d him. "You
shall have them and the German to make your trade with."

It was plain the Kurd was more than half-convinced. His men who
swarmed around him were urging him in whispers. Doubtless they knew
he would keep most, if not all, of the gold for himself, but the
safety of their friends made more direct appeal and I don't think he
would have dared neglect that opportunity for fear of losing their
allegiance. Nevertheless, he bargained to the end.

"Give me, then, ten hostages against my ten, and we are agreed!" he
urged.

"Nay, nay!" said Ranjoor Singh. "It is my task to fight for that
gold. Shall I weaken my force by ten men? Nay, we are already few
enough! I will give you one--to be exchanged against your ten at the
time of giving up the gold in Persia."

"Ten!" said the Kurd. "Ten against ten!"

"One!" said Ranjoor Singh, and I thought they would quarrel and the
whole plan would come to nothing. But the Kurd gave in.

"Then one officer!" said the Kurd, and I trembled, for I saw that
Ranjoor Singh intended to agree to that, and I feared he might pick
me. But no. If I had thought a minute I would not have feared, yet
who thinks at such times? The men who think first of their charge
and last of their own skin are such as Ranjoor Singh; a year after
war begins they are still leading. The rest of us must either be
content to be led, or else are superseded. I burst into a sweat all
over, for all that a cold wind swept among the rocks. Yet I might
have known I was not to be spared.

After two seconds, that seemed two hours, he said to the Kurd, "Very
well. We are agreed. I will give you one of my officers against ten
of your men. I will give you Gooja Singh!" said he.

Sahib, I could have rolled among the rocks and laughed. The look of
rage mingled with amazement on Gooja Singh's fat face was payment
enough for all the insults I had received from him. I could not
conceal all my merriment. Doubtless my eyes betrayed me. I doubt not
they blazed. Gooja Singh was sitting on the other side of Ranjoor
Singh, partly facing me, so that he missed nothing of what passed
over my face--as I scarcely intended that he should. And in a moment
my mirth was checked by sight of his awful wrath. His face had
turned many shades darker.

"I am to be hostage?" he said in a voice like grinding stone.

"Aye," said Ranjoor Singh. "Be a proud one! They have had to give
ten men to weigh against you in the scale!"

"And I am to go aw