"Keep the hostages and ten of my men to guide you, and send them back when you are two days into Persia.

I go to fight against the Turks!" Well, they bargained, and bargained.

Ranjoor Singh offered him his choice of a chest of gold then and there, or four-fifths of the whole in Persia; and in the end he agreed to take three chests of gold then and there, and to leave us the hostages and thirty men to see us on our way.

"For," said Ranjoor Singh, "how should the hostages and my prisoners return to you safely otherwise ?" So we kept two chests of gold, and found them right useful presently.

And we said good-by to him and his men, and put out our own fires and rode eastward.