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Kim’seyessparkled。Heshuthislips，noddedhishead，andlookedunspeakablethings。TheChaplainmovedonthroughthedust，andprivates，sergeants，andsubalternscalledoneanother’sattentiontotheboy。TheColonel，attheheadofthecolumn，staredathimcuriously。`Itwasprobablysomebazarrumour，’hesaid；`buteventhen-’Hereferredtothepaperinhishand。`Hangitall，thethingwasonlydecidedwithinthelastforty-eighthours。’
`AretheremanymorelikeyouinIndia？’saidFatherVictor，`orareyoubywayo’beingalususnaturae？’
`NowIhavetoldyou，’saidtheboy，`willyouletmegobacktomyoldman？IfhehasnotstayedwiththatwomanfromKulu，Iamafraidhewilldie。’
`BywhatIsawofhimhe’saswellabletotakecareofhimselfasyou。
No。Ye’vebroughtusluck，an’we’regoin’tomakeamanofyou。I’lltakeyebacktoyourbaggage-cartandye’llcometomethisevening。’
FortherestofthedayKimfoundhimselfanobjectofdistinguishedconsiderationamongafewhundredwhitemen。Thestoryofhisappearanceincamp，thediscoveryofhisparentage，andhisprophecy，hadlostnothinginthetelling。Abig，shapelesswhitewomanonapileofbeddingaskedhimmysteriouslywhetherhethoughtherhusbandwouldcomebackfromthewar。Kimreflectedgravely，andsaidthathewould，andthewomangavehimfood。Inmanyrespects，thisbigprocessionthatplayedmusicatintervals-thiscrowdthattalkedandlaughedsoeasily-resembledafestivalinLahorecity。Sofar，therewasnosignofhardwork，andheresolvedtolendthespectaclehispatronage。Ateveningtherecameouttomeetthembandsofmusic，andplayedtheMavericksintocampnearUmballarailwaystation。Thatwasaninterestingnight。MenofotherregimentscametovisittheMavericks。TheMaverickswentvisitingontheirownaccount。
Theirpicketshurriedforthtobringthemback，metpicketsofstrangeregimentsonthesameduty；and，afterawhile，thebuglesblewmadlyformorepicketswithofficerstocontrolthetumult。TheMaverickshadareputationforlivelinesstoliveupto。Buttheyfellinontheplatformnextmorninginperfectshapeandcondition；andKim，leftbehindwiththesick，women，andboys，foundhimselfshoutingfarewellsexcitedlyasthetrainsdrewaway。LifeasaSahibwasamusingsofar；buthetoucheditwithacautioushand。Thentheymarchedhimbackinchargeofadrummer-boytoempty，lime-washedbarracks，whosefloorswerecoveredwithrubbishandstringandpaper，andwhoseceilingsgavebackhislonelyfootfall。Native-fashion，hecurledhimselfuponastrippedcotandwenttosleep。Anangrymanstumpeddowntheveranda，wokehimup，andsaidhewasaschoolmaster。ThiswasenoughforKim，andheretiredintohisshell。HecouldjustpuzzleoutthevariousEnglishPolicenoticesinLahorecity，becausetheyaffectedhiscomfort；
andamongthemanyguestsofthewomanwholookedafterhimhadbeenaqueerGermanwhopaintedsceneryfortheParseetravellingtheatre。HetoldKimthathehadbeenonthebarricadesin’Forty-eight，andtherefore-atleastthatwashowitstruckKim-hewouldteachtheboytowriteinreturn
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