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`ButwastherenotalsoanEnglishmanwithawhitebeardholyamongimages-whohimselfmademoresuremyassuranceoftheRiveroftheArrow？’
`He-we-wenttotheAjaib-GherinLahoretopraybeforetheGodsthere，’Kimexplainedtotheopenlylisteningcompany。`AndtheSahiboftheWonderHousetalkedtohim-yes，thisistruth-asabrother。Heisaveryholyman，fromfarbeyondtheHills。Rest，thou。IntimewecometoUmballa。’
`ButmyRiver-theRiverofmyhealing？’
`Andthen，ifitpleasethee，wewillgohuntingforthatRiveronfoot。
Sothatwemissnothing-notevenalittlerivuletinafield-side。’
`ButthouhastaSearchofthineown？’Thelama-verypleasedthatherememberedsowell-satboltupright。
`Ay，’saidKim，humouringhim。Theboywasentirelyhappytobeoutchewingpanandseeingnewpeopleinthegreatgood-temperedworld。
`Itwasabull-aRedBullthatshallcomeandhelpthee-andcarrythee-whither？Ihaveforgotten。ARedBullonagreenfield，wasitnot？’
`Nay，itwillcarrymenowhere，’saidKim。`ItisbutataleItoldthee。’
`Whatisthis？’Thecultivator’swifeleanedforward，herbraceletsclinkingonherarm。`Doyebothdreamdreams？ARedBullonagreenfield，thatshallcarrytheetotheheavens-orwhat？Wasitavision？Didonemakeaprophecy？WehaveaRedBullinourvillagebehindJullundurcity，andhegrazesbychoiceintheverygreenestofourfields！’
`Giveawomananoldwife’staleandaweaver-birdaleafandathread，theywillweavewonderfulthings，’saidtheSikh。`Allholymendreamdreams，andbyfollowingholymentheirdisciplesattainthatpower。
`ARedBullonagreenfield，wasit？’thelamarepeated。`Inaformerlifeitmaybethouhastacquiredmerit，andtheBullwillcometorewardthee。’
`Nay-nay-itwasbutataleonetoldtome-forajestbelike。ButIwillseektheBullaboutUmballa，andthoucanstlookforthyRiverandrestfromtheclatterofthetrain。’
`ItmaybethattheBullknows-thatheissenttoguideusboth，’
saidthelama，hopefullyasachild。Thentothecompany，indicatingKim：
`Thisonewassenttomebutyesterday。Heisnot，Ithink，ofthisworld。’
`BeggarsaplentyhaveImet，andholymentoboot，butneversuchayoginorsuchadisciple，’saidthewoman。
Herhusbandtouchedhisforeheadlightlywithonefingerandsmiled。
Butthenexttimethelamawouldeattheytookcaretogivehimoftheirbest。
Andatlast-tired，sleepy，anddusty-theyreachedUmballaCityStation。
`Weabidehereuponalaw-suit，’saidthecultivator’swifetoKim。
`Welodgewithmyman’scousin’syoungerbrother。Thereisroomalsointhecourtyardforthyyogiandforthee。Will-willhegivemeablessing？’
`Oholyman！Awomanwithaheartofgoldgivesuslodgingforthenight。
Itisakindlyland，thislandoftheSouth。Seehowwehavebeenhelpedsincethedawn！’
Thelamabowedhisheadinbenediction。
`Tofillmycousin’syoungerbrother’shousewithwastrels-’thehusbandbegan，asheshoulderedhisheavybamboostaff。
`Thycousin’syoungerbrotherowesmyfather’scousinsomethingyetonhisdaughter’smarriage-feast，’saidthewomancrisply。`Lethimputtheirfoodtothataccount。Theyogiwillbeg，Idoubtnot。’
`Ay，Ibegforhim，’saidKim，anxiousonlytogetthelamaundershelterforthenight，thathemightseekMahbubAli’sEnglishmananddeliverhimselfofthewhitestallion’spedigree。
`Now，’saidhe，whenthelamahadcometoananchorintheinnercourtyardofadecentHinduhousebehindthecantonments，`Igoawayforawhile-to-tobuyusvictualinthebazar。DonotstrayabroadtillIreturn。’
`Thouwiltreturn？Thouwiltsurelyreturn？’Theoldmancaughtathiswrist。`Andthouwiltreturninthisverysameshape？IsittoolatetolooktonightfortheRiver？’
`Toolateandtoodark。Becomforted。Thinkhowfarthouartontheroad-anhundredmilesfromLahorealready。’
`Yea-andfartherfrommymonastery。Alas！Itisagreatandterribleworld。’
