And there are yet years and years and long years before I can be even a chain-man . ' ` Have patience , Friend of all the World ' -- Kim started at the title . ` Would I had a few of the years that so irk thee . I have proved thee in several small ways . This will not be forgotten when I make my report to the Colonel Sahib . ' Then , changing suddenly into English with a deep laugh : ` By Jove ! O'Hara , I think there is a great deal in you ; but you must not become proud and you must not talk . You must go back to Lucknow and be a good little boy and mind your book , as the English say , and perhaps , next holidays if you care , you can come back to me ! ' Kim 's face fell . ` Oh , I mean if you like . I know where you want to go . ' Four days later a seat was booked for Kim and his small trunk at the rear of a Kalka tonga . His companion was the whale-like Babu , who , with a fringed shawl wrapped round his head , and his fat openwork-stockinged left leg tucked under him , shivered and grunted in the morning chill . ` How comes it that this man is one of us ? ' thought Kim considering the jelly back as they jolted down the road ; and the reflection threw him into most pleasant day-dreams . Lurgan Sahib had given him five rupees -- a splendid sum -- as well as the assurance of his protection if he worked . Unlike Mahbub , Lurgan Sahib had spoken most explicitly of the reward that would follow obedience , and Kim was content . If only , like the Babu , he could enjoy the dignity of a letter and a number -- and a price upon his head ! Some day he would be all that and more . Some day he might be almost as great as Mahbub Ali !
The housetops of his search should be half India ; he would follow Kings and Ministers , as in the old days he had followed vakils and lawyers ' touts across Lahore city for Mahbub XXXXX 's sake .
Ali Babu English Jove Kim Mahbub chain-man day day-dreams morning