Even when I was with that white Regiment I was very young and small and had no wisdom . But now I learn every day , and in three years the Colonel will take me out of the madrissah and let me go upon the Road with Mahbub hunting for horses ' pedigrees , or maybe I shall go by myself ; or maybe I shall find the lama and go with him . Yes ; that is best . To walk again as a chela with my lama when he comes back to Benares . ' The thoughts came more slowly and disconnectedly . He was plunging into a beautiful dreamland when his ears caught a whisper , thin and sharp , above the monotonous babble round the fire . It came from behind the iron-skinned horse-truck . ` He is not here , then ? ' ` Where should he be but roystering in the city . Who looks for a rat in a frog-pond ? Come away . He is not our man . ' ` He must not go back beyond the Passes a second time . It is the order . ' ` Hire some woman to drug him . It is a few rupees only , and there is no evidence . ' ` Except the woman . It must be more certain ; and remember the price upon his head . ' ` Ay , but the police have a long arm , and we are far from the Border . If it were in Peshawur , now ! '
` Yes -- in Peshawur , ' the XXXXX voice sneered .
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