the next day — Hill-people are all fools — comes the order to me, Hurree Babu, “Go North and see what those strangers do.”  I say to Creighton Sahib, “This is not a lawsuit, that we go about to collect evidence."’ Hurree returned to his English with a jerk:  “’By Jove,” I said, “why the dooce do you not issue demi-offeecial orders to some brave man to poison them, for an example?  It is, if you permit the observation, most reprehensible laxity on your part.”  And Colonel Creighton, he laughed at me!  It is all your beastly English pride.  You think no one dare conspire!  That is all tommy-rott.’

Kim smoked slowly, revolving the business, so far as he understood it, in his quick mind.

‘Then thou goest forth to follow the strangers?’

’No.  To meet them.  They are coming in to Simla to send down their horns and heads to be dressed at Calcutta.  They are exclusively sporting gentlemen, and they are allowed special faceelities by the Government.  Of course, we always do that.  It is our British pride.’

‘Then what is to fear from them?’

’By Jove, they are not black people.  I can do all sorts of things with black people, of course.  They are Russians, and highly unscrupulous people.  I — I do not want to consort with them without a witness.’

‘Will they kill thee?’

’Oah, thatt is nothing.  I am good enough Herbert Spencerian, I trust, to meet little thing like death, which is all in my fate, you know.  But — but they may beat me.’

‘Why?’

Hurree Babu snapped his fingers with irritation.  ’Of course I shall affeeliate myself to their camp in supernumerary capacity as perhaps interpreter, or person mentally impotent and hungree, or some such thing.  And then I must pick up what I can, I suppose.  That is as easy for me as playing Mister Doctor to the old lady.  Onlee — onlee - you see, Mister O’Hara, I am unfortunately Asiatic, which is serious detriment in some respects.  And all-so I am Bengali — a fearful man.’

‘God made the Hare and the Bengali.  What shame?’ said Kim, quoting the proverb.

’It was process of Evolution, I think, from Primal Necessity, but the fact remains in all the cui bono.  I am, oh, awfully fearful! — I remember once they wanted to cut off my head on the road to Lhassa.  (No, I have never reached to Lhassa.) I sat down and cried, Mister O’Hara, anticipating Chinese tortures.  I do not suppose these two gentlemen will torture me, but I like to provide for possible contingency with European assistance in emergency.’  He coughed and spat out the cardamoms.  ’It is purely unoffeecial indent, to which you can say “No, Babu”.  If you have no pressing engagement with your old man — perhaps you might divert him; perhaps I can seduce his fancies — I should like you to keep in Departmental touch with me till I find those sporting coves.  I have great opeenion of you since I met my friend at Delhi.  And also I will embody your name in my offeecial report when matter is finally adjudicated.  It will be a great feather in your cap.  That is why I come really.’