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Threemilesoff，onUmballaracecourse，MahbubAli，reiningagreyKabulistallionwithKiminfrontofhim，wassaying：
`But，LittleFriendofalltheWorld，thereismyhonourandreputationtobeconsidered。Alltheofficer-Sahibsinalltheregiments，andallUmballa，knowMahbubAli。Mensawmepicktheeupandchastisethatboy。Weareseennowfromfaracrossthisplain。HowcanItaketheeaway，oraccountforthydisappearingifIsettheedownandlettheerunoffintothecrops？Theywouldputmeinjail。Bepatient。OnceaSahib，alwaysaSahib。Whenthouartaman-whoknows？-thouwiltbegratefultoMahbubAli。’
`TakemebeyondtheirsentrieswhereIcanchangethisred。GivememoneyandIwillgotoBenaresandbewithmylamaagain。IdonotwanttobeaSahib，andrememberIdiddeliverthatmessage。’
Thestallionboundedwildly。MahbubAlihadincautiouslydrivenhomethesharp-edgedstirrup。(Hewasnotthenewsortoffluenthorse-dealerwhowearsEnglishbootsandspurs。)Kimdrewhisownconclusionsfromthatbetrayal。
`Thatwasasmallmatter。ItlayonthestraightroadtoBenares。I
andtheSahibhavebythistimeforgottenit。Isendsomanylettersandmessagestomenwhoaskquestionsabouthorses，Icannotwellrememberonefromtheother。WasitsomematterofabaymarethatPetersSahibwishedthepedigreeof？’
Kimsawthetrapatonce。IfhehadsaidbaymareMahbubwouldhaveknownbyhisveryreadinesstofallinwiththeamendmentthattheboysuspectedsomething。Kimrepliedtherefore：
`Baymare。No。Idonotforgetmymessagesthus。Itwasawhitestallion。’
`Ay，soitwas。AwhiteArabstallion。Butthoudidstwritebaymaretome。’
`Whocarestotelltruthtoaletter-writer？’Kimanswered，feelingMahbub’spalmonhisheart。
`Hi！Mahbub，youoldvillain，pullup！’criedavoice，andanEnglishmanracedalongsideonalittlepolo-pony。`I’vebeenchasingyouhalfoverthecountry。ThatKabuliofyourscango。Forsale，Isuppose？’
`IhavesomeyoungstuffcomingonmadebyHeavenforthedelicateanddifficultpolo-game。Hehasnoequal。He-’
`Playspoloandwaitsattable。Yes。Weknowallthat。Whatthedeucehaveyougotthere？’
`Aboy，’saidMahbubgravely。`Hewasbeingbeatenbyanotherboy。Hisfatherwasonceawhitesoldierinthebigwar。TheboywasachildinLahorecity。Heplayedwithmyhorseswhenhewasababe。NowIthinktheywillmakehimasoldier。Hehasbeennewlycaughtbyhisfather’sRegimentthatwentuptothewarlastweek。ButIdonotthinkhewantstobeasoldier。Itakehimforaride。TellmewherethybarracksareandIwillsettheethere。’
`Letmego。Icanfindthebarracksalone。’
`Andifthourunnestawaywhowillsayitisnotmyfault？’
`He’llrunbacktohisdinner。Wherehashetorunto？’theEnglishmanasked。
`Hewasbornintheland。Heh
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