The theodolite hit a jutting cliff-ledge and exploded like a shell; the books, inkstands, paint-boxes, compasses, and rulers showed for a few seconds like a swarm of bees.

Then they vanished; and, though Kim, hanging half out of the window, strained his young ears, never a sound came up from the gulf.
'Five hundred--a thousand rupees could not buy them,' he thought sorrowfully.

'It was verree wasteful, but I have all their other stuff--everything they did--I hope.

Now how the deuce am I to tell Hurree Babu, and whatt the deuce am I to do?
And my old man is sick.

I must tie up the letters in oilskin.