`Andwhendostthougo？’TheCuratorsmiledatthemixtureofold-worldpietyandmodernprogressthatisthenoteofIndiatoday。
　　`Assoonasmaybe。IfollowtheplacesofHislifetillIcometotheRiveroftheArrow。Thereis，moreover，awrittenpaperofthehoursofthetrainsthatgosouth。’
　　`Andforfood？’Lamas，asarule，havegoodstoreofmoneysomewhereaboutthem，buttheCuratorwishedtomakesure。
　　`Forthejourney，ItakeuptheMaster’sbegging-bowl。Yes。EvenasHewentsogoI，forsakingtheeaseofmymonastery。TherewaswithmewhenIleftthehillsachela[disciple]whobeggedformeastheRuledemands，buthaltinginKuluawhileafevertookhimandhedied。
　　Ihavenownochela，butIwilltakethealms-bowlandthusenablethecharitabletoacquiremerit。’Henoddedhisheadvaliantly。Learneddoctorsofalamasserydonotbeg，butthelamawasanenthusiastinthisquest。
　　`Beitso，’saidtheCurator，smiling。`Suffermenowtoacquiremerit。
　　Webecraftsmentogether，thouandI。HereisanewbookofwhiteEnglishpaper：herebesharpenedpencilstwoandthree-thickandthin，allgoodforascribe。Nowlendmethyspectacles。’
　　TheCuratorlookedthroughthem。Theywereheavilyscratched，butthepowerwasalmostexactlythatofhisownpair，whichheslidintothelama’shand，saying：`Trythese。’
　　`Afeather！Averyfeatherupontheface！’Theoldmanturnedhisheaddelightedlyandwrinkleduphisnose。`HowscarcelydoIfeelthem！HowclearlydoIsee！’
　　`Theybebilaur-crystal-andwillneverscratch。MaytheyhelptheetothyRiver，fortheyarethine。’
　　`Iwilltakethemandthepencilsandthewhitenote-book，’saidthelama，`asasignoffriendshipbetweenpriestandpriest-andnow-’
　　Hefumbledathisbelt，detachedtheopen-workironpencase，andlaiditontheCurator’stable。`Thatisforamemorybetweentheeandme-mypencase。Itissomethingold-evenasIam。’
　　Itwasapieceofancientdesign，Chinese，ofanironthatisnotsmeltedthesedays；andthecollector’sheartintheCurator’sbosomhadgoneouttoitfromthefirst。Fornopersuasionwouldthelamaresumehisgift。
　　`WhenIreturn，havingfoundtheRiver，IwillbringtheeawrittenpictureofthePadmaSamthorasuchasIusedtomakeonsilkatthelamassery。
　　Yes-andoftheWheelofLife，’hechuckled，`forwebecraftsmentogether，thouandI。’
　　TheCuratorwouldhavedetainedhim：theyarefewintheworldwhostillhavethesecretoftheconventionalbrush-penBuddhistpictureswhichare，asitwere，halfwrittenandhalfdrawn。Butthelamastrodeout，headhighinair，andpausinganinstantbeforethegreatstatueofaBodhisatinmeditation，brushedthroughtheturnstiles。
　　Kimfollowedlikeashadow。Whathehadoverheardexcitedhimwildly。
　　Thismanwasentirelynewtoallhisexperience，andhemeanttoinvestigatefurther，preciselyashewouldhaveinvestigatedanewbuildingorastrangefestivalinLahorecity。Thelamawashistrove，andhepurposedtotakepossession。Kim’smotherhadbeenIrishtoo。
　　TheoldmanhaltedbyZam-ZammahandlookedroundtillhiseyefellonKim。Theinspirationofhispilgrimagehadlefthimforawhile，andhefeltold，forlorn，andveryempty。
　　`Donotsitunderthatgun，’saidthepolicemanloftily。
　　`Huh！Owl！’wasKim’sretortonthelama’sbehalf。`Situnderthatgunifitpleasethee。Whendidstthoustealthemilk-woman’sslippers，Dunnoo？’
　　Thatwasanutterlyunfoundedchargesprungonthespurofthemoment，butitsilencedDunnoo，whoknewthatKim’sclearyellcouldcalluplegionsofbadbazarboysifneedarose。
　　`Andwhomdidstthouworshipwithin？’saidKimaffably，squattingintheshadebesidethelama。
　　`Iworshippednone，child。IbowedbeforetheExcellentLaw。’
　　KimacceptedthisnewGodwithoutemotion。Heknewalreadyafewscore。
　　`Andwhatdostthoudo？’
　　`Ibeg。IremembernowitislongsinceIhaveeatenordrunk。Whatisthecustomofcharityinthistown？Insilence，aswedoofTibet，orspeakingaloud？’
　　`Thosewhobeginsilencestarveinsilence，’saidKim，quotinganativeproverb。Thelamatriedtorise，butsankbackagain，sighingforhisdisciple，deadinfar-awayKulu。Kimwatched-headtooneside，consideringandinterested。
