Over the Nilang Pass in storm when the driven snow-dust filled every fold of the impassive lama 's drapery ; between the black horns of Raieng where they heard the whistle of the wild goats through the clouds ; pitching and strained on the shale below ; hard-held between shoulder and clenched jaw when they rounded the hideous curves of the Cut Road under Bhagirati ; swinging and creaking to the steady jog-trot of the descent into the Valley of the Waters ; pressed along the steamy levels of that locked valley ; up , up and out again , to meet the roaring gusts off Kedarnath ; set down of mid-days in the dun gloom of kindly oak-forests ; passed from village to village in dawn-chill , when even devotees may be forgiven for swearing at impatient holy men ; or by torchlight , when the least fearful think of ghosts -- the dooli has reached her last stage . The little hill-folk sweat in the modified heat of the lower Siwaliks , and gather round the priests for their blessing and their wage . ` Ye have acquired merit , ' says the lama . ` Merit greater than your knowing . And ye will return to the Hills , ' he sighs . ` Surely . The high Hills as soon as may be . ' The bearer rubs his shoulder , drinks water , spits it out again , and readjusts his grass sandal . Kim -- his face is drawn and tired -- pays very small silver from his belt , heaves out the food-bag , crams an oilskin packet -- they are holy writings -- into his bosom , and helps the lama to his feet . The peace has come again into the old man 's eyes , and he does not look for the hills to fall down and crush him as he did that terrible night when they were delayed by the flooded river . The men pick up the dooli and swing out of sight between the scrub clumps . The lama raises a hand toward the rampart of the Himalayas . ` Not with you , O blessed among all hills , fell the Arrow of Our Lord ! And never shall I breathe your airs again ! ' ` But thou art ten times the stronger man in this good air , ' says Kim , for to his wearied soul appeal the well-cropped , kindly Plains . ` Here , or hereabouts , fell the Arrow , yes . We will go very softly , perhaps , a koss a day , for the Search is sure . But the bag weighs heavy . ' ` Ay , our Search is sure . I have come out of great temptation . '
It was never more than a couple of miles a XXXXX now , and Kim 's shoulders bore all the weight of it -- the burden of an old man , the burden of the heavy food-bag with the locked books , the load of the writings on his heart , and the details of the daily routine .
Hills Kedarnath Raieng day dooli hard-held oak-forests sandal shale torchlight