Yet when I went away I left them thinking, each man for himself, and that was good.

I went to change the guard, for some of our men were put on sentry-go that night outside the officers' quarters, in spite of our utter weariness.

We were smarter than the Kurds, and German officers like smartness.
Weary though Ranjoor Singh must have been, he sat late with the German officers, for the most part keeping silence while they talked.

I made excuse to go and speak with him half a dozen times, and the last time I could hardly find him among the wreaths of cigarette smoke.
"Sahib, must we really stay a week in this hole ?" I asked.

"So say the Germans," said he.
"Are we to be paraded through the streets each day ?" I asked.
"I understand that to be the plan," he answered.
"Then the men will mutiny!" said I.
"Nay!" said he, "let them seek better cause than that!" "Shall I tell them so ?" said I, and he looked into my eyes through the smoke as if he would read down into my very heart.
"Aye!" said he at last.