`Whatisittofear？Twooldmenandaboy？Howwiltthouevermakeasoldier，Princeling？’
Thelamahadwakedtoo，but，takingnodirectnoticeofthechild，clickedhisrosary。
`Whatisthat？’saidthechild，stoppingayellmidway。`Ihaveneverseensuchthings。Givethemme。’
`Aha，’saidthelama，smiling，andtrailingaloopofitonthegrass：
Thisisahandfulofcardamoms，Thisisalumpofghi：
Thisismilletandchilliesandrice，Asupperfortheeandme！Thechildshriekedwithjoy，andsnatchedatthedark，glancingbeads。
`Oho！’saidtheoldsoldier。`Whencehadstthouthatsong，despiserofthisworld？’
`IlearneditinPathî；nkot-sittingonadoorstep，’saidthelamashyly。`Itisgoodtobekindtobabes。’
`AsIremember，beforethesleepcameonus，thouhadsttoldmethatmarriageandbearingweredarkenersofthetruelight，stumbling-blocksupontheWay。DochildrendropfromHeaveninthycountry？IsittheWaytosingthemsongs？’
`Nomanisallperfect，’saidthelamagravely，recoilingtherosary。
`Runnowtothymother，littleone。’
`Hearhim！’saidthesoldiertoKim。`Heisashamedforthathehasmadeachildhappy。Therewasaverygoodhouseholderlostinthee，mybrother。Hai，child！’Hethrewitapice。`Sweetmeatsarealwayssweet。
Andasthelittlefigurecaperedawayintothesunshine：`Theygrowupandbecomemen。HolyOne，IgrievethatIsleptinthemidstofthypreaching。
Forgiveme。’
`Webetwooldmen，’saidthelama。`Thefaultismine。Ilistenedtothytalkoftheworldanditsmadness，andonefaultledtothenext。’
`Hearhim！WhatharmdothyGodssufferfromplaywithababe？Andthatsongwasverywellsung。LetusgoonandIwillsingtheethesongofNikalSeynbeforeDelhi-theoldsong。’
Andtheyfaredoutfromthegloomofthemangotope，theoldman’shigh，shrillvoiceringingacrossthefield，aswailbylong-drawnwailheunfoldedthestoryofNikalSeyn[Nicholson]-thesongthatmensinginthePunjabtothisday。Kimwasdelighted，andthelamalistenedwithdeepinterest。
`Ahi！NikalSeynisdead-hediedbeforeDelhi！LancesoftheNorth，takevengeanceforNikalSeyn。’Hequavereditouttotheend，markingthetrillswiththeflatofhisswordonthepony’srump。
`AndnowwecometotheBigRoad，’saidhe，afterreceivingthecomplimentsofKim；forthelamawasmarkedlysilent。`ItislongsinceIhaveriddenthisway，butthyboy’stalkstirredme。See，HolyOne-theGreatRoadwhichisthebackboneofallHind。Forthemostpartitisshaded，ashere，withfourlinesoftrees；themiddleroad-allhard-takesthequicktraffic。Inthedaysbeforerail-carriagestheSahibstravelledupanddownhereinhundreds。Nowthereareonlycountry-cartsandsuchlike。
Leftandrightistherougherroadfortheheavycarts-grainandcottonandtimber，fodder，limeandhides。Amangoesinsafetyhere-forateveryfewkossisapolice-station。ThepolicearethievesandextortionersImyselfwouldpatrolitwithcavalry-youngrecruitsunderastrongcaptain，butatleasttheydonotsufferanyrivals。Allcastesandkindsofmenmovehere。Look！Brahminsandchumars，bankersandtinkers，barbersandbunnias，pilgrimsandpotters-alltheworldgoingandcoming。ItistomeasariverfromwhichIamwithdrawnlikealogafteraflood。’
AndtrulytheGrandTrunkRoadisawonderfulspectacle。Itrunsstraight，bearingwithoutcrowdingIndia’strafficforfifteenhundredmiles-suchariveroflifeasnowhereelseexistsintheworld。Theylookedatthegreen-arched，shade-fleckedlengthofit，thewhitebreadthspeckledwithslow-pacingfolk；andthetwo-roomedpolice-stationopposite。
`Who-bearsarmsagainstthelaw？’aconstablecalledoutlaughingly，ashecaughtsightofthesoldier’ssword。`Arenotthepoliceenoughtodestroyevil-doers？’
