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`Shabash！Shabash！Oh，welldone，littleone！Whatwillthehealerofturquoisessaytothis？Now，slowly，letushearwhatbefellafterwardsstepbystep，omittingnothing。’
Stepbystepthen，Kimtoldhisadventuresbetweencoughsasthefull-flavouredtobaccocaughthislungs。
`Isaid，’growledMahbubAlitohimself，`Isaiditwastheponybreakingouttoplaypolo。Thefruitisripealready-exceptthathemustlearnhisdistancesandhispacings，andhisrodsandhiscompasses。Listennow。IhaveturnedasidetheColonel’swhipfromthyskin，andthatisnosmallservice。’
`True。’Kimpulledserenely。`Thatistrue。’
`Butitisnottobethoughtthatthisrunningoutandinisanywaygood。’
`Itwasmyholiday，Hajji。Iwasaslaveformanyweeks。WhyshouldInotrunawaywhentheschoolwasshut？Look，too，howI，livinguponmyfriendsorworkingformybread，asIdidwiththeSikh，havesavedtheColonelSahibagreatexpense。
Mahbub’slipstwitchedunderhiswell-prunedMohammedanmoustache。
`Whatareafewrupees`-thePathanthrewouthisopenhandcarelessly-`totheColonelSahib？Hespendsthemforapurpose，notinanywayforloveofthee。’
`That，’saidKimslowly，`Iknewaverylongtimeago。’
`Whotold？’
`TheColonelSahibhimself。Notinthosemanywords，butplainlyenoughforonewhoisnotaltogetheramud-head。Yea，hetoldmeinthete-rainwhenwewentdowntoLucknow。’
`Beitso。ThenIwilltelltheemore，FriendofalltheWorld，thoughinthetellingIlendtheemyhead。’
`Itwasforfeittome，’saidKim，withdeeprelish，`inUmballa，whenthoudidstpickmeuponthehorseafterthedrummer-boybeatme。’
`Speakalittleplainer。AlltheworldmaytellliessavethouandI。
ForequallyisthylifeforfeittomeifIchosetoraisemyfingerhere。’
`Andthisisknowntomealso，’saidKim，readjustingthelivecharcoal-ballontheweed。`Itisaverysuretiebetweenus。Indeed，thyholdissurereventhanmine；forwhowouldmissaboybeatentodeath，or，itmaybe，thrownintoawellbytheroadside？MostpeoplehereandinSimlaandacrossthepassesbehindtheHillswould，ontheotherhand，say：`WhathascometoMahbubAli？’ifhewerefounddeadamonghishorses。Surely，too，theColonelSahibwouldmakeinquiries。Butagain，’-Kim’sfacepuckeredwithcunning，-`hewouldnotmakeoverlonginquiry，lestpeopleshouldask：
`WhathasthisColonelSahibtodowiththathorse-dealer？’ButI-ifIlived-’
`Asthouwouldstsurelydie-’
`Maybe；butIsay，ifIlived，I，andIalone，wouldknowthatonehadcomebynight，asacommonthiefperhaps，toMahbubAli’sbulkheadintheserai，andtherehadslainhim，eitherbeforeorafterthatthiefhadmadeafullsearchintohissaddlebagsandbetweenthesolesofhisslippers。IsthatnewstotelltotheColonel，orwouldhesaytome-
(Ihavenotforgottenwhenhesentmebackforacigar-casethathehadnotleftbehindhim)-`WhatisMahbubAlitome？’？’
Upwentagoutofheavysmoke。Therewasalongpause：thenMahbubAlispokeinadmiration：`Andwiththesethingsonthymind，dostthouliedownandriseagainamongalltheSahibs’littlesonsatthemadrissahandmeeklytakeinstructionfromthyteachers？’
`Itisanorder，’saidKimblandly。`WhoamItodisputeanorder？’
`AmostfinishedSonofEblis，’saidMahbubAli。`Butwhatisthistaleofthethiefandthesearch？’
`ThatwhichIsaw，’saidKim，`thenig
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