` He has gone now to send word of the letter which I hid . They told me he was in Peshawur . I might have known that he is like the crocodile -- always at the other ford . He has saved me from present calamity , but I owe my life to thee . ' ` Is he also one of Us ? ' Kim ducked under a Mewar camel-driver 's greasy armpit and cannoned off a covey of jabbering Sikh matrons . ` Not less than the greatest . We are both fortunate ! I will make report to him of what thou hast done . I am safe under his protection . ' He bored through the edge of the crowd besieging the carriages , and squatted by the bench near the telegraph-office . ` Return , or they take thy place ! Have no fear for the work , brother -- or my life . Thou hast given me breathing-space , and Strickland Sahib has pulled me to land . We may work together at the Game yet . Farewell ! ' Kim hurried to his carriage : elated , bewildered , but a little nettled in that he had no key to the secrets about him . ' I am only a beginner at the Game , that is sure . I could not have leaped into safety as did the Saddhu . He knew it was darkest under the lamp .
I could not have thought to tell news under pretence of cursing ... and how clever was the XXXXX !
Kim Peshawur Return Saddhu Sahib bench camel-driver crocodile matrons telegraph-office