Part 1 (1/2)

Hira Singh

by Talbot Mundy

PREFACE

I take leave to dedicate this book to Mr Elh whose friendly offices I was led to track down the hero of these adventures and to find the true account of them even better than the daily paper proh and his men been Muhammadans their accomplishment would have been sufficiently wonderful For Sikhs to atteh, even under such splendid leadershi+p as Ranjoor Singh's, was to defy the very nth degree of odds To have tried to tell the tale otherwise than in Hira Singh's oords would have been to varnish gold Auns in Flanders, the world is inclined to overlook India's share in it all and the stout proud loyalty of Indian hearts May this tribute to the gallant Indian gentleht our battles serve to reive their best, and they who take, are one

T M

One hundred Indian troops of the British Arhanistan, after a four months'

march from Constantinople The men were captured in Flanders by the Ger Mohaht join the Turks But they re for Afghanistan

They now intend to join their regimental depot in India, so it is reported

New York Tih

CHAPTER I

Let a ht Each is his oitness God is judge-EASTERN PROVERB

A Sikh who must have stood about six feet without his turban-and only iination kno stately he ith it-loo and scrutinized me with calm brown eyes His khaki uniform, like two of theelse about hinity, the unstudied strength of his politeness, all sang aloud of battles won Battles with hian relaciers once dropped along Maine valleys, when his quiet voice summoned me back to India and the convalescent cas on lances forinary; but one did not trespass, because at about the point where vision no longer pierced the ravel and now and then a cough announced others beyond hiain

”I have permission,” I said, ”to find a certain Risaldar-h, and to ask hi but politeness, read the very depths of mine

”Has the sahib credentials?” he asked So I showed hinatures that was the one scrap of writing left in s

”Thank you,” he said gravely ”There were others who had no perh the camp?”

That was new annoyance, for with such a search as I had in mind what interest could there be in a camp for convalescent Sikhs? Tents pitched at intervals-a hospital ht sit and dreaine without journeying to India But there was nothing to do but accept, and I walked beside hirace

”There are no well men here,” he told me ”Even the heavy work about the camp is done by convalescents”

”Then why are you here?” I asked, not trying to conceal adth and stature

”I, too, am not yet quite recovered”

”From what?” I asked, impudent because I felt desperate But I drew no fire