In all India that night was no human being so joyful as Kim . At Umballa he got out and headed eastward , plashing over the sodden fields to the village where the old soldier lived . About this time Colonel Creighton at Simla was advised from Lucknow by wire that young O'Hara had disappeared . Mahbub Ali was in town selling horses , and to him the Colonel confided the affair one morning cantering round Annandale racecourse . ` Oh , that is nothing , ' said the horse-dealer . ` Men are like horses . At certain times they need salt , and if that salt is not in the mangers they will lick it up from the earth . He has gone back to the Road again for a while . The madrissak wearied him . I knew it would . Another time , I will take him upon the Road myself . Do not be troubled , Creighton Sahib . It is as though a polo-pony , breaking loose , ran out to learn the game alone . ' ` Then he is not dead , think you ? ' ` Fever might kill him . I do not fear for the boy otherwise . A monkey does not fall among trees . ' Next morning , on the same course , Mahbub 's stallion ranged alongside the Colonel . ` It is as I had thought , ' said the horse-dealer . ` He has come through Umballa at least , and there he has written a letter to me , having learned in the bazar that I was here . '
` Read , ' XXXXX the Colonel , with a sigh of relief .
cantering fear headed kill need ranged said take troubled wearied