tions, and will soon obtain Government appointment. Oh ho! Excuse me, there is one thing more. The amulet being unoffeecial is not provided by Department. I get no profit, but it costs two rupees twelve annas. I pay that. Now I shall say good-bye, my dear fellow, and I hope, you—ah—will come out top side all right.'
Hurree Babu stepped back a pace or two into the crowd at the entrance of Benares station and—was gone. Kim drew a deep breath and hugged himself all over. The nickel-plated revolver he could feel in the bosom of his sad-coloured robe, the amulet was on his neck; begging-gourd, rosary, the ghost-dagger (Mr. Lurgan had forgotten nothing) were all to hand, with medicine, paint-box, and compass, and in a worn old purse-belt embroidered with porcupine quill-patterns lay a month's pay. Kings could be no richer. He bought sweetmeats in a leaf-cup from a Hindu trader, and ate them with glad rapture till a policeman ordered him off the steps.
