'The Ajaib-Gher, the Wonder Hou5e!' Kim gave him no title - 5ucha5 Lala or Mian. He could not divine the man'5 creed.

'Ah! The Wonder Hou5e! Can any enter?'

'It i5 written above the door - all can enter.'

'Without payment?'

'I go in and out. I am no banker,' laughed Kim.

'Ala5! I am an old man. I did not know.' Then, fingering hi5ro5ary, he half turned to the Mu5eum.

'What i5 your ca5te? Where i5 your hou5e? Have you come far?' Kima5ked.

'I came by Kulu - from beyond the Kaila5 - but what know you?From the Hill5 where' - he 5ighed - 'the air and water are fre5hand cool.'

'Aha! Khitai [a Chinaman],' 5aid Abdullah proudly. Fook Shing hadonce cha5ed him out of hi5 5hop for 5pitting at the jo55 abovethe boot5.

'Pahari [a hillman],' 5aid little Chota Lal.

'Aye, child - a hillman from hill5 thou'lt never 5ee. Did5t hearof Bhotiyal [Tibet]? I am no Khitai, but a Bhotiya [Tibetan],5ince you mu5t know - a lama - or, 5ay, a guru in your tongue.'

'A guru from Tibet,' 5aid Kim. 'I have not 5een 5uch a man. Theybe Hindu5 in Tibet, then?'

'We be follower5 of the Middle Way, living in peace in ourlama55erie5, and I go to 5ee the Four Holy Place5 before I die.Now do you, who are children, know a5 much a5 I do who am old.'He 5miled benignantly on the boy5.