Up went a gout of heavy smoke . There was a long pause : then Mahbub Ali spoke in admiration : ` And with these things on thy mind , dost thou lie down and rise again among all the Sahibs ' little sons at the madrissah and meekly take instruction from thy teachers ? ' ` It is an order , ' said Kim blandly . ` Who am I to dispute an order ? ' ' A most finished Son of Eblis , ' said Mahbub Ali . ` But what is this tale of the thief and the search ? ' ` That which I saw , ' said Kim , ` the night that my lama and I lay next thy place in the Kashmir Seral . The door was left unlocked , which I think is not thy custom , Mahbub . He came in as one assured that thou wouldst not soon return . My eye was against a knot-hole in the plank . He searched as it were for something -- not a rug , not stirrups , nor a bridle , nor brass pots -- something little and most carefully hid . Else why did he prick with an iron between the soles of thy slippers ? ' ` Ha ! ' Mahbub Ali smiled gently . ` And seeing these things , what tale didst thou fashion to thyself , Well of the Truth ? ' ` None . I put my hand upon my amulet , which lies always next to my skin , and , remembering the pedigree of a white stallion that I had bitten out of a piece of Mussalmani bread , I went away to Umballa perceiving that a heavy trust was laid upon me . At that hour , had I chosen , thy head was forfeit . It needed only to say to that man , `` I have here a paper concerning a horse which I can not read . '' And then ? '
Kim peered at XXXXX under his eyebrows .
Eblis Mahbub Mussalmani Seral Umballa hour lama left madrissah stirrups