They were the advance-party of a regiment on the march , sent out , as usual , to mark the camp . They bore five-foot sticks with fluttering flags , and called to each other as they spread over the flat earth . At last they entered the mango-grove , walking heavily . ` It 's here or hereabouts -- officers ' tents under the trees , I take it , an ' the rest of us can stay outside . Have they marked out for the baggage-wagons behind ? ' They cried again to their comrades in the distance , and the rough answer came back faint and mellowed . ` Shove the flag in here , then , ' said one . ` What do they prepare ? ' said the lama , wonderstruck . ` This is a great and terrible world . What is the device on the flag ? ' A soldier thrust a stave within a few feet of them , grunted discontentedly , pulled it up again , conferred with his companion , who looked up and down the shaded cave of greenery , and returned it . Kim stared with all his eyes , his breath coming short and sharp between his teeth . The soldiers stamped off into the sunshine . ' O Holy One ! ' he gasped . ` My horoscope ! The drawing in the dust by the priest at Umballa ! Remember what he said . First come two -- ferashes -- to make all things ready -- in a dark place , as it is always at the beginning of a vision . '
` But this is not vision , ' said the XXXXX .
First Kim Umballa advance-party baggage-wagons ferashes greenery lama mango-grove wonderstruck