"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 men ?" I could see the eyes of the nearest men opening wider as new possibilities began to dawn.

As for me--my two hands shook.
"And we have with us," said he, "a hostage who might prove useful--a hostage who might prove amenable to reason.

Bring out the prisoner!" said he.
So I bade 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.