'Two or three hundred rupees a year.' Father Victor was long past
any sense of amazement. Bennett, impatient, did not understand.

'He says: "Write that name and the money upon a paper and give it
him." And he says you must write your name below, because he is
going to write a letter in some days to you. He says you are a good
man. He says the other man is a fool. He is going away.'

The lama rose suddenly. 'I follow my Search,' he cried, and was
gone.

'He'll run slap into the sentries,' cried Father Victor, jumping up
as the lama stalked out; 'but I can't leave the boy.' Kim made
swift motion to follow, but checked himself. There was no sound of
challenge outside. The lama had disappeared.

Kim settled himself composedly on the Chaplain's cot. At least the
lama had promised that he would stay with the Raiput woman from
Kulu, and the rest was of the smallest importance. It pleased him
that the two padres were so evidently excited. They talked long in
undertones, Father Victor urging some scheme on Mr Bennett, who
seemed incredulous. All this was very new and fascinating, but Kim
felt sleepy. They called men into the tent - one of them certainly
was the Colonel, as his father had prophesied - and they asked him
an infinity of questions, chiefly about the woman who looked after
him, all of which Kim answered truthfully. They did not seem to
think the woman a good guardian.

After all, this was the newest of his experiences. Sooner or later,