I think the men were impressed, and I was glad of it, although at the time I felt ashamed.
Presently Ranjoor Singh himself chose an advance guard of twenty men and put me in command of it.
"March eastward," he ordered me.

"According to my map, you should find a road within a mile or two running about northeast and southwest; turn to the left along it.

Halt if you see armed men, and send back word.

Keep a lookout for food, for the men are starving, but loot nothing without my order! March!" said he.
"May I ask a question, sahib," said I, still lingering.
"Ask," said he.
"Would you truly have burned the German alive ?" said I, and he laughed.
"That would have been a big fire," said he.

"Do you think none would have come to investigate ?" "That is what I was thinking," said I.
"Do such thoughts burn your brain ?" said he.