offence, how is the stranger to know
that? He is more like to search truth with a dagger.'

'True. True talk,' said Kim solemnly. 'Fools speak of a cat when a
woman is brought to bed, for instance. I have heard them.'

'Therefore, in one situate as thou art, it particularly behoves thee to
remember this with both kinds of faces. Among Sahibs, never forgetting
thou art a Sahib; among the folk of Hind, always remembering thou
art--' He paused, with a puzzled smile.

'What am I? Mussalman, Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist? That is a hard knot.'

'Thou art beyond question an unbeliever, and therefore thou wilt be
damned. So says my Law--or I think it does. But thou art also my
Little Friend of all the World, and I love thee. So says my heart.
This matter of creeds is like horseflesh. The wise man knows horses
are good--that there is a profit to be made from all; and for
myself--but that I am a good Sunni and hate the men of Tirah--I could
believe the same of all the Faiths. Now manifestly a Kathiawar mare
taken from the sands of her birthplace and removed to the west of
Bengal founders--nor is even a Balkh stallion (and there are no better
horses than those of Balkh, were they not so heavy in the shoulder) of
any account in the great Northern deserts beside the snow-camels I have
seen. Therefore I say in my heart the Faiths are like the horses.
Each has merit in its own country.'

'But my lama said altogether a different thing.'

'Oh, he is an old dreamer of dreams from Bhotiyal. My heart is a
little angry, Friend of all the World, that thou shouldst see such
worth in a man so little known.'

'It is true, Hajji; but that worth do I see, and to him my heart is
drawn.'

'And his to thine, I hear. Hearts are like horses. They come and they
go against bit or spur. Shout Gul Sher Khan yonder to drive in that
bay stallion's pickets more firmly. We do not want a horse-fight at
every resting-stage, and the dun and the black will be locked in a
little ... Now hear me. Is it necessary to the comfort of thy heart
to see that lama?'

'It is one part of my bond,' said Kim. 'If I do not see him, and if he
is taken from me, I will go out of that madrissah in Nucklao and,
and--once gone, who is to find me again?'

'It is true. Never was colt held on a lighter heel-rope than thou.'
Mahbub nodded his head.

'Do not be afraid.' Kim spoke as though he could have vanished on the
moment. 'My lama has said that he wi