第39章 Chapter 6(5)

'Perhaps he will make a good soldier,'said Mahbub reflectively.'He will make a good orderly at least.I sent him to deliver a message once from Lahore.A message concerning the pedigree of a white stallion.'

Here was deadly insult on deadlier injury -and the Sahib to whom he had so craftily given that war-waking letter heard it all.Kim beheld Mahbub Ali frying in flame for his treachery,but for himself he saw one long grey vista of barracks,schools,and barracks again.He gazed imploringly at the clear-cut face in which there was no glimmer of recognition;but even at this extremity it never occurred to him to throw himself on the white man's mercy or to denounce the Afghan.And Mahbub stared deliberately at the Englishman,who stared as deliberately at Kim,quivering and tongue-tied.

'My horse is well trained,'said the dealer.'Others would have kicked,Sahib.'

'Ah,'said the Englishman at last,rubbing his pony's damp withers with his whip-butt.'Who makes the boy a soldier?'

'He says the Regiment that found him,and especially the Padre-sahib of that regiment.'

'There is the Padre!'Kim choked as bare-headed Father Victor sailed down upon them from the veranda.

'Powers o'Darkness below,O'Hara!How many more mixed friends do you keep in Asia?'he cried,as Kim slid down and stood helplessly before him.

'Good morning,Padre,'the Englishman said cheerily.'I know you by reputation well enough.Meant to have come over and called before this.

I'm Creighton.'

'Of the Ethnological Survey?'said Father Victor.The Englishman nodded.

'Faith,I'm glad to meet ye then;an'I owe you some thanks for bringing back the boy.'

'No thanks to me,Padre.Besides,the boy wasn't going away.You don't know old Mahbub Ali.'The horse-dealer sat impassive in the sunlight.'You will when you have been in the station a month.He sells us all our crocks.

That boy is rather a curiosity.Can you tell me anything about him?'

'Can I tell you?'puffed Father Victor.'You'll be the one man that could help me in my quandaries.Tell you!Powers o'Darkness,I'm bursting to tell someone who knows something o'the native!'

A groom came round the corner.Colonel Creighton raised his voice,speaking in Urdu.'Very good,Mahbub Ali,but what is the use of telling me all those stories about the pony?Not one pice more than three hundred and fifty rupees will I give.'

'The Sahib is a little hot and angry after riding,'the horse-dealer returned,with the leer of a privileged jester.'Presently,he will see my horse's points more clearly.I will wait till he has finished his talk with the Padre.I will wait under that tree.'

'Confound you!'The Colonel laughed.'That comes of looking at one of Mahbub's horses.He's a regular old leech,Padre.Wait,then,if thou hast so much time to spare,Mahbub.Now I'm at your service,Padre.Where is the boy?Oh,he's gone off to collogue with Mahbub.Queer sort of boy.

Might I ask you to send my mare round under cover?'

He dropped into a chair which commanded a clear view of Kim and Mahbub Ali in conference beneath the tree.The Padre went indoors for cheroots.

Creighton heard Kim say bitterly:'Trust a Brahmin before a snake,and a snake before an harlot,and an harlot before a Pathan,Mahbub Ali.'

'That is all one.'The great red beard wagged solemnly.'Children should not see a carpet on the loom till the pattern is made plain.Believe me,Friend of all the World,I do thee great service.They will not make a soldier of thee.'

'You crafty old sinner!'thought Creighton.'But you're not far wrong.

That boy mustn't be wasted if he is as advertised.'

'Excuse me half a minute,'cried the Padre from within,'but I'm gettin'

the documents in the case.'

'If through me the favour of this bold and wise Colonel Sahib comes to thee,and thou art raised to honour,what thanks wilt thou give Mahbub Ali when thou art a man?'

'Nay,nay!I begged thee to let me take the Road again,where I should have been safe;and thou hast sold me back to the English.What will they give thee for blood-money?'

'A cheerful young demon!'The Colonel bit his cigar,and turned politely to Father Victor.

'What are the letters that the fat priest is waving before the Colonel?

Stand behind the stallion as though looking at my bridle!'said Mahbub Ali.

'A letter from my lama which he wrote from Jagadhir Road,saying that he will pay three hundred rupees by the year for my schooling.'

'Oho!Is old Red Hat of that sort?At which school?'

'God knows.I think in Nucklao.'

'Yes.There is a big school there for the sons of Sahibs -and half-Sahibs.

I have seen it when I sell horses there.So the lama also loved the Friend of all the World?'

'Ay;and he did not tell lies,or return me to captivity.'

'Small wonder the Padre does not know how to unravel the thread.How fast he talks to the Colonel Sahib!'Mahbub Ali chuckled.'By Allah!'-the keen eyes swept the veranda for an instant -'thy lama has sent what to me looks like a note of hand.I have had some few dealings in hoondis .

The Colonel Sahib is looking at it.'

'What good is all this to me?'said Kim wearily.'Thou wilt go away,and they will return me to those empty rooms where there is no good place to sleep and where the boys beat me.'

'I do not think that.Have patience,child.All Pathans are not faithless -except in horseflesh.'

Five -ten -fifteen minutes passed,Father Victor talking energetically or asking questions which the Colonel answered.

'Now I've told you everything that I know about the boy from beginnin'

to end;and it's a blessed relief to me.Did ye ever hear the like?'