`Whatisittofear？Twooldmenandaboy？Howwiltthouevermakeasoldier，Princeling？’
　　Thelamahadwakedtoo，but，takingnodirectnoticeofthechild，clickedhisrosary。
　　`Whatisthat？’saidthechild，stoppingayellmidway。`Ihaveneverseensuchthings。Givethemme。’
　　`Aha，’saidthelama，smiling，andtrailingaloopofitonthegrass：
　　Thisisahandfulofcardamoms，Thisisalumpofghi：
　　Thisismilletandchilliesandrice，Asupperfortheeandme！Thechildshriekedwithjoy，andsnatchedatthedark，glancingbeads。
　　`Oho！’saidtheoldsoldier。`Whencehadstthouthatsong，despiserofthisworld？’
　　`IlearneditinPathî；nkot-sittingonadoorstep，’saidthelamashyly。`Itisgoodtobekindtobabes。’
　　`AsIremember，beforethesleepcameonus，thouhadsttoldmethatmarriageandbearingweredarkenersofthetruelight，stumbling-blocksupontheWay。DochildrendropfromHeaveninthycountry？IsittheWaytosingthemsongs？’
　　`Nomanisallperfect，’saidthelamagravely，recoilingtherosary。
　　`Runnowtothymother，littleone。’
　　`Hearhim！’saidthesoldiertoKim。`Heisashamedforthathehasmadeachildhappy。Therewasaverygoodhouseholderlostinthee，mybrother。Hai，child！’Hethrewitapice。`Sweetmeatsarealwayssweet。
　　Andasthelittlefigurecaperedawayintothesunshine：`Theygrowupandbecomemen。HolyOne，IgrievethatIsleptinthemidstofthypreaching。
　　Forgiveme。’
　　`Webetwooldmen，’saidthelama。`Thefaultismine。Ilistenedtothytalkoftheworldanditsmadness，andonefaultledtothenext。’
　　`Hearhim！WhatharmdothyGodssufferfromplaywithababe？Andthatsongwasverywellsung。LetusgoonandIwillsingtheethesongofNikalSeynbeforeDelhi-theoldsong。’
　　Andtheyfaredoutfromthegloomofthemangotope，theoldman’shigh，shrillvoiceringingacrossthefield，aswailbylong-drawnwailheunfoldedthestoryofNikalSeyn[Nicholson]-thesongthatmensinginthePunjabtothisday。Kimwasdelighted，andthelamalistenedwithdeepinterest。
　　`Ahi！NikalSeynisdead-hediedbeforeDelhi！LancesoftheNorth，takevengeanceforNikalSeyn。’Hequavereditouttotheend，markingthetrillswiththeflatofhisswordonthepony’srump。
　　`AndnowwecometotheBigRoad，’saidhe，afterreceivingthecomplimentsofKim；forthelamawasmarkedlysilent。`ItislongsinceIhaveriddenthisway，butthyboy’stalkstirredme。See，HolyOne-theGreatRoadwhichisthebackboneofallHind。Forthemostpartitisshaded，ashere，withfourlinesoftrees；themiddleroad-allhard-takesthequicktraffic。Inthedaysbeforerail-carriagestheSahibstravelledupanddownhereinhundreds。Nowthereareonlycountry-cartsandsuchlike。
　　Leftandrightistherougherroadfortheheavycarts-grainandcottonandtimber，fodder，limeandhides。Amangoesinsafetyhere-forateveryfewkossisapolice-station。ThepolicearethievesandextortionersImyselfwouldpatrolitwithcavalry-youngrecruitsunderastrongcaptain，butatleasttheydonotsufferanyrivals。Allcastesandkindsofmenmovehere。Look！Brahminsandchumars，bankersandtinkers，barbersandbunnias，pilgrimsandpotters-alltheworldgoingandcoming。ItistomeasariverfromwhichIamwithdrawnlikealogafteraflood。’
　　AndtrulytheGrandTrunkRoadisawonderfulspectacle。Itrunsstraight，bearingwithoutcrowdingIndia’strafficforfifteenhundredmiles-suchariveroflifeasnowhereelseexistsintheworld。Theylookedatthegreen-arched，shade-fleckedlengthofit，thewhitebreadthspeckledwithslow-pacingfolk；andthetwo-roomedpolice-stationopposite。
　　`Who-bearsarmsagainstthelaw？’aconstablecalledoutlaughingly，ashecaughtsightofthesoldier’ssword。`Arenotthepoliceenoughtodestroyevil-doers？’
　　`ItwasbecauseofthepoliceIboughtit，’wastheanswer。`DoesallgowellinHind？’
