Huneefa stirred in her sleep , and Hurree Babu jumped nervously to the copper incense-burner , all black and discoloured in morning-light , rubbed a finger in the accumulated lamp-black , and drew it diagonally across his face . ` Who has died in thy house ? ' asked Kim in the vernacular . ` None . But she may have the Evil Eye -- that sorceress , ' the Babu replied . ` What dost thou do now , then ? ' ' I will set thee on thy way to Benares , if thou goest thither , and tell thee what must be known by Us . ' ' I go . At what hour runs the te-rain ? ' He rose to his feet , looked round the desolate chamber and at the yellow-wax face of Huneefa as the low sun stole across the floor . ` Is there money to be paid that witch ? ' ` No . She has charmed thee against all devils and all dangers in the name of her devils . It was Mahbub 's desire . ' In English : ` He is highly obsolete , I think , to indulge in such supersteetion . Why , it is all ventriloquy . Belly-speak -- eh ? ' Kim snapped his fingers mechanically to avert whatever evil -- Mahbub , he knew , meditated none -- might have crept in through Huneefa 's ministrations ; and Hurree giggled once more . But as he crossed the room he was careful not to step in Huneefa 's blotched , squat shadow on the boards . Witches -- when their time is on them -- can lay hold of the heels of a man 's soul if he does that .
` Now you must well listen , ' said the XXXXX when they were in the fresh air .
Babu Belly-speak Benares Hurree Kim incense-burner lamp-black morning-light supersteetion te-rain