Here he could command all the night-traffic , himself unseen . Two or three carts passed , jingling out to the suburbs ; a coughing policeman and a hurrying foot-passenger or two who sang to keep off evil spirits . Then rapped the shod feet of a horse . ` Ah ! This is more like Mahbub , ' thought Kim , as the beast shied at the little head above the culvert . ` Ohe ' , Mahbub Ali , ' he whispered , ` have a care ! ' The horse was reined back almost on its haunches , and forced towards the culvert . ` Never again , ' said Mahbub , ` will I take a shod horse for night-work . They pick up all the bones and nails in the city . ' He stooped to lift its forefoot , and that brought his head within a foot of Kim 's . ` Down -- keep down , ' he muttered . ` The night is full of eyes . ' ` Two men wait thy coming behind the horse-trucks . They will shoot thee at thy lying down , because there is a price on thy head . I heard , sleeping near the horses . ' ` Didst thou see them ? ... Hold still , Sire of Devils ! ' This furiously to the horse . ` No . ' ` Was one dressed belike as a fakir ? '
` One XXXXX to the other , `` What manner of fakir art thou , to shiver at a little watching ? '' '
Was coming heard jingling keep said shoot sleeping thought whispered