In the pauses of their talk they could hear the low droning ` Om mane pudme hum ! Om mane pudme hum ! ' -- and the thick click of the wooden rosary beads . ` It irks me , ' he said at last . ` The speed and the clatter irk me . Moreover , my chela , I think that maybe we have over-passed that River . ' ` Peace , peace , ' said Kim . ` Was not the River near Benares ? We are yet far from the place . ' ` But -- if our Lord came North , it may be any one of these little ones that we have run across . ' ' I do not know . ' ` But thou wast sent to me -- wast thou sent to me ? -- for the merit I had acquired over yonder at Such-zen . From beside the cannon didst thou come -- bearing two faces -- and two garbs . ' ` Peace . One must not speak of these things here , ' whispered Kim . ` There was but one of me . Think again and thou wilt remember . A boy -- a Hindu boy -- by the great green cannon . ' ` But was there not also an Englishman with a white beard holy among images -- who himself made more sure my assurance of the River of the Arrow ? '
` He -- we -- went to the Ajaib-Gher in Lahore to pray before the Gods there , ' XXXXX explained to the openly listening company .
Benares Englishman Hindu Kim North Such-zen chela didst pudme rosary