Even the pony felt the good influence and almost broke into a trot as Kim laid a hand on the stirrup-leather.
'It repents me that I did not give a rupee to the shrine,' said the lama on the last bead of his eighty-one.
The old soldier growled in his beard, so that the lama for the first time was aware of him.
'Seekest thou the River also ?' said he, turning.
'The day is new,' was the reply.

'What need of a river save to water at before sundown?
I come to show thee a short lane to the Big Road.' 'That is a courtesy to be remembered, O man of good will.

But why the sword ?' The old soldier looked as abashed as a child interrupted in his game of make-believe.
'The sword,' he said, fumbling it.

'Oh, that was a fancy of mine an old man's fancy.

Truly the police orders are that no man must bear weapons throughout Hind, but'-- he cheered up and slapped the hilt--'all the constabeels hereabout know me.' 'It is not a good fancy,' said the lama.