Is he not my disciple ? ' ` His country -- his race -- his village ? Mussalman -- Sikh Hindu -- Jain -- low caste or high ? ' ` Why should I ask ? There is neither high nor low in the Middle Way . If he is my chela -- does -- will -- can anyone take him from me ? for , look you , without him I shall not find my River . ' He wagged his head solemnly . ` None shall take him from thee . Go , sit among my Baltis , ' said Mahbub Ali , and the lama drifted off , soothed by the promise . ` Is he not quite mad ? ' said Kim , coming forward to the light again . ` Why should I lie to thee , Hajji ? ' Mahbub puffed his hookah in silence . Then he began , almost whispering : ` Umballa is on the road to Benares -- if indeed ye two go there . ' ` Tck ! Tck ! I tell thee he does not know how to lie -- as we two know . ' ` And if thou wilt carry a message for me as far as Umballa , I will give thee money . It concerns a horse -- a white stallion which I have sold to an officer upon the last time I returned from the Passes .
But then -- stand nearer and hold up hands as begging -- the pedigree of the white stallion was not fully established , and that officer , who is now at XXXXX , bade me make it clear . '
Ali Baltis Hindu Jain Kim Mahbub Mussalman Umballa hookah lama