` How am I to fear the absolutely non-existent ? ' said Hurree Babu , talking English to reassure himself . It is an awful thing still to dread the magic that you contemptuously investigate -- to collect folk-lore for the Royal Society with a lively belief in all Powers of Darkness . Mahbub chuckled . He had been out with Hurree on the Road ere now . ` Let us finish the colouring , ' said he . ` The boy is well protected if -- if the Lords of the Air have ears to hear . I am a Sufi -LSB- free-thinker -RSB- , but when one can get blind-sides of a woman , a stallion , or a devil , why go round to invite a kick ? Set him upon the way , Babu , and see that old Red Hat does not lead him beyond our reach . I must get back to my horses . ' ` All raight , ' said Hurree Babu . ` He is at present curious spectacle . ' About third cockcrow , Kim woke after a sleep of thousands of years . Huneefa , in her corner , snored heavily , but Mahbub was gone . ' I hope you were not frightened , ' said an oily voice at his elbow . ' I superintended entire operation , which was most interesting from ethnological point of view . It was high-class dawut . ' ` Huh ! ' said Kim , recognizing Hurree Babu , who smiled ingratiatingly . ` And also I had honour to bring down from Lurgan your present costume .
I XXXXX not in the habit offeecially of carrying such gauds to subordinates , but ' -- he giggled -- ` your case is noted as exceptional on the books .
Set am bring collect hope lead protected see snored woke