40/52 Kim fell to telling himself the story of his own adventures through the last three months. He could paralyse St Xavier's--even the biggest boys who shaved--with the recital, were that permitted. But it was, of course, out of the question. There would be a price upon his head in good time, as Lurgan Sahib had assured him; and if he talked foolishly now, not only would that price never be set, but Colonel Creighton would cast him off--and he would be left to the wrath of Lurgan Sahib and Mahbub Ali--for the short space of life that would remain to him. It behoved him to forget his holidays (there would always remain the fun of inventing imaginary adventures) and, as Lurgan Sahib had said, to work. |