It is coming into shape , ' said Lurgan Sahib . So far Kim had been thinking in Hindi , but a tremor came on him , and with an effort like that of a swimmer before sharks , who hurls himself half out of the water , his mind leaped up from a darkness that was swallowing it and took refuge in -- the multiplication-table in English ! ` Look ! It is coming into shape , ' whispered Lurgan Sahib . The jar had been smashed -- yess , smashed -- not the native word , he would not think of that -- but smashed -- into fifty pieces , and twice three was six , and thrice three was nine , and four times three was twelve . He clung desperately to the repetition . The shadow-outline of the jar cleared like a mist after rubbing eyes . There were the broken shards ; there was the spilt water drying in the sun , and through the cracks of the veranda showed , all ribbed , the white house-wall below -- and thrice twelve was thirty-six ! ` Look ! Is it coming into shape ? ' asked Lurgan Sahib . ` But it is smashed -- smashed , ' he gasped -- Lurgan Sahib had been muttering softly for the last half-minute . Kim wrenched his head aside . ` Look ! Dekho ! It is there as it was there . ' ` It is there as it was there , ' said Lurgan , watching Kim closely while the boy rubbed his neck . ` But you are the first of many who has ever seen it so . ' He wiped his broad forehead . ` Was that more magic ? '
XXXXX asked suspiciously .
English Hindi Kim Lurgan first half-minute house-wall shadow-outline swimmer yess