Part 13 (2/2)
”Ye are as good as deadall the men ”Consider!” said he ”Our shi+p is sunk and the Turks, to save their own skins, will swear they saw us drown Who, then, will come and hunt for deadwider as new possibilities began to dawn As for me-my two hands shook
”And we have with us,” said he, ”a hostage who ht prove a out the prisoner!” said he
So I bade Tugendheiuards had pushed hi sullenly to free his hands He cah the doorway into darkness, and Ranjoor Singh stood aside to let the men see hilooendheim have seen h, and the Gere question!” he said
”Is it strange,” asked Ranjoor Singh, ”that a prisoner should be asked for inforendheih, and Tugendheim nodded
”But there are other kinds of fire,” said Ranjoor Singh
”What do you h, ”if ere to fire this hut to warm ourselves, and you should happen to be inside it-what then?”
”If you intend to kill endheim, ”why not be h, but it seemed to me I detected a strain of terror in it
”Few Gerh
”But what have I done to any of you that you should want to burn endheim; and that time I was positive his voice was forced
”Haven't you been told by your officers,” said Ranjoor Singh, ”that the custom of us Sikhs is to burn all our prisoners alive?”
”Yes,” said Tugendheie the first-yearlived in India, I knew better”
”Did you trouble yourself to tell anybody better?” asked Ranjoor Singh, but Tugendheiive me any reason why you should not be burned alive here, now?” asked Ranjoor Singh
”Yes!” said Tugendheirowing very uneasy, although trying hard not to show it
”Then give ainst us Sikhs!” said Ranjoor Singh; but oncevery attentive, breathing all in unison and careful to reat burst of firing broke out over the water, so far away that I could only see one or two flashes, and, although that was none too reassuring to us, it seeendheim like his death knell He set his lips and drew back half a step
”Can you wish to live with the shaainst us on your heart-you, who have lived in India and know so h
”Of course I wish to live!” said Tugendheim
”Have you any price to offer for your life?” asked Ranjoor Singh, and stepping back two paces he ordered a havildar with a loud voice to take six h here,” said he
”Price?” said Tugendheim ”I have a handful of coins, and e on the steamer-”