` Redcoats or our own regiments ? ' the old man snapped , as though he were asking an equal . His tone made men respect Kim . ` Redcoats , ' said Kim at a venture . ` Redcoats and guns . ' ` But -- but the astrologer said no word of this , ' cried the lama , snuffing prodigiously in his excitement . ` But I know . The word has come to me , who am this Holy One 's disciple . There will rise a war -- a war of eight thousand redcoats . From Pindi and Peshawur they will be drawn . This is sure . ' ` The boy has heard bazar-talk , ' said the priest . ` But he was always by my side , ' said the lama . ` How should he know ? I did not know . ' ` He will make a clever juggler when the old man is dead , ' muttered the priest to the headman . ` What new trick is this ? ' ' A sign . Give me a sign , ' thundered the old soldier suddenly . ` If there were war my sons would have told me . '
` When all is ready , thy sons , doubt not , will be XXXXX .
come drawn heard make muttered said snapped snuffing thundered told