A child tending cattle had picked it up from a brother or sister on the far side of the slope that commanded Chini valley.
'My husbands are also out there gathering wood.' She drew a handful of walnuts from her bosom, split one neatly, and began to eat.

Kim affected blank ignorance.
'Dost thou not know the meaning of the walnut--priest ?' she said coyly, and handed him the half-shells.
'Well thought of.' He slipped the piece of paper between them quickly.
'Hast thou a little wax to close them on this letter ?' The woman sighed aloud, and Kim relented.
'There is no payment till service has been rendered.

Carry this to the Babu, and say it was sent by the Son of the Charm.' 'Ai! Truly! Truly! By a magician--who is like a Sahib.' 'Nay, a Son of the Charm: and ask if there be any answer.' 'But if he offer a rudeness?
I--I am afraid.' Kim laughed.

'He is, I have no doubt, very tired and very hungry.

The Hills make cold bedfellows.