A straight back and a close-clinging knee once more ; a quick wrist and a keen eye ; and the marrow that makes a man . Oh , the old days -- the good days of my strength ! ' ` That strength is weakness . ' ` It has turned so ; but fifty years since I could have proved it otherwise , ' the old soldier retorted , driving his stirrup-edge into the pony 's lean flank . ` But I know a River of great healing . ' ' I have drank Gunga-water to the edge of dropsy . All she gave me was a flux , and no sort of strength . ' ` It is not Gunga . The River that I know washes from all taint of sin . Ascending the far bank one is assured of Freedom . I do not know thy life , but thy face is the face of the honourable and courteous . Thou hast clung to thy Way , rendering fidelity when it was hard to give , in that Black Year of which I now remember other tales . Enter now upon the Middle Way which is the path to Freedom . Hear the Most Excellent Law , and do not follow dreams . ' ` Speak , then , old man , ' the soldier smiled , half saluting . ` We be all babblers at our age . ' The lama squatted under the shade of a mango , whose shadow played checkerwise over his face ; the soldier sat stiffly on the pony ; and Kim , making sure that there were no snakes , lay down in the crotch of the twisted roots . There was a drowsy buzz of small life in hot sunshine , a cooing of doves , and a sleepy drone of well-wheels across the fields . Slowly and impressively the lama began . At the end of ten minutes the old soldier slid from his pony , to hear better as he said , and sat with the reins round his wrist .
The XXXXX 's voice faltered , the periods lengthened .
Kim Law Year babblers crotch days dropsy lama minutes years