　　`RissaldarSahib，allgoeswell。’
　　`Iamlikeanoldtortoise，lookyou，whoputshisheadoutfromthebankanddrawsitinagain。Ay，thisistheRoadofHindustan。Allmencomebythisway……’
　　`Sonofaswine，isthesoftpartoftheroadmeantfortheetoscratchthybackupon？Fatherofallthedaughtersofshameandhusbandoftenthousandvirtuelessones，thymotherwasdevotedtoadevil，beingledtheretobyhermother。Thyauntshaveneverhadanoseforsevengenerations！
　　Thysister-Whatowl’sfollytoldtheetodrawthycartsacrosstheroad？
　　Abrokenwheel？Thentakeabrokenheadandputthetwotogetheratleisure！’
　　Thevoiceandavenomouswhip-crackingcameoutofapillarofdustfiftyyardsaway，whereacarthadbrokendown。Athin，highKathiawarmare，witheyesandnostrilsaflame，rocketedoutofthejam，snortingandwincingasherriderbentheracrosstheroadinchaseofashoutingman。Hewastallandgrey-bearded，sittingthealmostmadbeastasapieceofher，andscientificallylashinghisvictimbetweenplunges。
　　Theoldman’sfacelitwithpride。`Mychild！’saidhebriefly，andstrovetoreinthepony’snecktoafittingarch。
　　`AmItobebeatenbeforethepolice？’criedthecarter。`Justice！I
　　willhaveJustice-’
　　`AmItobeblockedbyashoutingapewhoupsetstenthousandsacksunderayounghorse’snose？Thatisthewaytoruinamare。’
　　`Hespeakstruth。Hespeakstruth。Butshefollowshermanclose，’saidtheoldman。Thecarterranunderthewheelsofhiscartandthencethreatenedallsortsofvengeance。
　　`Theyarestrongmen，thysons，’saidthepolicemanserenely，pickinghisteeth。
　　Thehorsemandeliveredonelastviciouscutwithhiswhipandcameonatacanter。
　　`Myfather！’Hereignedbacktenyardsanddismounted。
　　Theoldmanwasoffhisponyinaninstant，andtheyembracedasdofatherandsonintheEast。
　　Kipling：Kim，Chapter4Chapter4
　　GoodLuck，sheisneveralady，Butthecursedestqueanalive，Tricksy，wincing，andjady——
　　Kittletoleadordrive。
　　Greether-she’shailingastranger！
　　Meether-she’sbuskingtoleave！
　　LetheraloneforashrewtotheboneAndthehussycomespluckingyoursleeve！
　　Largesse！Largesse，OFortune！
　　Giveorholdatyourwill。
　　IfI’venocareforFortune，Fortunemustfollowmestill！
　　TheWishing-Caps。Then，loweringtheirvoices，theyspoketogether。Kimcametorestunderatree，butthelamatuggedimpatientlyathiselbow。
　　`Letusgoon。TheRiverisnothere。’
　　`Haimai！Havewenotwalkedenoughforalittle？OurRiverwillnotrunaway。Patience，andhewillgiveusadole。’
　　`This，’saidtheoldsoldiersuddenly，`istheFriendoftheStars。
　　Hebroughtmethenewsyesterday。HavingseentheverymanHimself，inavision，givingordersforthewar。’
　　`Hm！’saidhisson，alldeepinhisbroadchest。`Hecamebyabazar-rumourandmadeprofitofit。’
　　Hisfatherlaughed。`Atleasthedidnotridetomebeggingforanewcharger，andtheGodsknowhowmanyrupees。Arethybrothers’regimentsalsounderorders？’
　　`Idonotknow。Itookleaveandcameswiftlytotheeincase——’
　　`Incasetheyranbeforetheetobeg。Ogamblersandspendthriftsall！
　　Butthouhastneveryetriddeninacharge。Agoodhorseisneededthere，truly。Agoodfollowerandagoodponyalsoforthemarching。Letussee-letussee。’Hethrummedonthepommel。
　　`Thisisnoplacetocastaccountsin，myfather。Letusgotothyhouse。’
　　`Atleastpaytheboy，then：Ihavenopicewithme，andhebroughtauspiciousnews。Ho！FriendofalltheWorld，awaristowardasthouhastsaid。’
　　`Nay，asIknow，thewar，’returnedKimcomposedly。
　　`Eh？’saidthelama，fingeringhisbeads，alleagerfortheroad。
　　`MymasterdoesnottroubletheStarsforhire。Webroughtthenews-bearwitness，webroughtthenews，andnowwego。’Kimhalf-crookedhishandathisside。