Less hungry we were at once, less weary, and vastly less afraid; yet, too much in a hurry to ask questions of the messenger! Ranjoor Singh came out of a building to meet us, holding up his hand, so I made the men halt and began to look about.

It was certainly a railway station, with a long platform, and part of the platform was covered by a roof.

Parallel to that was a great shed with closed sides, and through its half-open door I could smell hay--a very good smell, sahib, warming to the heart.

To our right, across what might be called a yard--thus--were many low sheds, and in one there were horses feeding; in others I could see Turkish soldiers sprawling on the straw, but they took no notice of us.
Three of the low sheds were empty, and Ranjoor Singh pointed to them.
"Let all except twenty men," said he, "go and rest in those sheds.
If any one asks questions, say only 'Allah!' So they will think you are Muhammadans.

If that should not seem sufficient, say 'Wassmuss!' But unless questioned many times, say nothing! As you value your lives, say nothing more than those two words to any one at all! Rather be thought fools than be hanged before breakfast!" So all but twenty of the men went and lay down on straw in the three empty sheds, and I took the twenty and followed him into the great shed with closed sides.