Good Luck, she is never a lady,
But the cursedest quean alive,
Tricksy, wincing, and jady -
Kittle to lead or drive.
Greet her - she's hailing a stranger!
Meet her - she's busking to leave!
Let her alone for a shrew to the bone
And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve!
Largesse! Largesse, O Fortune!
Give or hold at your will.
If I've no care for Fortune,
Fortune must follow me still!
Then, lowering their voices, they spoke together. Kim came to rest under a tree, but the
lama tugged impatiently at his elbow.
'Let us go on. The River is not here.'
'Hai mai! Have we not walked enough for a little? Our River will not run away. Patience,
and he will give us a dole.'
'This.' said the old soldier suddenly, 'is the Friend of the Stars. He brought me the news
yesterday. Having seen the very man Himself, in a vision, giving orders for the war.'
'Hm!' said his son, all deep in his broad chest. 'He came by a bazar-rumour and made
profit of it.'
His father laughed. 'At least he did not ride to me begging for a new charger, and the
Gods know how many rupees. Are thy brothers' regiments also under orders?'
'I do not know. I took leave and came swiftly to thee in case -'
'In case they ran before thee to beg. O gamblers and spendthrifts all! But thou hast never
yet ridden in a charge. A good horse is needed there, truly. A good follower and a good
pony also for the marching. Let us see - let us see.' He thrummed on the pommel.
'This is no place to cast accounts in, my father. Let us go to thy house.'
'At least pay the boy, then: I have no pice with me, and he brought auspicious news. Ho!
Friend of all the World, a war is toward as thou hast said.'
'Nay, as I know, the war,' returned Kim composedly.
'Eh?' said the lama, fingering his beads, all eager for the road.
