ake the best years of
a man to teach him what he can only learn upon the Road. The folly of
the Sahibs has neither top nor bottom. No matter. Maybe thy written
report shall save thee further bondage; and God He knows we need men
more and more in the Game.'

They marched, jaw-bound against blowing sand, across the salt desert to
Jodhpur, where Mahbub and his handsome nephew Habib Ullah did much
trading; and then sorrowfully, in European clothes, which he was fast
outgrowing, Kim went second-class to St Xavier's. Three weeks later,
Colonel Creighton, pricing Tibetan ghost-daggers at Lurgan's shop,
faced Mahbub Ali openly mutinous. Lurgan Sahib operated as support in
reserve.

'The pony is made--finished--mouthed and paced, Sahib! From now on,
day by day, he will lose his manners if he is kept at tricks. Drop the
rein on his back and let go,' said the horse-dealer. 'We need him.'

'But he is so young, Mahbub--not more than sixteen--is he?'

'When I was fifteen, I had shot my man and begot my man, Sahib.'

'You impenitent old heathen!' Creighton turned to Lurgan. The black
beard nodded assent to the wisdom of the Afghan's dyed scarlet.

'I should have used him long ago,' said Lurgan. 'The younger the
better. That is why I always have my really valuable jewels watched by
a child. You sent him to me to try. I tried him in every way: he is
the only boy I could not make to see things.'

'In the crystal--in the ink-pool?' demanded Mahbub.

'No. Under my hand, as I told you. That has never happened before. It
means that he is strong enough--but you think it skittles, Colonel
Creighton--to make anyone do anything he wants. And that is three
years ago. I have taught him a good deal since, Colonel Creighton. I
think you waste him now.'

'Hmm! Maybe you're right. But, as you know, there is no Survey work
for him at present.'

'Let him out let him go,' Mahbub interrupted. 'Who expects any colt to
carry heavy weight at first? Let him run with the caravans--like our
white camel-colts--for luck. I would take him myself, but--'

'There is a little business where he would be most useful--in the
South,' said Lurgan, with peculiar suavity, dropping his heavy blued
eyelids.

'E.23 has that in hand,' said Creighton quickly. 'He must not go down
there. Besides, he knows no Turki.'

'Only tell him the shape and the smell of the letters we want and he
will bring them back,' Lurgan insisted.

'No. That