Part 10 (2/2)

”Shall I tell theh the smoke as if he would read down into my very heart

”Aye!” said he at last ”You may tell them so!”

So I went and shook some of the ry they laughed at me Then those awoke the others, and soon they all had the e On the whole, it bewildered them, even as it didfor hi they were in ato trah procured us a day's rest He hi overI went to speak with him as often as I could invent excuse, and I became familiar with the word Wassmuss that they used very frequently I heard the word so et it if I tried

The next day Ranjoor Singh had a surprise for us At ten in the iven a full month's pay It was almost midday when the last man had received his money, and ere diso a them and ask whether they did not wish opportunity to spend their money

So I went and asked the question Only a few said yes Many preferred to keep their ht the question was a trick and refused to answer it at all I returned to Ranjoor Singh and told hiain!” said he

So I went aain as they lay on the cots after dinner, and most of theh in the officers' mess and told him

”Ask the in no mood to endure mockery, I put the question with an air of ht be, but I shook my head and repeated the question with a smile, as if I knew indeed but would not tell

”Says Ranjoor Singh,” said I, ”would the men like opportunity to spend their h asked how long it well ain

”Shall I bear hi more mysterious than ever And just then it happened that Gooja Singh remembered the advice to seek better cause for ernails

”Very well!” said he ”Tell him ill either spend our money or let blood! Let us see what he says to that!”

”Shall I say,” said I, ”that Gooja Singh says so?”

”Nay, nay!” said he, growing anxious ”Let that be the regiht it a foolish answer, given by a fool, but the ly

”Shall I take that answer?” said I, and they answered ”Yes!” redoubling their eh's thinking for him these days,” said one man; ”take that answer and let us see what the Gerh histo him in a corner of the officers' mess So over maps that a German officer had spread upon a table in theirwhile the others listened Ranjoor Singh had been listening, too, but he backed into a corner as I entered, and all the while I hispering to hi the word Wass explained so about this Wassiven Ranjoor Singh the men's answer He smiled into my eyes

”Wassmuss is the key to the door,” said he

”To which door?” I asked him

”There is only one,” he answered

”Shall I tell that to thehis beard with one hand Then he stepped back and forth a time or two And when he saith the corner of his eye that he had the senior Gerain There was sudden silence in the roo to look like a lish ”It was o and spend-and that means license! They have been prisoners of war in close confine You should have sent the else but work! Who shall control suchRanjoor Singh sternly, yet I thought irresolutely