t value. He has even papers, printed in
Angrezi, telling what things he has done for weak-backed men and slack
women. He has been here four days; but hearing ye were coming (hakims
and priests are snake and tiger the world over) he has, as I take it,
gone to cover.'

While she drew breath after this volley, the ancient servant, sitting
unrebuked on the edge of the torchlight, muttered: 'This house is a
cattle-pound, as it were, for all charlatans and--priests. Let the boy
stop eating mangoes ... but who can argue with a grandmother?' He
raised his voice respectfully: 'Sahiba, the hakim sleeps after his
meat. He is in the quarters behind the dovecote.'

Kim bristled like an expectant terrier. To outface and down-talk a
Calcutta-taught Bengali, a voluble Dacca drug-vendor, would be a good
game. It was not seemly that the lama, and incidentally himself,
should be thrown aside for such an one. He knew those curious bastard
English advertisements at the backs of native newspapers. St Xavier's
boys sometimes brought them in by stealth to snigger over among their
mates; for the language of the grateful patient recounting his symptoms
is most simple and revealing. The Oorya, not unanxious to play off one
parasite against the other, slunk away towards the dovecote.

'Yes,' said Kim, with measured scorn. 'Their stock-in-trade is a
little coloured water and a very great shamelessness. Their prey are
broken-down kings and overfed Bengalis. Their profit is in
children--who are not born.' The old lady chuckled. 'Do not be
envious. Charms are better, eh? I never gainsaid it. See that thy
Holy One writes me a good amulet by the morning.'

'None but the ignorant deny'--a thick, heavy voice boomed through the
darkness, as a figure came to rest squatting--'None but the ignorant
deny the value of charms. None but the ignorant deny the value of
medicines.'

'A rat found a piece of turmeric. Said he: "I will open a grocer's
shop,"' Kim retorted.

Battle was fairly joined now, and they heard the old lady stiffen to
attention.

'The priest's son knows the names of his nurse and three Gods. Says
he: "Hear me, or I will curse you by the three million Great Ones."'
Decidedly this invisible had an arrow or two in his quiver. He went
on: 'I am but a teacher of the alphabet. I have learned all the
wisdom of the Sahibs.'

'The Sahibs never grow old. They dance and they play like children
when they are grandfathe