` Gently -- gently , ' the man replied , and from a drawer under the table dealt a half-handful of clattering trifles into the tray . ` Now , ' said the child , waving an old newspaper . ` Look on them as long as thou wilt , stranger . Count and , if need be , handle . One look is enough for me . ' He turned his back proudly . ` But what is the game ? ' ` When thou hast counted and handled and art sure that thou canst remember them all , I cover them with this paper , and thou must tell over the tally to Lurgan Sahib . I will write mine . ' ` Oah ! ' The instinct of competition waked in his breast . He bent over the tray . There were but fifteen stones on it . ` That is easy , ' he said after a minute . The child slipped the paper over the winking jewels and scribbled in a native account-book . ` There are under that paper five blue stones -- one big , one smaller , and three small , ' said Kim , all in haste . ` There are four green stones , and one with a hole in it ; there is one yellow stone that I can see through , and one like a pipe-stem . There are two red stones , and -- and -- I made the count fifteen , but two I have forgotten . No ! Give me time .
One was of ivory , little and brownish ; and -- and -- give me time ... ' ` One -- two ' -- Lurgan XXXXX counted him out up to ten .
Count Kim Oah Sahib account-book jewels minute pipe-stem stone trifles