Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-09
The Winds of the
" S1 s4asFeT World ss:sstsss. b ' 9:

I a yoke that is unbearable, and
must deal in subterfuge and treach-
cry IL / would win. But you are
merely one who sows trouble. You
are like thelittle jackal-the dirty
! little jackal-who stars fight be-
tween two tigers so that he may All
his mean belly! Don't speak
listen!"
The Germans Jaw had dropped.
but not because words rushed TO
his lips. He seemed at a loss fof
them.
You made me an offer, and ac-
cepted it" continued Ranjoor
Singh. II accepted It on behalf OF
India. / shall show you In about
an hour from now native regi-
ment-one of the very best native
regiments, so mutinous that its Of
ficers must lead it out Of Delhi to
a camp where II will be less dan
gerous and less likely to corrupt
others"
The German nodded. He had
asked no more.
"Then, If you fail to fulfill your
part" said Ranjoor Singh grimIy.
Il shall lock you in the cellar Of
this house, where Yasmini keeps
her cobras!"
"Vorwartsi' laughed the German.
for there was conviction in every
word the Sikh had said Il viii
show you how a German keeps his
bargain!"
"A German?" growled RanIoor
Singh. "a German - Germany ia
nothing to me! If Germany can
pick the bones I leave, what do
care? One does not bargain with
a spy, either; one pays his price
and throws him to the cobras If he
fails! Comet"
The question of precedence no
longer seemed to trouble Ranjoor
Singh; he turned his back without
apology, and as the German fol-
lowed him down stairs there came
a giggle from behind the curtains.
Were we overheard" he asked
But Rapjoor Singh did not seem
to care any more, and did not trou-
BILE to answer him.
Outside the door was q bullock
cart, the kind in which women
make long Journeys, with a paint
ed, covered superstructure. The
German followed RanJoor Singh in
to it, and without any need for or
ders the Sikh driver began to
twist the bullocks' tails and send
them along at the pace all India
loves. Then Ranjoor Singh began
to pay attention to the Germans
dress, pulling off his expensive tur-
ban and replacing that and his
clothes with cheaper, dirtier ones.
"Why?" asked the German.
Il will show you why" said Ran
joor Singh.
Then they sat back, each against
side of the cart, squatting native
style.
This regiment that I will show
you is mine," said Ranjoor Singh.
L command a squadron Of it-or,
rather, did, until I became sus-
pected. Every man in the regi-
ment is mine, and will follow me at
a word. When l give the word
they will kill their English off,
GERS"
He leaned his head out OF the
opening to spit; there seemed
something in his mouth that tasted
nasty.
Why did they mutiny?" asked
the German.
Ordered to France," said Ran
joor Singh with lowered eyes.
For while there was silence as
the cart bumped through the mud
dy streets; the only sound that in
terfered with thought was the driV-
er's voice, apostrophizing the bull
locks; and the abuse he poured on
them was so time-honored as to be
like the cawing Of the
city crows.
ut is strange" said the German,
after a while. For years 1 have
tried to get in touch with native
officers. Here and there | have
found Sepoy who would talk with
me, but you are the first officer"
He was demonstrating talking al
most to himself He did not see
the curse in the risaIdar-major's
eyes.
Il have found plenty of mer-
chants who would promise to
hnance revolt, and plenty of hill
men who would promise anything.
But all said, We will do what the
army doesn And I could not find
IN all this time, among all those
people, anybody to whom I dared
snow what we-Germany-ca do
TO help. l have seen from the first
It was only with the aid Of the
army that we could accomplish
anything, yet the army has been
How it is that you
have seemed so loyal. all Of you,
until the minute of war;"