There were seniors who had requisitioned a chance-met Rajah 's elephant , in the name of St Francis Xavier , when the Rains once blotted out the cart-track that led to their father 's estate , and had all but lost the huge beast in a quicksand . There was a boy who , he said , and none doubted , had helped his father to beat off with rifles from the veranda a rush of Akas in the days when those head-hunters were bold against lonely plantations . And every tale was told in the even , passionless voice of the native-born , mixed with quaint reflections , borrowed unconsciously from native foster-mothers , and turns of speech that showed they had been that instant translated from the vernacular . Kim watched , listened , and approved . This was not insipid , single-word talk of drummer-boys . It dealt with a life he knew and in part understood . The atmosphere suited him , and he throve by inches . They gave him a white drill suit as the weather warmed , and he rejoiced in the new-found bodily comforts as he rejoiced to use his sharpened mind over the tasks they set him . His quickness would have delighted an English master ; but at St Xavier 's they know the first rush of minds developed by sun and surroundings , as they know the half-collapse that sets in at twenty-two or twenty-three . None the less he remembered to hold himself lowly . When tales were told of hot nights , Kim did not sweep the board with his reminiscences ; for St Xavier 's looks down on boys who ` go native all-together . ' One must never forget that one is a Sahib , and that some day , when examinations are passed , one will command natives . Kim made a note of this , for he began to understand where examinations led . Then came the holidays from August to October -- the long holidays imposed by the heat and the Rains . Kim was informed that he would go north to some station in the hills behind Umballa , where Father Victor would arrange for him . ' A barrack-school ? ' said Kim , who had asked many questions and thought more . ` Yes , I suppose so , ' said the master . ` It will not do you any harm to keep you out of mischief . You can go up with young De Castro as far as Delhi . '
XXXXX considered it in every possible light .
Castro Kim Sahib Umballa cart-track day drummer-boys foster-mothers head-hunters nights