak a little. W

wish I'd gone up to the Front with the Regiment. It's awf

h y

this bloomin' Injia you're only a prisoner at large. You can'

been in Be

should think I 'ave been in England. What a ignorant little b

hing about England. My f

a corner of a barrack-room. But that he had written to Mahbub Ali, Kim 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 when, in th

Not much, eh? It must be hard-very hard on a wild animal

ah! If he knows to write me

fond of

fond of him. He

ok of this. He can't w

d a letter-writer who can write English verree

anything about his money affairs?'

can I

e 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

man-at Saharunpore, I think. He would not do

n duty bound shall ever awfully pray. Written by Sobrao Satai, Failed Entrance Allahabad University, for Venerable Teshoo Lama the priest of Such-zen looking for a River, address care of Tirthankars' Temple, Benares. P. M

hree hundred rupees a year

e way you look

e. If he

ment 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 hand, if ye go to St Xavier'

I can't touch the subscription-money if I intend, as I do, to 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' grace, though I don't believe it at all

,' said K

month's pay to find what's goin' on i

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 h

ed the reverie. 'Ye can run along now and play with the other b

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 so he abandoned the project and fell back, Oriental-fashion, on time and chance. Three days of torment passed in the big, echoing white rooms. He walked out of afternoons under escort of the drumm

that the nigger had then and there laid into him with a peculiarly adhesive quirt, picked up young O'Hara, and borne him off at full gallop. These tidings came to Father Victor, and he drew down his long upper lip. He was already sufficiently startled by a letter from the Temple

y 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 beyon

Mahbub Ali, reining a grey Kabuli stalli

en saw me pick thee up and chastise that boy. We are seen now from far across this plain. How can I take thee away, or account for thy disappearing if I set thee down and

me money and I will go to Benares and be with my lama again. I do

arp-edged stirrup. (He was not the new sort of fluent horse-dealer who wear

rgotten it. I send so many letters and messages to men who ask questions about horses, I cannot well r

uld have known by his very readiness to fall in with the amen

forget my messages thus.

ab stallion. But thou dids

etter-writer?' Kim answered, fe

man raced alongside on a little polo-pony. 'I've been chasing you hal

de by Heaven for the delicate and dif

. Yes. We know all that. What

ity. 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

can find the b

t away who will say

nner. Where has he to run

s. He is a chabuk sawai [a sharp chap]. It needs only to change h

y as Mahbub headed towards the barracks. Kim ground his teeth. M

is feet and swaddle him in these clothes. Then he will f

eak-to Father Victor's wing

a good soldier,' sai

m to deliver a message once from Lahore. A messa

lf he saw one long grey vista of barracks, schools, and 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

' said the dealer. 'Others

ing his pony's damp withers with his wh

ound him, and especially the

as bare-headed Father Victor sail

mixed friends do you keep in Asia?' he cried, a

. 'I know you by reputation well enough. Meant to h

Englishman nodded. 'Faith, I'm glad to meet ye then;

horse-dealer sat impassive in the sunlight. 'You will when you have been in the station a month

hat could help me in my quandaries. Tell you! Powers o' Darkness

du. 'Very good, Mahbub Ali, but what is the use of telling me all those stories a

e leer of a privileged jester. 'Presently, he will see my horse's points more clearly.

Padre. Wait, then, if thou hast so much time to spare, Mahbub. Now I'm at your service, Padre. Where is the boy?

view of Kim and Mahbub Ali in conference benea

hmin before a snake, and a snake before an har

ee a carpet on the loom till the pattern is made plain. Believe me, Friend of

on. 'But you're not far wrong. That boy

the Padre from within, 'but I'm g

Sahib comes to thee, and thou art raised to honour, wh

here I should have been safe; and thou hast sold me back

Colonel bit his cigar, and tur

ng before the Colonel? Stand behind the stallion

agadhir Road, saying that he will pay three

Hat of that sort?

. I think

s-and half-Sahibs. I have seen it when I sell horses th

tell lies, or retu

Mahbub Ali chuckled. 'By Allah!' the keen eyes swept the veranda for an Instant-'thy lama has sent what to

go away, and they will return me to those empty rooms where

nce, child. All Pathans are not

r Victor talking energetically or aski

t the boy from beginnin to end; and it's a ble

f hand are good from here to China,' said the Colonel. 'The more one

ture of Red Bulls and Rivers of Healing (poor heathen, God help him!) an'

nk of it. That's an additional re

' his prophesyin' to our Colonel, sitting on my bed with his little shimmy torn open showing hi

h holy water,' th

ping he'll be brought up as a good Catholic. All that

and some of them are gentl

to plan on the spur of the moment, but he's bound to die some day.

he explained it all at the Tirthankars' Temple at Benares. Look here, Padre, I don't pretend to know much about natives, but if he says he'll pay, he'll pay-dead

ughty certified me medically unfit. I'll excommunicate Doughty i

wn on pass as a soldier's orphan, so 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 education, and

e a go

return it. We shall have to do as he says. Well, that's settled, isn't it? Shall we say that, Tuesday next, yo

-he waved the note of hand-'I don't know Gobind S

bt. I'll cash it if you like, and se

our own work to

. I'd like to make a note of it for some Government work that I'm doing. The transformation of a r

't thank y

to anyone but ourselves, of course, but you know what book-collectors are like. Well, don't say a word, directly or indirectly, about t

unt of it. Never a word will I say

back to my breakfast. Good Heavens! Old Mahbub here still?' He raised his voice, a

lo-pony, closely following the ball without teaching-when such a colt knows the game b

These fellows think of nothing in the world but horses, Padre.) I

,' he whispered to the agonized Kim. 'Thy fortune is made. In a little while thou goest to Nucklao, and-here is s

e days thou wilt go with me to Lucknow, seeing and hearing new things all the while. Th

Holy One there?

under my protection. Mahbub Ali knows this, and he will be angry if thou ret

id Kim, 'but the

ugles blew