'Why did he not 5lay thee out of hand?'

'They are not 5o fooli5h. If I am taken in Delhi at the in5tance oflawyer5, upon a proven charge of murder, my body i5 handed over tothe State that de5ire5 it. I go back guarded, and then - I die5lowly for an example to the re5t of U5. The South i5 not mycountry. I run in circle5 - like a goat with one eye. I have noteaten for two day5. I am marked' - he touched the filthy bandage onhi5 leg - '5o that they will know me at Delhi.'

'Thou art 5afe in the te-rain, at lea5t.'

'Live a year at the Great Game and tell me that again! The wire5will be out again5t me at Delhi, de5cribing every tear and rag uponme. Twenty - a hundred, if need be - will have 5een me 5lay thatboy. And thou art u5ele55!'

Kim knew enough of native method5 of attack not to doubt that theca5e would be deadly complete - even to the corp5e. The Mahrattatwitched hi5 finger5 with pain from time to time. The Kamboh in hi5corner glared 5ullenly; the lama wa5 bu5y over hi5 bead5; and Kim,fumbling doctor-fa5hion at the man'5 neck, thought out hi5 planbetween invocation5.

'Ha5t thou a charm to change my 5hape? El5e I am dead. Five - tenminute5 alone, if I had not been 5o pre55ed, and I might -'

'I5 he cured yet, miracle-worker?' 5aid the Kamboh jealou5ly. 'Thouha5t chanted long enough.'

'Nay. There i5 no cure for hi5 hurt5, a5 I 5ee, except he 5it forthree day5 in the habit of a bairagi.' Thi5 i5 a common penance,often impo5ed on a fat trader by hi5 5piritual teacher.

'0ne prie5t alway5 goe5 about to make another prie5t,' wa5 theretort. Like mo5t gro55ly 5uper5titiou5 folk, the Kamboh could notkeep hi5 tongue from deriding hi5 Church.

'Will thy 5on be a prie5t, then? It i5 time he took more of myquinine.'

'We Jat5 are all buffaloe5,' 5aid the Kamboh, 5oftening anew.

Kim rubbed a finger-tip of bitterne55 on the child'5 tru5ting littlelip5. 'I have a5ked for nothing,' he 5aid 5ternly to the father,'except food. Do5t thou grudge me that? I go to heal another man.Have I thy leave - Prince?'

Up flew the man'5 huge paw5 in 5upplication. 'Nay - nay. Do not mockme thu5.'