Thought I, if one had lent me money on such a perishable note the courts would now hold him at fault, not me; they would demand evidence, and all he could show them would be what he had himself bargained for.

Now it occurs to me that seashore sand, and the tricks of rogues, and blackmail, and tyranny perhaps are one!" Eye met eye, all up and down both lines of men.

There was swift searching of hearts, and some of the men at my end of the line began talking in low tones.

So I spoke up and voiced aloud what troubled them.
"If we sign this paper, sahib," said I, "how do we know they will not find means of bringing it to the notice of the British ?" "We do not know," he answered.

"Let us hope.