'If the next crops fail, thou canst only blame thine own tongue.' The man shuffled uneasily in his slippers.

'The land is full of beggars,' he began, half apologetically.
'And by what sign didst thou know that we would beg from thee, O Mali ?' said Kim tartly, using the name that a market-gardener least likes.
'All we sought was to look at that river beyond the field there.' 'River, forsooth!' the man snorted.

'What city do ye hail from not to know a canal-cut?
It runs as straight as an arrow, and I pay for the water as though it were molten silver.

There is a branch of a river beyond.

But if ye need water I can give that--and milk.' 'Nay, we will go to the river,' said the lama, striding out.
'Milk and a meal.' the man stammered, as he looked at the strange tall figure.