` True . It is true , Mahbub Ali . And if he comes to no harm , I do not desire anything better . But it is great insolence on his part . ' ` He does not tell me , even , whither he goes , ' said Mahbub . ` He is no fool . When his time is accomplished he will come to me . It is time the healer of pearls took him in hand . He ripens too quickly -- as Sahibs reckon . ' This prophecy was fulfilled to the letter a month later . Mahbub had gone down to Umballa to bring up a fresh consignment of horses , and Kim met him on the Kalka road at dusk riding alone , begged an alms of him , was sworn at , and replied in English . There was nobody within earshot to hear Mahbub 's gasp of amazement . ` Oho ! And where hast thou been ? ' ` Up and down -- down and up . ' ` Come under a tree , out of the wet , and tell . ' ' I stayed for a while with an old man near Umballa ; anon with a household of my acquaintance in Umballa . With one of these I went as far as Delhi to the southward . That is a wondrous city . Then I drove a bullock for a teli -LSB- an oilman -RSB- coming north ; but I heard of a great feast forward in Patiala , and thither went I in the company of a firework-maker .
It was a great feast ' -LRB- XXXXX rubbed his stomach -RRB- . '
Kalka Kim Mahbub Oho Patiala anon consignment oilman teli whither