But far-seeing sentries at every exit headed back the little scarlet figure.

Trousers and jacket crippled body and mind alike so he abandoned the project and fell back, Oriental-fashion, on time and chance.

Three days of torment passed in the big, echoing white rooms.

He walked out of afternoons under escort of the drummer-boy, and all he heard from his companions were the few useless words which seemed to make two-thirds of the white man's abuse.

Kim knew and despised them all long ago.