The Sahibs prayed to their God ; for in the centre of the Mess-table -- its sole ornament when they were on the line of march -- stood a golden bull fashioned from old-time loot of the Summer Palace at Pekin -- a red-gold bull with lowered head , ramping upon a field of Irish green . To him the Sahibs held out their glasses and cried aloud confusedly . Now the Reverend Arthur Bennett always left Mess after that toast , and being rather tired by his march his movements were more abrupt than usual . Kim , with slightly raised head , was still staring at his totem on the table , when the Chaplain stepped on his right shoulder-blade . Kim flinched under the leather , and , rolling sideways , brought down the Chaplain , who , ever a man of action , caught him by the throat and nearly choked the life out of him . Kim then kicked him desperately in the stomach . Mr Bennett gasped and doubled up , but without relaxing his grip , rolled over again , and silently hauled Kim to his own tent . The Mavericks were incurable practical jokers ; and it occurred to the Englishman that silence was best till he had made complete inquiry . ` Why , it 's a boy ! ' he said , as he drew his prize under the light of the tent-pole lantern , then shaking him severely cried : ` What were you doing ? You 're a thief . Choor ? Mallum ? ' His Hindustani was very limited , and the ruffled and disgusted Kim intended to keep to the character laid down for him . As he recovered his breath he was inventing a beautifully plausible tale of his relations to some scullion , and at the same time keeping a keen eye on and a little under the Chaplain 's left arm-pit . The chance came ; he ducked for the doorway , but a long arm shot out and clutched at his neck , snapping the amulet-string and closing on the amulet . ` Give it me . O , give it me . Is it lost ? Give me the papers . '
The words were in English -- the tinny , saw-cut English of the native-bred , and the XXXXX jumped . '
Chaplain Choor Englishman Kim Mallum amulet-string left scullion shoulder-blade totem