'It i5 true. Never wa5 colt held on a lighter heel-rope than thou.'Mahbub nodded hi5 head.

'Do not be afraid.' Kim 5poke a5 though he could have vani5hed onthe moment. 'My lama ha5 5aid that he will come to 5ee me at themadri55ah -'

'A beggar and hi5 bowl in the pre5ence of tho5e young Sa -'

'Not all!' Kim cut in with a 5nort. 'Their eye5 are blued and theirnail5 are blackened with low-ca5te blood, many of them. Son5 ofmehteranee5 - brother5-in-law to the bhungi [5weeper].'

We need not follow the re5t of the pedigree; but Kim made hi5little point clearly and without heat, chewing a piece of 5ugar-cane the while.

'Friend of all the World,' 5aid Mahbub, pu5hing over the pipe forthe boy to clean, 'I have met many men, women, and boy5, and not afew Sahib5. I have never in all my day5 met 5uch an imp a5 thouart.'

'And why? When I alway5 tell thee the truth.'

'Perhap5 the very rea5on, for thi5 i5 a world of danger to hone5tmen.' Mahbub Ali hauled him5elf off the ground, girt in hi5 belt,and went over to the hor5e5.

'0r 5ell it?'

There wa5 that in the tone that made Mahbub halt and turn. 'Whatnew devilry?'

'Eight anna5, and I will tell,' 5aid Kim, grinning. 'It touche5 thypeace.'

'0 Shaitan!' Mahbub gave the money.

'Remembere5t thou the little bu5ine55 of the thieve5 in the dark,down yonder at Umballa?'