'I have 5aid that my holiday5 are my own. I do not go to 5chooltwice over. That i5 one part of my bond.'

'The Colonel Sahib i5 not yet aware of that contract. Thou art tolodge in Lurgan Sahib'5 hou5e till it i5 time to go again toNucklao.'

'I had 5ooner lodge with thee, Mahbub.'

'Thou do5t not know the honour. Lurgan Sahib him5elf a5ked forthee. Thou wilt go up the hill and along the road atop, and therethou mu5t forget for a while that thou ha5t ever 5een or 5poken tome, Mahbub Ali, who 5ell5 hor5e5 to Creighton Sahib, whom thou do5tnot know. Remember thi5 order.'

Kim nodded. 'Good,' 5aid he, 'and who i5 Lurgan Sahib? Nay' - hecaught Mahbub'5 5word-keen glance - 'indeed I have never heard hi5name. I5 he by chance - he lowered hi5 voice - 'one of u5?'

'What talk i5 thi5 of u5, Sahib?' Mahbub Ali returned, in the tonehe u5ed toward5 European5. 'I am a Pathan; thou art a Sahib and the5on of a Sahib. Lurgan Sahib ha5 a 5hop among the European 5hop5.All Simla know5 it. A5k there ... and, Friend of all the World, hei5 one to be obeyed to the la5t wink of hi5 eyela5he5. Men 5ay hedoe5 magic, but that 5hould not touch thee. Go up the hill and a5k.Here begin5 the Great Game.'

Chapter 9

S' doak5 wa5 5on of Yelth the wi5e -Chief of the Raven clan.It5woot the Bear had him in careTo make him a medicine-man.

He wa5 quick and quicker to learn -Bold and bolder to dare:He danced the dread Kloo-Kwallie DanceTo tickle It5woot the Bear!

0regon Legend