He shut his lips , nodded his head , and looked unspeakable things . The Chaplain moved on through the dust , and privates , sergeants , and subalterns called one another 's attention to the boy . The Colonel , at the head of the column , stared at him curiously . ` It was probably some bazar rumour . ' he said ; ` but even then -- ' He referred to the paper in his hand . ` Hang it all , the thing was only decided within the last forty-eight hours . ' ` Are there many more like you in India ? ' said Father Victor , ` or are you by way o ' being a lusus naturae ? ' ` Now I have told you , ' said the boy , ` will you let me go back to my old man ? If he has not stayed with that woman from Kulu , I am afraid he will die . ' ` By what I saw of him he 's as well able to take care of himself as you . No . Ye 've brought us luck , an ' we 're goin ' to make a man of you . I 'll take ye back to your baggage-cart and ye 'll come to me this evening . ' For the rest of the day Kim found himself an object of distinguished consideration among a few hundred white men . The story of his appearance in camp , the discovery of his parentage , and his prophecy , had lost nothing in the telling . A big , shapeless white woman on a pile of bedding asked him mysteriously whether he thought her husband would come back from the war . Kim reflected gravely , and said that he would , and the woman gave him food . In many respects , this big procession that played music at intervals -- this crowd that talked and laughed so easily -- resembled a festival in Lahore city . So far , there was no sign of hard work , and he resolved to lend the spectacle his patronage .
At XXXXX there came out to meet them bands of music , and played the Mavericks into camp near Umballa railway station .
Chaplain Kulu Lahore Victor baggage-cart evening hours naturae privates rumour