The Prayer . At moonrise the cautious coolies got under way . The lama , refreshed by his sleep and the spirit , needed no more than Kim 's shoulder to bear him along -- a silent , swift-striding man . They held the shale-sprinkled grass for an hour , swept round the shoulder of an immortal cliff , and climbed into a new country entirely blocked off from all sight of Chini valley . A huge pasture-ground ran up fan-shaped to the living snow . At its base was perhaps half an acre of flat land , on which stood a few soil and timber huts . Behind them -- for , hill-fashion , they were perched on the edge of all things -- the ground fell sheer two thousand feet to Shamlegh-midden , where never yet man has set foot . The men made no motion to divide the plunder till they had seen the lama bedded down in the best room of the place , with Kim shampooing his feet , Mohammedan-fashion . ` We will send food , ' said the Ao-chung man , ` and the red-topped kilta . By dawn there will be none to give evidence , one way or the other . If anything is not needed in the kilta -- see here ! ' He pointed through the window -- opening into space that was filled with moonlight reflected from the snow -- and threw out an empty whisky-bottle . ` No need to listen for the fall . This is the world 's end , ' he said , and went out . The lama looked forth , a hand on either sill , with eyes that shone like yellow opals . From the enormous pit before him white peaks lifted themselves yearning to the moonlight . The rest was as the darkness of interstellar space . ` These , ' he said slowly , ` are indeed my Hills . Thus should a man abide , perched above the world , separated from delights , considering vast matters . ' ` Yes ; if he has a chela to prepare tea for him , and to fold a blanket for his head , and to chase out calving cows . '
A smoky lamp burned in a niche , but the full moonlight beat it down ; and by the mixed light , stooping above the food-bag and cups , XXXXX moved like a tall ghost .
Ao-chung Kim chela coolies hour kilta lama opals pasture-ground valley