So next morning he was angry . Ho ! Ho ! And I also used the news when I fell into the hands of that white Regiment with their Bull ! ' ` That was foolishness . ' Mahbub scowled . ` News is not meant to be thrown about like dung-cakes , but used sparingly -- like bhang . ' ` So I think now , and moreover , it did me no sort of good . But that was very long ago , ' he made as to brush it all away with a thin brown hand -- ` and since then , and especially in the nights under the punkah at the madrissah , I have thought very greatly . ' ` Is it permitted to ask whither the Heaven-born 's thought might have led ? ' said Mahbub , with an elaborate sarcasm , smoothing his scarlet beard . ` It is permitted , ' said Kim , and threw back the very tone . ` They say at Nucklao that no Sahib must tell a black man that he has made a fault . ' Mahbub 's hand shot into his bosom , for to call a Pathan a ` black man ' -LSB- kala admi -RSB- is a blood-insult . Then he remembered and laughed . ` Speak , Sahib . Thy black man hears . ' ` But , ' said Kim , ' I am not a Sahib , and I say I made a fault to curse thee , Mahbub Ali , on that day at Umballa when I thought I was betrayed by a Pathan . I was senseless ; for I was but newly caught , and I wished to kill that low-caste drummer-boy . I say now , Hajji , that it was well done ; and I see my road all clear before me to a good service .
I will stay in the XXXXX till I am ripe . '
Ali Ho Mahbub Nucklao Pathan Umballa blood-insult dung-cakes madrissah punkah