“Hm!” said his son, all deep in his broad chest. “He came by a bazar-rumour and made profit of it.”
His father laughed. “At least he did not ride to me begging for a new charger, and the Gods know how many rupees. Are thy brothers’ regiments also under orders?”
“I do not know. I took leave and came swiftly to thee in case—”
“In case they ran before thee to beg. O gamblers and spendthrifts all! But thou hast never yet ridden in a charge. A good horse is needed there, truly. A good follower and a good pony also for the marching. Let us see—let us see.” He thrummed on the pommel.
“This is no place to cast accounts in, my father. Let us go to thy house.”
“At least pay the boy, then: I have no pice with me, and he brought auspicious news. Ho! Friend of all the World, a war is toward as thou hast said.”
“Nay, as I know, the war,” returned Kim composedly.
“Eh?” said the lama, fingering his beads, all eager for the road.
“My master does not trouble the Stars for hire. We brought the news bear witness, we brought the news, and now we go.” Kim half-crooked his hand at his side.
The son tossed a silver coin through the sunlight, grumbling something about beggars and jugglers. It was a four-anna piece, and would feed them well for days. The lama, seeing the flash of the metal, droned a blessing.