` But if I answered : `` I will give thee a hundred rupees for knowledge of what is behind those hills -- for a picture of a river and a little news of what the people say in the villages there '' ? ' ` How can I tell ? I am only a boy . Wait till I am a man . ' Then , seeing the Colonel 's brow clouded , he went on : ` But I think I should in a few days earn the hundred rupees . ' ` By what road ? ' Kim shook his head resolutely . ` If I said how I would earn them , another man might hear and forestall me . It is not good to sell knowledge for nothing . ' ` Tell now . ' The Colonel held up a rupee . Kim 's hand half reached towards it , and dropped . ` Nay , Sahib ; nay . I know the price that will be paid for the answer , but I do not know why the question is asked . ' ` Take it for a gift , then , ' said Creighton , tossing it over . ` There is a good spirit in thee . Do not let it be blunted at St Xavier 's . There are many boys there who despise the black men . ' ` Their mothers were bazar-women , ' said Kim . He knew well there is no hatred like that of the half-caste for his brother-in-law .
` True ; but thou art a XXXXX and the son of a Sahib .
Colonel Creighton Kim Sahib Xavier brow days gift half-caste question