The road is dark , ' the lama replied uneasily . Kim put the question aside . ' I marked a place near to the trees , ' said he , ` where thou canst sit till I call . Nay , ' as the lama made some sort of protest , ` remember this is my Search -- the Search for my Red Bull . The sign in the Stars was not for thee . I know a little of the customs of white soldiers , and I always desire to see some new things . ' ` What dost thou not know of this world ? ' The lama squatted obediently in a little hollow of the ground not a hundred yards from the hump of the mango-trees dark against the star-powdered sky . ` Stay till I call . ' Kim flitted into the dusk . He knew that in all probability there would be sentries round the camp , and smiled to himself as he heard the thick boots of one . A boy who can dodge over the roofs of Lahore city on a moonlight night , using every little patch and corner of darkness to discomfit his pursuer , is not likely to be checked by a line of well-trained soldiers . He paid them the compliment of crawling between a couple , and , running and halting , crouching and dropping flat , worked his way toward the lighted Mess-tent where , close pressed behind the mango-tree , he waited till some chance word should give him a returnable lead . The one thing now in his mind was further information as to the Red Bull . For aught he knew , and Kim 's limitations were as curious and sudden as his expansions , the men , the nine hundred thorough devils of his father 's prophecy , might pray to the beast after dark , as Hindus pray to the Holy Cow . That at least would be entirely right and logical , and the padre with the gold cross would be therefore the man to consult in the matter . On the other hand , remembering sober-faced padres whom he had avoided in Lahore city , the priest might be an inquisitive nuisance who would bid him learn . But had it not been proven at Umballa that his sign in the high heavens portended War and armed men ? Was he not the Friend of the Stars as well as of all the World , crammed to the teeth with dreadful secrets ? Lastly -- and firstly as the undercurrent of all his quick thoughts -- this adventure , though he did not know the English word , was a stupendous lark -- a delightful continuation of his old flights across the housetops , as well as the fulfilment of sublime prophecy .
He lay belly-flat and wriggled towards the XXXXX door , a hand on the amulet round his neck .
English Lahore Mess-tent Red Umballa aught lama padre padres right