`ButwastherenotalsoanEnglishmanwithawhitebeardholyamongimages-whohimselfmademoresuremyassuranceoftheRiveroftheArrow？’
　　`He-we-wenttotheAjaib-GherinLahoretopraybeforetheGodsthere，’Kimexplainedtotheopenlylisteningcompany。`AndtheSahiboftheWonderHousetalkedtohim-yes，thisistruth-asabrother。Heisaveryholyman，fromfarbeyondtheHills。Rest，thou。IntimewecometoUmballa。’
　　`ButmyRiver-theRiverofmyhealing？’
　　`Andthen，ifitpleasethee，wewillgohuntingforthatRiveronfoot。
　　Sothatwemissnothing-notevenalittlerivuletinafield-side。’
　　`ButthouhastaSearchofthineown？’Thelama-verypleasedthatherememberedsowell-satboltupright。
　　`Ay，’saidKim，humouringhim。Theboywasentirelyhappytobeoutchewingpanandseeingnewpeopleinthegreatgood-temperedworld。
　　`Itwasabull-aRedBullthatshallcomeandhelpthee-andcarrythee-whither？Ihaveforgotten。ARedBullonagreenfield，wasitnot？’
　　`Nay，itwillcarrymenowhere，’saidKim。`ItisbutataleItoldthee。’
　　`Whatisthis？’Thecultivator’swifeleanedforward，herbraceletsclinkingonherarm。`Doyebothdreamdreams？ARedBullonagreenfield，thatshallcarrytheetotheheavens-orwhat？Wasitavision？Didonemakeaprophecy？WehaveaRedBullinourvillagebehindJullundurcity，andhegrazesbychoiceintheverygreenestofourfields！’
　　`Giveawomananoldwife’staleandaweaver-birdaleafandathread，theywillweavewonderfulthings，’saidtheSikh。`Allholymendreamdreams，andbyfollowingholymentheirdisciplesattainthatpower。
　　`ARedBullonagreenfield，wasit？’thelamarepeated。`Inaformerlifeitmaybethouhastacquiredmerit，andtheBullwillcometorewardthee。’
　　`Nay-nay-itwasbutataleonetoldtome-forajestbelike。ButIwillseektheBullaboutUmballa，andthoucanstlookforthyRiverandrestfromtheclatterofthetrain。’
　　`ItmaybethattheBullknows-thatheissenttoguideusboth，’
　　saidthelama，hopefullyasachild。Thentothecompany，indicatingKim：
　　`Thisonewassenttomebutyesterday。Heisnot，Ithink，ofthisworld。’
　　`BeggarsaplentyhaveImet，andholymentoboot，butneversuchayoginorsuchadisciple，’saidthewoman。
　　Herhusbandtouchedhisforeheadlightlywithonefingerandsmiled。
　　Butthenexttimethelamawouldeattheytookcaretogivehimoftheirbest。
　　Andatlast-tired，sleepy，anddusty-theyreachedUmballaCityStation。
　　`Weabidehereuponalaw-suit，’saidthecultivator’swifetoKim。
　　`Welodgewithmyman’scousin’syoungerbrother。Thereisroomalsointhecourtyardforthyyogiandforthee。Will-willhegivemeablessing？’
　　`Oholyman！Awomanwithaheartofgoldgivesuslodgingforthenight。
　　Itisakindlyland，thislandoftheSouth。Seehowwehavebeenhelpedsincethedawn！’
　　Thelamabowedhisheadinbenediction。
　　`Tofillmycousin’syoungerbrother’shousewithwastrels-’thehusbandbegan，asheshoulderedhisheavybamboostaff。
　　`Thycousin’syoungerbrotherowesmyfather’scousinsomethingyetonhisdaughter’smarriage-feast，’saidthewomancrisply。`Lethimputtheirfoodtothataccount。Theyogiwillbeg，Idoubtnot。’
　　`Ay，Ibegforhim，’saidKim，anxiousonlytogetthelamaundershelterforthenight，thathemightseekMahbubAli’sEnglishmananddeliverhimselfofthewhitestallion’spedigree。
　　`Now，’saidhe，whenthelamahadcometoananchorintheinnercourtyardofadecentHinduhousebehindthecantonments，`Igoawayforawhile-to-tobuyusvictualinthebazar。DonotstrayabroadtillIreturn。’
　　`Thouwiltreturn？Thouwiltsurelyreturn？’Theoldmancaughtathiswrist。`Andthouwiltreturninthisverysameshape？IsittoolatetolooktonightfortheRiver？’
　　`Toolateandtoodark。Becomforted。Thinkhowfarthouartontheroad-anhundredmilesfromLahorealready。’
　　`Yea-andfartherfrommymonastery。Alas！Itisagreatandterribleworld。’