　　`Givemethebowl。Iknowthepeopleofthiscity-allwhoarecharitable。
　　Give，andIwillbringitbackfilled。’
　　Simplyasachildtheoldmanhandedhimthebowl。
　　`Rest，thou。Iknowthepeople。’
　　Hetrottedofftotheopenshopofakunjri，alow-castevegetable-seller，whichlayoppositethebelt-tramwaylinedowntheMoteeBazar。SheknewKimofold。
　　`Oho，hastthouturnedyogiwiththybegging-bowl？’shecried。
　　`Nay，’saidKimproudly。`ThereisanewpriestinthecityamansuchasIhaveneverseen。’
　　`Oldpriest-youngtiger，’saidthewomanangrily。`Iamtiredofnewpriests！Theysettleonourwareslikeflies。Isthefatherofmysonawellofcharitytogivetoallwhoask？’
　　`No，’saidKim。`Thymanisratheryagi[bad-tempered]thanyogi[aholyman]。Butthispriestisnew。TheSahibintheWonderHousehastalkedtohimlikeabrother。Omymother，fillmethisbowl。Hewaits。’
　　`Thatbowlindeed！Thatcow-belliedbasket！ThouhastasmuchgraceastheholybullofShiv。Hehastakenthebestofabasketofonionsalready，thismorn；andforsooth，Imustfillthybowl。Hecomeshereagain。’
　　Thehuge，mouse-colouredBrahminibullofthewardwasshoulderinghiswaythroughthemany-colouredcrowd，astolenplantainhangingoutofhismouth。Heheadedstraightfortheshop，wellknowinghisprivilegesasasacredbeast，loweredhishead，andpuffedheavilyalongthelineofbasketseremakinghischoice。UpflewKim’shardlittleheelandcaughthimonhismoistbluenose。Hesnortedindignantly，andwalkedawayacrossthetram-rails，hishumpquiveringwithrage。
　　`See！Ihavesavedmorethanthebowlwillcostthriceover。Now，mother，alittlericeandsomedriedfishatop-yes，andsomevegetablecurry。’
　　Agrowlcameoutofthebackoftheshop，whereamanlay。
　　`Hedroveawaythebull，’saidthewomaninanundertone。`Itisgoodtogivetothepoor。’Shetookthebowlandreturneditfullofhotrice。
　　`Butmyyogiisnotacow，’saidKimgravely，makingaholewithhisfingersinthetopofthemound。`Alittlecurryisgood，andafriedcake，andamorselofconservewouldpleasehim，Ithink。’
　　`Itisaholeasbigasthyhead，’saidthewomanfretfully。Butshefilledit，nonetheless，withgood，steamingvegetablecurry，clappedafriedcakeatop，andamorselofclarifiedbutteronthecake，dabbedalumpofsourtamarindconserveattheside；andKimlookedattheloadlovingly。
　　`Thatisgood。WhenIaminthebazarthebullshallnotcometothishouse。Heisaboldbeggar-man。’
　　`Andthou？’laughedthewoman。`Butspeakwellofbulls。HastthounottoldmethatsomedayaRedBullwillcomeoutofafieldtohelpthee？
　　Nowholdallstraightandaskfortheholyman’sblessinguponme。Perhaps，too，heknowsacureformydaughter’ssoreeyes。Askhimthatalso，O
　　thouLittleFriendofalltheWorld。’
　　ButKimhaddancedofferetheendofthesentence，dodgingpariahdogsandhungryacquaintances。
　　`Thusdowebegwhoknowthewayofit，’saidheproudlytothelama，whoopenedhiseyesatthecontentsofthebowl。`Eatnowand-Iwilleatwiththee。Ohé；，bhisti！’hecalledtothewater-carrier，sluicingthecrotonsbytheMuseum。`Givewaterhere。Wemenarethirsty。’
　　`Wemen！’saidthebhisti，laughing。`Isoneskinfulenoughforsuchapair？Drink，then，inthenameoftheCompassionate。’
　　HeloosedathinstreamintoKim’shands，whodranknative-fashion；
　　butthelamamustneedspulloutacupfromhisinexhaustibleupperdraperiesanddrinkceremonially。
　　`Pardesi[aforeigner]，’Kimexplained，astheoldmandeliveredinanunknowntonguewhatwasevidentlyablessing。
　　Theyatetogetheringreatcontent，clearingthebegging-bowl。Thenthelamatooksnufffromaportentouswoodensnuff-gourd，fingeredhisrosaryawhile，andsodroppedintotheeasysleepofage，astheshadowofZam-Zammahgrewlong。
　　Kimloafedovertothenearesttobacco-seller，aratherlivelyyoungMohammedanwoman，andbeggedarankcigarofthebrandthattheyselltostudentsofthePunjabUniversitywhocopyEnglishcustoms。Thenhesmokedandthought，kneestochin，underthebellyofthegun，andtheoutcomeofhisthoughtswasasuddenandstealthydepartureinthedirectionofNilaRam’stimber-yard。