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