He could just puzzle out the various English Police notices in Lahore city , because they affected his comfort ; and among the many guests of the woman who looked after him had been a queer German who painted scenery for the Parsee travelling theatre . He told Kim that he had been ` on the barricades in ` Forty-eight , ' and therefore -- at least that was how it struck Kim -- he would teach the boy to write in return for food . Kim had been kicked as far as single letters , but did not think well of them . ' I do not know anything . Go away ! ' said Kim , scenting evil . Hereupon the man caught him by the ear , dragged him to a room in a far-off wing where a dozen drummer-boys were sitting on forms , and told him to be still if he could do nothing else . This he managed very successfully . The man explained something or other with white lines on a black board for at least half an hour , and Kim continued his interrupted nap . He much disapproved of the present aspect of affairs , for this was the very school and discipline he had spent two-thirds of his young life in avoiding . Suddenly a beautiful idea occurred to him , and he wondered that he had not thought of it before . The man dismissed them , and first to spring through the veranda into the open sunshine was Kim . '' Ere , you ! ` Alt ! Stop ! ' said a high voice at his heels . ` I 've got to look after you . My orders are not to let you out of my sight . Where are you goin ' ? ' It was the drummer-boy who had been hanging round him all the forenoon -- a fat and freckled person of about fourteen , and Kim loathed him from the soles of his boots to his cap-ribbons .
` To the bazar -- to get sweets -- for you , ' said XXXXX , after thought .
Alt German Hereupon Kim Parsee cap-ribbons drummer-boy drummer-boys first forenoon