Without another word Gooja Singh climbed down from the rock and went about shouting his commands as if he himself were their originator.  Meanwhile I thought busily, with an eye for the wide horizon, wondering whether we were being pursued, or whether telegrams had not perhaps been sent to places far ahead, ordering Turkish regiments to form a cordon and cut us off.  I wondered more than ever who Wassmuss might be, and whether Ranjoor Singh had had at any time the least idea of our eventual destination.  I had no idea which direction to take.  There was no track I could see, except that made by our own cart-wheels.  On what did I base my decision, then?  I will tell you, sahib.

I saw that not only Ranjoor Singh’s horse, but all the cattle had been given liberal amounts of corn.  It seemed to me that unless he intended to continue by forced marches Ranjoor Singh would have begun by economizing food.  Moreover, I judged that if he had intended resting many hours in that spot he would have had me summoned and have gone to sleep himself.  The very fact that he had let me sleep on seemed to me proof that he intended going forward.  Doubtless, he would depend on me to stand guard during the night.  So I reasoned it.  And I also thought it probable he had told the Turk in which direction to lead, seeing that the Turk doubtless knew more of that countryside than any.  Ahead of us was all Asia and behind us was the sea.  Who was I that I should know the way?  But by telling the Turk to lead on, I could impose on him responsibility for possible error, and myself gain more time to think.  And for that decision, too, Ranjoor Singh saw fit to praise me later.

They brought the cart, and with the help of eight men, I laid Ranjoor Singh very comfortably on the corn, and covered him.  Then I bade those eight be bodyguard, letting none approach too close on pain of violence, saying that Ranjoor Singh needed a long deep sleep to restore his energy.  Also, I bade them keep that cart at the rear of the column, and I myself chose the rear place of all so as to keep control, prevent straggling, and watch against pursuit.

Pursued?  Nay, sahib.  Not at that time.  Nevertheless, that thought of mine, to choose the last place, was the very gift of God.  We had been traveling about three parts of an hour when I perceived a very long way off the head of a camel caravan advancing at swift pace toward us—­or almost toward us.  It seemed to me to be coming from Angora.  And it so happened that at the moment when I saw it first the front half of our column had already dipped beyond a rise and was descending a rather gentle slope.

I hurried the tail of the column over the rise by twisting it, as a man twists bullocks’ tails.  And then I bade the whole line halt and lie down, except those in charge of horses; them I ordered into the shelter of some trees, and the carts I hurried behind a low ridge—­ all except Ranjoor Singh’s cart; that I ordered backed into a hollow near me.  So we were invisible unless the camels should approach too close.