"'Those fools,' said he, 'hunt like street dogs at the sound of rubbish
tossed out of a window. But I think that Indian soldier is less foolish
than they. If I were he,' said Yussuf Dakmar, 'I think I wouldn't run
far, with all these shadows to right and left and all the hours from now
until dawn in which to act the fox. I suspect he is not far away at
this minute. Nevertheless,' said he, 'those Indians are dangerous
fellows. It is highly important that we get that letter from him; but
it is almost equally important that we stop his mouth, which would be
impossible if he should escape alive. If we wait here,' said he, 'we
shall see him emerge from a shadow, if I am not much mistaken.'

"So they waited, sahib. And after a few minutes, when my breath had
returned to me, I let him have credit as a wise one by emerging as he
had said. And those four stalked me through the streets, not daring to
come close until I should lead them to a lonely place; and I led them
with discretion to this house, where happened what the sahib knows.

"That is all I know about this matter, except that being absent from
duty on sick-leave there may be difficulty in the matter of my tunic,
which is badly torn."

Having finished his story Narayan Singh stood at attention like one of
those wooden images they used to keep on the sidewalk outside tobacco
stores.

Grim smiled at the prisoners and asked whether they had any remarks to
make--a totally lawless proceeding, for he did not caution them, and had
no jurisdiction as a magistrate. They were three men caught red-handed
attempting murder and burglary, and entitled accordingly to protection
that the law doesn't always accord to honest men. But, as I have said,