Tell him so , hakim . ' ` He wishes it now -- for money . ' The lama shook his head slowly and began to fold up the Wheel . The Russian , on his side , saw no more than an unclean old man haggling over a dirty piece of paper . He drew out a handful of rupees , and snatched half-jestingly at the chart , which tore in the lama 's grip . A low murmur of horror went up from the coolies -- some of whom were Spiti men and , by their lights , good Buddhists . The lama rose at the insult ; his hand went to the heavy iron pencase that is the priest 's weapon , and the Babu danced in agony . ` Now you see -- you see why I wanted witnesses . They are highly unscrupulous people . Oh , sar ! sar ! You must not hit holyman ! ' ` Chela ! He has defiled the Written Word ! ' It was too late . Before Kim could ward him off , the Russian struck the old man full on the face . Next instant he was rolling over and over downhill with Kim at his throat . The blow had waked every unknown Irish devil in the boy 's blood , and the sudden fall of his enemy did the rest . The lama dropped to his knees , half-stunned ; the coolies under their loads fled up the hill as fast as plainsmen run aross the level . They had seen sacrilege unspeakable , and it behoved them to get away before the Gods and devils of the hills took vengeance .
The Frenchman ran towards the XXXXX , fumbling at his revolver with some notion of making him a hostage for his companion .
! Chela Irish Kim Russian Spiti coolies holyman lama sar