`Nay，Ihavenot。Readtheletter，iftherebeadoubt。’
　　`ThenwhyhastthouleftoutmynameinwritingtothatHolyOne？’TheColonelsmiledaqueersmile。Kimtookhiscourageinbothhands。
　　`Itwassaidoncetomethatitisinexpedienttowritethenamesofstrangersconcernedinanymatter，becausebythenamingofnamesmanygoodplansarebroughttoconfusion。’
　　`Thouhastbeenwelltaught，’theColonelreplied，andKimflushed。
　　`Ihaveleftmycheroot-caseinthePadre’sveranda。Bringittomyhousethiseven。’
　　`Whereisthehouse？’saidKim。Hisquickwittoldhimthathewasbeingtestedinsomefashionoranother，andhestoodonguard。
　　`Askanyoneinthebigbazar。’TheColonelwalkedon。
　　`Hehasforgottenhischeroot-case，’saidKim，returning。`Imustbringittohimthisevening。Thatisallmyletterexcept，thriceover，`Cometome！Cometome！Cometome’！NowIwillpayforastampandputitinthepost。’Herosetogo，andasanafterthoughtasked：`Whoisthatangry-facedSahibwholostthecheroot-case？’
　　`Oh，heisonlyCreightonSahib-averyfoolishSahib，whoisaColonelSahibwithoutaregiment。’
　　`Whatishisbusiness？’
　　`Godknows。Heisalwaysbuyinghorseswhichhecannotride，andaskingriddlesabouttheworksofGod-suchasplantsandstonesandthecustomsofpeople。Thedealerscallhimthefatheroffools，becauseheissoeasilycheatedaboutahorse。MahbubAlisaysheismadderthanmostotherSahibs。’
　　`Oh！’saidKim，anddeparted。Histraininghadgivenhimsomesmallknowledgeofcharacter，andhearguedthatfoolsarenotgiveninformationwhichleadstocallingouteightthousandmenbesidesguns。TheCommander-in-ChiefofallIndiadoesnottalk，asKimhadheardhimtalk，tofools。NorwouldMahbubAli’stonehavechanged，asitdideverytimehementionedtheColonel’sname，iftheColonelhadbeenafool。Consequently-andthissetKimtoskipping-therewasamysterysomewhere，andMahbubAliprobablyspiedfortheColonelmuchasKimhadspiedforMahbub。And，likethehorse-dealer，theColonelevidentlyrespectedpeoplewhodidnotshowthemselvestobetooclever。
　　HerejoicedthathehadnotbetrayedhisknowledgeoftheColonel’shouse；andwhen，onhisreturntobarracks，hediscoveredthatnocheroot-casehadbeenleftbehind，hebeamedwithdelight。Herewasamanafterhisownheart-atortuousandindirectpersonplayingahiddengame。Well，ifhecouldbeafool，socouldKim。
　　HeshowednothingofhismindwhenFatherVictor，forthreelongmornings，discoursedtohimofanentirelynewsetofGodsandGodlings-notablyofaGoddesscalledMary，who，hegathered，wasonewithBibiMiriamofMahbubAli’stheology。Hebetrayednoemotionwhen，afterthelecture，FatherVictordraggedhimfromshoptoshopbuyingarticlesofoutfit，norwhenenviousdrummer-boyskickedhimbecausehewasgoingtoasuperiorschooldidhecomplain，butawaitedtheplayofcircumstanceswithaninterestedsoul。FatherVictor，goodman，tookhimtothestation，puthimintoanemptysecond-classnexttoColonelCreighton’sfirst，andbadehimfarewellwithgenuinefeeling。
　　`They’llmakeamano’you，O’Hara，atStXavier’s-awhiteman，an’，Ihope，agoodman。Theyknowallaboutyourcomin’，an’theColonelwillseethatye’renotlostormislaidanywhereontheroad。I’vegivenyouanotionofreligiousmatters，-atleastIhopeso，-andyou’llremember，whentheyaskyouyourreligion，thatyou’reaCath’lic。BettersayRomanCath’lic，tho’I’mnotfondoftheword。’
　　Kimlitarankcigarette-hehadbeencarefultobuyastockinthebazar-andlaydowntothink。Thissolitarypassagewasverydifferentfromthatjoyfuldown-journeyinthethird-classwiththelama。`Sahibsgetlittlepleasureoftravel，’hereflected。`Haimai！Igofromoneplacetoanotherasitmightbeakick-ball。ItismyKismet。
　　NomancanescapehisKismet。ButIamtopraytoBibiMiriam，andIamaSahib。’Helookedathisbootsruefully。`No；IamKim。Thisisthegreatworld，andIamonlyKim。WhoisKim？’Heconsideredhisownidentity，athinghehadneverdonebefore，tillhisheadswam。HewasoneinsignificantpersoninallthisroaringwhirlofIndia，goingsouthwardtoheknewnotwhatfate。
　　PresentlytheColonelsentforhim，andtalkedforalongtime。SofarasKimcouldgather，hewastobediligentandentertheSurveyofIndiaasachain-man。Ifhewereverygood，andpassedtheproperexaminations，hewouldbeearningthirtyrupeesamonthatseventeenyearsold，andColonelCreightonwouldseethathefoundsuitableemployment。
　　Kimpretendedatfirsttounderstandperhapsonewordinthreeofthistalk。ThentheColonel，seeinghismistake，turnedtofluentandpicturesqueUrduandKimwascontented。Nomancouldbeafoolwhoknewthelanguagesointimately，whomovedsogentlyandsilently，andwhoseeyesweresodifferentfromthedullfateyesofotherSahibs。
