Thou wilt sell many horses to the officers . They are very fine horses , these new ones : I have seen them . Give me a rupee , Mahbub Ali , and when I come to my wealth I will give thee a bond and pay . ' ` Um ! ' said Mahbub Ali , thinking swiftly . ` Thou hast never before lied to me . Call that lama -- stand back in the dark . ' ` Oh , our tales will agree , ' said Kim , laughing . ` We go to Benares , ' said the lama , as soon as he understood the drift of Mahbub Ali 's questions . ` The boy and I , I go to seek for a certain River . ' ` Maybe -- but the boy ? ' ` He is my disciple . He was sent , I think , to guide me to that River . Sitting under a gun was I when he came suddenly . Such things have befallen the fortunate to whom guidance was allowed . But I remember now , he said he was of this world -- a Hindu . ' ` And his name ? ' ` That I did not ask . Is he not my disciple ? ' ` His country -- his race -- his village ?
Mussalman -- Sikh XXXXX -- Jain -- low caste or high ? '
Ali Benares Hindu Kim River disciple horses lama officers questions