Kim heads off towards the mountains. He is captured by the King of Punjab’s men and led to the secret fortress of the Blind Lion, called this way because of the patch he wears over one of his eyes. Kim is believed to be a British secret agent. Kim proclaims his being Indian and a friend of Red Beard. He warns him that the British Army is about to attack Punjab. But the Lion does not trust him. Kim wins over the Lion’s trust when he foils a plot to poison him or kill him in some other way. The plot is planned by one of his men who is really an undercover spy. During some reconnaissance in the mountains there’s a clash with a squad of British scouts. The Lion has the proof that England has dared to challenge him. This means war! Military action carried out by the Army of the Pure, who strike British advance-guards and demolish ammunition depots using a gallery system and their acquaintance with mountains very similar to the Afghan ones. During one of these actions, Kim meets his friend soldier Willie from the Regiment who is wounded in a clash. Kim hides him and takes care of him. Before dying, Willie hands him a coded message that he took from Bennet’s tent. He is certain that Bennet is the double-crossing spy. The clash with the Lion of the Punjab is only a trap. The real objective of Bennet’s accomplices is something else. Willie’s death makes Kim realize that he doesn’t want any more war, that the British and the Indian are both his friends. He takes up his journey towards the mountains to go and look for Red Beard. Along with him he discovers Bennet’s plot.