"Sahib," I said, "we are in a trap.
Either we go to the mines, or we fight for the Germans against the British.

What is your word on the matter ?" "Ho!" said he.

"Is it as bad as that?
As bad as that ?" said he.

"If ye go to the mines to dig coal, they will use that coal to make ammunition for their guns! That seems a poor alternative! They fight as much with ammunition as with men!" "Sahib," said I, "it is worse than that! They seek to compel us to sign a paper, forswearing our allegiance to Great Britain and claiming allegiance to them! Should we sign it, that makes us out traitors in the first place, and makes us amenable to their law in the second place.

They could shoot us if we disobeyed or demurred." "They could do that in the mines," said he, "if you failed to dig enough coal to please them.