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-heforgothisNortherndressforthemoment-`thoughAllahaloneknowethwhatIseek。’
Theoldfellowslippedthebairagi’scrutchunderhisarmpitandsatdownonapatchofruddyleopard’sskinasKimroseatthecallfortheBenarestrain。
`Goinhope，littlebrother，’hesaid。`ItisalongroadtothefeetoftheOne；butthitherdowealltravel。’
Kimdidnotfeelsolonelyafterthis，anderehehadsatouttwentymilesinthecrowdedcompartment，wascheeringhisneighbourswithastringofmostwonderfulyarnsabouthisownandhismaster’smagicalgifts。
Benaresstruckhimasapeculiarlyfilthycity，thoughitwaspleasanttofindhowhisclothwasrespected。Atleastone-thirdofthepopulationprayseternallytosomegrouporotherofthemanymilliondeities，andsorevereseverysortofholyman。KimwasguidedtotheTempleoftheTirthankars，aboutamileoutsidethecity，nearSarnath，byachance-metPunjabifarmer-aKambohfromJullundurwaywhohadappealedinvaintoeveryGodofhishomesteadtocurehissmallson，andwastryingBenaresasalastresort。
`ThouartfromtheNorth？’heasked，shoulderingthroughthepressofthenarrow，stinkingstreetsmuchlikehisownpetbullathome。
`Ay，IknowthePunjab。Mymotherwasapahareen，butmyfathercamefromAmritzar-byJandiala，’saidKim，oilinghisreadytonguefortheneedsoftheRoad。
`Jandiala-Jullundur？Oho！Thenwebeneighboursinsomesort，asitwere。’Henoddedtenderlytothewailingchildinhisarms。`Whomdostthouserve？’
`AmostholymanattheTempleoftheTirthankers。’
`Theyareallmostholyand-mostgreedy，’saidtheJatwithbitterness。
`Ihavewalkedthepillarsandtroddenthetemplestillmyfeetareflayed，andthechildisnowhitbetter。Andthemotherbeingsicktoo……Hush，then，littleone……Wechangedhisnamewhenthefevercame。Weputhimintogirl’sclothes。Therewasnothingwedidnotdo，except-IsaidtohismotherwhenshebundledmeofftoBenares-sheshouldhavecomewithme-IsaidSakhiSarwarSultanwouldserveusbest。WeknowHisgenerosity，butthesedown-countryGodsarestrangers。’
ThechildturnedonthecushionofthehugecordedarmsandlookedatKimthroughheavyeyelids。
`Andwasitallworthless？’Kimasked，witheasyinterest。
`Allworthless-allworthless，’saidthechild，lipscrackingwithfever。
`TheGodshavegivenhimagoodmind，atleast，’saidthefatherproudly。
`Tothinkheshouldhavelistenedsocleverly。YonderisthyTemple。NowIamapoorman-manypriestshavedealtwithme-butmysonismyson，andifagifttothymastercancurehim-Iamatmyverywits’end。’
Kimconsideredforawhile，tinglingwithpride。Threeyearsagohewouldhavemadepromptprofitonthesituationandgonehiswaywithoutathought；butnow，theveryrespecttheJatpaidhimprovedthathewasaman。Moreover，hehadtastedfeveronceortwicealready，andknewenoughtorecognizestarvationwhenhesawit。
`CallhimforthandIwillgivehimabondonmybestyoke，sothatthechildiscured。’
Kimhaltedatthecarvedouterdoorofthetemple。Awhite-cladOswalbankerfromAjmir，hissinsofusurynewwipedout，askedhimwhathedid。
`IamchelatoTeshooLama，anHolyOnefromBhotiyal-withinthere。Hebademecome。Iwait。Tellhim。’
`Donotforgetthechild，’criedtheimportunateJatoverhisshoulder，andthenbellowedinPunjabi；`OHolyOne-OdiscipleoftheHolyOne-OGodsabovealltheWorlds-beholdafflictionsittingatthegate！’
ThatcryissocommoninBenaresthatthepassersn
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