` It is not Gunga . The River that I know washes from all taint of sin . Ascending the far bank one is assured of Freedom . I do not know thy life , but thy face is the face of the honourable and courteous . Thou hast clung to thy Way , rendering fidelity when it was hard to give , in that Black Year of which I now remember other tales . Enter now upon the Middle Way which is the path to Freedom . Hear the Most Excellent Law , and do not follow dreams . ' ` Speak , then , old man , ' the soldier smiled , half saluting . ` We be all babblers at our age . ' The lama squatted under the shade of a mango , whose shadow played checkerwise over his face ; the soldier sat stiffly on the pony ; and Kim , making sure that there were no snakes , lay down in the crotch of the twisted roots . There was a drowsy buzz of small life in hot sunshine , a cooing of doves , and a sleepy drone of well-wheels across the fields . Slowly and impressively the lama began . At the end of ten minutes the old soldier slid from his pony , to hear better as he said , and sat with the reins round his wrist . The lama 's voice faltered , the periods lengthened . Kim was busy watching a grey squirrel . When the little scolding bunch of fur , close pressed to the branch , disappeared , preacher and audience were fast asleep , the old officer 's strong-cut head pillowed on his arm , the lama 's thrown back against the tree-bole , where it showed like yellow ivory . A naked child toddled up , stared , and , moved by some quick impulse of reverence , made a solemn little obeisance before the lama -- only the child was so short and fat that it toppled over sideways , and Kim laughed at the sprawling , chubby legs . The child , scared and indignant , yelled aloud . ` Hai ! Hai ! '
XXXXX the soldier , leaping to his feet .
began give know laughed lengthened rendering said saluting smiled watching