　　Kimstoleoutandaway，asunremarkableafigureasevercarriedhisownandafewscorethousandotherfolk’sfateslungroundhisneck。MahbubAli’sdirectionslefthimlittledoubtofthehouseinwhichhisEnglishmanlived；andagroom，bringingadog-carthomefromtheClub，madehimquitesure。Itremainedonlytoidentifyhisman，andKimslippedthroughthegardenhedgeandhidinaclumpofplumedgrassclosetotheveranda。Thehouseblazedwithlights，andservantsmovedabouttablesdressedwithflowers，glass，andsilver。PresentlyforthcameanEnglishman，dressedinblackandwhite，hummingatune。Itwastoodarktoseehisface，soKim，beggar-wise，triedanoldexperiment。
　　`ProtectorofthePoor！’
　　Themanbackedtowardsthevoice。
　　`MahbubAlisays-’
　　`Hah！WhatsaysMahbubAli？’Hemadenoattempttolookforthespeaker，andthatshowedKimthatheknew。
　　`Thepedigreeofthewhitestallionisfullyestablished。’
　　`Whatproofisthere？’TheEnglishmanswitchedattherose-hedgeinthesideofthedrive。
　　`MahbubAlihasgivenmethisproof。’Kimflippedthewadoffoldedpaperintotheair，anditfellinthepathbesidetheman，whoputhisfootonitasagardenercameroundthecorner。Whentheservantpassedhepickeditup，droppedarupee-Kimcouldheartheclink-andstrodeintothehouse，neverturninground。SwiftlyKimtookupthemoney；butforallhistraining，hewasIrishenoughbybirthtoreckonsilvertheleastpartofanygame。Whathedesiredwasthevisibleeffectofaction；
　　so，insteadofslinkingaway，helaycloseinthegrassandwormednearertothehouse。
　　Hesaw-Indianbungalowsareopenthroughandthrough-theEnglishmanreturntoasmalldressing-room，inacorneroftheveranda，thatwashalfoffice，litteredwithpapersanddespatch-boxes，andsitdowntostudyMahbubAli’smessage。Hisface，bythefullrayofthekerosenelamp，changedanddarkened，andKim，usedaseverybeggarmustbetowatchingcountenances，tookgoodnote。
　　`Will！Will，dear！’calledawoman’svoice。`Yououghttobeinthedrawing-room。They’llbehereinaminute。’
　　Themanstillreadintently。
　　`Will！’saidthevoice，fiveminuteslater。`He’scome。Icanhearthetroopersinthedrive。’
　　Themandashedoutbareheadedasabiglandauwithfournativetroopersbehindithaltedattheveranda，andatall，black-hairedman，erectasanarrow，swungout，precededbyayoungofficerwholaughedpleasantly。
　　FlatonhisbellylayKim，almosttouchingthehighwheels。Hismanandtheblackstrangerexchangedtwosentences。
　　`Certainly，sir，’saidtheyoungofficerpromptly。`Everythingwaitswhileahorseisconcerned。’
　　`Weshan’tbemorethantwentyminutes，’saidKim’sman。`Youcandothehonours-keep’emamused，andallthat。’
　　`Telloneofthetrooperstowait，’saidthetallman，andtheybothpassedintothedressing-roomtogetherasthelandaurolledaway。KimsawtheirheadsbentoverMahbubAli’smessage，andheardthevoices-onelowanddeferential，theothersharpanddecisive。
　　`Itisn’taquestionofweeks。Itisaquestionofdays-hoursalmost，’
　　saidtheelder。`I’dbeenexpectingitforsometime，butthis’-hetappedMahbubAli’spaper-`clinchesit。Grogan’sdiningheretonight，isn’the？’
　　`Yes，sir，andMacklintoo。’
　　`Verygood。I’llspeaktothemmyself。ThematterwillbereferredtotheCouncil，ofcourse，butthisisacasewhereoneisjustifiedinassumingthatwetakeactionatonce。WarnthePindiandPeshawurbrigades。Itwilldisorganizeallthesummerreliefs，butwecan’thelpthat。Thiscomesofnotsmashingthemthoroughlythefirsttime。Eightthousandshouldbeenough。’
　　`Whataboutartillery，sir？’
　　`ImustconsultMacklin。’
　　`Thenitmeanswar？’
　　`No。Punishment。Whenamanisboundbytheactionofhispredecessor-’
　　`ButC25mayhavelied。’
　　`Hebearsouttheother’sinformation。Practically，theyshowedtheirhandsixmonthsback。ButDevenishwouldhaveittherewasachanceofpeace。Ofcoursetheyusedittomakethemselvesstronger。Sendoffthosetelegramsatonce-thenewcode，nottheold-mineandWharton’s。Idon’tthinkweneedkeeptheladieswaitinganylonger。Wecansettletherestoverthecigars。Ithoughtitwascoming。It’spunishment-notwar。’