Only Ranjoor Singh remained, and he gave us no time just then for comment or discontent.
The mauser rifles were not so very much unlike our own, and he set us to drilling with them, giving us patient instruction but very little rest until evening.

During the longest pause in the drill he sent for knapsacks and served us one each, filled down to the smallest detail with everything a soldier could need, even to a little cup that hung from a hook beneath one corner.

We were utterly worn out when he left us at nightfall, but there was a lot of talking nevertheless before men fell asleep.
"This is the second time he has trapped us in deadly earnest!" was the sum of the general complaint they hurled at me.

And I had no answer to give them, knowing well that if I took his part I should share his condemnation--which would not help him; neither would it help them nor me.
"My thought, of going to the mines and being troublesome, was best!" said I."Ye overruled me.

Now ye would condemn me for not preventing you! Ye are wind blowing this way and that!" They were so busy defending themselves to themselves against that charge that they said no more until sleep fell on them; and at dawn Ranjoor Singh took hold of us again and made us drill until our feet burned on the gravel and our ears were full of the tramp--tramp--tramp, and the ek--do--tin of manual exercise.
"Listen!" said he to me, when he had dismissed us for dinner, and I lingered on parade.