’To that end he was prepared.  I acquired merit in that I gave alms for his sake.  A good deed does not die.  He aided me in my Search.  I aided him in his.  Just is the Wheel, O horse-seller from the North.  Let him be a teacher; let him be a scribe — what matter?  He will have attained Freedom at the end.  The rest is illusion.’

’What matter?  When I must have him with me beyond Balkh in six months!  I come up with ten lame horses and three strong-backed men — thanks to that chicken of a Babu — to break a sick boy by force out of an old trot’s house.  It seems that I stand by while a young Sahib is hoisted into Allah knows what of an idolater’s Heaven by means of old Red Hat.  And I am reckoned something of a player of the Game myself!  But the madman is fond of the boy; and I must be very reasonably mad too.’

‘What is the prayer?’ said the lama, as the rough Pushtu rumbled into the red beard.

’No matter at all; but now I understand that the boy, sure of Paradise, can yet enter Government service, my mind is easier.  I must get to my horses.  It grows dark.  Do not wake him.  I have no wish to hear him call thee master.’

‘But he is my disciple.  What else?’

‘He has told me.’  Mahbub choked down his touch of spleen and rose laughing.  ’I am not altogether of thy faith, Red Hat — if so small a matter concern thee.’

‘It is nothing,’ said the lama.

’I thought not.  Therefore it will not move thee, sinless, new-washed and three parts drowned to boot, when I call thee a good man - a very good man.  We have talked together some four or five evenings now, and for all I am a horse-coper I can still, as the saying is, see holiness beyond the legs of a horse.  Yea, can see, too, how our Friend of all the World put his hand in thine at the first.  Use him well, and suffer him to return to the world as a teacher, when thou hast — bathed his legs, if that be the proper medicine for the colt.’

‘Why not follow the Way thyself, and so accompany the boy?’

Mahbub stared stupefied at the magnificent insolence of the demand, which across the Border he would have paid with more than a blow.  Then the humour of it touched his worldly soul.

’Softly — softly — one foot at a time, as the lame gelding went over the Umballa jumps.  I may come to Paradise later — I have workings that way — great motions — and I owe them to thy simplicity.  Thou hast never lied?’

‘What need?’

’O Allah, hear him!  “What need” in this Thy world!  Nor ever harmed a man?’

‘Once — with a pencase — before I was wise.’

’So?  I think the better of thee.  Thy teachings are good.  Thou hast turned one man that I know from the path of strife.’  He laughed immensely.  ’He came here open-minded to commit a dacoity [a house-robbery with violence].  Yes, to cut, rob, kill, and carry off what he desired.’