The coverings of the ship were shut tight, lest the waves descend
among us. The stench became worse than any I had ever known,
although I learned to know a worse one later; but I will speak of
that at the proper time. It seemed to us like a poor beginning and
that thought put little heart in us.

But the sickness began to lessen after certain days, and as the
movements grew easier the horses were able to stand. Then we became
hungry, who had thought we would never wish to eat again, and double
rations were served out to compensate for days when we had eaten
nothing. Then a few men sought the air, and others--I among them--
went out of curiosity to see why the first did not return. So, first
by dozens and then by hundreds, we went and stood full of wonder,
holding to the bulwark for the sake of steadiness.

It may be, sahib, that if I had the tongue of a woman and of a
priest and of an advocate--three tongues in one--I might then tell
the half of what there was to wonder at on that long journey. Surely
not otherwise. Being a soldier, well trained in all subjects
becoming to a horseman but slow of speech, I can not tell the
hundredth part.

We--who had thought ourselves alone in all the sea--were but one
ship among a number. The ships proceeded after this manner--see, I
draw a pattern--with foam boiling about each. Ahead of us were many
ships bearing British troops--cavalry, infantry and guns. To our
right and left and behind us were Sikh, Gurkha, Dogra, Pathan,
Punjabi, Rajput--many, many men, on many ships. Two and thirty ships
I counted at one time, and there was the smoke of others over the