My description is in his hand,' said E23.

'Thev go carriage by carriage, like fisher-folk netting a pool.' When the procession reached their compartment, E23 was counting his beads with a steady jerk of the wrist; while Kim jeered at him for being so drugged as to have lost the ringed fire-tongs which are the Saddhu's distinguishing mark.

The lama, deep in meditation, stared straight before him; and the farmer, glancing furtively, gathered up his belongings.
'Nothing here but a parcel of holy-bolies,' said the Englishman aloud, and passed on amid a ripple of uneasiness; for native police mean extortion to the native all India over.
'The trouble now,' whispered E23, 'lies in sending a wire as to the place where I hid that letter I was sent to find.

I cannot go to the tar-office in this guise.' 'Is it not enough I have saved thy neck ?' 'Not if the work be left unfinished.

Did never the healer of sick pearls tell thee so?
Comes another Sahib! Ah!' This was a tallish, sallowish District Superintendent of Police--belt, helmet, polished spurs and all--strutting and twirling his dark moustache.
'What fools are these Police Sahibs!' said Kim genially.
E23 glanced up under his eyelids.