While you have been speaking, those soldiers have passed the door twice, and have been looking suspiciously at the house.

If they take it into their heads to come here, and to ask who we are and what is our business, it would not do to tell them that we have been discussing the value of the orders on the sultan's treasury.
"Now, if our advice has been of any assistance to you in this matter, you, in turn, can render us aid in our business of killing tigers.

We want you to find out, for us, when a tiger was last seen near the village; where its lair is supposed to be; and whether, according to its situation, we should have the best chance of killing it by digging a pitfall, on the path by which it usually comes from the jungle; or by getting a kid and tying it up, to attract the tiger to a spot where we shall be stationed in a tree." "I will assuredly do that, and every one here will be glad to assist, when I tell them the advice I have received from you--and would, indeed, do so in any case, for it will be a blessing to the village, if you can kill the tiger that so often carries off some of our sheep and goats." At this moment, there was a loud knocking at the door.

On the peasant opening it, a group of soldiers demanded to see the men who had entered.
"We are here," Surajah said, coming forward.

"What do you want ?" "We want to know who you are, and where you come from." "Any one in the village could have told you that," Surajah said.