Make haste to learn , and in three years , or it may be less , thou wilt be an aid -- even to me . ' ` Have I been such a hindrance till now ? ' said Kim , with a boy 's giggle . ` Do not give answers , ' Mahbub grunted . ` Thou art my new horse-boy . Go and bed among my men . They are near the north end of the station , with the horses . ' ` They will beat me to the south end of the station if I come without authority . ' Mahbub felt in his belt , wetted his thumb on a cake of Chinese ink , and dabbed the impression on a piece of soft native paper . From Balkh to Bombay men know that rough-ridged print with the old scar running diagonally across it . ` That is enough to show my headman . I come in the morning . ' ` By which road ? ' said Kim . ` By the road from the city . There is but one , and then we return to Creighton Sahib . I have saved thee a beating . ' ` Allah ! What is a beating when the very head is loose on the shoulders ? ' Kim slid out quietly into the night , walked half round the house , keeping close to the walls , and headed away from the station for a mile or so .
Then , fetching a wide compass , he worked back at leisure , for he needed time to invent a story if any of XXXXX 's retainers asked questions .
Bombay Chinese Kim Mahbub Sahib hindrance horse-boy morning night years