The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-31
BOBBS
MERRILL

decd that Whatever they may de-
~ Il expressly intended for their
a1vmtsge and mot ours. In Gal
Sroli they would have kept Us out
e rsnge at the rear, and presently
~ would have caused . picture
q 10 to be taken serving among
10 Turkish army. That they would
haye published broadcast. After that
I have no idea what would have
happened TO US, except that / am
sure we should never have got near
enough to the British lines to make
rood our escape. We must find an
other way than that"
I'VE might have made the at
tmpt!" said Gooja Singh, and q
dozen men murmured approval.
"Slmpletons!" came the answer
The Germans laid their plans for
the first for photographs to lend
color to lies about the Sikh troops
6ghting for them! Ye would have
played into their hands,"
what them" said l, after q min
ute, for at that answer they had
ell grown dumb.
what them" said he. why,
this: We are in Asia, but still on
Turkish soil. We need food. We
shall need shelter before many
hours. And we need discipline, to
did our will to overcome! There
fore there never was a regiment
more fiercely disciplined than this
shall be. From now until we
bring up in British camp-and
God knows when or where that
may happen!-the man who as
much as thinks Of disobedience
plays with death! Death-ye be as
good as dead men now" said he.
He shook himself. A sense of
loneliness had come on me since
he told us we were in Asia, and |
think the men felt as | did. There
had been nothing to eat on the
steamer. and there was nothing
now. Hunger and cold and rain
were doing their work. But Ran
joor Singh stood and shook himself,
and moved slowly along the line to
look in each mans face, and I took
new courage from his bearing. If
! could have known what he had
in store for us, | would have leap
ed and shouted. Yet. no. sahib;
that is not true. If he had told me
what was coming, l would never
have believed. Can the sahib i'm
agine, for instance, what was to
happen next?
"Ye are as good as dead mem"
he said, coming back to the center
+and facing all the men. "Consid-
err" said he. "Our ship is sunk
and the Turks. to save their own
skins. will swear they saw us
drown. Who. then. will come and
hunt for dead mem"
l could see the eyes Of the near
est men opening wider as new pos
sibilities began to dawn. AS for
me-my two hands shook.
And We have with u.s." said he,
"a hostage who might prove use
ful-a hostage who might prove
amenable to reason. Bring out the
prisoner." said he.
So | babe Tugendheim come
forth. He was sitting on the straw
where the guards had pushed him,
still working sullenly to free his
hands. He came and peered
through the doorway into darkness,
and Ranjoor Singh stood aside to
let the men see him. They can not
have seen much, for it was now
that utter gloom that precedes
dawn. Nor can Tugendheim have
seen much.
DO you wish to live or die?'
asked Ranjoor Singh, and the Ger
man gaped at him.
THAT is a strange question:" he
said.
rs it strange" asked Ranjoor
Singh, that prisoner should be
asked for information?"
Il am not afraid to die" said
Tugendheim.
You mean by rifle-fre?" asked
Ranioor Singh. and Tugendheim
nodded.
But there are other kinds OF
fire" said Ranjoor Singh.
What do you mean?" asked Tu-
sendheim.
Why" said Ranjoor Singh, "if
We were to fire this hut to warm
ourselves, and you should happen
to be inside it--what them"
III you intend to kill me-" said
Tugendheim, why not be merciful
and shoot me?" His voice was
brave enough. but it seemed to me
detected a strain of terror in it.
Few Germans are afraid to be
shot to DEATH" said Ranjoor Singh.
But what have l done to any of
you that you should want to burn
me alive?' asked Tugendheim; and
That time was positive his voice
was forced.
Haven't you been told by your
officers," said Ranjoor Singh, that
The custom of us Sikhs is to burn
] all our prisoners alive?"
Yes" said Tugendheim. "They
pld US that. But that was only a
yie to encourage the first-year
men. Having lived in India, l
ltnew better"
Did you trouble yourself to tell
anybody better?" asked Ranjoor
Singh, but Tugendheim did not an
swer.
Then can you give me any rea-
son why, you should not be burned
siive here now?" asked Ranjoor
Singh.
les!' said Tugendheim. at
would be cruel. 1t would be dew