Some would get away and those would carry the alarm to the nearest military post.

Then gone would be all hope for us of evading capture or destruction.

But it was also obvious to me that no such caravan would come straight on toward us at such speed if it knew of our existence or our whereabouts.

They expected us as little as we expected them.
So I lay still, trembling, wondering what Ranjoor Singh would say to me, supposing he did not die in the cart there--wondering what the matter might be with Ranjoor Singh--wondering what I should do supposing he did die and we escaped from this present predicament.

I knew there was little hope of my maintaining discipline without Ranjoor Singh's aid.