The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-02
.HIRA SINGH
BY
TALBOT MUNDY

leet. Ihey set him down before
me.
Say the word said they, land
he shall be beaten"
So l got on my feet again and
asked whether they were soldiers
or monkey-folk, to fail thus sud-
denly on one Of their number. and
ne superior. l babe them loose
Gooja Singh, and laid my hand
on his shoulder, helping him to
his feet.
Are, we many men with many
troubles, or one regiment" said /.
At that most OF them grew
ashamed. and those who had as
saulted Gooja Singh began to make
excuses, but he went back to the
rear to the men who had whispered
with him. They drew away. and
he sat in silence apart, l rejoicing
secretly at his discontinue but
fearful nevertheless.
Now" said l. Appoint another
man to wait on Ranjoor Singh"
But they cried out, Nay. We will
have none but you. You have done
well-we trust you've are con-
tent!"
| made much play Of unwilling
ness. but allowed them to persuade
me in the end. yielding a little at
a time and gaining from them ever
new protestations OF their loyalty
until at last l let them think they
had convinced me.
Nevertheless" said they. tell
Ranjoor Singh he must lead US to-
ward Gallipoli!" They were firm
on that point.
So l went back to the waiting
room and told Ranjoor Singh all
that had happened, emitting moth
ing, and he stood breaking pieces
from loaf of bread, with his fin
gers, not burying his teeth into the
loaf as most of us had done He
asked me the names of tie men
who had so spoken and l told him.
he repeating them and considering
each name for a moment or two.
Have they finished eating?" he
asked at last. and l told him they
had as good as finished. So he ate
his own bread faster.
Come" he ordered presently,
reckoning to Tugendheim and the
four guards to follow.
1t was raining as hard as ever
as we crossed the station yard. and
the men had excuse enough for
1 disliking to turn out. Yet they
scented development. l think. and
none refused, although they fell in
just not sullenly enough to call for
reprimand. Ranjoor Singh drew
roll from his inner pocket and they
all answered to their names. Then,
without referring to the list again,
he named those who l had told him
used high words to me, beginning
at Gooja Singh and emitting none.
Fall OUT" he ordered. And when
they had obeyed, Fall in again
over there on the left"
There were three and twenty of
them, Gooja Singh included. and
they glared at me. So did others.
and I wondered grimly how many
enemies l had made But then
Ranjoor Singh cleared his throat
and we recognized again the old
manner that had made squadron
love him to the death at home in
India-the manner Of a man with
good legs under him and no fear in
his heart. All but the three and
twenty forgot forthwith my part in
the matter.
Am / to be herdsman, them
said he, pitching his voice against
wind and rain. Are We men-or
animals? Hunted animals would
have known enough to eat and hur-
ry on. Hunted animals would be
wise enough to run in the direc-
ton least expected. Hunted ami
mails would take advantage of ill
weather to put distance between
them and their foe. Some of you,
then, must be less than animals!
Men I can lead. Animals I can
drive. But what shall be done with
such less-than-animals as can
neither be led nor driven"
4, Then he turned about half-left
to face the three and twenty, and
stood as it were waiting for their
answer, with one hand holding the
other wrist behind his back. And
they stood shifting feet and look
ing back at him, extremely ill-at-
ease.
What is the specific charge
against u.s." asked Gooja Singh,
for the men began to thrust him
forward. But R4njoor Singh let
no man draw him from the main
point to a lesser one.
You have leave" said he. ITO
take one box of cartridges and 90!
Gallipoli lies that way," And he
pointed through the rain.
Then the two and twenty forgot
me and began at once abusing
| Gooja Singh, he trying to refute
them, and Ranjoor Singh watching
them all with a feeling, thought,
Of pity. Tugendheim, trying to
make the ends of his mustache
stand upright in the rain, laughed
as if he thought it a very great
Joke: but the rest Of the men look
ed doubtful. l knew they were un-
willing to turn their backs on any
OF our number, yet afraid to force
an issue, for Ranjoor Singh had
them in quandary. / thought
perhaps I might mediate.
"Sahib," said !.
"Silence!" he ordered. So /
stepped back to my place, and a
dozen men laughed at me. for
which vowed vengeance. Later
when my wrath had cooled I knew