　　`Yes，andthoumustlearnhowtomakepicturesofroadsandmountainsandrivers-tocarrythesepicturesinthineeyetillasuitabletimecomestosetthemuponpaper。Perhapssomeday，whenthouartachain-man，Imaysaytotheewhenweareworkingtogether：`Goacrossthosehillsandseewhatliesbeyond。’Thenonewillsay：`Therearebadpeoplelivinginthosehillswhowillslaythechain-manifhebeseentolooklikeaSahib。’Whatthen？’
　　Kimthought。WoulditbesafetoreturntheColonel’slead？
　　`Iwouldtellwhatthatothermanhadsaid。’
　　`ButifIanswered：`Iwillgivetheeahundredrupeesforknowledgeofwhatisbehindthosehills-forapictureofariverandalittlenewsofwhatthepeoplesayinthevillagesthere’？’
　　`HowcanItell？Iamonlyaboy。WaittillIamaman。’Then，seeingtheColonel’sbrowclouded，hewenton：`ButIthinkIshouldinafewdaysearnthehundredrupees。’
　　`Bywhatroad？’
　　Kimshookhisheadresolutely。`IfIsaidhowIwouldearnthem，anothermanmighthearandforestallme。Itisnotgoodtosellknowledgefornothing。’
　　`Tellnow。’TheColonelhelduparupee。Kim’shandhalfreachedtowardsit，anddropped。
　　`Nay，Sahib；nay。Iknowthepricethatwillbepaidfortheanswer，butIdonotknowwhythequestionisasked。’
　　`Takeitforagift，then，’saidCreighton，tossingitover。`Thereisagoodspiritinthee。DonotletitbebluntedatStXavier’s。Therearemanyboystherewhodespisetheblackmen。’
　　`Theirmotherswerebazar-women，’saidKim。Heknewwellthereisnohatredlikethatofthehalf-casteforhisbrother-in-law。
　　`True；butthouartaSahibandthesonofaSahib。Therefore，donotatanytimebeledtocontemntheblackmen。IhaveknownboysnewlyenteredintotheserviceoftheGovernmentwhofeignednottounderstandthetalkorthecustomsofblackmen。Theirpaywascutforignorance。Thereisnosinsogreatasignorance。Rememberthis。’
　　Severaltimesinthecourseofthelongtwenty-fourhours’runsouthdidtheColonelsendforKim，alwaysdevelopingthislattertext。
　　`Webeallononelead-rope，then，’saidKimatlast，`theColonel，MahbubAli，andI-whenIbecomeachain-man。HewillusemeasMahbubAliemployedme，Ithink。Thatisgood，ifitallowsmetoreturntotheRoadagain。Thisclothinggrowsnoeasierbywear。’
　　WhentheycametothecrowdedLucknowstationtherewasnosignofthelama。Heswallowedhisdisappointment，whiletheColonelbundledhimintoaticca-gharriwithhisneatbelongingsanddespatchedhimalonetoStXavier’s。
　　`Idonotsayfarewell，becauseweshallmeetagain，’hecried。`Again，andmanytimes，ifthouartoneofgoodspirit。Butthouartnotyettried。’
　　`NotwhenIbroughtthee’-Kimactuallydaredtousethetumofequals-`awhitestallion’spedigreethatnight？’
　　`Muchisgainedbyforgetting，littlebrother，’saidtheColonel，withalookthatpiercedthroughKim’sshoulder-bladesashescuttledintothecarriage。
　　Ittookhimnearlyfiveminutestorecover。Thenhesniffedthenewairappreciatively。`Arichcity，’hesaid。`RicherthanLahore。Howgoodthebazarsmustbe！Coachman，drivemealittlethroughthebazarshere。’
　　`Myorderistotaketheetotheschool。’Thedriverusedthe`thou’，whichisrudenesswhenappliedtoawhiteman。IntheclearestandmostfluentvernacularKimpointedouthiserror，climbedontothebox-seat，and，perfectunderstandingestablished，droveforacoupleofhoursupanddown，estimating，comparing，andenjoying。Thereisnocity-exceptBombay，thequeenofall-morebeautifulinhergarishstylethanLucknow，whetheryouseeherfromthebridgeovertheriver，orfromthetopoftheImambaralookingdownonthegiltumbrellasoftheChutterMunzil，andthetreesinwhichthetownisbedded。Kingshaveadornedherwithfantasticbuildings，endowedherwithcharities，crammedherwithpensioners，anddrenchedherwithblood。Sheisthecentreofallidleness，intrigue，andluxury，andshareswithDelhitheclaimtotalktheonlypureUrdu。
　　`Afaircity-abeautifulcity。’Thedriver，asaLucknowman，waspleasedwiththecompliment，andtoldKimmanyastoundingthingswhereanEnglishguidewouldhavetalkedoftheMutiny。
　　`Nowwewillgototheschool，’saidKimatlast。ThegreatoldschoolofStXavier’sinPartibus，blockonblockoflowwhitebuildings，standsinvastgroundsoveragainsttheGumtiRiver，atsomedistancefromthecity。
　　`Whatlikeoffolkaretheywithin？’saidKim。
　　`YoungSahibs-alldevils。Buttospeaktruth，andIdrivemanyofthemtoandfrofromtherailwaystation，Ihaveneverseenonethathadinhimthemakingofamoreperfectdevilthanthou-thisyoungSahibwhomIamnowdriving。’
　　Naturally，forhewasnevertrainedtoconsidertheminanywayimproper，Kimhadpassedthetimeofdaywithoneortwofrivolousladiesatupperwindowsinacertainstreet，andnaturally，intheexchangeofcompliments，hadacquittedhimselfwell。Hewasabouttoacknowledgethedriver’slastinsolence，whenhiseye-itwasgrowingdusk-caughtafiguresittingbyoneofthewhiteplastergate-pillarsinthelongsweepofwall。