How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #10
Up the valleys of Bushahr—the far-beholding eagles of the Himalayas swerve at his new blue-and-white gored umbrella—hurries a Bengali, once fat and well-looking, now lean and weather-worn. He has received the thanks of two foreigners of distinction, piloted not unskilfully to Mashobra tunnel, which leads to the great and gay capital of India. It was not his fault that, blanketed by wet mists, he conveyed them past the telegraph-station and European colony of Kotgarh. It was not his fault, but that of the Gods, of whom he discoursed so engagingly, that he led them into the borders of Nahan, where the Rahah of that State mistook them for deserting British soldiery. Hurree Babu explained the greatness and glory, in their own country, of his companions, till the drowsy kinglet smiled. He explained it to everyone who asked—many times—aloud—variously. He begged food, arranged accommodation, proved a skilful leech for an injury of the groin—such a blow as one may receive rolling down a rock-covered hillside in the dark—and in all things indispensable. The reason of his friendliness did him credit. With millions of fellow-serfs, he had learned to look upon Russia as the great deliverer from the North. (15.2)
Once the people of the Himalayas turn against the two Russian agents, the Babu doesn't just let them run away. He sticks by them, pretending to be a helpful and loyal guide looking "upon Russia as the great deliverer from the North." But of course, what the Babu is really doing is leading them on a long, roundabout, inconvenient road out of the mountains. This passage indicates how clever the Babu truly is (even though the book often makes fun of him), but also demonstrates how stupid the Russian agents are.