‘Let us go to the Kulu woman’s house’ said Kim, and stepped forth cheerily under the bundles.  Early morning Saharunpore-way is clean and well scented.  He thought of the other mornings at St Xavier’s, and it topped his already thrice-heaped contentment.

’Where is this new haste born from?  Wise men do not run about like chickens in the sun.  We have come hundreds upon hundreds of koss already, and, till now, I have scarcely been alone with thee an instant.  How canst thou receive instruction all jostled of crowds?  How can I, whelmed by a flux of talk, meditate upon the Way?’

‘Her tongue grows no shorter with the years, then?’ the disciple smiled.

’Nor her desire for charms.  I remember once when I spoke of the Wheel of Life’ — the lama fumbled in his bosom for his latest copy — ’she was only curious about the devils that besiege children.  She shall acquire merit by entertaining us — in a little while — at an after-occasion — softly, softly.  Now we will wander loose-foot, waiting upon the Chain of Things.  The Search is sure.’

So they travelled very easily across and among the broad bloomful fruit-gardens — by way of Aminabad, Sahaigunge, Akrola of the Ford, and little Phulesa — the line of the Siwaliks always to the north, and behind them again the snows.  After long, sweet sleep under the dry stars came the lordly, leisurely passage through a waking village — begging-bowl held forth in silence, but eyes roving in defiance of the Law from sky’s edge to sky’s edge.  Then would Kim return soft-footed through the soft dust to his master under the shadow of a mango-tree or the thinner shade of a white Doon siris, to eat and drink at ease.  At mid-day, after talk and a little wayfaring, they slept; meeting the world refreshed when the air was cooler.  Night found them adventuring into new territory — some chosen village spied three hours before across the fat land, and much discussed upon the road.

There they told their tale — a new one each evening so far as Kim was concerned — and there were they made welcome, either by priest or headman, after the custom of the kindly East.

When the shadows shortened and the lama leaned more heavily upon Kim, there was always the Wheel of Life to draw forth, to hold flat under wiped stones, and with a long straw to expound cycle by cycle.  Here sat the Gods on high — and they were dreams of dreams.  Here was our Heaven and the world of the demi-Gods — horsemen fighting among the hills.  Here were the agonies done upon the beasts, souls ascending or descending the ladder and therefore not to be interfered with.  Here were the Hells, hot and cold, and the abodes of tormented ghosts.  Let the chela study the troubles that come from over-eating — bloated stomach and burning bowels.  Obediently, then, with bowed head and brown finger alert to follow the pointer, did the chela study; but when they came to the Human World, busy and profitless, that is just