“To which door?” I asked him.

“There is only one,” he answered.

“Shall I tell that to the men?” said I.

At that he began scowling at me, stroking his beard with one hand.  Then he stepped back and forth a time or two.  And when he saw with the corner of his eye that he had the senior German officer’s attention he turned on me and glared again.  There was sudden silence in the room, and I stood at attention, striving to look like a man of wood.

“It is as I said,” said he in English.  “It was most unwise to pay them.  Now the ruffians demand liberty to go and spend—­and that means license!  They have been prisoners of war in close confinement too long.  You should have sent them to Gallipoli before they tasted money or anything else but work!  Who shall control such men now!”

The German officer stroked his chin, eying Ranjoor Singh sternly, yet I thought irresolutely.

“If they would be safer on board a steamer, that can be managed.  A steamer came in to-day, that would do,” said he, speaking in English, perhaps lest the Turks understand.  “And there is Tugendheim, of course.  Tugendheim could keep watch on board.”

I think he had more to say, but at that minute Ranjoor Singh chose to turn on me fiercely and order me out of the room.

“Tell them what you have heard!” he said in Punjabi, as if he were biting my head off, and I expect the German officer believed he had cursed me.  I saluted and ran, and one of the Turkish officers aimed a kick at me as I passed.  It was by the favor of God that the kick missed, for had he touched me I would have torn his throat out, and then doubtless I should not have been here to tell what Ranjoor Singh did.  To this day I do not know whether he had every move planned out in his mind, or whether part was thinking and part good fortune.  When a good man sets himself to thinking, God puts thoughts into his heart that others can not overcome, and it may be that he simply prayed.  I know not—­although I know he prayed often, as a true Sikh should.

I told the men exactly what had passed, except that I did not say Ranjoor Singh had bidden me do so.  I gave them to understand that I was revealing a secret, and that gave them greater confidence in my loyalty to them.  It was important they should not suspect me of allegiance to Ranjoor Singh.

“It is good!” said they all, after a lot of talking and very little thought.  “To be sent on board a steamer could only mean Gallipoli.  There we will make great show of ferocity and bravery, so that they will send us to the foremost trenches.  It should be easy to steal across by night to the British trenches, dragging Ranjoor Singh with us, and when we are among friends again let him give what account of himself he may!  What new shame is this, to tell the Germans we will make trouble because we have a little money at last!  Let the shame return to roost on him!”