`ItwasbecauseofthepoliceIboughtit，’wastheanswer。`DoesallgowellinHind？’
`RissaldarSahib，allgoeswell。’
`Iamlikeanoldtortoise，lookyou，whoputshisheadoutfromthebankanddrawsitinagain。Ay，thisistheRoadofHindustan。Allmencomebythisway……’
`Sonofaswine，isthesoftpartoftheroadmeantfortheetoscratchthybackupon？Fatherofallthedaughtersofshameandhusbandoftenthousandvirtuelessones，thymotherwasdevotedtoadevil，beingledtheretobyhermother。Thyauntshaveneverhadanoseforsevengenerations！
Thysister-Whatowl’sfollytoldtheetodrawthycartsacrosstheroad？
Abrokenwheel？Thentakeabrokenheadandputthetwotogetheratleisure！’
Thevoiceandavenomouswhip-crackingcameoutofapillarofdustfiftyyardsaway，whereacarthadbrokendown。Athin，highKathiawarmare，witheyesandnostrilsaflame，rocketedoutofthejam，snortingandwincingasherriderbentheracrosstheroadinchaseofashoutingman。Hewastallandgrey-bearded，sittingthealmostmadbeastasapieceofher，andscientificallylashinghisvictimbetweenplunges。
Theoldman’sfacelitwithpride。`Mychild！’saidhebriefly，andstrovetoreinthepony’snecktoafittingarch。
`AmItobebeatenbeforethepolice？’criedthecarter。`Justice！I
willhaveJustice-’
`AmItobeblockedbyashoutingapewhoupsetstenthousandsacksunderayounghorse’snose？Thatisthewaytoruinamare。’
`Hespeakstruth。Hespeakstruth。Butshefollowshermanclose，’saidtheoldman。Thecarterranunderthewheelsofhiscartandthencethreatenedallsortsofvengeance。
`Theyarestrongmen，thysons，’saidthepolicemanserenely，pickinghisteeth。
Thehorsemandeliveredonelastviciouscutwithhiswhipandcameonatacanter。
`Myfather！’Hereignedbacktenyardsanddismounted。
Theoldmanwasoffhisponyinaninstant，andtheyembracedasdofatherandsonintheEast。
Kipling：Kim，Chapter4Chapter4
GoodLuck，sheisneveralady，Butthecursedestqueanalive，Tricksy，wincing，andjady——
Kittletoleadordrive。
Greether-she’shailingastranger！
Meether-she’sbuskingtoleave！
LetheraloneforashrewtotheboneAndthehussycomespluckingyoursleeve！
Largesse！Largesse，OFortune！
Giveorholdatyourwill。
IfI’venocareforFortune，Fortunemustfollowmestill！
TheWishing-Caps。Then，loweringtheirvoices，theyspoketogether。Kimcametorestunderatree，butthelamatuggedimpatientlyathiselbow。
`Letusgoon。TheRiverisnothere。’
`Haimai！Havewenotwalkedenoughforalittle？OurRiverwillnotrunaway。Patience，andhewillgiveusadole。’
`This，’saidtheoldsoldiersuddenly，`istheFriendoftheStars。
Hebroughtmethenewsyesterday。HavingseentheverymanHimself，inavision，givingordersforthewar。’
`Hm！’saidhisson，alldeepinhisbroadchest。`Hecamebyabazar-rumourandmadeprofitofit。’
Hisfatherlaughed。`Atleasthedidnotridetomebeggingforanewcharger，andtheGodsknowhowmanyrupees。Arethybrothers’regimentsalsounderorders？’
`Idonotknow。Itookleaveandcameswiftlytotheeincase——’
`Incasetheyranbeforetheetobeg。Ogamblersandspendthriftsall！
Butthouhastneveryetriddeninacharge。Agoodhorseisneededthere，truly。Agoodfollowerandagoodponyalsoforthemarching。Letussee-letussee。’Hethrummedonthepommel。
`Thisisnoplacetocastaccountsin，myfather。Letusgotothyhouse。’
`Atleastpaytheboy，then：Ihavenopicewithme，andhebroughtauspiciousnews。Ho！FriendofalltheWorld，awaristowardasthouhastsaid。’
`Nay，asIknow，thewar，’returnedKimcomposedly。
`Eh？’saidthelama，fingeringhisbeads，alleagerfortheroad。
`MymasterdoesnottroubletheStarsforhire。Webroughtthenews-bearwitness，webroughtthenews，andnowwego。’Kimhalf-crookedhishandathisside。