Kimstoleoutandaway，asunremarkableafigureasevercarriedhisownandafewscorethousandotherfolk’sfateslungroundhisneck。MahbubAli’sdirectionslefthimlittledoubtofthehouseinwhichhisEnglishmanlived；andagroom，bringingadog-carthomefromtheClub，madehimquitesure。Itremainedonlytoidentifyhisman，andKimslippedthroughthegardenhedgeandhidinaclumpofplumedgrassclosetotheveranda。Thehouseblazedwithlights，andservantsmovedabouttablesdressedwithflowers，glass，andsilver。PresentlyforthcameanEnglishman，dressedinblackandwhite，hummingatune。Itwastoodarktoseehisface，soKim，beggar-wise，triedanoldexperiment。
`ProtectorofthePoor！’
Themanbackedtowardsthevoice。
`MahbubAlisays-’
`Hah！WhatsaysMahbubAli？’Hemadenoattempttolookforthespeaker，andthatshowedKimthatheknew。
`Thepedigreeofthewhitestallionisfullyestablished。’
`Whatproofisthere？’TheEnglishmanswitchedattherose-hedgeinthesideofthedrive。
`MahbubAlihasgivenmethisproof。’Kimflippedthewadoffoldedpaperintotheair，anditfellinthepathbesidetheman，whoputhisfootonitasagardenercameroundthecorner。Whentheservantpassedhepickeditup，droppedarupee-Kimcouldheartheclink-andstrodeintothehouse，neverturninground。SwiftlyKimtookupthemoney；butforallhistraining，hewasIrishenoughbybirthtoreckonsilvertheleastpartofanygame。Whathedesiredwasthevisibleeffectofaction；
so，insteadofslinkingaway，helaycloseinthegrassandwormednearertothehouse。
Hesaw-Indianbungalowsareopenthroughandthrough-theEnglishmanreturntoasmalldressing-room，inacorneroftheveranda，thatwashalfoffice，litteredwithpapersanddespatch-boxes，andsitdowntostudyMahbubAli’smessage。Hisface，bythefullrayofthekerosenelamp，changedanddarkened，andKim，usedaseverybeggarmustbetowatchingcountenances，tookgoodnote。
`Will！Will，dear！’calledawoman’svoice。`Yououghttobeinthedrawing-room。They’llbehereinaminute。’
Themanstillreadintently。
`Will！’saidthevoice，fiveminuteslater。`He’scome。Icanhearthetroopersinthedrive。’
Themandashedoutbareheadedasabiglandauwithfournativetroopersbehindithaltedattheveranda，andatall，black-hairedman，erectasanarrow，swungout，precededbyayoungofficerwholaughedpleasantly。
FlatonhisbellylayKim，almosttouchingthehighwheels。Hismanandtheblackstrangerexchangedtwosentences。
`Certainly，sir，’saidtheyoungofficerpromptly。`Everythingwaitswhileahorseisconcerned。’
`Weshan’tbemorethantwentyminutes，’saidKim’sman。`Youcandothehonours-keep’emamused，andallthat。’
`Telloneofthetrooperstowait，’saidthetallman，andtheybothpassedintothedressing-roomtogetherasthelandaurolledaway。KimsawtheirheadsbentoverMahbubAli’smessage，andheardthevoices-onelowanddeferential，theothersharpanddecisive。
`Itisn’taquestionofweeks。Itisaquestionofdays-hoursalmost，’
saidtheelder。`I’dbeenexpectingitforsometime，butthis’-hetappedMahbubAli’spaper-`clinchesit。Grogan’sdiningheretonight，isn’the？’
`Yes，sir，andMacklintoo。’
`Verygood。I’llspeaktothemmyself。ThematterwillbereferredtotheCouncil，ofcourse，butthisisacasewhereoneisjustifiedinassumingthatwetakeactionatonce。WarnthePindiandPeshawurbrigades。Itwilldisorganizeallthesummerreliefs，butwecan’thelpthat。Thiscomesofnotsmashingthemthoroughlythefirsttime。Eightthousandshouldbeenough。’
`Whataboutartillery，sir？’
`ImustconsultMacklin。’
`Thenitmeanswar？’
`No。Punishment。Whenamanisboundbytheactionofhispredecessor-’
`ButC25mayhavelied。’
`Hebearsouttheother’sinformation。Practically，theyshowedtheirhandsixmonthsback。ButDevenishwouldhaveittherewasachanceofpeace。Ofcoursetheyusedittomakethemselvesstronger。Sendoffthosetelegramsatonce-thenewcode，nottheold-mineandWharton’s。Idon’tthinkweneedkeeptheladieswaitinganylonger。Wecansettletherestoverthecigars。Ithoughtitwascoming。It’spunishment-notwar。’
